Spring was a busy time and it looks like Summer is going to be the same. Along with the extra work of gardening and taking care of everything outside we're working on a few home projects while also trying to find time for some fun. It's good to get it all done now though so I can hibernate in peace during the Winter.
We've already been enjoying so much of the seasonal foods this time of year brings. We've been eating so many BIG salads with fresh salad mixes. The snow peas, radishes and cucumbers have all been so amazing. We've had fried green tomatoes, BLT's and zucchini fries. That first BLT of the year is always so delicious. I love winter but Spring and Summer garden veggies have been missed.
I find that basil does better in pots than out in the herb garden. I always do two large pots so we have enough to eat fresh, to dehydrate and make pesto for the winter. I love fresh basil.
I dehydrated my first batch on Sunday and it filled a pint jar. By next weekend I should have enough for a batch of pesto and a tomato, basil pizza which is my favorite.
A friend of mine gave me a huge pot of hens and chickens to plant in the yard. This is a new to me variety and I think they're gorgeous. I also was given a dogwood start for Earth Day. I have it in a pot for now so that by Fall the roots will be much larger and then I'll plant it in the back yard.
Reading outside on the back patio is one my favorite things about summer. So far I've enjoyed The Little Giant of Aberdeen County and The Gilly Salt Sisters both by Tiffany Baker along with A Bakery in Paris by Aimie Runyan. All were very good but the last was a 10 for me. The story, characters and the writing were captivating.
Meals have been on the simple side. We've been mainly cooking on the grill or having Big salads and more veggie focused light meals. Tonight I'm doing poblano peppers stuffed with cheese, onions and ground lamb over rice because I've been craving them for a few weeks.
I've decided to go back to soy candles and found this one that smells heavenly. Who doesn't like caramelized praline? I think the soy candles just burn a lot cleaner.
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying Summer (or winter for some of you). I'll leave you with a cute picture I snapped of Binx, who always brings a smile. My boy is all grown up.
Beautiful post
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteBinx is so cute! Can't you tell I'm almost ready for another cat here?
ReplyDeleteHe's not a baby anymore and I miss that but he's still so smart, crazy and curious. Too bad you're not closer so you can visit and get your cat fix any time you want to.
DeleteThis is the best time of year for wonderful salads! I only grow tomatoes but I get a lot of produce from the local farmers market.
ReplyDeleteIt is the best time of year for salads. I'm glad you have a good local farmers market. We do too and I love going there. I'm growing less and less of my own each year. But I will probably always grow herbs, peppers and tomatoes.
DeleteYes mam, summer foods are all so yummy and just love all the ones you mentioned. It seems we seasonalize our dinners a lot, and it sure is a joy to change seasons each year.
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome big boy! I just love cats!
Stay cool and have a grand week.
By the end of winter I'm craving fresh produce and light meals and by the end of the summer I'm craving comfort food and soups, stews. Living seasonal is the way to do it.
DeleteI love cats too and Binx is an awesome one.
Stay cool yourself.
Binx is so cute!
ReplyDeleteHe is. Can you believe he's 3 already?
DeleteHi Lori! Thanks for stopping at my blog. I agree - Spring and Summer veggies are so good. I also love tomato/basil pizza. Our basil is growing well and I plan to dehydrate some for the first time this year.
ReplyDeleteHi Mari. I read a number of your posts and will be back. Tomato, basil pizza is one of my favorites. Have a good day.
DeleteThe joys of summer produce. I love all of them except for cantaloupe and figs which I am totally indifferent about.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on both of those. They just don't have much flavor to me.
DeleteI'm picking the first, hopefully of much more, lettuce for salads. My grand ambition petered out, but I've a few pots of other things and there's always the farmers market.
ReplyDeleteFresh lettuce is so delicious. I'm glad you have a farmers market too.
