#Lemon and Garden Herb Asparagus

[askwhatsforlunch]

Lemon and Garden Herb Asparagus

These bright, fragrant and delightfully buttery Lemon and Garden Herb Asparagus make a delicious May Day lunch! Have a good one!

Ingredients (serves 2):

about 2 dozens green asparagus, rinsed

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1 lemon

3 fluffy sprigs Garden Chervil 

a small bunch Garden Chives 

half a dozen leaves fresh mint

a pinch of fleur de sel or sea salt flakes

Chervil Hollandaise Sauce, warmed, to serve

Trim the bottoms of the asparagus.

Bring a large, deep pan of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in coarse salt, and add the asparagus. Cook, 5 minutes.

Once cooked, immediately plunge the asparagus in a bowl of ice water, to stop cooking. Drain thoroughly.

In a large frying pan, melt butter with olive oil over a medium flame. Once the butter is just foaming, grate in the zest of the whole lemon. Cook, 1 minute.

Finely chop Chervil, Chives and mint, and add half of the chopped herbs to the pan. Cook, 1 minute more.

Add asparagus to the pan, shaking gently to coat them in herbs and butter. Cook, shaking often, about 5 to 7 minutes until just browning. Sprinkle with fleur de sel. Add remaining chopped Chervil, Chives and mint, and toss, to coat.

Serve Lemon and Garden Herb Asparagus immediately, with warm Chervil Hollandaise Sauce, buttered Sourdough toasts and chilled dry white wine, like a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

[smudgingpumpkins]

Ostara

In celebration of the fertility Goddess Eostre

When is Ostara?

It is celebrated on the day of the spring equinox, which is either March 19th, 20th, or 21st.

What does Ostara mean?

It is a celebration of the beginning of the spring season, with days becoming brighter, warmer, and longer once again. Nature is reborn as the soils become fertile, the animals emerge from hibernation, and flowers and trees bloom beautifully.

Who does Ostara celebrate?

Ostara is primarily the celebration of the Goddess Eostre, who is the goddess of fertility, dawn, and renewal. Eostre is of Anglo-Saxon origin.

----------

OSTARA TRADITIONS

Work with stones that harness growth, prosperity, and new beginnings, such as aventurine, citrine, moss agate, blue kyanite, and aquamarine.

Utilize herbs and aromatic flowers such as mints, lemongrass, retama, tulips, daisies, lilac, and jasmines, which symbolize joy, fidelity, and renewal, and are associated with the beginning signs of spring. Some are also known to treat digestive issues and promote relaxation.

Eat all assortments of fruits, like apples, oranges, and lemons. Fruits are essentially ripened ovaries after all. Consume seeds and eggs (however so) as well, which symbolize fertility and birth.

Wear or decorate with pastel colors, such as pink, light blue, white, yellow, and green.

Incorporate animal imagery (e.g., drawings, photographs, figurines, et cetera) of rabbits, bees, butterflies, and chicks, which represents the Goddess Eostre's spiritual connection between humans, animals, and the earth. These animals are known to be pollinators and heavy procreators.

OSTARA ACTIVITIES

Water, fertilize the soil, and plant seeds in your garden. Take time to appreciate nature and the beauty of the blooming flowers and greening plants and trees.

Take a ritual bath: add bath salt, spearmint, drops of jasmine essential oil, and petals of a flower of your choice in the bath.

Make a flower crown. Use pastel-colored flowers and adorn the crown on your head!

Paint or dye eggs. You can boil them beforehand or paint them raw. Chicken eggs are traditionally used but you can use any sort of egg, even if all you have is decorative or plastic ones.

Make an Ostara altar. Center the altar with an image or statue of the Goddess Eostre and decorate around it with pale colors, spring flowers, seeds, grains, and/or eggs.

Get creative with recipes! Carlota Santos, who is the author of Magika, recommends crafting a grasshopper cocktail alongside scrambled eggs with asparagus. Grasshopper cocktails are made with crushed ice, 1 ounce of creme de cacao, 1 ounce of creme de menthe, and a couple ounces of heavy cream.

[jedusaur]

good things last week, because I forgot to do this yesterday:

DING DONG THE AVS ARE DEAD

the series against Dallas has been interesting—the first game was eerily evenly matched by the analytics, then in game 2 they annihilated us and in game 3 we annihilated them, neither game was at ALL close. so what's gonna happen next? idk but I'm excited!

spent a bunch of time in the garden, cleared out a whole lot of weeds and got some veggies and herbs planted, very excited to watch things grow

wore a Kraken tank top to the garden center and a little old lady shuffling out with a walker saw it and yelled "GO KRAKEN"

got 18oz of blueberries for the price of 6oz so I made pancakes with blueberry compote and maple cream cheese drizzle and they were so good

I've been on a big asparagus kick, asparagus is so good. also did a garlicky spinach lemon sauce over pasta and my egg scramble this morning was phenomenal. sometimes it's hard for me to get into making food when I don't have anyone to make it for, but lately I've been feeling a little bit more able to cook things for just myself and it's been nice

my garbage disposal got jammed and I fixed it with tools and felt very butch about it

I told rocket bae that Steph was eating Froot Loop waffles and they asked "whole or minced Froot Loops?" and the phrase "minced Froot Loops" just delights me so much

I'd been saving the Phil Dunster ep of Brett Goldstein's podcast for a time of need and a few days ago I decided it was time to break the glass and and it was perfect, exactly what I wanted it to be, they love each other so much and it makes me so happy

more flowers popping up in the yard! and my Japanese maple is looking lovely :)

[simplyspellbound]

do you know any sources that list herbs, fruits, veggies, etc. by seasonal correspondences? I want to be able to do workings with materials that resonate with the season I'm working in, but I'm finding it harder to comb the internet for reliable information lately. Also, I love your blog and wish you a lively day!

