Whole Orange Polenta Cake
Would you eat something pretty or something tasty, again and again? :)
This cake is made using one of those Italian staples, Polenta. Their particular version of this yellow corn flour is extraordinarily finely ground, with more of a nut meal like texture than the grits we easily find in the States. This is what lends the corn flour to their delightful use in pastries. And, you can imagine it is much cheaper than fine ground flour. After all, polenta is an everyday savory staple and its use in sweet creations is an accessible extension, especially in the heartland of Tuscany that while beautiful is a harsh agrarian land!
Breakfast: Buckwheat, Banana and Fruit Muffins
This year, I have been discovering uses for buckwheat flour. Aside from it being gluten free, it has a unique nuttiness that comes through nicely, especially paired with fruits. I am also intrigued by its unique properties; the flour flexes like it has gluten and it even gels like you used psyllium husk. What I mean, it displays terrific water binding property. These muffins were a creation of necessity as well as curiosity. The usual bananas ripening faster than consumption triggered it. I also wanted to see how a baked good would taste with no added sugar and using only the natural sugars from the fruits in it.
Garden Update: First Harvest
Ah! That first harvest!! A joy that knows no bounds... a harbinger for that everlasting hope and a gentle sigh of relief that hey, it is all coming along ok. There is so much emotion when you pick the first few gems from your garden, be it a little or a lot! My first pluck was true to that. I felt so, so gratified, happy, elated, joyous... just precious!
This post has notes on harvesting cilantro, lettuce, spinach and caring for pea flowers and pods.
Strawberry Lemon Whole Wheat Scones
The season for strawberries is finally here!!! At least in the markets; even farmers' markets. These are obviously hot house fruits because the weather, even in June is a bit erratic. Lovely, all around but certainly not high Summer as it you would expect it to be. I love that this is start of a bounty of produce that overflow in the markets and so many more options in vegetables.
Given the straddling seasons and because lemons are always cool, I paired the berries with hints of citrus from the fragrant zest for these scones. They are light, full of flavor and so so crumbly and soft. The perfect way to start a good day!
Garden Update - May 2018 - Transplanting Inground
Things started picking up in early May. With the sudden heatwave, I madly rushed through the clearing and planting. In hindsight, it was necessary as we went to through a cold and wet spell for most of the rest of May. But, hey, at that time with 80-90F weather and blinding sun, I felt like the peak planting was passing me by.
This post includes tips for transplanting tomato and pea seedling, planting radishes and potatoes. Plus some learnings I acquired in the first weeks of setting up the vegetable garden.