DeleteHahaha the look on Binx's face is so cute! Your light summer meals sound delightful, as does lolling outdoors with a good book! And you're amazing with plants, something I most definitely am NOT, hahaha! I know that fresh basil is so good in/on winter comfort foods! And it will be good to have those outside projects done when the first snow falls! Stay cool my friend! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI called his name and he looked at me like "what?" Sitting outside reading is one of my favorite things to do. I think it's the quite and the great light. The plan is to get everything done asap. You stay cool too.
DeleteI can't grow basil or cilantro for the life of me, and yet they are my two favourite herbs!
ReplyDeleteReally? Both grow so well for me.
DeleteHi Binx. He's such a handsome guy. Sounds like your summer is off to a great start. Your potted plants all look so beautiful and healthy. I'm horrible with things in pots because I never remember to water them regularly.
ReplyDeleteBinx is something else. Yes, you do have to remember to water them. It's been so hot here the last few days that every evening they're begging for the water.
DeleteEverything looks amazing, Lori. And I absolutely love cats 🐈 Black cats are special ♥️ I have had 3 of them in my life and your Binx is adorable.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Binx is our first black cat and he is unlike any cat we've had. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteI had no idea that basil grows better in pots than it does in the garden. I've been struggling trying to grow it the last few years, so I definitely think that I need to change how I grow it. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI have been growing basil for close to 40 years and the one year I tried to grow it in a raised bed it didn't do well at all. I like to have a lot of basil so I start one large pot and then wait about two weeks and start the other. Good luck and thanks for stopping by.
DeleteMy grandma always had hens and chicks in her yard. Looks like summer is progressing nicely at your home :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. My mom and grandma did too and I have a few from her but this is a variety I've never had before.
DeleteLike you, I find basil does much better in pots than it ever did in the ground. I have a number of pots going including purple basil and Thai basil. What I really like is that it is so easy to root, so I’m constantly planting more. I can never get enough pesto.
ReplyDeleteIt really does do well. I have Thai basil going too. There is no such thing as too much pesto. I freeze it in ice cube trays, then transfer to a freezer bag so I have it all winter long.
DeleteI used to love growing basil in our back garden. The native blue backed bees really loved it! and when the easterlies were blowing in, the smell filled the entire house - so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds lovely. I dehydrated a batch of basil last week and the house smelled wonderful.
Deletealas the ardent heat killed all my basil - again. I need to stop trying
ReplyDeleteYou need to plant it early in January or February there. I had to do the same in Florida. By May-June it was just too hot for it.
DeleteYour summer sounds wonderfully productive and delicious, full of fresh flavors and exciting garden projects. I'm especially intrigued by your fried green tomatoes and the stuffed poblanos.
ReplyDeleteWe have been busy but enjoying everything at the same time. I'll post the stuffed poblano's that I did last week. They really were delicious. BLT's, salads, fried green tomatoes define summer for me.
DeleteIt's so nice that you have a garden and can enjoy the fruits of your labor and I do realize from experience that it does take some labor. We have only grown herbs in the last 10 years because we don't get back From Florida until beginning or mid June. I was so late this year we didn't even do herbs. Your basil looks like it is thriving and you will have some good recipes as a result. Binx is a cutie and always fun to see another photo of him.
ReplyDeleteIt is a labor of love. Plus after a long winter it just feels good to go outside and grow something. I'm sure you are going to miss your herbs this summer. We didn't grow much last year because of TBG's surgery and I really missed it all.
DeleteI have soy candles that I love. Got them on discount at TJ Maxx. I agree. They do seem cleaner. Love all your BIG salads and your herbs. What a fun thing to read outside I agree. It rocks. Sooooo peaceful.
ReplyDeleteThey do seem to burn cleaner. We are enjoying eating lighter veggie meals while it's so hot. Reading outside is my favorite. The lighting, a comfy chair, the quiet. What more do you need?
DeleteA cuppa and that's all I need to go with.
DeleteWow! We don’t have any cucumbers or tomatoes yet. Only green beans.
ReplyDeleteWe're a lot further south than you are.
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