Spring Edibles on the Way

Small, but meaningful shifts are taking place in the garden. Over the weekend (April 13), I made my first, small leafy greens harvest of the season. It included: Radicchio, dandelion, stinging nettle, garlic, ‘Egyptian Walking’ onion, bloody dock, and strawberry leaves, as well as some chickweed, kale, and dandelion (including a flower) that are further

Borage Soup

Recipe: Borage Leaf Soup

Last week I wrote about growing borage as well as my recent forays into using the leaves more readily as an edible staple. While I have found several ways to use the prickly greens, making variations on this soup recipe has proven to be most successful and best-suited to my current diet. As I have

Growing Culantro from the Store-bought Herb

Growing herbs as cuttings is one quick and cost effective way that I multiply some of my herb crops — particularly basil — midway into the growing season. This way I don’t have to grow as much from seed, and should I purchase a particular variety, I only need purchase one transplant. Not all cuttings

Vegan Popsicles

Homemade Dairy-Free, No Sweetener Popsicles: 2 Ways

A year ago I had to give up dairy, which has lead me to rediscover the many uses for coconut and coconut products. Meanwhile, we recently cleaned out our basement and in the process unearthed an old plastic popsicle mold that hasn’t seen the light of day since we moved here 5 years ago. A

Chocolate Cherry Almond Smoothie

Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Almond Smoothie

I’ve been closely watching the local fruit trees this spring and it looks like it is going to be another, ahem, fruitful year of foraging. We picked serviceberries and cherries in record numbers beginning in late June/early July last year and I expect to glean as much if not more this summer. I’ve got about

Nasturtium Leaf Pesto

RECIPE: Nasturtium Leaf Pesto

The first hard frost is predicted for this weekend, either Friday or Sunday. I don’t know which because the various weather apps I keep on my phone (and check religiously) are giving conflicting forecasts. At this point I am hustling to clean up for Friday, expecting the worst, but hoping for more time. As is

Concord Grape Juice

RECIPE: Concord Grape Juice

I grew up in the Niagara Region, an area known for a microclimate that produces an abundance of fruit. Grapes in particular are kind-of a big deal there, even more-so now that the wine industry has taken off. Even before the industry got big there was an annual festival to commemorate the harvest. The festival

Smashed Cucumber Salad

Recipe: Smashed Cucumber Salad

I’ve been making my own adapted version of the smashed cucumber salad recipe from Silvena Rowe’s, Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfume: Cuisine of the Eastern Mediterranean for the last few years, but I’ve never had the chance to pair a few of the key ingredients: cucumber and mulberry. Their seasons just haven’t overlapped well. However,

RECIPE: Cherry Clafoutis

When the sweet, black cherries come into season my brain immediately turns to clafoutis, a rustic French dessert of fresh, seasonal fruit suspended in a custard-like batter. Clafoutis is really simple and quick to make. Just whip up a sweet and eggy batter, pour it over the fruit, and bake. Grapes are also commonly used

What’cha Growin? Podcast Episode #8 Abbey Huggan

In this episode we go across the street — quite literally — to chat with my neighbour and friend Abbey Huggan. Abbey is a schoolteacher by day and a wild fermenter by night. She’s also an avid gardener and is currently tending three in different locations in the city, including her own tiny yard. She

Homegrown Coriander

Pickling Flavours to Grow (or Buy)

As promised I’ve made up a list of herbs and spices that can be used to flavour pickles. Many of these can be grown at home! Pickling Flavours From the Garden Basil Bay Laurel leaf Bergamot flowers (never tried it, but would function similar to oregano) Caraway seed Celery seed Coriander seed Dill seed &

Pickled Radish Seed Pods

Pickled Radish Seed Pods 2 Ways

Last week my friend Margaret of AWAYtoGarden.com and I were chatting on Skype and she asked me what is in my pickling spice mix? The question threw me for bit of a loop since I didn’t really know. Unless I am writing a recipe for publication, I rarely pay too much mind to how I