Garden Fruit

The garden is alive and well this summer. This year's garden epiphany? Zucchini flowers are edible! I didn't know this! Learned that from Mireille Guiliano's book and immediately went out to our garden to pick some. Pro tip--there are male flowers and female flowers. The females have thicker stems that turn into zucchini. Males have a long skinny stem. Pick the males (though both are edible), just make sure you leave a couple for continued pollination.

I've battered and fried them like tempura. I've also put them on homemade pizza, on quiche,

and on top of this noodle-less zucchini lasagna based on this recipe. They are mild in flavor but beautiful to look at and make normal dishes look fancy : )

This year we've also enjoyed roasted green beans.

And swiss chard, which we used in this swiss chard spanakopita casserole.

Basil, juicy tomatoes, zucchini, and a plethora of hot peppers for Hudson's upcoming homemade Fort Armstrong Hot Sauce business venture.

This year I also started, what I hope will one day be, a big and beautiful collection of lavender plants.

This seasons's harvest is small so I'll have to use it wisely, maybe lavender scones for a special occasion?

I have hopes of planting a second round of seeds this week and having a fall garden. We'll see!

Arian