Eat Seasonally

Maybe this will be a good fruit year

Tamra — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:47:29 +0000

Apple

My fruit trees and bushes are full of buds, blossoms and tiny fruit. I hope that means a great fruit yield.

Peach

Blueberry

Plum

Cherry

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Finally a Bullfrog

Tamra — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:40:18 +0000

What a great surprise, on this first day of spring, to find a bullfrog in the pond. I built the pond five years ago, for the sole purpose of attracting frogs. I did toy with growing rice, but decided on water lilies instead. We have had toads, bird-voiced tree frogs, gray tree frogs and leopard frogs to breed in the pond, but this is the first bullfrog. And I think it is a she. I just hope her babies don’t eat all the other frogs.

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Wow, spring is early!

Tamra — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:26:37 +0000

The Calendar says March first, but my garden thinks it is April first. Look at all that is blooming. I wonder what this means for summer and pests?

The hellebores have been blooming for over a month.

Glad I decided to plant pansies last fall. Some years they get killed by winters cold. Not this year.

I planted two almond trees last spring. And they are already blooming. Maybe, if the buds don’t get hit by a freeze, I will get an almond or two this fall.

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Tripple Berry Crisp

Tamra — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:08:34 +0000

While there is nothing seasonal about this recipe when served in February, it makes a great Valentine's day dessert for a hubby that does not like chocolate. But at least the fruit was local.

Last summer I stocked up on blueberries from a local farmer. And the strawberries were from my garden. Berries are so easy to freeze. I put a single layer of them on a shallow dish in the freezer for a few hours, and then transfer them to a zip lock bag. So it is easy to remove just the right amount for baking or smoothies.

Since you can’t call it triple berry crisp with only two types of berries I tossed in a bag of Cascadian Farms raspberries.You really don’t have to use equal amounts of three types of berries. You could use 5 cups of just one type of berry, just don’t call it triple berry crisp.

Triple Berry CrispIngredients:
5 cups mixed berries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons flour

1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 stick butter
1 cup rolled oats

Directions:
In an 8 inch square baking dish, combine equal amounts of each type of berry that you plan to use. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons each of flour and sugar.

In a mixing bowl combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in one stick of butter, until mixture is crumbly. Toss in oats. Spread this evenly over the berries.

Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees, for 40-45 minutes. Allow to cool before serving. However my family usually cannot wait that long.

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Tah Tsai

Tamra — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:06:48 +0000

One of my favorite greens for stir-fry. Often called spinach mustard, it is very mild, and quick and easy to grow.

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