Absolutely! The great thing about this data is that it’s not really up for debate, lol! Here’s a link from the United States Department of Agriculture. This link is from Switzerland for herbs. But any sources related to governments, active farmers, or master gardeners should be trustworthy!

I’d encourage you to create some of your own pages of research, perhaps in a grimoire, that way you can double check, refine, or add information as you happen upon it. For example, apples are technically in season all four season, but for me, they’ll always be associated with autumn.

Best of luck!

Spring

Apples

Apricots

Asparagus

Avocados

Bananas

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carrots

Celery

Collard Greens

Garlic

Herbs

Kale

Kiwifruit

Lemons

Lettuce

Limes

Mushrooms

Onions

Peas

Pineapples

Radishes

Rhubarb

Spinach

Strawberries

Swiss Chard

Turnips

Summer

Apples

Apricots

Avocados

Bananas

Beets

Bell Peppers

Blackberries

Blueberries

Cantaloupe

Carrots

Celery

Cherries

Corn

Cucumbers

Eggplant

Garlic

Green Beans

Herbs

Honeydew Melon

Lemons

Lima Beans

Limes

Mangos

Okra

Peaches

Plums

Raspberries

Strawberries

Summer Squash

Tomatillos

Tomatoes

Watermelon

Zucchini

Fall

Apples

Bananas

Beets

Bell Peppers

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Celery

Collard Greens

Cranberries

Garlic

Ginger

Grapes

Green Beans

Herbs

Kale

Kiwifruit

Lemons

Lettuce

Limes

Mangos

Mushrooms

Onions

Parsnips

Pears

Peas

Pineapples

Potatoes

Pumpkin

Radishes

Raspberries

Rutabagas

Spinach

Sweet Potatoes & Yams

Swiss Chard

Turnips

Winter Squash

Winter

Apples

Avocados

Bananas

Beets

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Carrots

Celery

Collard Greens

Grapefruit

Herbs

Kale

Kiwifruit

Leeks

Lemons

Limes

Onions

Oranges

Parsnips

Pears

Pineapples

Potatoes

Pumpkin

Rutabagas

Sweet Potatoes & Yams

Swiss Chard

Turnips

Winter Squash

[natalehr]

the spring chef-up roundup

1. My remake of Lighthouse Bakery’s California salad (we added chicken🤭). Butter lettuce and romaine from the garden, spring mix, cucumber, tomato, red onion, avocado, walnuts, feta - not pictured: dill dressing.

2. Drew & I occasionally do a week where we each make a surprise dinner. Mine was a pesto tortellini pasta

3. Moroccan inspired bowls - chicken, quinoa, kale from the garden, roasted cauliflower and chickpeas, avocado tahini, shit ton of herbs

4. Trader Joe’s pizza tik tok recipe lol .. anything with burrata slaps to me idk

5. Chipotle leftovers breakfast “migas”

6. Lil dinner bowl: chicken, potatoes, chickpeas, asparagus, salad from the garden

7. 🤌🏻 lemon chicken bucatini with burrata

8. Cobb Salad with the avocado tahini again bc cannot get enough 🥑🥗

9. The garden 🥬🌿🍓

[oneefin]

happy palindromic marijuana day! it's 4:20:24 PM on 4/20/2024. 🌿🌿🌿🌿

according to wikipedia, there are over 2000 terms for weed out there. i compiled a list of all the distinct ones wikipedia lists at time of writing, for funsies

remember that if you're reading a cryptic crossword clue, any of these words could secretly be talking about weed!

