Tag: herbs

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Raspberry Rosemary Summer Sipper

A big part of entertaining is being the best host you can be so, I always like to offer my guests a beverage to sip on during an event. So here is the Suggested Sip of the Week recipe, with alcohol and non-alcoholic versions.

RASPBERRY ROSEMARY SUMMER SIPPER

Previous Recipes include: Basil Grapefruit Sipper, Thyme Tangerine Fizz or Provence Lavender Cocktail.

With muddled fresh rosemary, Raspberries, fresh squeezed lime and Bombay Sapphire Gin gives this cocktail an added burst of flavor. Slice a fresh raspberry and a sprig of rosemary for the festive garnish.

RASPBERRY ROSEMARY SUMMER SIPPER

INGREDIENTS {makes 1 beverage}

  • 6-1o rosemary needles
  • 6 Fresh Raspberries
  • 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup
  • 1 1/2 ounces Gin
  • Tonic Water to taste {start with 2 ounces}
  • Ice
  • Rosemary sprig, Berries & slice lime for garnish

Instructions

  1. Muddle finely chopped rosemary leaves and 4 raspberries in a cocktail shaker. Add lime juice, simple syrup, and gin. Top with ice and shake vigorously. Pour into rocks glass over ice top with tonic water.
  2. Use the top of Rosemary sprig, sliced lime and berries for garnish.

 

If you are hosting your own Garden Party and still looking for final touches, theme ideas or entertaining questions in general, comment below and I am happy to provide a few tips! Contact me for more details.

 

What is your favorite Summer cocktail? Leave comment and let us know! It may be featured in an upcoming article.

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Cocktail Recipe: The Garden Party Sipper {#GardenPartyChat}

Tonight’s An Appealing Plan  #GardenPartyChat on Twitter {Wednesday 8P EST} topic will be Celebrating Fourth Of July. Seems pretty straight forward right? Problem is turns out we all have our own version of what this means. {Join us on twitter here}

As a proper host, I of course would like to offer my guests a beverage to sip on during the chat. So here is the Suggested Sip of the Week recipe, with alcohol and non-alcoholic versions. Not a fan of Grapefruit or Basil…other suggestions might be: Thyme Tangerine Fizz or Provence Lavender Cocktail.

The Garden Party Sipper

Juice of 1/4 Fresh Juicy Grapefruit

2 1/2 Ounces of Bombay Sapphire Gin

1 Tablespoon shredded Opal Basil

1 Tablespoon Lemon Peel infused Simple Syrup

Combine all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously approx. 30-60 seconds to chill and break up the basil leaves. Pour in martini or other cocktail glass. {strain if preferred} Garnish with basil flower.

Enjoy!

{Makes one good size cocktail}

Not partaking in alcohol these days? Mix everything but the Bombay in a tall glass half filled with H2O, add ice & straw and sip away.

Always a fan of the proper glass and servewear.. I thought I would share my newest love. Gold Barware! Do you love?

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Happy Entertaining! ~ krayl

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Garden Inspired Reading

GROW COOK EAT

Grow Cook Eat will inspire people who already buy fresh, seasonal, local, organic food to grow the food they love to eat. For those who already have experience getting their hands dirty in the garden, this handbook will help them refine their gardening skills and cultivate gourmet quality food. The book also gives readers easy-to-follow planting and growing information, specific instructions for harvesting all the edible parts of the plant, advice on storing food in a way that maximizes flavor, basic preparation techniques, and recipes. The recipes at the end of each guide help readers explore the foods they grow and demonstrate how to use unusual foods, like radish greens, garlic scapes, and green coriander seeds.

Available from Random House

Landscaping for Privacy: Innovative Ways to Turn Your Outdoor Space into a Peaceful Retreat

Landscaping for Privacy brims with creative ideas for minimizing or even eliminating the nuisances that intrude on your personal outdoor space. Real-world examples show you how to keep the outside world at bay by strategically placing buffers, barriers, and screens around your property. And the helpful plant lists tell you precisely which varieties to choose in order to enhance your sense of seclusion.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the lack of privacy whenever you step outside your home, this inspiring book will steer you toward an achievable solution.

Available from Timber Press

Edible Cocktails

A unique cocktail guide encourages readers to use fresh, local, seasonal ingredients in their beverage recipes, in a book that offers advice on creating one’s own “cocktail garden;” infusing spirits and making homemade liqueurs; creating homemade syrups, purees and jams; and even using eggs, dairy and meat in their cocktails. Original.

