Today in Our South Jersey Garden #GardenCuizine

Today in Our Garden
South Jersey 
USDA Zone 7a (formerly zone 6b)

Hot and muggy weather in South Jersey today. It's still worth a stroll outside to get some exercise and enjoy nature. Of course, I took a camera as I walked through the garden with my coffee this morning. 

At the top of a trellis, Clematis Wildfire showed off a few deep purple blooms with white, daisy-like, penny-sized blooms of Feverfew growing below. Feverfew naturalizes beautifully in Cottage Gardens. 

Hydrangeas macrophylla ‘blue billow’ are in full bloom along with Oakleaf Hydrangea quecifolia Snowflake ‘Brido’. Our cobalt blue pom pom hydrangeas didn't bloom last year after the brutal winter, but regrowth has buds just starting to open!

In a raised bed with marigolds and rosemary, recently planted Dolico Cow Pea sprouts look promising as they poke through the dirt. Italian black-eyed peas hold skinny 5 1/2 inch long asparagus-colored pods atop uniform 12-inch plants according to Territorial Seed Company.

Sweet pepper plants have peppers showing already and our heirloom tomato plants are producing yellow flowers! Hummingbird favorites: Trumpet vine, Coronado hyssop, Lady in Red salvia, Coral Nymph and other pink salvias are starting to bloom too.

Red cannas and dinner plate dahlias are on the move and growing well. Harry planted them around the border of our veggie garden like usual. I relocated a few hollyhock seedlings to the garden fence border too; they came from another spot where they self sowed. 

Our special dahlias include red and yellow Show and Tell - a favorite from my cousin Bob who was an avid dahlia grower. It's hard to believe August 8th will be 5 years since he passed away from cancer.

Feeling Blue
Our Blue Garden patch of blue salvias seems to have disappeared, which is disappointing this year. Salvia Black and Blue and Salvia Guaranitica have returned for us the past 10 years, but this season I've only spotted a few Salvia Guaranitica's. Our Salvia uliginosa – Bog Sage didn't come back either. I wonder what was different this past winter... too much moisture or maybe too dry a spring?

Happy Gardening!
Photos and blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Never without a camera in our kitchen! The Pie is My Canvas #GardenCuizine #foodart #edibleflowers

The Pie is My Canvas

Decorate your next family birthday pie or cake with edible flowers for a unique dessert that can't be found anywhere else. In our house, we enjoy celebrating birthdays with pies more than cake. Key Lime Pie ranks number one for mom. With food comes photography in our house. Enjoy the following step-by-step pie decorating photos.

Step 1 - Make your favorite pie. For Key Lime Pie our favorite crust is gram cracker, but this year we didn't have any so I used KIND whole grain granola with raspberries and chia. It was a bit chewy and not as delicate as grahams, but Mom still loved it. To make it, I ground the granola in a coffee grinder; added egg white to hold it together. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 deg.F, then fill with key-lime custard and bake again for 15 minutes.

Step 2 - Take a walk in your garden and select edible blooms to decorate with. This year our seasoning celery was in bloom along with yellow blooms from mustard greens so I snipped some of them along with a handful of small pink roses. Red shiso perilla was perfect for accent leaves. Shiso selfs sows freely in our gardens.

Step 3 - Whip up some cream. This year I added a few fresh raspberries to the cream since their were raspberries in the granola crust. Fill a pastry bag with a star tip. And pipe rosettes around the border of chilled pie (make sure the pie is NOT warm).

Step 4 - Melt bakers chocolate in the microwave and stir until all is melted. Make a small pastry bag out of parchment and cut the tip with scissors.  Write your message.

Step 5 - Arrange your edible blooms.

Enjoy your creation with family and friends!

