Peek-a-Boo Beets for Dinner

We have had an amazing season with our community garden patch this year. We have enjoyed many fresh vegetables: Cabbages, potatoes, peppers. Some of them the kids are not too happy with. Cauliflower was a bust. But the kids love beets. As you can see in these playful pictures...

The best way to eat beets - in my opinion - is baked. Just cut the tops and roots off and scrub the beets clean with a brush. Take a fork and pierce them a couple of times. Then wrap your beets in a layer of aluminum foil. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees until soft. Depending on the size...If they are big it can take 90 minutes.

Once you break the foil open and you can eat your beets with butter, or sour cream and some chives sprinkled on. Heavenly!


But don't throw out those tops! They are quite delicious. You can cut the stems off and saute them in olive oil and garlic. Then add the cut up cleaned wet leaves. Once the leaves are all wilted this makes a lovely side! I love to splash a bit of lime juice on top of mine...

Eat your Flowers!

Flowers can be used for a multitude of dishes from garnishes to salads. For a great summer treat try freezing petals in ice cube trays filled with water for a lovely addition to your favorite lemonade or iced tea! Although this seems to be a new trend eating flowers has been going on for centuries. The first mention of people consuming flowers was as far back as 140 BC. Also many veggies we eat are really flowers broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes and broccoflower are all flowers. The spice saffron is the stamen from the crocus flower, and capers are unopened flower buds to a bush native in the Mediterranean and Asian nations. So you most likely have been eating without even knowing it.

A list of common EDIBLE FLOWERS:

Angelica                         Anise Hyssop
Apple Blossom               Artichoke
Arugula                           Bachelor Buttons AKA Cornflower
Banana                           Basil
Bee Balm                       Borage
Burnet                            Calendula
Carnation                       Chamomile
Chicory                         Chives
Chrysanthemum             Cilantro / Coriander
Citrus                            Clover
Dandelion                      Day-lily
Dianthus                        Dill
Elderberry                     English Daisy
Fennel                           Freesia
Fuchsia                         Gardenia
Garlic                           Geraniums
Gladiolas                      Hibiscus
Honeysuckle                Hollyhock
Hyssop                        Iceland Poppy
Impatiens                     Jasmine
Johnny Jump Up          Lavender
Lemon Verbena           Lilac
Linden                         Mallow
Marigold                     Marjoram
Mint                            Mustard
Nasturtium                  Oregano
Okra                          Onion
Orange Blossom         Pansy
Passionflower             Pea
Pineapple Sage           Primrose
Radish                        Red Clover
Redbud                      Rose
Rosemary                   Rose of Sharon
Runner Bean               Safflower
Sage                           Savory
Scented Geranium       Snapdragon
Society Garlic             Squash Blossom
Sunflower                   Sweet Marigold
Sweet William             Thyme
Tuberous Begonia        Tulip
Viola                           Violet
Winter Savory             Yucca

How To:

There are a few cautions one should remember before harvesting any flowers:
Do not harvest any flowers that could have been exposed to animal excrement, that have had insecticides or fertilizer sprayed on them, or are from the side of roads where they have been exposed to trash, carbon monoxide etc.

Harvest your flowers in the morning.

Next, bathe the flowers gently in a salt-water bath.
Immediately drop them in ice water for 1 minute. Gently pat flower dry on a towel.

For best results, use your flower petals immediately 


Article by Beccijo, The Enchanted Cupboard

A few lovely flower theme items from our members to add to your Nature Table:

ThisCozyLife

 

 

Alkelda

Woodmouse

Please leave a comment and share with use how you eat your flowers!

Our First Harvest Of The Year

Our garden has yielded the first vegetables of the year, two perfect radishes. My son was beside himself he was so excited. The radishes are "his" since the seeds came with the garden bag we got him earlier in the year.

Gardening has been a family affair this year. After 5 years of trying to grow vegetables in various pots in various locations around our shade dense property, I gave up. This past fall I told my husband I was through looking at bushes I didn't like and demanded the removal of many of them directly in front of the house. It's the one place that gets enough sun to grow vegetables. After all, I'd much rather look out and see a beautiful garden than random bushes.

It didn't take long before the kids were into the act and we were all throwing out ideas for the kinds of plants to plant and how it all should come together. Honestly, that's the best way to get your kids involved, just talk about what they'd like to grow. Tell them what you'd like to grow and why. When you know what they are interested in, it's then easy to delve deeper and teach them everything about that particular plant.

After we decided upon our seeds, we planned our garden. We built raised beds and decided that given the small space, we'd go with a square foot garden approach. I even bought the book by Mel Bartholomew. It's been immensely helpful. Our garden boxes came together nicely and then we waited, not so patiently, for winter to pass so we could start planting.

Planting was the most fun for the kids. Who doesn't like to stick their hands in the dirt? Putting seeds in the holes, gently covering them up and then watering (oh what fun the watering is!), and, again not so patiently, waiting for them to peek up out of the ground.

