When I think of Seattle my first thoughts are of Karrin & Heather, two of my very best friends. Then of course comes seafood, wide open waters and dreamy green flora. I just came home from a weeklong visit filled to the brim with incredible food and fresh air.
My garden is bursting with tomatoes. Romas, Juliets, Sungolds and more are exploding from the backyard with vibrant colors and juicy tomato flavor. I swear, they’re coming out of my ears, my nose and I occasionally find a few in my purse… I’m really not sure how they get there.
Last Sunday was a Northern Michigan PERFECT summer day, a warm and sunny Sunday. I spent the morning in the garden harvesting a bounty of fresh produce and the afternoon by the water reading a great book and jumping in the cool, blue lake. Truly, it couldn’t have been a more perfect day.
Heirloom tomatoes are beautiful, colorful gorgeous fruits. They make salads brighter and bolder. These heirloom varieties also have a historical context too, as their seeds have been passed down through several generations. Preserving their diverse varying colors and incredible flavor.
Chocolate cravings are practically a daily occurrence in my household; replaced only by a craving for ice cream or fresh fruit pies, but nonetheless sugar. I can’t help it, the sweet tooth is simply deeply rooted in my bones and I can only ignore it when I having nothing in my pantry, freezer or refrigerator to relieve my craving. However this craving usually persists for a few days and then I head straight to a recipe book to bake up a sweet treat. I’m always looking for creative ways to bake “healthier” and when another GIANT zucchini grew up quickly in my backyard garden my first thought was Chocolate!..Zucchini!… Zucchini Brownies!
It doesn’t get much better than a Northern Michigan summer. In July and August there is no where else I’d rather be. The fresh water lakes, gorgeous beaches and plentiful barbecues keep me tied to the shoreline snacking on fresh fruit until my fingers (and inevitably my white skirt) are died a deep red or purplish hue. I cant get enough of the fresh fruit scene you’ll find at local farmers markets this time of year. From blackberries, tart cherries, peaches, blueberries, raspberries and more, I’ll stuff my belly and my freezer to the brim.
Lets just say, It’s been a process to get my backyard into working condition. We purchased the house last October and immediately knew we had a space with incredible potential. The 50 x 50 backyard lot is a city dwellers dream garden, but the landscaping (or lack there of) was underwhelming and it was left seriously overgrown, with a jungle of weeds, vines, and untended brush to clear.