Fun Stuff |
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this is a cold summer soup, easy and refreshing
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1 quart blueberries
16 oz plain lowfat yogurt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup lemonade
fresh mint |
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| So simple, place all except the mint into a blender. Blend until smooth, if it is too thick add a tiny bit of buttermilk. Chill. Slice the mint leaves into ribbons. Serve in small bowls, sprinkle generously with mint. Great on hot nights with sesame chicken salad sandwiches. (pg 50 Book one)
Hint: fresh strawberries or peaches work well too. |
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Tin cans various sizes
Pebbles, stones or broken crockery
Potting soil
Plants - herbs and flowers |
Hint: you can plant in many things; old tea cups, (glue them to the saucer) old wooden boxes (line with plastic), buckets,bowls, almost any interesting container, a good yard sal e quest. |
| One way to insure that you have fresh herbs on hand for your summer treats, is to plant an herb garden for yourself. It is easy. You can mix flowers in with your herbs, they all like each other. Some flowers like marigolds will repel pests which is especially helpful if you, want to leave your mini garden outside. You can buy herbs and flowers very inexpensively at green houses, farmers markets, even supermarkets. There maybe some in your house garden. Do this project with a friend and you can share plants, they often come in multiples.
Gather your tin cans and put about a half inch of pebbles, or other matter in the bottom of each can. This allows for drainage, so the roots of your plants don’t get waterlogged. Fill halfway with soil. (you can use soil from the garden but if you are going to bring theses inside garden soil can contain weed seeds and insects. Potting soil works best for indoor use.) drop in your plant, roots down, (depending on the size of the can 1-3 plants per can ) fill in with more soil to about 1/2 inch from the rim. A little water. Keep your soil damp, not too wet, not too dry. They need some sun every day. Snip and use as needed for your recipes. If you are not familiar with some herbs, rub their leaves when you are selecting them to see if you like their smell. Click here for herb suggestions.------If you keep your cans indoors they will stay bright shiny silver, if you leave them outside they will turn a wonderful rusty brown. Both are good. |
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| There are many different herbs readily available today. Here are just a few that are easy to use for summer. The best tool with which to prepare herbs for cooking is a pair of scissors. Just snip your leaves from your plant and then snip your leaves into tiny pieces. If you want larger pieces just tear them with your fingers. Tiny leaves such as thyme can pulled from their stem as is. |
| Mint |
Mint is wonderful in iced teas and lemonades. Tear up some leaves and stir them in your drink. Also wonderful tossed with a fruit salad; berries, a tablespoon of sugar, juice of one lime and some thinly sliced mint, toss, serve cold. Fresh and sweet. |
| Basil |
Ah, fresh basil is heavenly, slice or tear 5 or 6 basil leaves and toss with fresh summer tomato’s ( I wait all year for summer tomato’s) cherry tomatoes are fun, a little lemon juice, a little olive oil, salt and pepper, an amazing summer salad and you made it! (Throw some fresh chopped cucumbers in if you like. This was my daughters favorite summer salad...) Toss basil on pizza or pasta. |
| Chives |
Chives have a very mild onion flavor, they are fabulous in chicken or egg salads, scrambled eggs, salads, pasta salads...they are very versatile. With cream cheese on bagels or cucumber sandwiches, perfect. |
| Dill |
Dill is great snipped into potato salad, it works in egg or chicken salad as well. It is nice with pickled vegetables like mushrooms. To marinate mushrooms: fill a jar or other coverable container with fresh mushrooms (any kind) pour your favorite vinaigrette or Italian dressing to cover the mushrooms. Add some chopped garlic and a couple of teaspoons of dill. Cover, shake well and refrigerate overnight. Voila! delicious marinated mushrooms for a summer picnic. |
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