Beyond the Garden Gate

  I had a friend reach out and ask how to save her herbs before they go bad in the fridge and I promised I would do a video tutorial. And what better way than using the stunning rosemary from The Country Cottage that is in full bloom and filling the air with an intoxicating aroma I have been fantasizing for days. This way to preserve  is so easy, they last for ever, and are ready to use whenever you want just plop it in the frying pan or place on top before baking. I also added a few beautiful sights from “The Country Cottage” rosemary in full bloom! It is so mesmerizing to watch the bees dancing from flower to flower in an excited frenzy. and don’t forget to like  my video  and subscribe for more cooking and gardening behind the scenes! https://youtu.be/GM5_DvajyRo Before I forget a few years ago, ufff 7 years ago I had taped a  “rosemary halibut” tutorial  . Please don’t hate me for the bad angles and rookieness, not that I am much better now but I would like to think I have evolved

  It’s interesting how we can get caught up on the “I’ll be happy when…” a life lived holding on and trying to survive until what we hope for happens is not really living. The more I place my value and joy on accomplishments and life circumstances the less I am able to embrace, savor, and embrace where I am now and the blessings under my nose. I need to remind myself to show up fully to the life I have now, today, this moment, this hour… instead of spending my time wishing for something more, better, and different. The only life I have to live is the one in front of me and when the time comes I want to go down being aware of all the beauty and blessings around me and not like Collette saying “what a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.” Luz

  “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” Charles Dickens.” This few days have been filled by a hollow longing and emptiness. It has been over a year since my sister’s sudden departure of this world and I find myself missing her more than ever. Specially during this times where all we talk about are uncertainty and doom my heart longs for a conversation filled with laughter, someone I can be raw and me without holding back, camaraderie, taking of superficial things like the smells of soap to more motherly advise. It feels like in one night my whole world changed, so many lasts, so many good byes, and never agains that make my heart rip into shreads and yet it still remains surprisinly the same. I know we need to bloom where we are planted but it is feeling specially challenging lately. Maybe it’s the summer fast approaching and needing to be outside, or the uncertainty with COVID, having my flower shop closed and not feeling that momentum, creativity, and peace th

  Join us for a garden tour in a Spring rainy afternoon! Luz

  I love easy recipes I can do with stuff at home ahead of time and that I can freeze. That way for an easy healthy breakfast I just pop one in the microwave and done! Or make them in mini muffin tins and use them as snacks. 3 mashed bananas (very ripe) 1 cup of vanilla Almond milk 2 eggs 1tbs Baking Powder 3 cups of Oats 1 tsp Vanilla extract mini chocolate chips or blue berries 20 mins Oven 350 I did some with dark chocolate chips and some with blueberries I also added cinnamon and all spice I learned to not line the pan with cupcake liners because it gets mushy… its better to pam the pan and cook them there. And the blueberries/chips don’t sink like they do in normal muffins so you need to mix them in before, or they will stay on the top like mine did.

  With everything going on with this whole virus bread has become surprisingly hard to find and honestly the less we go to the store the less chances to be exposed. That means we are making as much of our food at home and this includes bread! I am using this time as a Home Ec class and teaching my little one measuring and science! It is so easy quick to mix and there is no kneading involved just takes a long time to rise, sorry, can’t have it all  We do use a Dutch oven or pan with a lid for the recipe to created a nice warm double oven situation, specially since we will be preheating the oven with the pan inside before we put the dough in. Two thirds of the way in we will take the lid off to make the crust nice and crunchy. I have a feeling that for as long as we have yeast at home, or can find it at the store this bread will become a staple. Watch the  step by step video  in our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/3sXYynzsE5c Hope you enjoy it as much as we do and seriously it is so sim

  “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Marcel Proust Right now I am grateful for and welcome all the little signs of normalcy that make me smile… Like finding the traditional peanuts that are left in my planters, and long forgotten ones that were dug deep in my flowers I get to find randomly as I spent some time gardening, and peanut shells on my doorstep (is that a hint?!). All these greet me each year in the spring for the past 5 years or so?! They are left by the little squirrel, “Mr. Peanuts”, that lives in our neighbors pine tree. The sight of it brings smiles every day as we sit together while having breakfast and provides plenty of entertainment during the day with it’s shenanigans. Even though it’s an animal and not a person like the quote says, I still consider it a gardener that makes my soul blossom, specially during this weird times we’re living of anxiety and uncertainty. What little things are bringi