What can you grow in a Zone3 Garden?

Anything you want! Of course :)

Spring is coming!

Are you ready?

I placed a potato order with Eagle Creek Farms which included my new favourite, French Fingerlings! YUM!
Oh, and I'm really looking forward to getting out to the farm for some spring-time foraging. But that's still a couple months off.


I meant to get a post up on my attempts at making a Homemade Fruit-Filled Cereal Bar for my toddler (I have pictures and even measured as I did it!) but it involves turning on my old noisy -about to explode any minute- desktop to edit/upload the pics, so I'll do that tomorrow while working on photos from my latest shoot.

Lunch Special: Curried Beef Pockets

With Zac in school for the next little bit he needed something that was easy to take for lunch.

Thus, my mutation on Empanadas!
Unfortunately for him we had guests over for dinner and had these :)  He didn't get very many for lunch.
But, what was left, freezes well and is easy to heat up in a microwave.

Curried Beef Pockets

Thought on the Boreal Forest...

I found myself yesterday afternoon walking through one of our beautiful Boreal areas close to home.
It had just finished raining, everything smells wonderful, and seems to have turned everything really green in a matter of hours. The leaves are out and the wild saskatoons are in full bloom....
I can't wait to see if the morels have started popping up yet! I love morels. I love the time it takes to find them. And I love to eat them!
Our (my young son and our dog) little afternoon trek didn't lead us to any bounty today. We stop to examine bugs, leaves and animal tracks. And of course to pick up fallen spruce cones, that is Ty's favorite thing to collect. He always enjoys our little adventures, to fill his pockets with whatever he can find. It's a wonderful learning experience for him, as I couldn't have offered him these things in the city.
As for the beautiful morels...I'll have to check again tomorrow :)
Happy mushroom hunting!

A few recipies and tips to go with your mushrooms!

Once cleaned - presoak in salted water (preferably over night) this helps neutralize the acid to avoid "digestive" issues. It also helps to get any dirt out that you may have missed. Rinse well before cooking.

Fried Morels

Clean mushrooms, slice lengthwise in half
-heat oil in skillet
- dip mushroom in an egg wash and dredge through on of the following combinations:

- crushed saltine crackers, mix with flour, seasoning salt and salt and pepper
- corn flake crumbs
- equal parts crushed ritz crackers and parmesan cheese
- bread crumbs, salt and pepper and parmesan cheese

once dipped in egg and covered in a coating, place into the heated skillet. Cool until lightly golden and flip to cook other side. Place to drain on papertowels. Enjoy!

Morels and cream.....Mmmmmmm my favorite

Serve over pasta, chicken, steak, potatoes and fish

- morels
- 1 shallot, chopped fine
- 1 large clove of garlic, chopped fine
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup heavey cream
- salt and pepper
- chopped fresh dill

Put olive oil in heated pan over med. heat. Add garlic and shallots, stir and saute until softened but not brown. Add butter until melted then add morels. Stir and cook until mushrooms start to brown. Add chicken stock and cook 2-3 minutes. Add heavey cream and cook on low until reduced and thick.

Freezing Your Summer Bounty!

Let's face it, some of us are no good at canning... but we have a FREEZER and know how to use it!

Here are some awesome tips and recipes from my lovely sister :)


Blanch before freezing:
*Basil - Use the blanched basil to make pesto and freeze the pesto, blanching helps the basil not to oxidize

Pesto:
Course salt and ground pepper
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3 cups packed, fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 freshly grated parmesan cheese

*Tomatoes
Slide skin off the blanched tomatoes, freeze whole, halved or quatered on a sheet pan.
Use for making sauces, soups through out the winter


No Blanching Required:
Freeze these items in a single layer on a cookie sheet for easy use:
Smoothies, pies, baking. Fruit holds their shape and juices

Blueberries
Strawberries
Raspberries
Cherries
Peaches (sliced)



Much less work involved and they'll keep you satisfied all winter! :D