4 Edible Flowers To Plant Now.
Edible flowers have long been popular with chefs and gardeners alike. They make a wonderful garnish and beautiful decoration for drinks and cakes (like my Orange and Flora Tea Cake) - but it can be confusing at times to suss out which flowers are great for actually ingesting, and which should be avoided. With all flowers it’s important to choose those that are organically grown. This ensures that they are safe for consumption.
Asparagus and Eggs with Lemony Aioli
This humble combo will make you feel special thanks to this very tasty Lemony Aioli that mixes up quickly (recipe below). This first recipe is for one person, so multiply the number of eggs and asparagus you’ll need by the number of people in your party. The entire dish takes about 30 minutes to make.
Orange and Flora Tea Cake
Do you love a beautifully decorated cake but sort of lack (or don’t have time for) fondant skills? This easy tea cake is your solution. Mix up the batter and bake, then whip up the frosting and cover with your favorite berries, pansies, and herbs.
Banana, Buttermilk and Currant Muffins
Do you ever bake a great recipe, then a day or so later realize you have dribbles and drabs of ingredients left over that you’d like to not waste. That happened with me this week after making two rounds of Irish Breads: Irish Brown Bread, and Irish Soda Bread.
I had buttermilk, wheat germ, currants left over from the Irish breads, and an overripe banana that all needed to be finished before they went off.
My solution became these “This and That Muffins (Or Banana, Buttermilk and Currant Muffins)”.
Monday Night Dinner Salad for One
Let’s say it’s a Monday night and you’ve just managed to get through all the items on your to-do list. You want something great (that perhaps pairs well with the Irish Brown Bread you made over the weekend). Keep these ingredients on hand for when this situation arises:
Simple Irish Brown Bread
Many people make Irish Brown bread with beer, molasses, and honey - all great ingredients, but I prefer not to get too complicated with this simple bread recipe.
Irish soda bread and Irish brown bread, both quick breads that rely on baking soda for rising are quite similar in process, but have different textures. This Irish Brown Bread recipe is not as sweet as the Irish Soda Bread made with currants.
Super Easy Irish Soda Bread
I’ve never been a fan of Soda Bread until I came across this recipe and just fell in love with it. Most of the Soda Bread I’ve had in the past is grocery store bread that’s been wrapped in shamrock decorated plastic and has the texture of a brick. This Soda Bread however was simple to make and is scrumptious - especially with a bit of jam on top!
According to Wikipedia, the flour classically used for Soda Bread in Ireland is made from soft wheat, so when making Soda Bread here in the US it’s often recommended to use a cake or pastry flour which has lower levels of gluten than an all-purpose or bread flour. Having said that, I used organic All-Purpose Flour and it turned out wonderfully.
Also note that due to the fact that the leavening action starts immediately you should practice a minimum amount of mixing of the ingredients before baking; and definitely don’t knead the dough.
Batter Up! When, How, and Why Not To Use Boxed Cake Mix
Are you a cake novice? Would you rather grab a box of questionable ingredients off a grocery store shelf or lovingly gather the 5 or 6 items you need to create a homemade cake? Here are the pros and cons.
Easy Delight! Shrimp Alfredo and Penne
This has been the time of year for comfort food here in Connecticut. Freezing temps for weeks on end has everyone tucked into bed with a book by 6pm. (Luckily Spring is almost here). In the meantime try this satisfying dish. The recipe is easy to follow and you can add or subtract amounts, and ingredients to suit your taste. Recipe below:
Super Easy, Very Swanky Non-Alcoholic Rose Sparkler
This pretty little non alcoholic sparkler is all about the glass and the ice!
These rosette shaped silicone ice molds are available widely, I got mine at Home Goods.
Mystic River Chocolate Cafe
The Mystic River Chocolate Cafe creates a wide variety of chocolates in their little shop on Water Street.
The chocolate itself is crafted from rare cacao beans sourced from around the world - making it truly “bean to bar”. Co-owner Bill Gash starts with crunchy beans that are transformed into remarkable chocolate creations.
Not only is the chocolate dreamy, but the artwork and graphic design on all store branding, chocolate wrappers and packaging are designed by co-owner Casey Gash … and it’s gorgeous.
Make Full Moon Tea with Me!
Moon Tea is very similar to Sun Tea, However it’s brewed overnight in cool temps by the light of the moon.