As I drove home from Seattle this morning, I mentally went through the food I knew I had in the pantry, and didn't allow myself to stop for an easy and quick breakfast sammie on the road, even though I reeeeeeeaaallly wanted one! To my dismay, upon arriving home I discovered that my last remaining Breadfarm hoagie bun was covered in white spots, thus ruining my chances of breakfast sammie at home ( I kind of have a thing where I don't like eggs unless accompanied by toast). Frustrated, and almost gave up and followed a dangerous course of coffee-only breakfast (watch out world!) until I saw the perfect little snack to get me back on track. I had one...
It's Memorial Day weekend and it's also rhubarb STRAWBERRY season here in Washington State. What better way to entertain (or just bake for yourself) than with a homemade pie. Ok, for starters, we all know a handmade pie crust is best, with lard or butter for maximum flakiness and flavor. But between work and home chores, we didn't have time (but if we did, we would) so a frozen section grocery store crust will do. Remember to get two crusts, because this pie, unlike pumpkin or key lime, needs a top crust. Here's where it gets a little tricky, because we don't exactly measure everything. Play it by ear and you'll do fine! We chopped up: one pound of rhubarb...
We just got word this afternoon that the 2013 new package bees are arriving this FRIDAY!! In years past, the packages typically arrive much later than scheduled, like two weeks later. This year they are actually 4 days early! We will be beefing up our stock at the Growing Washington/Alm Hill Gardens certified organic, diversified berry, flower, and vegetable farm in Nooksack, Washington, as well as our stock down south in Sumner, Wa on friends Amy and John Hanawalt's Fairyland Farm. Two of our packages will find their way to the new Growing Veterans farm in Lynden, Wa, established this year to help post-911 vets. We bought an extra suit, gloves, and hive tool so we can teach the guys...
While the snow still steadily falls on our relatives-back-East head's, we are enjoying the first signs of spring here in Western Washington. It always kind of feels like spring here, when you're from a freezing in winter/hot and humid in summer place like Northern Michigan. But today I saw crocus blooming, in both purple and white. Mini daffodils are up, and the markets are starting to fill with tulips and daffodils grown in hoophouses. Hazelnut and pussy willow are both giving off tons of pollen, and a few cherries in the right places are blooming pink. The bees have been flying for weeks, and most of the hives look steady coming out of what we call Winter. There's...