10s poof

2 long

25 or twenty-five

30 sack

36 or thirty-six

4 o's

40 sack

420 or four-twenty

50 piece

9 or nine

a draw

acapulco gold

ace

afghani

african

african broccoli

airplane

ak-47

alfalfa

alligator cigarette

ammo

ammy

amnesia

amnesia haze

amsterdam's finest

antiguan rocket

arathi

ashin’ kusher

asparagus

astro turf

aunt mary

baby

bake sale

ball

banga

bar

barney

bc

beenth

benj

benners

bhang

bible worksheets

bifter or bifta

bilge

billy

binbag

bingger

bis

bishop

blaze

blifter

blim

bloop

blue dream

blue goo

blueberry

blueberry diesel

blunt

bob

bob hope

bobatti

bobby brown

bobo

bomber

bone or bag of bones

boner soup

bong

bongo

boo

booboo shit

boof

boogity brown

boone

bottle

bread

brickweed

broccoli

brown buddha

brown frown

bruce banner

bubba kush

bubble kush

bubblegum

bud

budder

buddha

budski

buge

bunk

burger king

c-jizz

cabbage

cactus green

camberwell carrot

cambodian red

cancer weed

cannabidiol or cbd

cannabinol or cbn

cannabis

cannabis edible

cannabis indica

cannabis ruderalis

cannabis sativa

cannabis tea

cannon

caracas

carribean cabbage

catnip

cd's

cess

charas

charlotte's web

cheatham

checkers

cheeba

cheech and chong

cheese

cheg

cherry

chess

chicken

chillum

chiquitty-freddy

chocolate

choof

christmas tree

chronic

chronicles of narnia

climb

clouds

cola

collie

colombian

combustible herbargy

comic books

concentrate

course notes

cousin mary

cow

cripple

critical mass

crop or cro

crunch

curley wurley

cut

cutie pie

d's

da kine

daccha

dagga

dak

dan k. buddinhash

dandelion

daniel nuggetstone

dank

dankinstein

dat sticky icky icky

dave

delta-9

detroit

devil's lettuce

diesel

dime or dime bag

dirt weed

discarded bibles

ditch weed

dives

djamba

dodo

doink

doja

dollar

doobage

doobie

dope

doña juanita

draw

dro

dronabinol

dub or dub sack

dumm

dunce

durban poison

dutchie

dvd's

edible

edwardian morris baskerville

eight ball

eighter

eighth

elbow

electric puha

endo

extract

farmer's daughter

fatty

fatty eight

feral cannabis

feral hemp

fid or fiddy

fifty

fir

fire

flower

forb

forbidden fruit

fossils

fosters

freakus

friendship

frodis

full

funk

funky falafel

g-regs or gregs

gage

gangster gumbo

ganja or ganj

garden gate

gas or gasoline

gauge

george

girl scout cookies

goo

good advice

good giggles

good shit

goofy boots

gorilla glue

grade

grandpa's medicine

grape ape

grapes

grass

green

green badger

green crack

green goddess

green tea

greenery

greenest of the goop

greenest of the green

grefa

griffa

grifo

grizz

guitar hero

guy smiley

gwaai

half

halfer

halfie

half ounce

half quarter

half-o

halfling's leaf

harris

hash

hash oil

hashish

haskell

hawaiian

hay

haze

headies

hemp

henry

herb

herbal jazz cigarette

herbsteins

heyman

hindu kush

holden

holy sacrament

holy weed

houdini

hundy

hungarian hummus

hydro

ice cream

indian hemp

indo or endo

insangu

izm

j

jack herer

jacket

jamaican gold

jay tokenstein

jazz cabbage

jazz cigarette

jean

jibber

jimmy

jive

jobb

jobb the finest there is

joint

juicy fruit

jupiter's beard

kaka

kevin bacon

key

kibs or kibbies

kief

kif

killara

killer green bud or kgb

killer herb or killa

kilo

kind

kind bud

kine bud

krinze

kush

kushempeng

kutch

l pape

la

lamb's bread

leaf or leaves

lef

left-handed cigarette

lemon g

lid

lit

little beasts

live resin

loud

louis

lowes

lula

lye

magic

magic cancer

magic dragon

magical brownie

marihoochie

marijuana

mary

mary jane or mj

mary joanna

matanuska thunderfuck or mtf

maui waui or maui-wowie

mbanje

mecca

method

mex

mexican kilobrick

mexican red

mezz

microwave popcorn

mids

mike vick

morning meds

moss

mota or muta

mother mary

movies

muggle or muggles

mull

nabilone

nabiximols

nay nay famous

newguys

nick

nickel or nickel bag

nixon

nodge

northern lights

nug or nugget or nugs

number

o

o-z or oz

og kush

oil

old toby

onion

onion ozzy

orange bud

oscar

ounce

outdo

pack

pakalolo

panama red

pants

paonia purple

paper

party parsley

phatty

pineapple express

pinner

pipe

pizza

platinum og

plingots

polen

poop

portuguese plant

pot

pound

puff

purple haze

q

qp

quad

quap

quart

quarter

quasimodo

rainy day woman

ramín

recreational drug

reefbuds

reefer or reefa

reggae cigarette

reggie miller

regs

resin

roach

rodeo

romanian ramen

root

salad

sampson

sappad

schwag

schwanal

schweed

schwugs

scooby-doo

scratchy

seed or seeds

sensimilla or sensimillia

sha-bang-a-bang-a

shake

shakira

shamya

shatter

shirt

shit

shizzle

shuzzit

silly spinach

single

sinsemilla or sinse

sister mary

sixteenth or teenth

skunk

slice

smeed

smoke

smookey smoke

snickle-fritz

snoke

snoop

soap bar

sock

solid

sour diesel

space cake

spank

spinach

spliff

square grouper

squirter-farter

stank

stash

stem

stick or sticks

sticky icky or sticky icky icky

stogie

strawberry cough

stuff

submarine

sup herb bowl

super lemon haze

sweet g

sweet galenas

sweet leaf or sweetleaf

tacos

taima

tapes

tea

ten bag

ten bit

tenners

tens

terpene

tetrahydrocannabinol or thc

texas tea

thai stick

thirteen

thrax

tiger fear

tin or tinny

tincture

tochigishiro

toke

tommy chong

tooka

tree or trees

trichome

trizer

tuppence worth

twamp

tweed

twig

twist

viper

wacky tobaccy or baccy

wax

weed

wheat

white rhino

white russian

white widow

widdle

willie nelson

wisdom weed

wizard

x box

yankey-doodle

yarndi or yarndie

zaza or za

zig-zag

zip

zombie

zone

zoot

[awesomeforever]

When I think of mint, I think of summers spent running around my grandparents’ backyard, grass tickling bare feet as I chased my little cousins (or, rather, they chased me). On the patio table there was an ever-present jug of freshly made lemonade, not too sweet and always infused with fresh mint. Something about the addition of the herb transformed what was an otherwise plain beverage into something special. To me, mint is the quintessential summer herb. It cools, it refreshes, it enlivens. If mint is overtaking your garden, as it tends to do, try it in these sweet and savory recipes from our Recipe Finder. Crispy Chickpeas With Fried Shallots and Cilantro-Mint Chutney, above. Liven up the dinner table with this delicious chickpea dish featuring a bright, minty sauce. This satisfying vegetarian main can also be made plant-based by using vegan yogurt. Beans are good for the planet, for you and for your dinner table. Here’s how to cook them right. Fresh Pasta With Artichokes, Asparagus and Lemon-Mint Ricotta. Fresh flavors are abundant in this pasta dish. Store-bought fresh pasta works like a charm here, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you could always make your own. Basic pasta dough recipe Mint Julep. You don’t have to wait for the Kentucky Derby to enjoy this classic cocktail from the South. Muddled mint leaves and simple syrup add an herbal sweetness to the bourbon-based drink. Serving in a silver julep cup is fun, but optional. Sheet Pan Salmon With Minty Peas, Oranges and Fennel. This one-pan meal is a lifesaver on busy weeknights without sacrificing taste. The use of frozen peas means this zesty dish can be enjoyed year round. Sheet-pan suppers are the easy and adaptable way to get dinner on the table fast Cashew Mint Dressing. This dressing gets its creaminess from the cashews rather than dairy or eggs. Pair with crudité for a beautiful, earthy green appetizer. Salad dressings 101: Two formulas to get your ideal flavor every time Melon Salad With Chiles and Mint. This is fruit salad with a zing. You can turn up the heat by including the seeds and ribs of the chiles. How to take your fruit salad from boring to brilliant Pea, Ricotta and Mint Gazpacho. A creamy, green take on a classic. Mint makes this chilled soup even cooler. 5 cold soups for sweltering summer days Minty Lemon Soda. This DIY soda is an effervescent twist on my favorite mint lemonade. source

