Some of my favorite things about summer time gardens are fresh home grown tomatoes. There's nothing like that taste. It's fresh and sweet and just plain delicious. Since the flavor of the tomato itself is wonderful, I don't like to cover them up with a lot of spices or cook them. Rather, I prefer them in a fresh tomato salad, mixed with fresh basil from my garden and some feta -- just sprinkled with a bit of balsamic vinegar. Fresh Tomato … [Read more...]
How to Quick Dry Herbs in an Oven
I shook the last flakes from my oregano jar into my spaghetti sauce last night. I started to add it to my grocery list and I had one of those 'aha' moments. I’ve got a bunch of oregano growing outside this summer. Why not dry some to refill my spice jar? I’ve never bothered to dry anything from my herb garden. It seems a little silly that I’ve never tried, but the thought of air-drying herbs in my house where two dogs (and all of their fur!) … [Read more...]
Pesto Pasta With Tomatoes and Feta
This is the perfect potluck or picnic recipe. You can make it in advance and keep in in the fridge until you need it. It’s easy to make and is a perfect accompaniment to your home grown cherry or grape tomatoes. ½ package bowtie pasta or tri-color rotini pasta (8-10 oz) 1 jar of pesto (8 oz) 1 block of feta (8 oz) 14-18 cherry or grape tomatoes (to your taste) Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside in … [Read more...]
Green Bean, Ham, and Potato Soup Recipe
One of my grandmother's recipes for soup is my favorite way to use fresh green beans. It's simple to make and goes really well with homemade cornbread (my Southern twist on it). She lives in Pennsylvania, so I suspect it's an old Pennsylvania-Dutch recipe. Here's what you'll need a ham hock (use only half of it if you're making a smaller batch of soup) 4 potatoes, peeled and cubed 3 cups of beans, snapped 1 onion, chopped salt and … [Read more...]