Happy 84th Birthday Mom!
Photos and blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Quick and Easy Wok Stir Fry Sauce #recipe #GardenCuizine

Quick and Easy Wok Stir Fry Sauce

Ingredients
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon minced ginger
 
Putting it all together

• Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. 
• Stir fry whatever protein you plan to use - such as chicken, shrimp, pork or tofu - in a blend of hot sesame oil and peanut oil; remove from wok. 
• Add whatever veggies you plan on wok cooking. We often stir fry onions and zucchini slices and then add in partially cooked (steamed) carrots and broccoli. 
• Near the end of cooking, move the veggies to the side; add the Stir Fry Sauce to the middle of the Wok. Heat to boiling then stir and add your protein back to the wok; reduce heat and stir until all is coated with a light glaze and heated through.
• Serve over brown rice, quinoa, or noodles.

Enjoy!
Blog post and recipe Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Quick Southwest Marinade for Grilled Chicken or Tofu #GardenCuizine #McCormickSpice

Quick Southwest Marinade 

for Grilled Chicken or Tofu

Try this quick marinade for the best grilled chicken or tofu. Serve grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts sliced on a bias (diagnal) on top of a Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad or a Southwest Salad. 

Your family will love this recipe as much as your company! Great for holiday and summer BBQs! If you're vegetarian - try using pressed tofu. Tofu can be frozen first; thawed then pressed to squeeze out water before marinating.

Two large chicken breasts serves 3 to 4 people when sliced on top of salads.

Ingredients (for 2 chicken breasts or a block of extra firm pressed tofu)

2 tablespoons (tbsp) olive oil
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp McCormick Perfect Pinch Salt-free Southwest Sweet 'n Smoky Seasoning

Putting it all together

• Combine all ingredients in a sturdy zip-lock baggie. I use freezer baggies since we purchase chicken breasts in 6-packs when on sale and freeze some. 
• Add two chicken breasts to baggie and squish around to coat the chicken. 
• Marinate for a few hours or overnight. Best if baggie is kept flat on a plate in the refrigerator. 
• For marinating a large batch: coat the chicken breasts and marinade ingredients together in a bowl rather than using a baggie. 

Enjoy!
Related Links: Grilling Tofu

Blog post and photos Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Creamy Cilantro Lime Salad Dressing #GardenCuizine #healthy #recipe

Cilantro Lime Salad Dressing

People seem to have a love or hate relationship with cilantro. Personally, I find more people love this cilantro dressing than dislike it. The flavors of fresh cilantro and lime pair perfectly with a Southwest Salad topped with avocado, black beans and corn like the one we just made at our Inspira Health Network healthy cooking class on Summer Salads.


Yields 9 one-ounce servings 
Ingredients
Juice of 3 limes
1 cup Cilantro, lightly packed
1/2 cup plain low fat Greek yogurt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 small garlic clove, peeled
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt

Putting it all together

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Mix until well blended. Pour into a serving container - I like to use a jelly jar. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Enjoy! 

GardenCuizine Nutrition Data: Cilantro Lime Salad Dressing: 
Good Source Vitamin C
Low Sodium, Low Saturated Fat
One ounce: 68 calories, total fat 6 grams, saturated fat 1 gram, Vitamin C 10% DV
Related Links
Coriandrum sativum About Cilantro - Missouri Botanical Garden
Blog post and recipe Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Eat Clean! Read Food Labels - Note that most Pickle Relish contains Corn Syrup. Here's a #GardenCuizine #healthytip

Better Pickle Relish

Healthy Food Prep Tip

For holiday weekends and summer BBQs offer homemade potato salad, cauliflower salad or a favorite salad. If your recipe calls for pickle relish - use the best quality relish you can find next to making your own.

Always read the food label. Avoid products with added corn syrup. It's common for store bought pickle relish to have added corn syrup (artificial colors and preservatives too). For better quality pickle relish, select a jar of pickles with the least amount of ingredients and chop them yourself. Kosher dill gherkins are pretty clean and make delicious relish.
Blog post and photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Build Your Own Rain Barrel @RutgersNJAES @EPAwatersense @BurlcoTimes

Make Your Own Rain Barrel

With water becoming more and more precious, owning a rain barrel (or two or three!) may be something to consider for your home and gardens. We made our first rain barrel today with the help of Mike Haberland of Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension at the Burlington County Garden Expo.

