Culinary Clique.com

Tips, Tricks and Recipes

Category : Hors d’oeuvres

WHERE Does Your Garden Grow?

Monk's Farmers Market

I do some writing for a hyper local site in my community. One of the recent posts I wrote was about taking the opportunity to buy from local farmers and farmer markets.  This year I am fortunate enough to have a garden, but I can’t say many years has been that season in my life. Even with a garden, I am not growing everything fresh I would like to eat this spring and summer.

So may I ask WHERE does your garden grow? Mine grows at several of my favorite roadside farmer trailer and markets in my community. I also frequent a “pick your own” berry farm. How about you? I know it takes an extra trip outside of grocery shopping, but can I say it is just worth it. I love the fresh taste of spring and summer. I eat the local honey because it builds immunity to local allergens so I can enjoy the great outdoors. I especially love the fact that at Bill’s Honey Farm  you just go in his small building get your honey and leave your money in the bowl on an honor system. I call that a pretty sweet community.

So whether your garden grows in your back yard or a roadside farmers market; enjoy the great tastes of the season. Seek out great recipes that have what is in season like this Corn and Black Bean Salad/Salsa and don’t forget to support your locals. Take the kids along and have them pick out the reddest tomato they can find. Stop at roadside stands along your vacation drive and look up recipes to make something with your fresh buy.

If you are traveling or want to support your local farmers, try visiting www.localharvest.org.

If you live in Huntsville AL, check you this Hyper-Local Site: www.DiscoveringHuntsville.com

Homemade Tomato Salsa

Well we  planted our garden yesterday. That just gets me in the mood for some of my Homemade Salsa Recipe. Last year I found a good base recipe online and I have been tweaking it ever since. This brought me to the conclusion that  salsa is a recipe of ones individual taste. That means you start with a good base and add flavors you like. Experiment, because that is what will make it your family favorite.

Some of the ingredients that I have changed, added or substituted are simply a  matter of taste.  For instance, I substituted lemon juice for lime.  When at all possible I use fresh, not from a jar. I love the taste of a sweet vadalia onion  and Roma tomatoes so I use those whenever possible. I am not a person who likes the challenge of eating the most hot foods to the point  I appear to be having an allergy attack.  However, the right amount of addicting heat  to keep me eating is just right. I use a jalapeño along with some red pepper flakes. Most salsas don’t have olive oil but I add a small amount because I like the texture.

So whether you like tomatillos or red tomatoes, then go for it.  Find a good base and run with it.  Referring to my post on growing your own herbs, how much better will your salsa taste using jalapeño or cilantro picked fresh from your herb garden? Make it your recipe.

Summer harvest, here I come!

Suggestions: Salsa is delicious fresh or good after flavors marry for a day. Serve as a dip. Serve it over grilled fish with Mexican Rice. Enjoy it with or on your foods. Cut back on calories and use baked chips.

Sugar N’ Spice Nuts

Recipe: Sugar N’ Spice Nuts

sugar and spice nutsSummary: Nuts with a sweet and spicy kick. This is a treasured find from a holiday edition Taste of Home . Great for giving as a gift, in a gift basket or serving during the Fall football games and Christmas holidays. I make mine on my baking stone and it seems to work the best.

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