daily photo | cosmo

july 29, 2009 | cosmo

garden | peas, yarrow and parsley

gemelli with haricot verts, snow peas & cipollinis... That was my dinner tonight celebrating the first harvest of beans. The Haricot Verts are the first to flourish, as always. The Indy yellow wax beans and Kentucky Wonder don't look too far behind, the Beer Friend soy beans and the other shell beans still have a ways to go. But nonetheless, I set the table with a simple vase of white cosmos and yarrow, and joined my husband for a delightful dinner.

The rain this summer has delayed the growth of many of my herbs, but the past few days of heat and humidity seems to have provided them with what they've been missing. Parsley, basil, coriander, and fennel are in full frolic.

Of course I still have plenty of prose regarding my peas. The Dwarf Gray Snow Peas have been as prolific a provider as ever. Every day it yields a meal size harvest and the more you pick, the more it seems to grow. This was a favorite from last year's crops as well. I only had a handful of Cascade shell peas to donate, but those have been pearls of goodness this year as well.

daily photo | cipollini

july 28, 2009 | my first gathering of cipollini onions

weekly wine walk

weekly wine walk... Though I should probably start changing the name of this weekly ritual if I continue to forgo the wine in favor of a quality microbrew like tonight's beer of choice, Geary's Hampshire Ale. I cannot even begin to quantify how this nightly stroll through the lens of my camera calibrates my soul. Other than the constant swat of mosquitos, of which there were many, I am truly at peace as I take the time to truly look and become aware of that which is in my own backyard.

daily photo | hosta

july 28, 2009 | the hostas bloomed

recycle | basement treasures

basement treasures... Why go out shopping when you can go shop in your own basement or attic? This past weekend I did just that. I went back into that deep, dark corner stack of boxes that has lived in our basement since we moved to New Gloucester from Portland over six years ago. Buried deep within those boxes, I found countless treasures that I now display as my priceless possessions. I dug up a beautiful pewter beer stein and cup set, a bin of my grandmother's buttons, and my husband's childhood doll, among many other amazing finds. It really was a case of out of sight, out of mind.

daily photo | coriander

july 27, 2009 | coriander

recipe | basil cocktails

bodacious basil... My basil has finally kicked into high gear. By habit, I reach for some sprigs of basil each time I make pasta. But, this summer, I made a promise to expand my herbal outlook. So, tonight I'll be adding this aromatic herb to my cocktails. Mojitos anyone?

Nectarine-Basil Lemonade

Gourmet | July 1993

Makes 6 cups

3 1/2 cups water

1 cup fresh basil leaves plus additional for garnish

2 nectarines

3/4 cup sugar, or to taste

1 cup fresh lemon juice

In a small saucepan stir together 2 cups of the water, 1 cup of the basil, 1 of the nectarines, chopped course, and the sugar, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved, and simmer it for 5 minutes. Let the mixture cool and strain it through a fine sieve set over a pitcher, pressing hard on the solids. Stir in the remaining 1 1/2 cups water, the remaining nectarine, sliced thin, and the lemon juice. Divide the lemonade among tall glasses filled with ice cubes and garnish each drink with some of the additional basil.

Mojito with Basil

Gourmet | 1996

2 fresh mint sprigs, chopped

2 fresh basil sprigs, chopped

1 tablespoon sugar

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) light rum

Chilled club soda or seltzer water

In a tall glass with back of a spoon crush mint and basil with sugar and lime juice until sugar is dissolved and stir in rum. Add ice cubes and top off drink with club soda or seltzer water. Stir drink well and garnish with mint, basil, and lime.

daily photo | peppermint

july 26, 2009 | a study of peppermint

do-it-yourself | sewing 101 pillows

sewing 101... As I've mentioned many a time, I have all the passion for sewing, but my skill level peaked in fifth grade home economics. Still, that doesn't seem to quelch my never ending consumption of textiles. So, in lieu of this rainy, rainy day, I broke out the ol' sewing machine and whipped up this happy mod print pillow. Honestly, if I can sew this, anyone can. There are many sources out there to help you navigate the needle highway. Check out this site offering a bevy of pillow options from Better Homes & Gardens.

daily photo | cascade shell pea

july 23, 2009 | cascade shell pea

recipe | pickled sugar snap peas

pickled pea perfection... We were lucky enough tonight to rake in a sizeable Sugar Snap harvest. We grab a few handfuls and tossed them up as a quick pea stir-fry for dinner. I couldn't decide whether to freeze the rest or to try my hand at my first pea pickling. Pickling won.

Pickled Sugar Snap Peas

Epicurious | October 1999 — Linda Ziedrich, "The Joy of Pickling"

Yield: Makes 1 quart 1 1/4 cups white wine vinegar 1 1/4 cups water 1 tablespoon pickling salt 1 tablespoon sugar 1 pound sugar snap peas, stemmed and strung 4 garlic cloves, sliced 1 or 2 small dried chile peppers, slit lengthwise 2 tarragon sprigs In a nonreactive saucepan, bring to a boil the vinegar, water, salt and sugar, stirring to dissolve the salt and sugar. Let the liquid cool. Pack the peas, garlic, chile peppers, and tarragon into a 1 quart jar. Pour the cooled liquid over the peas, and cover with a nonreactive cap. Store the jar in the refrigerator for at least two weeks before eating the peas. Refrigerated, they will keep for several months.

daily photo | grain

july 22, 2009 | fields of grain are in full bloom along my road

wishlist | feel more human

feel more human... The perfect name for a fabulous store. Check out these botanical beauties. I'm not a table runner kinda gal, but I definitely would reconsider the one above. Though there is no doubt I must have that Surya tablecloth ($48). These table toppers are graphic, modern and best of all, handmade.

Another cherished item on the wishlist are the nature-inspired coasters ($40, set of 4) and trays ($70).

And, well, if you have a funky tablecloth and great tableware, you are going to need some handmade napkins of course. I choose these Nature Napkins from Simrin ($36, set of 4).

daily photo | mallow bud

july 21, 2009 | mallow bud

recipe | raspberry sauce

wild about raspberries... Walking around our yard is becoming a tastier experience by the day. Wild raspberries and wild blackberries gather along the edge of our woods. My boys were thrilled to see that the raspberries ripened this week into their full, yummy glory. Every where you turned, there was a tiny morsel of delight awaiting your tastebuds. Tonight, we're going to try this recipe for Raspberry Sauce from MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association).

Raspberry Sauce
(This sauce has many uses...on ice cream, pound cake, chocolate cake, bread pudding, poached peaches, or custards, for starters.)

1/2 c. orange juice
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 c. fresh or frozen raspberries
2 Tbsp. sugar or mild honey or to taste

In a saucepan, whisk together the juice and cornstarch until dissolved. Add the raspberries and cook on low heat, stirring until thickened. Stir in the sweetener and remove from heat. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

And don't forget to mark your calenders for MOFGA's fabulous Common Ground Fair. This September 25, 26, and 27th in Unity, Maine.