First we went inside a beautifully renovated farmhouse at the Expo location and watched a presentation on how to make a rain barrel. This Building-a-Rain-Barrel YouTube video is a good summary.

Then we went outside the farmhouse and looked over the supplies that came with the class. We started off by wrapping window screening around a 10-inch plastic colander that will be used to keep debris and mosquitoes from entering the water inlet in the top of the barrel.

We drilled 2 holes in a used 55-gallon, blue plastic Brandy barrel... what a great repurpose project! 

I drilled a larger hole about 3-inches from the top of the barrel to put in 1 1/4-inch plastic adapter piece to serve as an overflow for when the barrel fills up with rain water. See the video for all the details.

Harry drilled a smaller hole about 3-inches from the bottom to put in the faucet. We used waterproof sealant around the inserted materials.

Just as we were working on installing the metal conduit for the overflow segment, a photographer arrived on the scene from Burlington County Times. She snapped a bunch of photos and took our names. We just may be in tomorrow's paper; we'll have to look and see!

When we got home, Harry made a shallow hole where we decided to put the rain barrel and added small stones. Our next step will be to position and level 3 cinder blocks to support and raise the barrel. 

Our final step will be to cut into the nearby rain spout and add a new section to divert water to the barrel. We plan to stop by Home Depot asap to pick up the needed supplies.

Rain barrels help the environment and are a good way to save money and conserve water.
Related Links
Why Save Water?
Rain Barrel Installation Instructions
Blog post Copyright (C) Wind. All rights reserved.

Just CATching some sun waiting for my first hummingbird! #cats

Some photos are simply too cute not to share! Our sweet cat Snoops looking so serious about sunbathing in the windowsill!

Seriously, cats do best kept indoors if at all possible. They live long happy lives without harming wildlife. No killing birds. No eating poisoned mice or toxic sprayed plants. No parasites in their guts. A win-win for you and your furry friends.
 
Related Links
Spring 2015 Ruby-throated Hummingbird Reports
Photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Make your own biodegradable Newspaper Pots for Seed Starting #GardenCuizine #GoGreen @SNAP_Ed

Do It Yourself Video
for making Newspaper Pots 

for Seed Starting

Last week I was sorry to miss a guest speaker at the Family Success Center of Vinelands Eat Clean and Green Event. Susan McKenna from NJ SNAP-Ed Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County taught families how to make their own newspaper pots to start seeds in. I've been gardening for years, but never tried to make my own FREE biodegradable pot until today. 

Gardening objects of any kind always catch my attention. As I walked to my office within Family Success, there leaning against the Program Coordinators door, was a tray of leftover newspaper pots from their class. She kindly gave me a few to take home to try and figure out how they were made. Before I took them apart I Googled the topic and came across this video.

After watching the video I could tell that this was just what I was looking for: directions on how to make newspaper pots for seeds. The best part about these newspaper pots is that they do not require using any tape or staples to hold them together. You definitely do not want staples in your garden dirt!

When I watched the video a second time, I paused it at the beginning when he tells the dimensions. The square pots are about 2 3/4-inches wide and 3-inches deep, exactly the size of my samples.
 
Now came the time to try making one myself. I got a few pieces of our local Burlington County Times newspaper and cut it in half following the video. The nice part is that you can pause it along the way as needed while following along with his directions.  ...Then sure enough, as mom would say when it was finished, "Ta-da!" My first newspaper pot was finito.

The pots can now be filled with dirt and seeds. And, when Mother's Day comes, the danger of frost will be gone and the whole pot with the seedlings can be planted directly into the garden or wherever the plants are desired to go.

Gardening Kids
Kids and families are guaranteed to enjoy this fun garden project.

Happy Gardening!
Blogpost and photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Growing Onions #GardenCuizine

Growing Onions

We're growing onions for the first time this season! Rather than growing onions from seed, we ordered a bunch of Ailsa Craig onion sets (seedlings). Mom planted a batch for us today while Harry took a short video of us, which hopefully we'll post for you in the future. 

