I think this is the busiest time of year for any gardener. As the summer winds down, we have to get everything put up for winter - currently that consists mostly of squishing tons of tomatoes into various jars and running the canner for hours every day. I try to mix of what I am making, so it doesn't become too tedious - today it's crushed tomatoes. But before I move over to the kitchen to get those going, I want to share my fast and easy recipe for these Jalapeno Garlic Dill Pickles. It's a ... Read More about Jalapeno Garlic Dill Pickles
Garden Fresh
Marinated Tomato Salad
I am writing to you from the land of grandchildren today! It's a happy place, if a bit tiring exhausting at times. We are minding our granddaughter Evelyn, while her baby brother Micah gets born - fun times for all. He is a healthy, sturdy little guy, and it's instant love the first time you hold your grandkids! We would not trade this time for anything - both spending extra time with Evelyn, and getting to know Micah when he comes home later today. I have to admit it will be nice to have our ... Read More about Marinated Tomato Salad
Lemony Dill Hummus
...with Cucumber Dippers! Hi there! I am picking my head up from the pails that contain our farmer's market produce to put this fantastic recipe together for you! Farmer's Market is a lot of fun, but I am not sure we could handle more than one market a week - getting everything looking good and ready to sell is a lot of work. There are people who do a market just about every day of the week, and they must be exhausted all the time! Or maybe they are a lot younger than we are. Yeah - that last ... Read More about Lemony Dill Hummus
Spicy Zucchini “Fries”
We have had a pretty busy summer here at Creekside. I'm not exactly sure how Larry had time to ever go to work before he retired, because it seems like every day is filled to overflowing. Our latest adventure is that we have become vendors at a local market in my hometown. The Thursday Night Farm to Fork Farmer's Market is a fun venue, with music, great food from local restaurants [often using products from the vendors], and a revolving number of other local small producers. We had thought ... Read More about Spicy Zucchini “Fries”
3 Light Summer Salads
I know that I have been scarce here on the blog lately. Lots of you have been regular visitors though, and I am grateful and so pleased that you find good information here, even when I am so often absent. Things are getting better, day by day. I am getting a handle on some health challenges that I have been struggling with, in addition to losing Larry's sister at the beginning of the year. Instrumental in that has been my discovery of essential oils, which I will talk about more soon, but ... Read More about 3 Light Summer Salads
Margherita Roasted Potatoes
I'm working to get the last of our summer produce "put up" before it's too late. Kind of a bummer to have to interrupt my taking photos of pretty leaves and pinning things in Pinterest to can more tomatoes, but tomatoes won't wait! I try to also find as many ways as I can for us to enjoy the veggies we have while they are still fresh. Canned tomatoes are very welcome in January, but right now I want to enjoy them straight off the vine, and all the ones I can cram into meals now, are ones I don't ... Read More about Margherita Roasted Potatoes
Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Zucchini
Full of fresh late summer veggies! I keep telling myself I have to stop putting zucchini recipes on here this summer, but then, the next thing I know, there is a plate of some sort of new zucchini thing sitting in front of my camera. It's like the zucchini are taking over everything - my garden, my mind, my blog, and most especially my dinner! I tell you - they are insidious! But today, I could not be more glad, because this is an absolutely fantastic meal. Ready in no time, it can be vegetarian ... Read More about Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Zucchini
Blueberry Ginger Buttermilk Cake
A lovely late summer cake! Alas, this will be the final blueberry post for the summer of '14. Not the last blueberry thing we'll eat, for sure. We freeze blueberries to use in the wintertime. They are equally good as the fresh ones in a cake like this. If you run across this recipe for Blueberry Ginger Buttermilk Cake later on in the year, don't hesitate to use frozen berries in it. But fresh ones are what we have today. A final picking that Larry did with his Mom the other day. Blueberry ... Read More about Blueberry Ginger Buttermilk Cake
Fresh Corn Fritters
Here in Upstate NY, this is really the best time of year for sweet corn. Nothing really compares to that first early corn that we crave so much after a long winter without it, but for the absolute best stuff, August and early September are when you find varieties that have the most flavor. Later varieties usually have ears that stay tender and sweet, even as they get huge - those are perfect for getting in the freezer for wintertime soups and side dishes. Just blanch them for a couple ... Read More about Fresh Corn Fritters
Kale Walnut Pesto
One thing that enjoys a cool summer is kale. Man, do we have kale! Usually, we have a lot of kale early in the summer, and then again in the fall, but this summer the spring kale never tried to go to seed, so it is still going strong. Every morning, when I go down to tend to the chickens, I make a detour through the garden to grab a handful of kale for my breakfast smoothie. Often we have it for dinner as well, and we are still overloaded. So, I wanted to find a way to use up a lot of kale ... Read More about Kale Walnut Pesto
Creamy Vegan Zucchini Dill Soup
We are still on a zucchini kick around here. Nothing wrong with that as far as I can see. It's a good year for squash, with plenty of rain and nice sunny days in between. The tomatoes are wishing it were a little warmer, but squash doesn't mind that is has been cooler than normal. It makes the plants produce a little longer as well, because in warmer weather production speeds up which tends to wear the plants out more quickly. Not a problem this year. I have never understood the idea of getting ... Read More about Creamy Vegan Zucchini Dill Soup
Zucchini and Black Bean Quesadillas
I know a lot of people complain about how prolifically zucchini grows, and I might even make a joke about it every so often here on the blog, but honestly we do love it. You still might want to lock your car doors if you stop by and leave your car in our driveway for very long, though. Zucchini have minds of their own, and have been know to form little squads that somehow make their way to the back seats of the unwary visitor. And this is the time of year when people leave their dogs tied on the ... Read More about Zucchini and Black Bean Quesadillas