Many families will be celebrating Easter on 3/31/24 with a ham dinner. That is one of my favorite childhood memories with my mother’s baked ham on the lace tablecloth with her good china and silverware. If you like using a slow cooker, check out my Slow Cooker Ham for an easy meal which also leaves the oven available for other dishes.
Read MoreAuthor: Carol
Azaleas in the Courtyard
I came out of my apartment on Tuesday to a beautiful day with blue skies and azaleas in bloom. Using my phone, I had to try and capture the wonderful moment. This is the view of the courtyard and blue sky from my second floor home.
Read MoreKalamata Olive Tapenade
Tapenade: A Provençal dish consisting of puréed or finely chopped olives, capers, olive oil, and sometimes anchovies which is usually eaten with bread as an hors d’œuvre. Originally tapanade was only made with black olives, but now there is also tomato and eggplant tapenades.
Today’s recipe is Kalamata Olive Tapenade with earthy, robust Kalamata olives. Tapenade is simple, quick to make, delicious and addictive. Kalamata olives are the Mediterranean diet’s best-kept secret superstar. Not only are they bursting with flavor, but they also pack a powerful punch of health benefits.
Read MoreMarch Arrives With Warmer Days
Here in central Florida the days have warmed up and blue skies continue. When I drive around Lakeland, I always enjoy seeing the lake views. Here are a couple.
Read MoreHow to Deal With Fear of Missing Out on Food
FOMO: Fear of missing out (FoMO) is a unique term introduced in 2004 to describe a phenomenon observed on social networking sites. FoMO includes two processes; firstly, perception of missing out, followed up with a compulsive behavior to maintain these social connections. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Diets usually include food restriction which can trigger food FOMO (fear of missing out on food). This can make you more likely to crave whatever food you’re restricting. It becomes a vicious cycle of binging and restricting. This is evident in the research, with studies showing that having an “all-or-none” approach to eating and inflexible diet rules leads to increased binge eating.
Read MoreRoasted Potatoes & Spinach
I love a side dish that includes fresh greens. It not only has a great flavor, but also ups the nutrition. Today’s recipe is roasted potatoes mingled with fresh spinach in a sauce of garlic, butter, and fresh rosemary. You can finish with a good shredded hard cheese like Parmesan or Pecorino if you like.
Read MoreTabebuia Trees Spring Blooms
Common name(s): Golden trumpet tree
Family: Bignoniaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 9B through 11
Origin: native to Central and South America
This last week I was surprised by the sudden blooms of bright yellow on trees in the neighborhood. I wasn’t familiar with the species. I did some research on the golden trees. Tabebuias are from the West Indies, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Central America, but several species are very well adapted to South Florida. I was thrilled to find the golden beauties here in central Florida. Since they are tropical plants, they WON’T SURVIVE HARD FREEZES.
Read More5 Reasons to Make Your Garden Organic
With Gardening Resource List
This is an updated post (2024) with information to help our pollinators. Several years ago I wrote about what to do to help bees, Make Your Garden A Haven For Bees, and butterflies, 5 Steps for a Butterfly Garden. Does it seem strange to write about gardening in February? No, now is the time to dream and plan. Forget the snow, and imagine a spring day.
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