We tend the garden every day to check on our crop, to talk about the changes in the plants, to predict which plants will grow well, what will be next to harvest and which ones the kids want to try. Their enthusiasm is endless because they are a part of the process and because they can take ownership of the accomplishment. And as a result, they are not only learning a lot, but experiencing so many new things too. I am quite certain that the only reason my son tried radishes is because they were "his" and he grew them with love and pride.

Make (delicious) artichokes

Today's how-to recipe is from Donni of the Etsy shop Fairyfolk, full of delightful + magical felted acorns, toys, terrariums and more.

Make (delicious) artichokes

photo via Flickr

Oh how I love an artichoke... it's the combination of their earthy flavor, the peeling of their green petals and the yummyness of the dipping sauce. I feel simple and sophisticated, all at once.

Lucky me... I had an artichoke for lunch today!

This is how I cook them...

I rinse them in water to wash them and get any little lingering bugs out of them.

Cut off the stalks with a knife.

The little spikes on the ends of the petals can be a nuisance. I cut them off before cooking by using a knife to cut off the tips of the petals.

And then I use scissors to trim the spikes off the remaining petals.
Place the trimmed artichokes in a steamer, stem up.

Steam for about 30 minutes or until stalk bases are tender.
My favorite dipping sauce is balsamic vinaigrette. I mix equal parts balsamic vinegar with olive oil and a little salt to taste (yes, I love balsamic!) Whisk together until it emulsifies and... Voila!

Melted butter is another great artichoke sauce, as is lemon butter or mayonnaise.

Peel a petal, dip it into the sauce and eat the soft flesh at the base of the petal. It's delicious!!
When you come to the heart, use a spoon to gently scrape the hairs away, leaving the tender heart. What's left is pure delicacy.
I cooked 4 today. As no one else in my family eats artichokes, guess what I'm having for lunch tomorrow, the next day and the day after? Lucky me!

What's in Fairyfolk's shop? These spring golden yellow acorns are so lovely!

How to Attract Fairies to Your Yard

Planting a whimsical fairy garden is a rapidly growing trend among adult gardeners and it's especially appealing to the wee gardeners. Fairy gardens may be grown in container gardens,window boxes or in a special area of your yard or garden.

The fairies adore ponds, shiny stones, gazing balls and the color green. Be sure to add these whimsies to your planted garden for extra Fairy attracting!

Here's a list of the plants and other items you will need:

The Flowers
Bluebells ~ British and Irish legends say that fairies are summoned to their midnight dances by ringing bluebells.
Carnations ~ Fairies take the colors of these flowers and radiate love.
Clover ~ Assists in finding love and wealth.
Cowslips ~ Distinguished by their abilbilty to find hidden fairy gold.
Daisies ~ Wearing a daisy chain will protect you against fairy pranks.
Foxglove ~ Fairy hats and gloves are made from foxglove. If you look closely you will see tiny spots on the Foxglove blossoms... These are fairy fingerprints.
Iris ~ Fairies of this flower appear in all colors of the rainbow and bring feelings of peace and hope.
Jasmine ~ The scent attracts fairies from all over the world. Even China!
Marigolds ~ To see fairies, pick a marigold, mix it with water and dab on eyelid. This trick also works with Shamrock.
Pansy ~ Fairies use this blossom for making love potions.
Primrose ~ If you put primroses on your doorstep, fairies will be able to enter and bless you while you sleep.
Pussywillow ~ The soft silk pods are used as pillows by all kinds of little spirits.
Tulips ~ The fairies use the as cradles for their babies.

Other Whimsies to Include
Rocks ~ Shiny stones like marble, quartz and agate attract fairies. Use them in borders or paths or just as little gifts for the Wee Folk.
Mirrors ~ Fairies love looking at their reflections. Gazing balls are perfect for this!
Acorns ~ The fairies love these to make hats. They also use them for dishes.

The Plants
Plants that help attract fairies are:
Basil ~ Serves as a protector of the garden.
Lavender ~ Wherever this plant is grown, there will be fairy activity. Fairies use it to scent their clothing.
Rosemary ~ Fairies use this herb to combat hatred. It has positive energy.
Sage ~ Fairies use it to slow the aging process.
Sweet Woodruff ~ The flowers reflect the light of the moon and illuminate fairy dances in the garden.
Thyme ~ Fairies are known to build their houses under thyme.

If you plant some of these you are sure to attract the Wee Folk to your own little part of the world. You will also be helping other wildlife too, such as butterflies, dragonflies, birds and ladybugs. We all know how much fairies love to ride upon dragonflies and butterflies ;) Most of all just have FUN! It's a great way to spend time with your children and get you both closer to Mother Earth :)

Rebecca Coleman is the owner of The Polka Dot Dragon and mom to one adorable pixie:)