When I was growing up, baked beans were a delicious part of all our cook outs and potlucks. Cans of pork and beans were mixed with ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and onions, then baked in the oven. Sometimes strips of bacon were laid on top, creating a smoky aroma and flavor that reminds me […]
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Spring Favorites
Slow Cooker Four Bean Baked Beans
Strawberry Cream Tart
Yes, I’m on a strawberry kick. It’s too early for local strawberries, but the grocery stores are selling early berries from California, and when I walk into the store and see the lovely red berries on display I absolutely cannot resist. So yesterday I pulled out my tart pan and started working on this dessert. […]
Gardening
Weekend Gardening: Hibernation
I walk around the garden with snow crunching under my feet and my breath hanging in the air. Brown leaves hang on the rose bushes with a few shriveled flowers dangling from the stems. Lemongrass leaves, which last summer stood as tall as my eyes, now lay fallen and crushed, the lemon fragrance long gone […]
Weekend Gardening: Protecting Fruit Trees
Last fall Michael decided we needed to cover our fruit trees with netting to protect the harvest from the local wildlife, and after seeing similar techniques on fruit trees while on a trip to Okinawa, our collection of net bags grew. [Disclosure: This blog earns a small commission through affiliate links.]
Weekend Gardening: Spring Chard, Brussels Sprouts, and Artichokes
The weather has been strange this year. Winter didn’t feel like winter at all and the official start of spring passed by without much notice because I was already wearing sandals before the big day. However, having an early spring means that our garden popped a little early this year. The chard (above) is going […]
The Farm Project
Wegmeyer Farms: Spring Strawberries (Brown Sugar Strawberry Shortcakes)
The strawberry field at Wegmeyer Farms is blanketed with plants laden with blossoms and fruit. The field slopes down from the grass-covered parking area, and the rows are covered with black plastic to keep the weeds out and prevent erosion. During my visits, workers picked berries and put them in flats destined for nearby Whole […]
The Farm Project: Ticonderoga Farms Fig Lovers Feast 2012 (Chicken with Figs and Honey)
The Ticonderoga Farms Fig Feast is in its second year, and had a happy crowd waiting to enjoy the farm-fresh figs. This year visitors were treated to Chef Patierno of Girasole and Panino demonstrating how to make his beautiful fig tart. As he talked about the tart, he had many good things to say about […]
Ticonderoga Farms: Christmas on the Farm
Ticonderoga Farms began their Christmas tree destination 50 years ago, so this is a very special time of year for the farm. They start their celebration the weekend after Thanksgiving with breakfast with Santa and of course cut your own Christmas tree. They grow White Pines, Weymouth Pines (aka Virginia Pine), Scotch Pine, Red Cedar, […]
