My neighbor leaned over the fence at me. “Where’s your brown duck? I haven’t seen her in the last few days.” “Uh…she’s around,” I said. “Are you sure? I haven’t seen her lately and I’ve really looked.” “Well, I locked her up last night and let her out this morning, so, she’s somewhere.” But then…
Archives for March 2015
Kale Florets with Garlic, Chili and Lemon
In case you missed my earlier description, kale florets are the delicious edible flower bud of a mature, overwintered kale plant. You might think of them as bonus no-work broccoli raab. Or perhaps as “the only thing that’s harvestable in the whole damn garden right now.” However you mentally characterize these tender little brassica buds,…
When and How to Harvest Kale Florets
Ok, here’s the deal. Kale, collards, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, turnip, kohlrabi – all these amazing, diverse plants have been bred from the same wild cabbage ancestor. Kohlrabi was bred to make a juicy, swollen stem, and you’ll notice it tastes like broccoli stem because, well, botanically, it pretty much is. Brussels sprouts look like teeny…
Tart Cherry Mint Mojito
Can we talk for a minute about the amazingness of tart cherries? They make the best jam, the best pie, and the best mojito variation I’ve ever sipped. Now I know what you are thinking. “It’s months from fresh cherry season!” Too true, but thanks to the modern miracle of the deep freeze, frozen tart…
Can You Make Liquid Castile Soap from Bar Soap?
When I was recipe testing for the book I ended up making nine or ten batches of cold process bar soap. That is a lot of soap for a family of four. Normally, I use Dr. Bronner’s liquid Castile soap in many of my personal and home care products, but faced with a glut of all natural, homemade bar soap, I thought perhaps…
4 Work Problems of Creative People and How To Solve Them
It’s official! I’m a “Creative” and I’m not meant for traditional 9-to-5 work. Pop internet psychology confirmed it, and I see no reason to argue. Like an eerily accurate horoscope, this article nailed many of my own work habits, need for flexibility and motivation in my work. But the article didn’t go far enough. It’s all…
The Sage Brush Cocktail
Happy Friday and Happy Spring, my friends! It’s time for a delicious cocktail to celebrate the transition from Winter to Spring, and I have just the one. This Sage Brush Cocktail is the perfect blend of herbal, tart and sweet. It’s one of those cocktails even non-gin drinkers will likely enjoy. The Sage Brush was developed by Chef Jerry…
An Impromptu Gardening Q&A
Last night, I just wasn’t feeling inspired. I’ve been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes writing for the book (which is still months out but which is, terrifyingly, now available for pre-order), so my creative juices were running thin. So, I did what any self respecting modern writer would do – I took to Facebook to…
Garden Magic
Yesterday, as I chopped, dropped, and tried to cram just a few more blueberry bushes into my garden, it was obvious. The apple blossoms, the eager tips of asparagus, and the carpet of germinating calendula made it undeniable. Spring is here. If you are a gardener and you do not see magic in the ripe swelling of…
How To Make Corned Beef Brisket At Home
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s time for another giant cured meat tutorial. Our cured meat of focus? Why, corned beef brisket, or course! As you certainly know, there is no corn in corned beef. Originally corned beef was cured with chunky rock salt. Someone thought those nuggets of salt looked like corn…
How To Simplify Your Life With A Single Word
It’s 5:30 PM as a write this, and so far today I have received 17 different fully formed “opportunities” for me to give my time, influence or social capital away (for free, naturally). Throw in a looming mountain of laundry and an inconveniently timed dead car battery and it all adds up to the feeling my husband and…
Simple Creamy Braised Cabbage
If I had to limit myself forever more to a single vegetable, I could first cry out at the injustice of it all, and then grudgingly pick cabbage. I know of no crop more versatile, delicious, adaptable and healthy. This recipe showcases cabbage’s comfort-food side. Slow braised with onions and cream, it ends up sweet…