Available from Strand NYC

Happy Gardening and Entertaining ~ krayl

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Tangerine Thyme Cocktail Recipe

If at first you don’t succeed try, try and try again. At least that was the theme for this Spring Herb inspired cocktail. Luckily we were heading to a friends’ home for the Cinco/Derby weekend and I would have a few people to play with me. Taste testing versions #1 & #2 till we agreed #3 was the ideal version of a beverage I had never before made but had agreed to use as my contribution to the newly formed Sunday Supper Movement. A group of bloggers committed to bringing the family and friends back to the table for the Sunday meal.

I had something close to a recipe in my head but needed to adjust as the local shop in Baltimore, Graul’s, did not offer the mixer I was hoping to use {I feel a version 4 & 5 coming on}. However the basics stayed the same.

 

 

* Thyme & Tangerine Infused Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar into 1 cup water over heat till sugar dsolves. {Make sure to watch as the sugar is likely to burn if you turn your head to say check the crushed ice maker is filled….}

Place 4-5 sprigs of fresh cut Thyme and about 1/4 tangerine peel to mixture. Continue to heat on low. Set aside to chill. {I found that if you leave this over night the Thyme flavor will really develop and adds much more to the flavor but play around with your preference level.}

Tangerine Thyme Refresher

INGREDIENTS:

{makes one cocktail}

  • 1-1 1/2 ounces of Gin
  • 3 Parts Tangerine Soda
  • 1 Part Thyme infused Simple Syrup
  • Sprig of Thyme & small amount of Thyme leaves for garnish
  • Tangerine Peel

After testing three versions –

* San Pelgrino Tangerine was the prefered decided to have the best fizz, and Tangerine flavor with out adding to much sweetness.

* Gin was preferred over Vodka even with the “Vodka Drinkers” and gave it the herbal quality I was looking for. But give it a try yourself if you are skeptical.

* Some asked for more fizz which could be added with Tonic or Club based on your taste

* edible flowers are optional but my taste testers comments made them worth it. “I don’t know how it tastes but it is beautiful” ; “I wouldn’t change a thing”

Try your own versions with your own taste testers and let me know what you think in the comments below!

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Sunday Morning Container Gardening on ABC Action News

This past Sunday I was luck enough to be invited to the set of the Tampa Bay ABC Action News to discuss container gardening. Check out the video by clicking on the picture to the left.

Of course I was worried about getting soil all over the clean red carpet, but I managed to keep it under control and didn’t make too much of a mess after all.

WHY CONTAINER GARDENING?

There are many  reasons  to start gardening in containers:

  • Bad soil or poor soil
  • Portability
  • Vines or aggressive plants can be controlled with containers rather than  planting in the ground
  • Change seasonally or to match a theme
  • Use on patios, entranceway, pool decks – where you can’t normally  plant
  • Use as a barrier for pools or condo areas where you are not able to plant in  the ground

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE YOUR PLANT SELECTION?

Where will  this container be placed, will be the biggest factor determining what plants you  will select. Will it be inside or outside; full Sun, full shade or somewhere in  between. Consider how much time you would like to spend caring for the  containers? Once you consider these factors head to your local nursery and you  will find a vast array of plant in very color that will work for your  requirements.

DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF TO JUST FLOWERS

Containers with the most visual appeal and interest combine flowers,  with edible plants such as herbs and vegetables. As long as you select varieties  that will need similar conditions they will all live happily in one container. For a medium size container choose one or two herbs, one vegetable that will  do well in a container and one flower plant. For larger container choose bring  in another flowering plant or slow growing herb. By growing herbs at home  you will be able to get creative and try new recipes and always be ready to  dress up a table when entertaining.

DON’T BE  INTIMIDATED

YOU CAN NOT GO WRONG.  Just give it a try. If  a combination doesn’t work try a new one. Gardening is a process and always  changing.

Enjoy it.

Read more: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/lifestyle/garden/container-gardening-a-complete-guide-to-get-started#ixzz1sEH8bffv

Happy Planting. ~kf.

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Sunday Salad

 

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A quick fresh salad made for Sunday Dinner. Fresh mixed greens and Portobello mushrooms
with a home made dressing of:

SUNDAY SALAD

INGREDIENTS

• olive oil
• walnut oil
• shallots
• Thyme
• fresh lemon juice
• apple vinegar
• local honey

This with a side of basic pizza. P-e-r-f-e-c-t dinner with the family. Sometimes simple and fresh is best .

 

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A Little Thyme In the Sun

Recently I planted lettuce seeds in a patio container already full with Thyme, now the lettuce is growing {can’t wait to taste that first salad} so decided it was time to cut back the overgrown Thyme and dry half of it for cooking and use the other half for my candle collection.

My mint has been struggling in its pot so I also cut that back and might have to whip up some Mojitos!