[solidservicesw]

Flora Rooftop Bar and Lounge

If you are looking for a quaint restaurant with great views, you've come to the right place. Flora Rooftop Bar and Lounge is located at 2130 East Maple Avenue in El Segundo CA. This rooftop bar features a garden-inspired cocktail and food menu. The Rooftop Garden is a display of herbs, flowers, and edible flowers. There is a central fire pit and outdoor seating.

Flora's drink list includes the Front Porch Sour, which is made with Stillhouse Bourbon, lemon juice, and pineapple juice. It is topped with torched rosemary from the Flora Garden. Another drink is the LAXit, which is a cocktail made with tequila, rum, vodka, Cointreau, and burnt orange wheel. These are just a few of the many tasty cocktails served at Flora.

In addition to the drinks, Flora also offers a nice selection of salads and martinis. You can get a variety of appetizers from the salad bar, including prawns and hummus. Some of the more innovative beverages include the Frozen Classy Daquiry, which is a cocktail made with vanilla-soaked dehydrated lime. The Greek Garden is another creative drink option. For something more traditional, try the Fortunella Lemonade, which is a lemonade with R6 Vodka.

Aside from the delicious drinks, you'll find a comfortable atmosphere and good waitstaff at Flora. The rooftop bar and lounge is also a great spot to grab a drink before the sun sets, or to sip on a cocktail while enjoying the view. With sweeping city views, you'll definitely want to schedule a visit to Flora. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, or just trying to avoid the rush hour traffic, you'll have a great time at Flora.

Flora is open daily from 4 pm. On weekends, you can catch the sun at the outdoor lounge. There are about 90 seats outside and an indoor lounge with a granite bar and seating for 57. From the rooftop patio, you'll enjoy panoramic views of the City of El Segundo and the Hollywood Park stadium. Guests can also take advantage of the Brewport Tap House, which is located at the former El Segundo Post Office. This bar features a large selection of seasonal craft beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Using technology to pour the drink, the Brewport Flight Crew will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Flora also serves inventive frozen sips, such as the Greek Garden, which features Greek yogurt and R6 Vodka. You can also try a cocktail called the Fortunella, which is made with lavender-infused R6 Vodka, lemon, chamomile, and lavender syrup. Finally, there are also plenty of tasty bites, such as the cod cheek with asparagus and goat cheese.

Flora is also open for brunch, lunch, and dinner. If you're looking for an excellent meal, be sure to check out the restaurant's signature dishes, which include tequila-sprinkled black rice, beets with greens and goat cheese, and miso butter fondue. Make your reservations today and enjoy a delightful meal in a beautiful setting.

[loangreys]

Signature room chicago

Roasted cauliflower | asparagus | cherry tomatoes | apricot brandy cream sauce | green onion Grilled chicken breast | pancetta | goatcheese | heirloom tomato | arugula | fried plantains | Signature crispy potatoes | garlic aioli Grilled chicken breast | heirloom tomatoes | cucumbers | pickled red onions | balsamic reduction | sourdough croutonsīacon jam | Boursin cheese | arugula | fried onion straws | pretzel bun | Signature crispy potatoes | garlic aioliĬhoice of cheddar, American or Swiss | lettuce | tomato | onion | pickle | brioche bun | French fries Maine lobster | spinach | mixed greens | bacon | hardboiled egg | red onion | tomato | English peas | avocado | blue cheese | lemon vinaigrette Romaine hearts | Grana Padano cheese | herb crouton | Caesar dressing Mixed greens | cherry tomatoes| carrot | cucumber | radish | champagne vinaigrette Marinated burrata | heirloom tomatoes | friedelephant garlic chip | balsamic glaze | micro basil Poached eggs | sourdough bread | arugula salad | lemon vinaigrette Vodka cream sauce | tomato caper chimichurri | grated Swiss cheese | radish | micro greens Garlic butter sauce | Parmesan herb bread crumbs | sliced baguette Half Maine lobster | four oysters on the half shell | half dozen jumbo shrimp | half pound King crab legs | seaweed salad | horseradish cocktail sauce | signature mignonette | lemon aioli | fresh lemon Horseradish cocktail sauce | signature mignonette Raw Bar Freshly Shucked Oysters on the Half Shell Management reserves the right to refuse service to patrons who are inappropriately dressed.ĪMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa Athletic shoes, flip flops or beach shoes are not permitted. No hats, athleticwear, shorts, ripped/torn jeans, excessively revealing clothing, exposed undergarments, clothing with offensive language/images. Experience why we are "The Restaurant Chicago Looks Up To!" Proper dress is required. Guests are welcomed on a walk-in basis & in addition to our signature cocktails, we offer light bites & dessert. Watch the city lights glimmer from The Signature Lounge® on the 96th floor. Window table requests are taken upon arrival at the restaurant. Dining on the 95th requires a minimum of one main course per person. The elegant wood designs & art-deco interior create an inviting & intimate atmosphere for you & your guests. There’s plenty to explore nearby including Lake Michigan, historic Water Tower Park, luxury shopping, and the proximity to iconic art museums like the MCA and Art Institute.Located atop the former John Hancock Center, The Signature Room at the 95th® offers Contemporary American fare with sweeping views of Chicago. The hotel sits at one of the most iconic addresses in the city in the heart of the Magnificent Mile on North Michigan Avenue. From selecting art from Chicago-born artists, hand picking photographs from the archives of the hotel that are now on display in guest rooms, to simply showcasing green botanical accents in every room to reflect the beautiful parks and Lake Michigan that frame our hotel.” With this reimagining, we hope that guests will pick up on our efforts to bring the outside in– our tagline is ‘Where the World sees Chicago, and Chicago sees the World’ – it’s all in our details. We have spaces called the Library, the Lounge, the Garden, the Kitchen, even. It was created to be that extension of the home. “This specific hotel lead to the formation of the Park Hyatt brand. The Park Hyatt Chicago is the flagship Park Hyatt in the brand. Chicago attracts travelers from countries scattered across the globe-it’s a world-class destination. It’s a city that has so much to offer,” says Erdbrink. “The city of Chicago offers, if not demands, growth. It is not a city that sits on its laurels. New restaurants, attractions, and theater performances are continually being unveiled. Chicago is constantly growing, expanding and changing.

