A giant pot of calabaza en dulce (sweet squash) slowly simmered away on my Abuelitas stove. The house was bursting with sweet aroma. Delightful notes of cinnamon and piloncillo that marked the beginning of fall for us. Warm calabaza that had been enriched with just the right amount of piloncillo was served warm off the stove in a bowl bathed with milk. It was fall in a bowl and I always needed seconds. Calabaza en dulce ( Sweet squash) is also known as calabaza en tacha. It seems like every region in Mexico and even from family to family have…
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Paletas de pepino limon (cucumber lime popsicles) are a Mexican summer treat! They are such a refreshing bite and all though summer is winding down my Armenian cucumber plants are not slowing down. We are soaking every bit of sunshine with these paletas de pepino limon in hand before the summer ends. This is one way to use up all the surplus of cucumbers that the garden is throwing my way that the whole family enjoys. Armenian cucumbers are my staple cucumber to grow they are heat tolerant and extremely prolific. In another post I will go into detail on…
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Over run with summer squash? Let’s make these delicious street corn zucchini boats! I know at this point of the summer you’re probably sick of zucchini. Before you run to give away all those zucchini hear me out, all we need is more flavor! No bland zucchini recipes around here, no ma’am. This simple recipe uses corn and zucchini some of the highlight crops of the summer who’s flavors just work wonderfully together! Summer squash is such a versatile vegetable it takes on what ever flavor profile you dress it up with! In this case it will be the perfect…
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One of the signature scents of summer has to be lemon verbena. I honestly think this is what sunshine smells like! Its lemony citrusy scent is energizing and invigorating. There is nothing quite like a giant cup of this cold refreshing lemon verbena iced tea after a long work day in the garden. Lemon verbena is a also packed with many health benefits which are honestly a bonus! Lemon verbena aids in digestion, stress reduction, decongestant, reduces bloating and is packed with antioxidants! There are so many other benefits it’s the kind of thing I want in my belly! This…
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Fresh homemade curly fries on a week day night just hit different am I right?! I harvested these potatoes from the garden and really wanted to use them in a creative way and these curly fries did not disappoint! Guys go find that spiralizer that you have tucked away in a drawer from when you were trying to eat low carb, or is that just me? Any who- carbs are life so today we are making these delectable crispy, golden to perfection curly fries right at home. Topped with a little parmesan and parsley- craving some right about now! Dip-…
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Need a hands off crop? Let me show you how simple it is to grow potatoes! Who doesn’t love a good ol’ bowl of potatoes whether they are mashed, fried or everything in between they are delicious! Potatoes are one of the most versatile root crops to work with. Feeling creative try my crispy and flavorful curly fry recipe! Where to buy potato seeds to plant? You can usually find potato seeds early in the season at your local nursery. Local nurseries are well stocked and there is plenty varieties to choose from! I’ve also bought some at big box…
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Chiles rellenos is the one comfort food I can eat anytime of year! Let’s face it, anything that is stuffed with cheese has a lot going for it! BUT pair it with California grown poblano peppers that are slow roasted to perfection, it’s an exquisite duo! California is the leading agricultural state in the nation. California farmers are responsible for half the nation’s peppers. Pepper season is kicking into high gear in the next few weeks and there’s so much to get excited for! I’ll be eating my weight in fresh salsa and chips, jalapeno margaritas anyone? Pepper season runs…
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The savory cauliflower steak recipe you didn’t know you needed. This recipe is so easy but bursting with flavors, can we have a minute for the GLOW-UP cauliflower has had in recent years though! From “pizza crusts” to “mash potatoes” it’s become one of the favorite low carb options for many dishes. The uses for this mild vegetable are honestly endless and delicious! One of the reasons it’s so versatile is it takes on the flavor you dress it up with. In this simple recipe we will be using a variety of chili powders, garlic, olive oil, and spices to…
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Are you looking to grow peppers in your garden this season? One of the great joys of gardening is to be able to grow all the unusual and heirloom varieties that are sometimes reserved for specialty stores and farmers markets. You would be surprised at how many varieties, colors, shapes there is! Spicy burn your mouth peppers, sweet snacking peppers, stuffing peppers. There’s a pepper for all your culinary needs. The best part? Growing them is not that complicated! With thousands of peppers to choose from the hardest part will be deciding which ones to grow in your garden! Which…
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When harvesting anything from the garden I really like to honor the fresh ingredients and use them in a way that highlights their flavor. This simple recipe does just that, it has been on repeat around here! This would be a perfect side dish to pair up with your choice of protein or to whip up when you want a quick lunch. I have been obsessed with tofu lately and it pairs up perfectly well with this sweet and spicy snap pea recipe! My family and I look forward to snacking on snap peas all year long! The garden is…