Lentil Shepherds Pie

Spring is here, but snow is in the forecast for this weekend, which means warm dishes, like this Shepherds Pie are still in order.

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
2 carrots diced
1 celery rib diced
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1 zucchini diced
2 cloves garlic chopped 
spices to taste: teaspoon each, salt, pepper, rosemary oregano, thyme
1/2 cup red wine
1 cup lentils
3 cups broth
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 package frozen corn cooked slightly
4 potatoes cooked and mashed

Heat oil in large pot or skillet. Add onion, garlic, carrots and celery. Saute about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and zucchini and cool about 3 minutes. Add spices and red wine and simmer 1-2 minutes. Then add 2 cups broth and lentils and cook 40 minutes until done and most of the liquid is absorbed, gradually adding the remaining broth throughout. Spray or grease casserole dish, spread lentil mixture on bottom, Cover with corn, then mashed potatoes. Bake 375 Degrees 25 minutes and serve.

Dreaming of Seeds

Seed packets and a few of my favorite catalogs

Winter Luxury Pumpkin

Beginning in January, the seed catalogs start arriving, which is great, because it provides plenty of opportunity to dream. The problem is, with such a small garden, I am unable to order from all the catalogs I would like. Each catalog is unique and are fun to peruse like a favorite magazine. This year, I already got a head start on my purchases, through pre-season sales, the NOFA conference and, most recently, the Boston Flower and Garden Show. A couple vendors focused mainly on heirloom varieties, including the Hudson Valley Seed Library and another, Fruition Seeds was strictly organic.  I made sure that I had room to still purchase a variety of my seeds from my go-to seed supply source, Pinetree Garden Seeds. I like them because they are regionally based out of Maine; they grow and test many of their seeds; they have a good selection of heirloom and organic seeds; and their smaller packet size are reasonably priced and are perfect for the backyard gardener. They have also recently started selling ground herbs and teas and have expanded their catalog to include supplies for making soaps and cosmetics.

Every year I say I'm going to be better organized, plot out the garden, and order my seeds early. Well, here it is approaching the end of March and as usually, the early plot-planning is going to have to wait. Before ordering, I do try to take an inventory of any seeds I may have collected from the prior year or have left over from purchases within the last couple of years. I also try and skim my journal from last year and not re-order varieties that did not do well. Finally, I must try at least a couple new varieties; and this year that includes an heirloom "Winter Luxury Pumpkin" and a perennial Maximillian sunflower. I can't wait to get planting.

2016 Boston Flower and Garden Show

Spring Tulips from the Boston Flower and Garden Show

Happy Spring Equinox. 2016 is the earliest spring since 1896 (note: you can check the exact time that the equinox occurred at your location here http://www.timeanddate.com.) Even though temperatures have dipped and a nor'easter is expected to hit New England later today, we have been experiencing spring-like weather for several weeks already. I was in Washington D.C. this past week, and even though I didn't make it down to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms, I did see a few signs of plants waking up from their winter slumber.
 

Daffodils

Roman Hyacinth

Magnolia

Pansies

Since it will be a few more weeks until we see flowers in our own yard, I was looking forward to attending the Boston Flower and Garden Show on Saturday.

The show which is put on by the Massachusetts Horticulture Society is held at the Seaport World Trade Center on Boston Harbor which is actively used by both fishing vessels and recreational boats. It was a crisp and clear day outside.

 
This was my first time attending this show and once inside, I was overwhelmed by the size and detail of some of the displays. My friend Heidi and I had no trouble finding enough to see and do to fill up the entire day. From simple youth exhibits to serious competitors in Flora Design there were so many things to photograph and admire.


There were demonstrations going on throughout the day. At noon time it felt good to take a break by watching Chef Raymond Ost of Wilson Farm, Lexington. We learned how to prepare a fresh kale salad and were able to taste the final product, along with a mushroom risotto dish that was made during an earlier presentation. They were both delicious and I ended up purchasing The Wilson Farm Country Cookbook. I can't wait to try some of the recipes later this summer by using fresh garden produce.

Chef Ost demonstrates how to roll, chop and season kale to make it tender.

In addition to the horticulture displays and educational presentations, there were close to two hundred vendors selling food, books, lotions, crafts, seeds, and tools and services. My friend commented how the vendors had taken over the show and that the flower and plant exhibits were lacking compared to years past. Having never been before, I still enjoyed myself, finding plenty of exhibits that interested me. I even left with a couple new books as well as a few packets of seed.

Flower and garden shows are great any time of year, but are particularly enticing in March when the months of winter are just behind us and we can start to feel that planting season is within our grasp.
But, until the ground completely thaws and dries out here in New England, one can only imagine and dream about what is to come.

