Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'

Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt'

Friday, August 15, 2008

What I'm Harvesting from My Garden--Mid August

After a very slow start to Spring & Summer, including lots of sketchy Portland weather--here's what I'm harvesting in my garden this week:

Cherry Tomatoes
Scarlett Runner Beans
Yellow Wax Beans
Romaine Lettuce
Carrots
Cucumbers
Yellow Patty Pan Squash
Zucchini
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Herbs--Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, Dill, Tarragon, Sage, Fennel, Thyme, Mints, Oregano, Marjoram, Lemon Balm, Chevril

Black Beans with Fresh Plums & Bell Peppers

Recipe from The Vegetarian Times Cookbook

This is a great way to use summer plums in a recipe, in addition to fresh eating and canning jam/jelly. We have a plum tree in the yard so fresh plums are only a short walk from the kitchen. Use this recipe at the height of plum season when they are fresh and ripe. I serve this dish with warm steamed corn tortillas, or you could also serve it over brown rice. Simple Delicious Enjoy!

In Health,
Miss Jolie Ann

Black Beans with Fresh Plums & Bell Peppers
Serves 3
4 medium purple plums
1.5 tbsp unsalted butter (I used olive oil)
1 large onion, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
2 whole cloves
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro leaves
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp light honey
2 cups cooked black beans (I used 2-14 oz cans)
Fill a deep pot with water and bring to a boil. Add the plums and boil for 30 seconds to loosen their skins. Remove the plums with a slotted spoon and let cool.
Melt the butter (or heat the oil) in a large skillet over low heat. Add the onion, bell peppers, garlic, cloves, cumin and cilantro. Cook, stirring often, until the onion softens, about 5 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, peel the plums, remove the pits and chop the pulp. Add the pulp, lemon juice and honey to the onion-pepper mixture. Add the beans, cover and cook over low heat until the peppers are soft, about 30 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking. Serve hot or chilled.

Happy Summer!

Hi friends! I just realized it's been almost 6 weeks since my last blog posting. Wow, it's way overdue. My apologies for my slacking. I've had a lot of recipes to post and just haven't managed to get focused. And, my garden, well that's another story. My landlord decided a month ago to start major construction on the outside of my home which has meant demolition and destruction of a lot of my beloved garden. Garden carnage everywhere! It's depressing, seriously. So I haven't really wanted to be home much, let alone blog about the steady decline of my garden. But, it's been over 100 degrees the past 2 days and here I find myself in my basement (where the computer is)--the coolest room in the house! Sorry if I've neglected you. Hope you are having a great summer and I'll post some recipes and garden updates soon.

Much Love,
Miss Jolie Ann