Spring is fickle. Actually so is real estate! This market is so wild right now. If you have a home to sell, NOW IS THE TIME. Just know you have to be creative in getting your new home as inventory is low. Please feel free to call me anytime to talk about your home’s values and how you might benefit in this market.
Before I tell you about these recipes, I want you to see photos of the forsythia I bought for $18 from the sale I told you about in the last newsletter. Please note the gentleman farmer that IS NOT planting but posing! American Gothic?
Recipes!
One of the best vegetables to be in the stores right now is artichokes. People seem to be intimidated by them, but dive on in. You will be glad you did.
Grilled Artichokes
I fell in love with this strange vegetable in my 20’s hitchhiking across Greece and Yugoslavia. It is a thistle and grows wild on the roads, or it did back then. I usually do two of these at a time and I begin by cutting in half, using a knife to carve out the fibrous bits called the choke. I use a grapefruit spoon to finish that little task and then I cover and steam them for 20 minutes. The steamer is probably from my 20’s as well!
While the artichokes are steaming I start my grill and also prepare a marinade. It is simple and you can certainly make variations.
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
- 2 cloves of garlic (I love these little frozen garlic from Trader Joes)
I also make a sauce of Veganaisse or Mayo with lemon and maybe some pesto to dip the leaves in.
After steaming the artichokes I drain them and pour the marinade all over them and put them cut side down on the grill for five minutes or so to get grill marks.
Then I turn them over and grill another few minutes. And these are done!
I was so excited making these that I gobbled them up and never took a photo with them on the plate!
Easiest & Best Bean Salad EVER!
This takes no time and can be enjoyed room temperature or cold. You might need a baguette and a crisp glass of wine and that is all.
My biggest tip for this is to look for BUTTER BEANS. They are so much more appealing than any other white bean and always get lots of attention. The other ingredients are staples in my pantry and fridge.
Here are the beans, rinsed and close up.
- Butter Beans- one or two cans
- quartered small flavorful tomatoes
- fresh chopped basil
- chopped roasted red pepper
- chopped scallions or shallots
- crumbled goat cheese
- olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- optional -lemon juice and/or garlic
Simply put all ingredients in a bowl. Isn’t it gorgeous?
Gently mix all the ingredients and you have a healthy and refreshing dish!