My favorite display was this naturalist's table that invites one to pause and take notice of nature around you.

 

Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup old-fashioned oats
2 cups buttermilk 
2/3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons oil
2 eggs
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
-Combine oats and milk (I did not have buttermilk and used soured milk instead) and set aside. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in sugar and orange zest. Beat eggs and add to oats and milk. Gradually stir in dry ingredients. Fold in nuts and blueberries. Fill greased muffin tins 3/4 full and bake in 350 degrees preheated oven 18-25 minutes depending on muffin size.

Michelle Obama Visits Community Gardens

What a wonderful First Lady we have. How inspiring!

Hiking Stinson Mountain

It was another beautiful day which just beckoned hikers to the woods. My friend Sue and I selected Stinson Mountain in Rumney. A relatively easy climb on the NH 52 with a View list. At 2,900 feet and only 1.8 miles one way, it seemed like the perfect trail for catching some fresh air and getting a little exercise.

What was surprising was the amount of snow that greeted us, as soon as we started ascending Cross Road, which runs along Stinson Lake. Where there was only a dusting of snow on the ground back home, here, it was below freezing and definitely felt and looked like winter. The parking lot was full, only holding about 4 cars, but fortunately someone was leaving just as we pulled in.

Once we got started I could tell that it was going to be one of those days when hiking felt like a burden, so I was grateful for the mostly gradual ascent. However, at about 1.1 miles the hiking trail splits right and a snowmobile trail stays left. We followed the hiking trail, which turned out to be much steeper and longer.

I was definitely grateful for the microspikes on this portion of the trail

 As we continued to climb, the tall birches transitioned to shorter conifers before opening up to the summit.

As usual, once we reached the top, the work to get there was soon forgotten as we got out our sandwiches and enjoyed the view from the foundation of the old fire tower.

On the way down, we took the more direct route on the snowmobile trail. There is supposed to be a side trail to an overlook of Stinson Lake, but we never found it. I did, however capture a cool photo of frozen Old Man's Beard.

Old Man's Beard (Usnea) is a type of lichen used traditional used for its antibiotic properties.

After we finished the hike, we decided hot beverages were in order. We discovered the Common Cafe right in the center of Rumney Village. My latte was perfect and Sue's hot chocolate was rich and creamy. They both went well with a fresh cranberry almond scone. If we ever pass this way again in the summer, I will have to try one of their fruit smoothies, such as the Restless Native (banana, honey, espresso and milk) or the Climbers Way (strawberries, banana, blueberries, hone and yogurt.) 

The exterior and

interior of the Common Cafe and Tavern

Meteorological Spring

It was only 26 degrees Tuesday morning, but with a high of 57 degrees on Monday, something told the daffodil bulbs that it must be spring.

Now that it is March and officially Meteorological Spring, I have come to accept that I most likely will not be getting my cross country skies out this winter. The National Weather Service has reported that New Hampshire experienced the warmest winter on record (December - February) with an average temperature in the state capital of 30.9 degrees. The only snow on the ground in our yard are a few scant piles from the little bit that had to be shoveled after only a handful of storms. Unless we get some more snow, we will have also experienced the least snowy winter on record.
 
After what seemed like a winter that would never end last year, I am only slightly disappointed that the winter of 2016 was so mild. Alas, I am now ready to turn my attention to the outdoors and the garden.

One way to get started early, is to sow seeds indoors. Unfortunately, we don't have a location in our home with enough sunlight that makes starting seedlings indoors practical. I tried one year with grow lights, but the plants became too long and spindly and did not survive being transplanted outdoors.

My sister in Michigan has solved this problem by having her own greenhouse, which was built by her husband and brother-in-law last year as a birthday present.

The greenhouse is attached to the house and has direct access from an interior door.

Eleven inches of snow fell February 24th, but inside the greenhouse it was nice and cozy.

With the greenhouse connected to the house, cold hardy plants such as lettuce, spinach and chard, were able to be sown directly into the ground, which never froze. According to my sister, they had fresh salad greens  throughout the winter, and her only regret is that the space isn't bigger. She  also sowed carrots here which she hopes to harvest in the late spring/early summer.

February salad greens ready for picking.

Alas, I don't know if I will ever have a greenhouse, but I hope that one day I will at least have a large south-facing window with nice wide window sills or room for shelves that can be filled with flowers as well as vegetables to be enjoyed year-round. In the meantime I will have to imagine that possibilities with pictures.

Spring looking out at winter.

 Photos taken and provided by Kathie Gourlay.