[whumpster-fire]

Top 11 Vegetables That Are Better For You When Cooked

Welcome to Cooking With Whumpster-Fire. For your daily cooking tip, here is a list of eleven delicious vegetables that are tastier and better for you when cooked.

1. Potatoes. Potatoes are not really edible raw and might even be poisonous, but believe it or not they can make a delicious treat if sliced into thin strips or discs and deep fried.

2. Asparagus. Bitch who the fuck eats asparagus raw?

3. Broccoli. Broccoli tastes okay raw, but if steamed, sauteed, or deep fried it releases more nutrients.

4. Kale. Kale is best booked using your oven’s self-clean cycle. This will result in heavy charring, improving the mental health of everyone at your dinner table by giving them an excuse to not eat kale.

5. Pineapple. Listen, if tomatoes and eggplants can be vegetables so can pineapple. Pineapples are not only acidic but contain protein-digesting enzymes called bromelain. Cooking it denatures the bromelain, allowing you to enjoy that delicious pineapple flavor without dissolving your tongue.

6. Eggs. Most eggs that you buy in the grocery store are unfertilized, so they’re free of cancer-causing artificial chemicals, making them an excellent vegetable for a natural, holistic diet. However, like many root vegetables, eggs can contain harmful bacteria such as salmonella and tetanus, so they should always be thoroughly cooked before serving. Eggs are a bit like squash, with a tough, inedible rind, but the rind is brittle and can be broken without using a knife. Crack the rind against a counter and pour out the watery flesh and seeds, which can be fried in one piece, whisked while pan-frying to make a delicious stir fry dish called “scrambled eggs,” and prepared in many other ways. They can also be boiled whole and the rind peeled off later.

7. Mtn Dew Baja Blast (TM) Flavor Summer Squash. This GMO vegetable is not available in most grocery stores yet, but I assume it would be good if roasted just like other summer squash. This is one of those rare blue foods, so a bit of reddish paprika can really improve the presentation.

8. Haggis. Many Americans believe that Haggis is an animal, but my Scottish friend assured me that this is just a running joke like the existence of drop bears: Haggis is actually a vegetable and completely vegan. Fresh off the vine it is firm and inedible, and should be boiled or deep-fried for best flavor.

9. Bacon. Listen, I know what you’re going to say. But food groups are a conspiracy made up by the FDA and big agriculture to sell more wheat and corn products. They aren’t real. A vegetable can be whatever you want it to be. Again: tomatoes, eggplants, and pineapples are culinary vegetables even though they’re botanical fruits: the same is true of bacon. While it may technically be a fruit, it can substitute for many true vegetables like cucumber, turnips, and parsnip in most recipes as a healthier and more flavorful alternative.

10. Weed. Bitch who the fuck eats marijuana leaves raw? Worst side salad I’ve ever been served. I normally avoid leaving one star yelp reviews as a matter of principle, but the guy running a food truck whose name I will not mention is an exception. Well, it wasn’t a food truck, it was more of just a guy selling salads on the corner. In hindsight I shouldn’t have expected a fine dining experience, but I was fooled by the high prices.

11. Colored Pencils. I know, I know, it can be tempting to grab a handful of fresh colored pencils right out of the bucket as a snack, or even cut them fresh from your herb garden, but they taste much better when grilled or roasted in lemon juice and vinegar. They’re also much less splintery and contain over 50% more absorbable Vitamin C when cooked.

[balkanradfem]

I'm sorry if this is a really stupid thing to ask, but the more I look into it and think about it the more I confuse myself.

How exactly do annual plants work? I get that they live only for a year in theory, but what does that mean in practice? Do they completely whither away and a new one grows from the seeds that fall into the earth? (If that's the case I wonder if some people think they're bad with plants when in fact the only reason their plants die is because they're only meant to live for a year).

If I have an annual plant and want to have it the next year as well, does this mean I would have to get the seeds out of this one in order to be able to plant them next year or is there some other way as well?

Or am I completely misunderstanding what annual means in this context?

Again I'm sorry if this is a stupid question. I think I might be just overthinking something very obvious

It's not a stupid question at all! And there's multiple interpretations of this, I'll try to explain.

In it's basics, annual plants are the ones that complete their life cycle within one year, meaning the sprout, grow to their full extent, produce flowers, fruit or seeds, and then wither away and die. Now for the most majority of the plants we grow in our garden, we call them annuals, because we're aware they're going to die in the fall, and we have to collect the seeds and plant them again in the spring.

However, these plants are not annuals everywhere! Some of our garden plants only die within a year because of the frost, and if you grow them in a warm and tropical climates, they will not die at all, and live as perennials, for instance, in warm climates, peppers are a perrenial!

So it's a bit of a mixed situation of what we call an annual, and what actually is annual. In the theory, annual plants are those for which only the seeds survive all of the year, and the rest of it dies.

