OF PANSY AND PRIMROSE ...'THE PROMISE OF SPRING' ~ ORANGE-TERIYAKI SALMON / SPRING RISOTTO / SALMON CAKES with SESAME GINGER VINAIGRETTE

"The nicest thing about the promise of spring is that sooner or later she'll have to keep it."

~ Mark Beltaire

ORANGE-TERIYAKI SALMON

~ cook an extra pound and make salmon cakes the next day

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For each pound of salmon

whisk together ~

3 Tbsp. fresh orange juice

zest of 1 orange

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 Tbsp. rice vinegar

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. minced garlic

2 tsp. minced fresh ginger

Preheat oven to 450º. Pour mixture over salmon and bake 13-15 minutes, depending on thickness. Do not overcook. Fish should cut easily by not flake apart.

SPRING RISOTTO

~ fresh herbs, a must

1 cup Arborio rice

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup sliced assorted mushrooms

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 tsp. chopped garlic

1/2 cup white wine

1 tsp. chopped shallots

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 1/2 cups of hot organic chicken or vegetable stock

2 tsp. coarse salt

2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup fresh chopped savory herbs

(rosemary, thyme, parsley, or basil)

Have everything measured and ready. Heat olive oil in large pan. Saute onions, garlic and shallots until clear. Add rice and continue to saute for 1 minute. Deglaze pan with white wine an gradually start adding hot stock, a bit at a time. Stir until liquid is absorbed by rice, about 10 minutes. Add mushrooms, salt & pepper, and continue cooking, adding stock for another 10 minutes. When rice is plump and liquid absorbed, remove from heat. Stir in herbs and adjust seasoning to taste. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

SALMON CAKES with SESAME GINGER VINAIGRETTE

~ great with leftover salmon (e.g. Orange-Teriyaki Salmon) or cooked special for this delicious dish

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1 pound cooked salmon

4 Tbsp. dry bread crumbs

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 large organic egg

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 tsp. coarse salt

1/2 tsp. white pepper

1/2 finely chopped red bell pepper

2 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter

Hungarian paprika

chopped green onions or chives

• In large bowl, gently blend salmon with bread crumbs. Set aside.
• Combine mayonnaise, egg, Dijon, red pepper and salt & white pepper. Gently mix together with salmon and refrigerate at least an hour.
• Using scoop, drop onto Pam sprayed baking sheet. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with chopped green onion or chives and a dusting of Hungarian paprika.
• Broil approximately 6 minutes or until golden. Serve over a bed of mixed greens, lightly dressed with Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette.

SESAME GINGER VINAIGRETTE

(From the Common Ground Cookbook)

3 Tbsp. spicy sesame oil

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

3 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 1/2 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger

3 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar

3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp. coarse salt

1/8 tsp. white pepper

Combine ingredients. Gradually whisk in olive oil.

SPRING PANSY PARADE ~ (SUNDAY BRUNCH) WILTED SPINACH & GRUYERE FRITTATA / ORANGE-ALMOND SCONES

Dainty pansy whose soft painted face

Tickles my garden with whimsical grace.

WILTED SPINACH and GRUYERE FRITTATA

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter

1 (10-oz.) package baby spinach leaves

1 bunch chopped green onions

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1 tsp. sweet Hungarian paprika

10 organic eggs

1/2 cup sour cream or half & half

1 1/2 cups grated Gruyere cheese

dried parsley flakes for garnish

• Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Saute green onions in 1 Tbspbutter. Gradually add spinach until wilted. Drain well and set aside.
• Melt 3 Tbsp. butter. Whisk eggs, sour cream, and salt & pepper. Fold in 1 cup of cheese, spinach mixture and melted butter. Spread in greased quiche pan. Sprinkle with additional 1/2 cup cheese. Garnish with parsley
• Bake 45-55 minutes or until eggs are set. (Serves 4-6)