Even if you aren’t able to grow outside in your area yet, window sills make the perfect mini gardens. Both Thyme and Mint are pretty forgiving and a good place to start.

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Gardening: INside or OUT. WoollyPockets Are the Answer.

Now thats a Focal Point

What is a WoollyPocket??

“Garden Shed DreamingWoolly Pocket was founded in 2008 by brothers Miguel & Rodney Nelson. …out of a personal need for a simple, DIY-consumer friendly system for gardening vertically, not yet available on the market. …they invented the breathable Woolly Pockets with internal moisture control that are made from recycled plastic bottles in USA. Now, the Nelson brothers are turning the gardening industry down side up. And the Woolly Pocket family is also helping millions of students learn nutrition and gardening through their Woolly School Garden program by creating a living garden classroom for students K–12.”

I have seen them for sale and have wanted a space to use them. Currently living with out the garden space of my dreams I have decided to bring it inside, and plan on placing them in my bathroom as well as master bedroom. Stay tuned for

Now thats a Focal Point

my progress as I continue my 2012 plans!

The images are just a few examples of how you can use them as well as the full description of how they are made.

Happy Growing! kf.

Perfect for any area indoors or outdoors where moisture protection and water conservation is desired.

1. HANGS SIMPLY Wally has easy fasteners and anchors that work on masonry, drywall, sheetrock, wood and metal walls. Hardware included.

2. SMART WATERING Water Wally’s back panel (the tongue) with a wine bottle or a long spout watering can. Wally’s tongue wicks water down directly to the roots. This conserves water and promotes plant health.

3. AUTOMATIC WATERING For larger installations, insert optional drip irrigation behind Wally’s tongue.

 4. PROTECTS WALLS Military-grade moisture barrier ensures that your walls stay dry.

5. SELF WATERING Reservoir allows tongue to continue wicking water to the roots.

6. STRONG, HEALTHY ROOTS Breathable felt allows moisture to evaporate and allows plants to air prune.

7. ECO-FRIENDLY Made from 100% recycled plastic bottles (PET).

Happy Growing! kf.

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The Foodie In You: Day After Tarts

The past weekend was filled with rushing here, need to be there, make this, bring that and not to mention all the various menu items our bodies are exposed to over the holidays. Although I honestly love every minute of it, the day after Christmas was the first day we had nowhere to be, no decorating to do,  nothing to buy, and nothing on the schedule except for sitting on the couch and staring at our tree and watching movies. But there is still the question as to what should we have to eat?? Something super easy, not too heavy and quick to make.

I first made these “tarts” a few years ago for a brunch and they were a big hit. I changed up the flavors this time ~ Mushroom and Fennel – and they were just as tasty as I remembered.

Ingredients:

Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets (2 pack makes 4 tarts)

Variety of Chopped Fresh Mushrooms (or your flavor of choice)

     * I was able to find a pack of fresh mushrooms with multiple varieties included. Chop these and heat with butter in pan on stove top till warm – you can also add garlic here if desired.

Caramelized Onions

     *heat onions in a pan on stove top over medium heat with butter and sugar

Fennel

     *chop fennel into small strips. Heat in pan on stove top over medium heat with butter, salt and pepper

Fresh Herbs to taste {from your kitchen garden of course}

Defrost the pastry sheets and layout on cutting board. Cut in half to create 2 separate tarts. Place ingredients {keep ingredients separate or mix together depending on your taste} on top of pastry, leaving a 1/2 inch border on all sides. Place in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until edges are brown.

Remove and slice into 5-6 vertical sections. Serve on a rustic cutting board with cocktail napkins. Relax and Enjoy!

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Gifts for the Foodie: DIY Kitchen Herb Gardens

Still searching for a gift for the foodie on your list? Create an organic kitchen herb garden for the counter or sunny window.

Collect all your supplies:

* Organic Herbs from local farmers market (or most grocery stores are now carrying fresh options by Shenandoah Growers in the produce area as well)

* Organic Potting Soil – I recently found Organic Mechanic Soil which is available main locations as well as mail order.

* Your favorite container (for this project I like a wider more rectangle shapped container)

* Small Shovel, Gloves (optional of course), Moss, Water

Place a few inches of soil in the base of your container filling it about 3/4 of the way up. Being to place your herbs in the containers, staggering them rather than placing them in a straight line gives the containers a nicer visual as they fill in.

Once the herbs are in, fill the remainder of the container with soil to the top. The dry soil will settle as you water it. Once watered place a topping of moss to retain the soils moisture. You can add labels if you wish to signify which herbs you have included.

Place under the tree and wait for your next invitation to a home cooked meal by previously mentioned foodie.

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