What are the differences between sprouts, shoots and microgreens? Moving to Greenville and discovering the diverse farmers markets has been enjoyable. However, I have discovered new food I had yet experienced. Sprouts, shoots and microgreens were once only popular in expensive restaurants, prepared by Le Cordon Bleu graduates…now, they are grown by specialty farmers and provide an enhanced flavor and texture to any home cooked dish. Shoots Once the new growth of a plant has formed from seed germination, this “up-growth” is called a stem, also knows as a shoot. Shoots have not yet developed a secondary cell wall, making them delicate, easy to chew and digest by animals. Photo…
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Summertime Cocktails
Summertime is my favorite time to have a light, fruity cocktail to make my mind THINK I am on vacation or sitting at the beach. Here a few of my recently discovered favorites. Let me know if you try them. It might be a little pricey to stock your liquor cabinet with all of these ingredients, so you may want to pace yourself. QUALITY COCKTAIL TOOLS ARE A MUST: BUY A SET HERE! Buddy 16-Piece Wine and Cocktail Mixing Bar Set–Bartender Kit w/Essential Barware Tools-Large 25 oz. Stainless Steel Shaker, Ice Bucket, Muddler, Double Sided Jigger – Free 1000 Cocktail Recipes PDF Hornitos Lemonade – This recipe is from Hornitos,…
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EASY Freezing For My Summer Garden
As of today, my garden has rendered a great harvest, more than enough for my husband and I. I have been doing research and I am trying several methods to “preserve” my summer harvest. All fruits and vegetables have enzymes and bacteria that can destroy the nutrients, change the color and texture of the food. Blanching is a heat treatment that will destroy these enzymes. My first harvest I tried the blanch then freeze method. Although not difficult, it did take most of an evening to complete the process for all my squash and peppers. Do not allow the vegetables to sit on the counter more than 24 hours before…
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Summertime Strawberries
Summertime and hot temperatures are just around the corner, so that means strawberries are perfect for picking. My wonderful neighbor was so kind by sharing some strawberries with us, her mother picked that same morning. So fresh and sweet, my husband flashed his beautiful brown eyes and asked for my own, Summertime Strawberry Cake, which I was happy to oblige. What is a Strawberry? Strawberries are a red, sweet, juicy fruit consumed in everything from preserves to milkshakes. Synonymous with summertime, but able to withstand shipping and storage, small berries tend to taste better than that are larger varieties since larger ones tend to be more watery. Peak season is…
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Tips for Delivering Bereavement Comfort Food
Mourning the loss of friends… So, the last couple of days have been difficult. I found out that a friend I met while working at the Home Depot nearly 18 years ago, has passed away. This followed by a rash of news that flooded my inbox regarding other former co-workers that have passed away within the last year. I am a bit heartbroken. Although I have not been in contact with these individuals in recent months, I have always felt a special kindred relationship with them because we shared time together, years ago when we were younger, before families, and before the responsibilities of middle-aged adults were realized. We could…