I've seen people call a lot of wild plants, herbs and weeds perennials, because these plants will drop their seed on the ground as they die, and easily sprout next year from the same seed; it happens so consistently it seems like the same plant survived and is back the next year, when in reality, they've perfected their ability to revive themselves with new seeds each year.

The real perennials are those who can survive and come back just from roots, for instance, asparagus can do that, strawberries will do that, mint and lemon balm will do that. Flowers that grow from bulbs are also perennials, like tulips and narcissus.

Also there's perennials that don't die off at all, like trees, some bushes, some vines, they'll persist thru the winter and simply grow new leaves in the spring.

About people who think they're bad with plants which just live for one year, I'm not sure if you're thinking of houseplants? I'm not great with houseplants, but I think we usually choose plants that aren't annuals to have inside of our homes, it would be a bit sad to have to replant something in your house every year.

Other than annuals and perennials, there are plants that are biennials, which means they complete their life cycle and produce seeds in two years of growth, for instance, leek will do that, carrots will do that, a lot of frost-hardy plants take 2 years to go to seed.

So the concept of annual and perennial plants does depend on where you live and how plants survive in your climate, true annuals are those who manage to produce seed and dry off within one year, and a lot of plants are just ended by frost so we treat them as annuals and re-plant them every year.

Looking into this, I found out that chamomile and dill are perennials, when I thought they just kept re-growing from seeds!

[askwhatsforlunch]

The Easter Table

Jules will not come home until next week, when we shall have a proper Easter Feast. In the meantime, I am having a Pink Blossom in the sun, reading in the garden and a delightful dessert to celebrate the holiday; and I’m sharing Easter recipes I’ve cooked and baked over the years (this blog just turned nine, to quote a favourite comedian of mine, Cal Wilson, about turning forty: “How the fuck did that happen?”)... Happy Easter, friends!

Cocktails

Gold Rush

Pink Blossom

Blossom

Ladybird

Bee’s Knees

Citrus-Pear Sangria

Hot Cross Buns and Flavoured Butters

Brandy, Chocolate and Fig Hot Cross Buns

Whisky Cranberry and Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

Rum Apricot and Kiwifruit Hot Cross Buns

Honey Butter

Rum Butter

Tropical Hot Cross Buns

Cranberry and Apricot Maple Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns

Appetizers and Entrées 

Poached Egg Aspargus Salad (Vegetarian)

Pea and Cilantro Cream Toasts (Vegetarian)

Salmon and Beetroot Tartare

Prawn Cocktails

Main

Rosemary and Honey Roast Lamb

Herb Roast Lamb

Cider and Ginger Chicken

Sides

Rosemary and Thyme Butter Broad Beans, Asparagus and Gnoccchi

Buttered Peas, Broad Beans and Asparagus

Bay Leaf and Oregano Roasted Potatoes

Desserts and Cakes

Balsamic Strawberries and White Chocolate Eclairs 

Raspberry and Chocolate Eclairs 

Springtime Garden Pavlova

Passionfruit Chocolate Teacups 

Lime and Passionfruit Battenberg

Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Tarts

Mango and Lime Tarts

Mango and Passionfruit Pavlova

Italian Lemon Mousse

Maple, Cinnamon and Chocolate Brioche Crescent

Lemon Drizzle Cake

Easter Lemon Pavlova Nest

Lime, Vanilla and Basil Marzipan Strawberry Tart

Strawberry Meringue Cake

Biscuits and Chocolates

Hazelnut and Lemon Biscuits

Passionfruit Chocolates

Tangy Berry Chocolates

Salted Caramel Chocolates

Praliné Chocolates

Peanut Praliné Chocolates

Pecan Shortbread Easter Cookies

[lilspookytarot]

Ostara 2021

The Earth’s Rebirth

Ostara is probably my favorite sabbat. It marks the Spring Equinox and the Rebirth of the Earth. We light our candles and bid farewell to the winter spirits as we welcome the lengthening of the days and the return of the sun. Persephone returns from the underworld, allowing the Earth to bloom.

Ostara is a time for spring cleaning, both in your home and in your soul. Go through your closet and throw out all those clothes you haven’t worn in a year; dump that shoe box full of old love letters and birthday cards into a bon fire; clean out the corners and drawers that have accumulated junk over the past year; freshen up your house with a new coat of paint; give up a nasty habit or set intentions to change your mindset. You get the point. Cleanse yourself and your surroundings of the old to make room for the new. Allow for total rebirth.

This sabbat can be celebrated in many different ways, but if you want to know a little more about how I like to recognize Ostara, keep reading…

Welcoming Persephone

To welcome Persephone, light candles in the windows to guide her back from the Underworld. She is on her way home to begin the making of the flowers, so maybe you could give her a hand with that, too. Plant flowers or make flowers out of paper, wood, etc. and decorate your altar with them, along with other offerings. You can say a prayer or recite a poem in her honor, too; Click Here for some examples, or make up one of your own.

Other Deities

Demeter, mother of Persephone, Goddess of agriculture and fertility.

Aphrodite, Goddess of beauty, love, procreation, and sex.

Adonis, God of renewal and beauty.

Pan, God of the wild and nature.

Cernunnos; the Horned God, the Green Man, the Master of wild things and places. (Click Here to learn more about this mysterious deity) 

Altar

Colors for Ostara are green and gold, as well as peach, pink, and yellow; the colors of sunrise and springtime growth. Scales can be used to represent balance, as Ostara marks the equinox when day and night are equal. Other symbols to incorporate in your altar or home décor this sabbat season are eggs, especially painted ones, figures of rabbits, ducks, goats, and baby animals, and flowers such as daffodils, crocus, tulips, and clover. One thing you will always find on my Ostara altar? A little dish full of salt with a bay leaf sticking out of it, to symbolize growth through the winter snow.

