HARVEST BASKET CHALLENGE

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daysharvest

Golden sage, winter savory, Walla Walla sweet onions, string bean mix, French breakfast radishes, arugula, zucchini costata, and a yellow summer squash (under the beans). 

WHAT’S READY TO HAVEST IN YOUR GARDEN TODAY?

STRING BEAN, RADISH & WALLA WALLA ONION SALAD: BLANCH the beans until tender crisp, plunge into ice water, drain and pat dry; combine with sliced Walla Walla onion and quartered radishes and toss with a vinaigrette of white wine vinegar, mustard, chopped savory, a chiffonade of golden sage leaves and olive oil. Serve over lettuce if desired.

The dressed salad

The dressed salad

CUT YELLOW SQUASH OR ZUCCHINI INTO THIN STRIPS. Coarsely chop the arugula. Choose a long, spaghetti type pasta. Heat up some olive oil in a large skillet. Flavor the oil with sliced garlic scapes, then remove them. Cook pasta to al dente; heat the olive oil over medium high heat and toss in the summer squash and a pinch of red pepper flakes and salt to taste. Cook until just tender. Drain the pasta (leave it a bit on the wet side and reserve a little of the cooking water) and transfer to a large bowl, top with the summer squash, add the arugula and toss gently to combine; add a little of the reserved water if desired to make the dish a little saucy. Add some grated peccorino romano  over the top and you have a quick dinner!

Arugula, stringozzi and yellow summer squash.

Arugula, stringozzi and yellow summer squash.

ZUCCHINI CARPACCIO. THINLY (paper thin) slice the zucchini lengthwise with a mandoline; arrange slices on a large plate, slightly overlapping the slices. Sprinkle with coarse salt, a few grinds of pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Garnish with a little chopped arugula or whole leaves and some shavings of parmesan cheese. This makes a great first course. Who would think zucchini could be so good?

IT’S DRYING TIME FOR HERBS

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cutherbsIN THE COOL OF THE DAY, just as the sun was peeking over the tree tops and the morning’s dew had dried, I cut bunches of sage (berggarten & golden), oregano, thyme, and some of the first lavender to bloom, for drying. As far as timing goes most of the herbs have not yet bloomed and I was right on the money in picking on Wednesday–yesterday we had rain!

For large quantities I prefer to hang in small bunches until dry. I have tried the microwave method but think that there is a loss of potency and the leaves seem a little more crispy.

hangingherbsAfter cleaning and removing dead stems, leaves, etc. I made small bunches, tied them with string and hung them to dry in my laundry room. It’s the buffer between the main part of the house and the garage; it remains cool, dark and has good air circulation with some occasional warmth from the dryer. Bunches of lemon balm were well dried in about five days.

lavender bundles

After drying I gently strip leaves from stems and lightly crush/crumble them and store in jars. Since I cannot possibly grow every herb and spice I like to use, some have to be purchased; I save the emptied jars, remove the labels and use again for my own storage.

I made sure to leave some stalks to flower for the honeybees. Someone around here is bound to have some nice herbal honey. And a little later in the summer will have a second crop to use.

NATURE LOVES A CURVE

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The sinuous curl of a garlic scape

The sinuous curl of a garlic scape

The roll of pollen laden stamens in a chicory flower

The roll of pollen laden stamens in a chicory flower

The twist of a bean stalk seeking support

The twist of a bean stalk reaching for the sky

The recurving petals of lilium citronella

The recurving petals of lilium citronella

The soft wave of a poppy's petal and oval of a honeybee's body

The soft wave of a poppy’s petal and oval of a honeybee’s body. The roundness of a seedpod and its spoked top

The rolling, cradle of leaves that surround and protect a cauliflower

The rolling, cradle of leaves that surround and protect a cauliflower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BREAST CANCER CLUB

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A FEW WORDS ABOUT BREAST CANCER. I have hesitated to write this post for quite some time; not every piece of a bloggers’ life has to open to scrutiny. But more understanding about health issues is usually a good thing and if just one woman reads this and is motivated to act I’ve done my job.

Everyone knows some one who has or has had or has died from this insidious disease. And, we’re all hoping that we’ll never be the one it happens to. I personally have not know anyone who has died from it. And that is a testament to the advances in treatment over the last ten to twenty years. March 27, I found a small lump in my breast; I was able to have an exam, mammogram and ultrasound the next day. The following week I had a biopsy; it proved positive for invasive ductal carcinoma. An MRI confirmed the initial diagnosis and I officially joined the club that no one wants to join. The good news here is that the tumor was very small, just around 9mm, the size of a small pea, and I found it. It did not show up on the mamogram but did with ultrasound.

Ha, ha! The surgical wrapping re-wrapped (not planned).

Ha, ha! The surgical wrapping re-wrapped (I wound the stockinette to save for some art use and tossed the balls on the counter; they are certainly suggestive of body parts. Irony at it’s best.

Surgery took place May 7th. Because the tumor was very small I had a lumpectomy; the tumor was about .5cm in size, the surgeon got it all and there was no lymph node involvement. HOORAY! Because the lymph nodes were clear I do not need chemotherapy–DOUBLE HOORAY!! Last Thursday I began 6 weeks of radiation; an inconvenience since it is a daily occurence, but I am happy to do it. As my neighbor said, “It’s your new part-time job”. 27 days to go. After radiation is five years of an oral medication. With care and good fortune, my risk of redeveloping cancer will be quite small.

That said, I feel very lucky in spite of the diagnosis. I found the lump, I was seen right away and I have a very common form of breast cancer that is highly treatable, and we are fortunate to have the insurance to (hopefully) cover most associated costs. I have felt very positive throughout and am not worried about what lies ahead. I have a wonderful, loving, caring family and a great network of friends (and competent doctors). I feel great and resumed many of my usual activities within a few days. Life marches on.

For me the most important take-away is that as women we need to be diligent–I cannot stress enough the importance of regular self-examinationIT WORKS, regular check-ups and yes, mammograms. Be strong and take care of your health. Enough said.

PICKLED ASPARAGUS

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Washington asparagus

Washington asparagus

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE ASPARAGUS. IN NEARLY ANY FORM. PICKLED IS ESPECIALLY GOOD. I could probably eat it every day. The first weekend in June I made a trip to Ellensburg for an art studio tour with a friend, one of my daughters and granddaughter. In particular I really wanted to visit Dick & Jane’s Spot. On the back west to Seattle we stopped at Thorp to buy local, Washington asparagus.

One problem with pickling asparagus are the leftover ends. I solved that problem last year in the following way:

The un-pretty ends

The leftover ends

Once the lovely spears have been cut to fit the jars, cut the remaining ends into just-larger-than-bite-size pieces (do not use the tough ends) and stuff into jars and process along with the spears. Just as tasty and little to no wasted asparagus.

All the pieces!

All the pieces!

15 pounds of asparagus yielded about seven pints of spears and pieces.