ORANGE-ALMOND SCONES

~ delicious warm or cold

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1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 extra-large organic egg

1/4 tsp. almond extract

3 cups flour

4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. soda

1/4 tsp. salt

8 Tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut up

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup finely chopped blanched almonds

1 Tbsp. freshly grated orange peel

• Grate peel before juicing the orange. Blend juice & buttermilk. Add egg and extract. Beat smooth with a fork.
• Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles fine granules. Add sugar, almonds, and orange peel. Mix together evenly. Add egg mixture and stir with a fork until soft dough forms.
• Drop by tablespoons on greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375-degrees about 20-25 minutes or until medium brown. (8-12 scones, depending on size)

'AND SPRING AROSE ON THE GARDEN FAIR' ~ MEDITERRANEAN TORTA / CHOPPED GREEK SALAD

"And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."

~Percy Bysshe Shelley

"The Sensitive Plant"

Siberian Squill

(Scilla siberica)

Yoshino Cherry, Forsythia, Lungwart

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MEDITERRANEAN TORTA

~ Simple layered loaf of mouth-watering goodness

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1 large round bakery loaf of sour dough, boule, or peasant bread

2 large sliced roasted red peppers*

2 large sliced roasted yellow peppers*

(short cut ~ 16 oz. jar fire roasted yellow & red peppers)

8 oz. sliced provolone cheese

15 sliced in half sun-dried tomatoes

8 oz. sliced mozzarella cheese

14 oz. jar drained and halved artichoke hearts

1/4 cup pesto (homemade or quality store bought)

• Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Slice off 1/4 from top of bread. Hollow out leaving 1/2-inch shell. (Use inside for breadcrumbs. Toast and freeze for later use.)
• Layer ingredients inside shell in the following order: roasted peppers, 4-oz. provolone cheese, sun-dried tomatoes,mozzarella cheese, artichoke hearts, pesto, and remaining 4 oz. provolone cheese.
• Wrap in foil and bake for 30-40 minutes, until cheeses are melted. Uncover and slice into wedges. (6-8 servings)

Note: Roasted peppers. Broil on baking sheet until skin is charred, turning as each side blackens. Remove and place in paper or plastic bag for 10 minutes. Remove, rinse and slip off skins. Core, seed and slice.

View from Upstairs Window

Shadblow Serviceberry

(Amelanchier canadensis)

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CHOPPED GREEK SALAD

~ Simple salad coated with a simple dressing of olive oil and lemon

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1 chopped yellow pepper

1 chopped red pepper

1 chopped orange pepper

1 chopped and seeded English cucumber

1 cup chopped red onion

2 cloves finely chopped garlic

4 seed and chopped Roma tomatoes

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 Tbsp. fresh chopped oregano (2 tsp. dried)

pinch of sea salt

freshly ground pepper to taste

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice & zest

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 cups shredded red leaf lettuce

3 cups shredded romaine

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

• Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice & zest.
• Toss chopped peppers, cucumber, onion, garlic, tomatoes, olives, parsley, oregano, salt & pepper in large bowl with olive oil dressing. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour to allow flavors to mellow.
• Combine both red leaf and the romaine lettuce. Divide among 8 individual chilled salad plates. Spoon vegetables over top. Sprinkle with feta and additional cracked pepper. (8 servings)

April Blues

Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica)

Lungwart (Pulmonaria)

Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica)

Hyacinth, Tulip Tarda, trillium, tulips, pansy, lungwart, blooming pachysandra, forsythia, Siberian Squill, primrose

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Click on all for enlarged photos :)

FAREWELL SWEET APRIL ~ AS THE GARDEN GROWS

"Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire."

~ Virgil


Pansies, hyacinths and daffodils

Yoshino cherry blossoms, shadblow serviceberry blossoms (Amelanchier canadensis), American Elm

Forsythia

Tulips

Groundcover (myrtle, pachysandra , bergenia)

Trillium