Food

Along with placing foods on your altar as an offering to Persephone, or whatever deity you choose, having a family feast can be an Ostara celebration in itself. Gather the family together to cook and set the table and eat as a unit; spend time during or after the meal to talk about what you will leave behind and let melt away with the winter season and what you look forward to planting and nurturing in the coming months.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Honey

Asparagus  

Sprouted Greens

Lamb

Baked Goods  Honey Cakes, Lemon-Poppy Seed Muffins, and Hot Cross Buns!

Crafts & Activities

Go for a nature walk; see what you can find already growing or what lasted through the winter. Collect and forage, if you can find anything useful for crafting or casting.

Have a tea party; outdoors, if the weather will allow it. Take the opportunity to dress up and be fancy with your friends or kids, be playful, let loose, shake off those winter blues.

Earth Clean-Up; take some time to clean up the Earth, even if it’s just your own yard.

Garden Cleaning; this is part of spring cleaning, but you must prep your garden for a fresh spring and summer of fruitfulness.

Plant Seeds & Intentions; plant what needs to be planted early, indoors if you have to, and plant your intentions along with those seeds. It’s a great time to start growing herbs, too.

Egg Decorating & Egg Hunts; the craft part is the coloring of the eggs, then once you’ve done that, make an activity out of it and have an egg hunt.

Craft a Basket; another symbol of Ostara. You can make them out of reeds or rushes, pipe cleaners, straws, paper/cardboard, whatever you can find.

Craft a Flower Crown; wear it on your head as you honor Persephone and welcome her home, or just to run around outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Divination; whether you’re a practicing witch or not, the equinox is the best time for divination or communicating/connecting with the other side, as the veil between this world and that of the dead is thin. Tarot, tea leaf reading, palm reading, rune casting, and pendulum dowsing are just a few divination activities to try for Ostara. 

Ostara Tarot Spread

This spread is designed to help you identify which areas of your life need nurturing and pruning, much like your house plants. 

[mixedforestkitchenwitch]

I’m moving to Vermont!

It's been a minute since I was last active in a meaningful way. I hibernated through an unusually challenging winter. Honestly if l detailed what happened you would think I was bullshitting you. But! If it hadn't all gone down the way it did, I never would have taken this leap. Here’s some updates before crunch time kicks in.

It's ramp season in the mid Atlantic USA. I know this because the colony of ramps we maintain in our city yard is out and looking healthy. Only take one leaf from each plant and never dig up or pull out the bulb or root. This is to preserve the longevity of the colony. They take 7 years to recoup the loss of a single root bulb bc they reproduce so slowly and they do not seed every year. Anyway, harvest responsibly!

It’s also nettle season! If your allergies are going bananas, try a daily nettle infusion.

Once I get installed at the new house I’m going to do some local yeast sourcing and ferment myself some maple beer. Fermentation is a great way to provide yourself little benchmarks to look forward to. 4 days for soda, 14 days for beer. A great way to count the days!

I’m excited to report that I get two Springs this year. I get the Philadelphia spring now, and then when I move to VT I get another whole Spring season. Their Spring forage doesn’t even really start until May. Amazing!

I’m day dreaming about my new little garden at my new house. I have loads of seeds. I’m going to plant so much lemon balm and calendula and rosemary and thyme and Swiss chard and arugula and so many other wonderful magical delicious things. In the shaded back yard, my partner will establish his mulch Mushroom beds. We had great luck at our Philly house with wine caps aka stropharia rugosoannulata this past year. They’re so beautiful. I can’t wait until they come up again so I can show you! After we’re settled, I’m going to source some ostrich ferns so we can harvest the edible shoots every spring. They taste like asparagus only a hundred times more tender.

I work from home now and my new job is extremely low maintenance so hopefully that means I’ll have loads more time for projects and pretty photos of said projects. If you have questions about herb stuff or nature stuff or magic stuff, please ask! It brings me so much joy. I love you all so so much. See you in the mountains!

[calveesmain]

Complete Magical Herb List, taken from my own grimoire

Acorn-Luck, wisdom, youth, personal power               

Allspice- Money, Lck, Treasure, Determination

Almond- Wisdom and fruitfulness. Helps one

overcome a dependency or addiction

Aloe-Protection, Luck. Place at a grave to bring peace.

Anise-helps ward off evil, find happiness, prevents 

nightmares, good in bath spells.

Apple- Love, Immortality, Friendship, Healing. Apples

make good offerings, especially at Samhan

Apricot- Love and attracting love. 

Asparagus- masculan sex magick

   Bamboo- Hex breaking, wishes, luck.

Banana- fertility, potency, prosperity

Basil-Love, exorcism, wealth, sympathy, protection

Bayleaf-Good fortune, success, strength, purification

Beet- Love. Juice can substitute blood in rituals.

Birch-Protection, Exorcism, Putification

Blackberry-Healing and money. Berrys are sacred.

Blueberry-Protection from enemies. Can cause confusion if you throw one in the path of an enemy

    Cabbage- Fertility, Profit, good luck, lunar magick

Cactus- Chastity, banishing, protection

Carnations-Strength, healing, enhancing power, achieving balance. Burn to enhance creativity

Carrot- Lust, fertility, abundance

Catnip-Love, beauty, happiness, attracts spirits. Sacred

 to cat deities and animal magick. 

Cedar- Confidence, strength, protection, healing. Berries are good for anti theft spells and warding off snakes

Celery- Mental power, lust, male potency

Chamomile- Love, healing, reduce stress. Drink tea in 

meditation, to destress and to get a restful sleep.

.Cherry-love, divination, happiness

Chili pepper- fidelity, love, breaks hexes

Chives- protection and weight loss

Chrysanthemum- protection, grow in your 

garden to ward off evil

Cilantro- brings peace to the home and helps 

attune one with their soul

Cinnamon- Spirituality, success, healing, power, love,

 luck, strength, and prosperity.