Onion Nutrition
As I tweeted earlier today, onions add flavor and healthy nutrients to foods; including dietary Fiber, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Quercetin (anti-inflammatory, flavonoid) and plant sterols.

Types of Onions
As you start shopping for onions you will come across many varieties and descriptive terms such as: "long-day, intermediate, short-day (10-12 hours of daylight)" onions. Here in NJ where day length can reach 14 hours, we're able to grow long-day onions, such as Ailsa Craig - a large yellow onion. 

Where can you buy Onions for Growing?
Our Ailsa Craig open pollinated, English heirloom onion sets were ordered from Territorial Seed because someone I know grows that variety and orders their onions from them. There are many other reliable garden suppliers online too that sell onions. Shop around and have fun. Ours were back ordered, but arrived just in time for planting in early spring as promised. 

I opened the box as soon as it arrived yesterday so the dormant onions could breath. Even though the suppliers planting guide said to keep the seedlings dry, I moistened a paper towel and wrapped it around the roots overnight. 

Onion Sets
Today, I removed the paper towel and cut the rubber-band that held the group of onion sets together. Then sorted them - putting aside the smallest sprouts and grouping the larger sprouts in groups of 6. The smallest were planted in cell packs that I am keeping outside so they can grow a little more before transplanting them to the garden. 

All the larger sprouts got planted in a raised bed 4 to 6 inches apart and about 1-inch deep. The raised bed is located in full sun and provides compost-rich, loose soil and good drainage. We opted not to use a pre-emergent herbicide as the supplier recommended because we grow all our produce organically.

Stay tuned for more updates on growing onions. 
Thanks Mom!

Related Links
Phytochemical and Health Properties of Onions
Benefits of Quercetin (in onions, apple skins, tea and red wine)
Blog post and photos Copyright (C)2015 Wind. All rights reserved.

RIP Dr. Annemarie Colbin @naturalgourmet #GardenCuizine

Dr. Annemarie Colbin passed away today...

Back in the 80's, my mother and I operated a well-known health food store and 60-seat restaurant in South Jersey - Garden of Eden Natural Foods and Country Kitchen, Inc. We were pioneers for organic and natural, whole foods even before the arrival of Fresh Fields on the East Coast, which was eventually acquired by Whole Foods Market. 

To this day we have life long friends made from customers and employees of the business. One thing that I will forever remember is the car loads of organic produce that I picked up in person (with my dog Aspen) from Albert's Organics (at the time Albert and his wife were working there) in Kennett Square, PA. 

Back in those days, Annemarie Colbin was very well known to me, my staff and customers. We sold all her books and were familiar with her recipes and teachings. Her culinary school Facebook page announced tonight that she just passed away. I don't have any other information other than that. 

Annemarie founded the Natural Gourmet Culinary school in NY in 1977, which has grown over the years and is well known by members of the Academy of Nutrition and by vegetarians and people looking to learn more about healthy cooking with whole foods.

This video from a few years ago highlights some of Dr. Colbin's recommendations for a healthy diet and lifestyle. What she says makes sense.



Related Links
Books by Annemarie Colbin
In Loving Memory of Annemarie Colbin

Today in Our Spring Garden #GardenCuizine #gardenchat

Today in Our NJ Garden

Inside under warm grow lights caladiums are coming back to life next to growing seedlings of Italian basil, border basil, flowers, all sorts of heirloom tomatoes, Harry's requested San Marzano tomatoes (organic seeds from Italy for pasta sauce) and several hummingbirds' favorite annual salvias and my new favorite - Coronado hyssop.

It still feels pretty chilly out in our South Jersey garden today. We have a mix of both life and death in the yard. I'm always sad to see scattered mourning dove feathers in the yard, often near bird feeders - signs of hungry hawks. 

