fruit – Shoots and Roots

30 Days of Renewal – Day 21 – 6 Fruits and Veggies I Always Have in the Kitchen

By: Melissa June 11, 2013

30 Days, Fruit, Vegetablescooking, Food, fruit, garden, links, recipe, vegetables2 Comments

I planted the garden this weekend! Pictures and info on what I planted to come. For today I thought I would tell you about the 6 most useful fruits and veggies I use on a regular basis. 1. Mire Poix Veggies – Carrots, Celery, Garlic, Onion – Okay I know this is actually four veggies,…

How To Freeze Berries

By: Melissa August 15, 2012June 12, 2018

Food, Fruit, Preserving, summerberries, Food, freezing, fruit, gardening, preserving, recipe, summer5 Comments

I am 31 weeks into my pregnancy and have reached that point where my life feels like one big boring waiting game. I try to keep busy organizing the house and cooking freezer meals, but I lack the energy and inspiration to do much of anything else, making life incredibly boring. The nesting bug…

Mini Blackberry Galettes

By: Melissa August 8, 2012January 12, 2019

Dessert, Food, Fruit, summerblackberry, dessert, Food, fruit, galette, recipe, summer, tartletteLeave a Comment

Last week I went to see my midwife who told me that the baby had turned again, back into the breech position. She said not to worry, but that I should take a long walk everyday to encourage him to turn. I used to love a long walk, but these days a long walk is…

Perfect Blueberry Muffins

By: Melissa January 24, 2012May 26, 2018

Breads, Breakfast, Dessert, Food, Snacksbaking, Food, fruit, healthy, muffin, recipe7 Comments

I am not a breakfast person. Since I was a teen, most of my mornings involve a cup of tea and a queasy couple of hours trying to keep it all down. I know, its terrible! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but try telling that to my chronically upset stomach! Over…

Photo Friday – Plum Jam with Recipe

I love making jam in the summer. We don’t bother canning it since we tend to finish it off pretty quickly. That’s why I love this recipe, because you can make any amount you need. This week we used red plums, last week it was tropical plums, next week we will see what is on…

Getting Cultured – Making Yogurt

Cultured – an adjective meaning: enlightened; refined nurtured or grown cultivated; tilled I stare at the directions wondering if this is a huge waste of time. Maybe I should just go to bed. Everyone else is already asleep. I look down at the milk that’s beginning to steam in my favorite saucepan. There is no…

Afternoon Rituals and Strawberry Cake

By: Melissa May 19, 2011June 10, 2018

Cake, Dessert, Food, summerbaking, cake, dessert, Food, fruit, martha stewart, photography, recipe, spring, strawberry, summer7 Comments

He first appeared on the corner in March with a tower of boxes & bags. Mangoes and oranges. Now, every afternoon I see him peddling his fruit, the most beautiful sunny smile on his tanned face. He is a popular guy. People look for him on their way home from work, while walking their…

Meyer Lemon Curd

By: Melissa March 19, 2011June 10, 2018

Breakfast, Dessert, Food, Fruit, Gluten Freebreakfast, cooking, curd, custard, Food, food photography, fruit, lemon, recipe, snack5 Comments

I can’t post today without first mentioning Japan & the earthquake. I have lived 2 miles from the San Andreas Fault in California my entire life living with the fear of the “Big One”. Japan’s devastation is so terrifying to me not only because it is too horrible to describe, but because it will one…