June 28, 2010

Hydrangea are the Easiest Flowers





I have a TON of hydrangea bushes growing in my yard. They are so easy, requiring very little upkeep. They will reward you with gorgeous blooms all through the summer. These plants like to live in wetter ground, so if you have an area of your yard that always seems to drain water slower than the rest and has a little shade in the summer, they would be perfect to plant in your yard. You can buy them anywhere, including the grocery store florist. When you are ready, just plant them in your yard. 


Some blossoms are white, blue, pink, or purple. I know some people put lime around their bushes to turn the flowers a different color, but I just let mine actual their natural color. If a friend has a color you covet, you could always pull a branch down to the ground and place a rock on it. The branch will root itself and by next year you could have a "baby" bush to dig up and take to your house.



Hydrangea flowers make for beautiful and easy arrangements. I try to cut my flowers in the morning, because they often look sad and droopy by the afternoon in the heat. Always cut more blossoms than you think you'll need and cut the ones that are falling to the ground with their heavy weight so you won't even notice you've taken them off the bush. When I bring them in the house, I put them in my kitchen sink filled with room temp to cool temperature water. The whole flower goes in, blossom and all. This usually perks any wilters right up since they love water. Strip the leaves off the stems by running your fingers down the stem from top to bottom. You should leaf strip all flowers because leaves below the water line will generate mucky smelly water fast.


I start placing the flowers in my chosen vase, trimming the length of the stem so the flowers sit at the right height. I think an arrangement that is shaped like a mound is perfect for hydrangeas, so my center flowers are higher than the rest. Sometimes I add a little greenery or another flower that compliments the hydrangeas. Whatever you choose, your arrangement is sure to look lovely and bring you joy. Put one in your bathroom, one in the foyer and one in the family room, so you have flowers wherever you are. It will feel like a luxury, when it's really a fast and inexpensive treat!

June 23, 2010

Summer Fresh Caprese Salad Appetizer


This is a show stopper of an appetizer. My brother and sister-in-law served these at their wedding. We recently had my Dad over for "linner" (you know lunch-dinner) and he brought all of the ingredients to make these. I think he fell in love with them at the wedding. My Dad has always loved eating food but this interest in cooking is pretty new. I'm still getting used to the fact that my Dad knows his way around a grocery store! Since he brought everything, it was very easy and fun to put it all together with him. (Excuse the piles of sippy cups drying in the background! Those plastic things never dry enough in the dishwasher, such is my life.)
All of my family enjoys the fresh taste of caprese salad, but these morsels are tiny finger food versions of the famous salad, which was perfect for my brother's wedding cocktail hour. Caprese salad consists of sliced tomatoes, sliced buffalo mozzarella cheese, layered with fresh basil. All doused in a wonderful balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing. Delicious when those items are fresh and in season, which is really what Italian cooking is all about. (See my post about loving the food in Italy here.) This version is perfect for people milling about waiting for the grill to finish your Disappearing Pork Loin or Easy Roasted Chicken and not feel like they are tied down to a plate. This would also be a fantastic recipe to bring to someone's house because it can be served as an appetizer or as part of the main meal.

Summer Fresh Caprese Salad Appetizer
Smaller cherry tomatoes
Buffalo mozzarella (this is NOT the same as mozzarella you use for pizza, Buffalo mozzarella is tender and soft and made from a combination of cow's milk and water buffalo's milk - hence the name)
Fresh basil
Balsamic vinegar
Extra virgin or virgin olive oil
Toothpicks

Slice the mozzarella into cubes around the same size as the tomatoes. Pull the leaves of basil off the stems and slice them into smaller pieces. Thread each toothpick with a tomato, a chunk of cheese, a basil leaf and repeat, leaving the toothpick ends showing out of both sides, which makes it easy to pick up. Place the completed sticks on a platter. Drizzle the appetizers with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, going easy on each. Taste your work and see if it needs more oil or vinegar. Serve with a sprig of basil on top for garnish.

June 19, 2010

Poached Eggs for Father's Day

 
We always have eggs around here and I like to try to find different ways of using them. We celebrated Father's Day this morning because we have to be at church very early tomorrow (cereal anyone?). I wanted to make a hearty, but fresh breakfast for the wonderful father of my children. He loves scrambled eggs, grits and toast like his mom used to make, but I wanted something a little fancier. I decide to poach eggs and set them on veggies and toast. They were delicious! We make poached eggs on toast with cheese occasionally, but these were much better.
Fresh Veggie Poached Eggs
eggs
roma tomatoes
avocado
fresh herbs like dill, basil, oregano, parsley

toast
butter
salt, pepper and granulated garlic

Chop tomatoes and avocado and put in a bowl. Add herbs, salt, pepper and garlic to taste. Mix well and let sit off to the side.

To poach an egg you can buy one of those egg poacher inserts that sit in your pan. They also make poachers for the microwave, but we had trouble with ours exploding the lid open. So I've given up on beautiful looking eggs and we settle for a more rustic look. Bring about 3 inches of water to a low boil in a shallow pan or skillet. Carefully crack the eggshell in half and cradle the egg in one half of the shell. Slide the egg into the pan ever so gently to keep it together. Don't cook more than can fit in your pan without touching. Cook for about 3 mins unless you like your yolk firmer, than maybe a minute longer.

While the eggs are poaching, toast your bread and then butter it. Set toast on plate and top with tomato mix. When eggs are done, carefully lift them out of the water using a slotted spatula so the excess water drains off. Set egg on prepared toast and top with salt, pepper, more herbs, a slice of tomato or avocado, whatever you like. Serve immediately with knife and fork. Your man will love you for it!

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