Chattering songbirds, noise of buzzing insects among hidden blooms on boxwood shrubs: Buxus microphylla ‘Green Mountain’ and emerging buds on hydrangeas, trees and even growth poking through dead looking grapevines bring a smile to my face and are among the many happy, joyous reasons to celebrate spring. 

Perennial horseradish never disappoints and is sprouting in it's usual spot in the garden. Around the yard we have spring blooms of weeds, pink hellebore, Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys', tulips and fragrant hyacinth's.

Strolling through the garden soothes the soul
Hopefully tomorrow we'll get out in the garden to clean up and get some lettuce and arugula seeds planted. And, say a prayer or two for my high school girlfriend whom I recently learned committed suicide, and for our friends who have just lost a love one or pet, and for friends who are having health struggles at this very moment.

Exciting news for our cat loving friends
Our newest feral cat Jazzpurr was given run of the house today, but being super cautious as he is, he decided to stay put in the sunroom to supervise the growing seedlings.

Happy and Healthy Gardening!
Blog post and Photo Collage Copyright (C)2015 Wind. All rights reserved.

Snack Attack or just Dehydrated? Enjoy Cucumber Water for Hydration #NNM #GardenCuizine

Snack Attack or just Dehydrated? 

Cucumber Water 

for Hydration

On several occasions, I've had people tell me how they drink cucumber water rather than soda or juice as a way to cut out unwanted calories. And, I've noticed that sometimes people misinterpret thirst for hunger and may grab a snack when their body was really in need of a drink of water instead.

We all know water is the best beverage you can drink and that water is essential for life. Enhancing water with a squeeze of fresh citrus or sliced cucumbers is naturally good for your body. I decided to make cucumber water for a recent Inspira Health Network cooking class and at a social event at church. The refreshing taste was a hit at both events. 

Cucumber water makes everyday water special for you, your family and your guests. Here is all you do to make cucumber water:

Ingredients
Water - enough to fill a favorite pitcher
1 Cucumber

Stevia natural sweetener drops (plain)- optional
Fresh Mint - optional

Putting it all together

• Fill a clean glass or clear plastic pitcher with cold water.
• Wash and prepare cucumber slices. You can peel the entire cucumber or just a portion (stripes) down the length of the cucumber.
• Cut into 1/4 inch round slices. Cookie cutters can be used to cut out shapes in the center.
• Add the sliced cucumbers to the water and refrigerate until serving to allow flavor to infuse.

Relax and enjoy a glass!
 
GardenCuizine Nutrition Data: One cucumber adds trace amounts of water soluble vitamins: Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium
Related Links
Water: Meeting Your Daily Fluid Needs
Fit Facts, Healthy Hydration 
Rethink Your Drink
Blog post and photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

@cheezit @GoldfishSmiles @Quaker Quick Whole Grain Family Snack Mix @kidseatright #NNM

Dietitian Approved
Quick, Whole Grain 

Family Snack Mix

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Snacks and Sweets are a major contributor to added sugars and saturated fat intake. What's the solution? Plan ahead and make healthy snacks for your family to help prevent eating unhealthy snacks. 

This affordable, healthy family snack is under 200 calories and is a good source of dietary fiber. The best part is convenience - it can be made in just a matter of minutes. Make a large batch and teach your family how to portion out a handful.  

Portion Control Tip: keep a small Dixie cup in the storage bowl to use as a 2 ounce serving scoop.

Ingredients
2 cups whole grain cereal (Quaker Oat Squares, Cheerios, etc)
1 cup low salt nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashews or mixed nuts)
1 cup raisins
1 cup whole grain Cheez-It® crackers OR whole grain Goldfish® crackers

Putting it all together
Easy - Put all ingredients in a bowl. Gently mix to combine. Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy!

Nutrition Data: one handful (30g) made using Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal, whole almonds and whole grain Cheeze-It crackers: 151 calories, 11g total fat, 1g saturated fat, 0 zero trans fat, 25mg Sodium, 3g (12% DV) dietary Fiber, 5g Protein, 11g total Carbohydrates, (6% DV) calcium, (8% DV) iron

Blog post and photo Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.