Recipes abound for making hummus, so I am sure the world has not been waiting for mine. But here it is, and I encourage you to give it a try. To save time, you can buy Garbanzo in a can. But honestly, soaking a cup of dried beans overnight and simmering until soft is not really too hard to do. The flavor difference is minimal, however, the money you save and the healthy way it makes you feel after you eat it spread it on crackers or toast is worth the effort.
Savory Tarts in Kansas City!
Nothing finer for dinner than a savory tart made with seasonal vegetables. Featured here are three recipes from The Complete Kitchen Garden book: Roasted Vegetable, Carrot Tarragon and Caramelized Leek. Thank you to the Garden Center Association of Greater Kansas City and Powell Gardens for inviting me to Kansas City to teach a cookery class. And to the volunteers who baked tarts to share. Nice work
German Farmers Markets
The open air farmers markets in Germany make the most of fresh winter vegetables, seasonal flowers and herbs, along with farm cheese and fruits, plus traditional hand crafts. Set inside a backdrop of historic cathedrals in village squares with cobblestone streets, it is is an experience that reawakens all of the senses.
Frankfurter Grüne Sosse
One of the best finds in the German Winter Farmers Mrkets is a bundle of fresh winter herbs known as Grüne Sosse. The Grüne Sosse in the market places usually comes assorted, wrapped in paper, and with various recipes printed on it and typically contains seven herbs: Petersilie ( Parsley) Pimpinelle (Salad Burnet) Schnittlauch (chives) […]
Timing is Everything.
Take your time before placing your seed order. Now that catalogs are staggering in, you may be tempted to get your order in fast, but I say take it slow and stretch out that good feeling. It pays to be on the look out for the more unusual varieties, the open pollinated heirlooms, the […]
Mise en Place: Gardening like a Cook.
Gardening like a Cook: Everything in Place. Mise en place is a French phase defined the Culinary Institute of America as “everything in place,” used in professional kitchens to organize and arrange the ingredients. Herbs and spices, freshly chopped fresh and par boiled vegetables, sauces and stocks. Setting up a lot of little bowls with […]
Garden Sheds
What do you think, is it more economical to buy a pre-built shed or build one yourself? When I bought my house, it came with a sturdy, well built garden shed with a dry gravel floor. The elevated roof allows me to store bamboo poles and a door that closes firmly to keep out neighborhood […]
The Art of Growing Food
On-line Kitchen Garden Design Classes Learn to grow food For the past month, I find that I have been silently going through my changing season routine and working internally to get into a new groove. I go dormant like a plant and put my focus on survival, rather than growth. This often involves not being […]
Gifts from the Garden
Bags of sugar, ginger knobs and red skinned garlic clutter my counter next to an army of clean jars and lids. Fruit is chopped, and stirred with a wooden spoon as everything simmers and the kitchen fills with a spicy aroma. The first canning session of the year is like learning how to drive on […]
Support your Local Bookstore and Free Book Give-Away:
Support your Local Bookstore and Free Book Give-Away: Our local, family owned independent Northshire Bookstore is the heart and soul of our small town. Besides hosting fabulous author events and community gatherings, it also just a great place to hangout. When my book, The Complete Kitchen Garden debuted last March, they hosted a book signing […]
Self Preservation Plan
All summer, I have been diligent about putting food by. I call it the self preservation plan because there is something truly satisfying about a pantry filled with homegrown and home canned chutney, salsa, jam, pickles and bundles of herbs. I’ll admit, I am already longing for tangy berries, savory herbs and greens and fresh […]
True Kitchen Gardens
I like to suggest that gardeners plant a kitchen garden near the kitchen door, but if you can actually bring it into your kitchen, well, you’ve got the real thing. Here are some images I found inspiring. While not entirely practical, but I sure like the idea of integrating growing food into our daily cuisine […]
