Cooking From Your Garden!

In keeping with my June newsletter article about the weeds in our allotments I am sharing two recipes I've tried and actually enjoyed: Purslane Chimichurri and Smoky, Garlicky Potatoes and Dandelion Greens. Please let us know if you try these recipes and feel free to post recipes to share with us. They need not be related to the newsletter or my post. I think good gardening goes hand-in-hand with good cooking. I look forward to reading some of our member's favorite recipes and trying some out!

I came across the website of a Norwegian woman who wrote about the joys of eating Rhubarb as a child when her mom would give her a small cup of sugar and send her outside. She would pick the reddest stalk of Rhubarb, drag the end through the cup of sugar and eat it. As a child in Alaska we ate fresh, raw Rhubarb too but without the sugar! Perhaps that is where my love of sour food was born. Anyway I found a recipe for pickled Rhubarb I thought some of you might like to try. I've attached it to this post.

Confession: I do not grow asparagus in my garden. I tried twice and failed. But I grew up on a farm in New York with bountiful asparagus that continued to grow for more that 30 years. So I know from asparagus soup! This one is the best and I make it every chance I get.

www.epicurious.com

This classic French soup is simple and make-ahead friendly, and a perfect choice for entertaining when asparagus is in season.

But I have a few alterations that I prefer: Instead of onion, use a few large shallots. Much earthier companion to asparagus. I also use a bit less chicken stock (and sometimes I use vegetable stock if I'm serving vegetarians).

In connection with my gardening column in the GCGA newsletter which focuses on Rhubarb this month, I thought I would share my two new recipes for using this delicious plant: Rhubarb and Yogurt popsicles, and Rhubarb Butter--like apple butter and just as intense and delicious! I hope you will try them out and let me know what you think and please share any of your recipes as well.

Jaqueline

Welcome to our group Cooking From Your Garden!! Each month I will share recipes connected to my column How Does Your Garden Grow in our monthly email newsletter. I hope you will try these recipes and share your results with us. You are welcome to include your own recipes and pictures of things you've grown and prepared from your garden. I am looking forward to your recipes, ideas, and pictures. Enjoy!