Monthly Archives: August 2013
One-Pan Pasta
Once upon a time, I saw a picture of a gorgeous platter of all different kinds of sliced tomatoes in Martha Stewart’s Living magazine. I thought that it was the height of gardening chic to serve that at party with a smattering of basil and sliced mozzarella. It took me five years of trial and […]
A Picnic Dinner for Two
Last week, My Pirate whisked me away on a road trip adventure around the Washington State Peninsula to celebrate my fortieth birthday and our seventeen years of wedded bliss together. Before we left, I packed a picnic into our blue cooler filled with ice. I didn’t know where the day would take us and I […]
A Lovely Sandwich
Yesterday, I made a lovely sandwich out of the garden following Deborah Madison’s suggestion in her book Vegetable Literacy. I’ve grown lovage and cucumbers in my garden for the past decade, but never once have I considered combining them. It surprised me how the bright flavor of the lovage brought out the subtle cucumber’s delicate […]
Summer Tomato Salad on Brown Butter Toasts
Late August always leads to culinary debauchery in our kitchen. All the fresh produce in the garden combined with my need to capture the last moments of summer create some memorable meals. My Pirate is home on vacation and before we take off on our road trip around the Washington Peninsula, we’ve been busy knocking […]
Blueberry and Basil Cream Biscuits
I made a perfectly respectable batch of blueberry coconut muffins for the herb workshop. But, when I gave one to My Pirate for him to sample, he simply took a bite, put the rest in the fridge, and shrugged his shoulders. When pressed, he said, “It tastes like a blueberry muffin.” I do want my […]
Hazel Dell School and Community Garden Summer Program
Last summer, I was watching an episode of Garden Time and saw the host interview Barbara Nordstrom at her Hazel Dell School and Community Garden. I pointed at the TV and said, “I want to do that!” Yesterday was the last day of the five class series with The Boys and Girls Club. Every week, […]
Basil Blossom Ricotta
If you were coming over to my house for a warm August evening in my garden, I would make you some Basil Blossom Ricotta to spread on toasted baguette slices with a Sungold Tomato and Basil Salad. We would sip cold white wine on the back patio and laugh as puppy Barnaby raced through the […]
Grow Your Own Herbs Workshop
Please join me at the Grow Your Own Herbs workshop at Pacific Park on August 17th at 10 am. Eloyce O’Connor and Erin Harwood of Garden Delights CSA and Herb Farm will share their herb growing tips and tricks. Plus participants will receive free herb starts! After the workshop, we’ll get some fun hands on […]
Got Kale?
This spring, My Pirate (hubby) requested that I grow a bed of kale for his breakfast smoothies. I diligently planted a six-pack of dinosaur kale (lacinato kale) and a six-pack of Red Russian Kale starts shaded behind the cardoon. And the kale has flourished and remained untouched. I’m the Queen of Good Intentions so I’m […]
Potatoes in My Victory Garden
I have savored every bite of our potato crop this season, but the sight of the potato bed makes me wince. They are UGLY. But, this is what potatoes do. The foliage dies back as the crop is ready to harvest. I knew better, but I planted with my appetite in mind this spring. So, […]