Clove-love, money, protection

Clover- fidelity, money, luck. Love, success

Coconut- Chastity, protection, purification

Coffee- Helps dispel nightmares and negativity, helps 

overcome internal blockages, provides peace of mind and grounding. 

Corn- Protection, divination, good luck

Cotton-rain, protection, luck, healing. 

Cucumber-chastity, fertility, healing

Cumin- fidelity, protection, and theft prevention

Curry- protection. Burn curry powder to keep evil forces away.

Cypress- death and mourning, stimulates healing and helps one overcome the pain of grief

   Daffodil- Love, Luck, and fertility

Daisy- innocence and innocent love. Associated with children and newborns

Dandelion- healing, purification, wishes, and spirit work

Elderberries- sleep, releasing enchantments, protection against negative people and the temptation to harm others. Note, every part of this plant is poisonous.

Elm- love, protection from lightning. 

    Fennel seed- imparts strength, vitality, and sexual virility  and masculinity. 

Feverfew- protects against sickness and accidents. Use for healing spells. 

Frankincense- Successful ventures, cleansing, purification, productivity, concentration and meditation. 

    Garlic- healing, protection, repels vampires, purifies spaces and objects.

Ginger- Draws adventure and new experiences. Promptes sentuality, confidence, and success

Grape- fertility, money, mental strength

Grapefruit- cleansing and purification

   Hibiscus-attracting love, lust, and dreams

Hollyhock- Increases the flow of money, aids in financial flourishing.

Honey- for attraction, solar magick, and sweetness. 

Honeysuckle- Draws money, success, and quick abundance. Aides confidence and persuasiveness. 

 Ivy- Protection, healing, fertility, love.

   Jasmine- ideas,  Divination, charging, attracting a soulmate, can induce sleep and dreams. 

Juniper- promotes healing and good health, attracts healing energies and protects against theft

   Lavender- Peace, love, protection, healing, sleep, purification, and healing from depression

Lemon- cleansing, purification, removal of blockages, dealing with pain

Lemon Balm- Love, Success, Healing, spiritual growth and development. Use in healing spells for mental illness

Lemongrass- psychic cleansing and opening, use in lust potions

Lettuce- Divination, sleep, lunar magick, sex magick, love spells

Lilac- Wisdom, memory, luck, spiritual aid

Lily-renewal, rebirti, marriage, prosperity,the life cycle, death.

Lime-purification, protection, promotes tranquility, strengthens love.

    Maple-Love, money, longevity, luck

Marjoram- Cleansing, Purification, dispelling negativity, strengthening love, infuse in bath spells to aid grief

May Flowers- attracts adventure and chaos into your life

Mint- energy, communication, and vitality. Use in healing spells and place on alter to attract good spirits. 

Morning Glory-Binding, banishing. Note, this plant is poisonous. 

Mugwort- Lust, fertility, helps ease backaches and cure disease. 

Mustard Seed- Courage, faith, and endurance.

    Narcissus-  calms vibrations, promotes harmony and peace of mind. 

Nutmeg- Money, prosperity, luck, curse breaking

   Oak- wisdom, strength, to preserve youth, and increase attraction. strengthens unity, The most sacred tree.

Oatmeal- for worship, use in offerings.

Olive-Fidelity, peace, marriage, healing, potency and lust

Onion- Prosperity, stability, endurance, banishing bad habits. 

Orange-love, luck, divination, happiness, self confidence, blessing

Orchid- Concentration, strengthen memory, focus and willpower

Oregano- Joy, strength, vitality and energy.

Palo Santo- if you’ve been cursed use this herb to break it.

Paprika-Add to spell to energise it. Throw into someone’s yard to cause them problems.  Parsley- Calms and protects the home, draws prosperity and financial increase, restores a sense of well being.

Peach- Fertility, Love, Wisdom. Peach Pits ward off evil, increase love and fertility. 

Peas- Money, love

Pecan-Employment, success, security, career success. 

Pepper- courage, banishing negative vibrations. Carry to ward off jealousy.

Peppermint-healing, cleansing, purification. Burn to clear out sickness and keep under your pillow for prophetic dreams. 

Pine-promotes clean breaks, new beginnings, prosperity and success. 

Pineapple- Luck, Money, and chastity. 

Pumpkin- Health, spirit work, and lunar magick

   Raspberry- Healing, Protection, and love. Use to reduce pain during pregnancy and bathe in raspberry to keep a relationship alive.

  Rice- rain, fertility, protection

Rose- love, divine love, self love, friendships, domestic relationships and domestic peace. 

Rosemary- good health, love, good memory, prevents nightmares, wash in rosemary before healing rituals

   Sage-purification, dealing with loss and grief, improves mental stability, burned for cleansing and purification

Sandalwood- Protection, healing, clears negative energy, making wishes

Salt-purification, grounding, protection magick and circle casting

Spearmint-healing, love, protection while sleeping. Burn for healing respiratory conditions.

Strawberry- Attracts success, good fortune, and favorable circumstances.

Sugar- love spells, to bring sweetness to a sintuation, sex magick

      Tea-courage, strength, divination, use as a base for potions. 

Thyme- Loyalty, love, affection, grief, courage, purification, use in baths to cleanse and ward off nightmares.

Tomado- use in love spells

     Vanilla-Love, Lust, passion, restoring lost emotions and energy. Increases mental strength. 

Vinegar- banishing, binding, averting evil

   Walnut- access to divine energy

Willow- draws strength and love, healing, and overcoming sadness. The sacred wishing tree. Wear a sprig of willow when facing the death of a loved one. 

[brattylikestoeat]

Fall weather meal. Sirloin steak tips(marinated 24 hours in garlic, lemon, tomatoes, onions and herbs. , 5 cheese tortalini, butternut squash marinara, green beans, asparagus and garden tomatoes.