Purslane (Portulaca Oleracea) - Tastes great!

I had mentioned Purslane in my Garden Party blog and promised myself that I would expand on this interesting herb at a future time. Ladies and Gentleman, the time is now.
Purslane (Portulaca Oleracea) is a rich source of vitamins and minerals with vitamins A, B, C, and E, along with iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, folic acid, and lithium. Purslane has more beta-carotene than spinach. It’s also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, more than some fish oils.



The leaves, stems and flower buds are eatable. The flowers range from white, pink, rose, yellow, orange and lavender. The taste is similar to watercress or spinach.
I’ve seen many recipes for Purslane on line, such as a tomato and cucumber salad. The antioxidant properties are significantly decreased if frying and boiling so it’s best to eat it raw in a salad or when making vegetable juice if possible. Sautéed or gently stewed stems and leaves can be served as side dish with fish and poultry. (It tends to get a bit slimy if overcooked.) You can also use Purslane on sandwiches instead of lettuce or pickles. I’ve heard that you can soak the stems in apple cider vinegar for a couple days in an air tight container and they come out tasting just like pickle relish.



It’s a common trailing weed and once it’s planted will take over whatever space it’s in (much like mint) so make sure it’s contained in a small space. They look like baby jade plants and can be considered a weed by many trying for a perfect lawn. It’s very drought tolerant and will seed itself so again be careful where you plant it.
You can file this one under the phrase, “Who Knew?”

Deco Beads

I wanted to talk a little about Deco Beads. They are made by the same folks who produce Soil Moist. Now if you’ve kept up with my blogs you know how important Soil Moist is to anything that I grow, especially since we have bouts of drought here in the South. Soil Moist saves a lot of my outdoor plants.



Deco Beads are another way to water but this time with cut flowers. They start out as little crystals but as water is added they expand into marble shaped storage vessels that will keep your flowers watered and fashionable!
First I went to the Dollar Store to purchase a clear vase. Then I decided which colors to add. From soft pastel colors like Baby Blue to the strong vibrant colors like Current Red; there are 24 custom colors for that special occasion. Since the 4th of July is fast approaching I decided on red, white and blue. They Cost less than 3 dollars a pack and can be left to de-hydrate to use again.





They come in beads, balls, cubes and even scented beads. Non-toxic, environmentally safe - Deco Beads are ideal for centerpieces, silk and fresh cut flowers, candles and more.
They suggest that you place a small amount of plastic wrap between each color which I didn’t do but now I know why. First, it would make it easier to separate the colors after use and second the white beads picked up a little of the red bead color so now instead of white beads I have pink ones. Lesson learned.




Go to their web site and see all the wonderful ways people have used Deco Beads. It will inspire you. http://www.soilmoist.com/products/decobeads.php

4th of July!

Here are a few interesting facts about the 4th of July:
On the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died. You got it, on the same day July 4th, 1826.

On December 16, 1773 there was a Tea Party in Boston but that wasn’t the only large cup of tea made during the first years before the revolution. New York hosted their own Tea Party on April 22, 1774.

So now it’s time to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence (Actually signed on August 2nd.)



My daughter and I made Carla Hall’s Boston Cream Pie recipe from "The Chew" website. It wasn’t an easy recipe but OH how delicious. I forgot to whip the cream before mixing it into the cake batter which made the layers a bit thin but didn’t change the taste. This treat is for the adults only because kids won’t appreciate it and this dessert needs to be appreciated!



Then I found some really cool reusable plates at a discount store. These are heavy duty, extra large and only cost $2 a piece. Since I’m planning to use them every year this will save money in the long run. I went to the dollar store and picked up a red table cloth and cut a hole in the center to allow for the umbrella. It was a dollar so it didn’t matter how many holes I cut into it. I also picked up some cupcake baking cups and the package came with mini flags. 48 cups and flags for - you guessed it - One Dollar! I baked some brownies in the cups and added the frosting and flags. This will be a wonderful treat for the kids. I also made some white chocolate covered pretzels and added red, white and blue sprinkles! These are my favorite! The napkins were from the dollar store as well. If you've never been in one I would suggest you try. It's amazing what can be bought at The Dollar Store.





I used the reflections silver colored plastic wear which can be washed and used again. That way you won't get that sick feeling when you’ve realized that some of it ended up in the trash. I’ve had that happen with real silver before. So the fake silver is okay with me especially when you are having a cookout.
Lastly I wanted to put the American flag out for the 4th of July holiday but I don’t have a flag pole so I went to the dollar store again. This time I picked up some small American Flags and placed them along my walkway. It’s festive looking.



And now ~ if you’ve never seen this letter written by John Adams to his wife Abigail on the 2nd of July 1776 here it is. (He was only off by two days!)

Following is the exact text from his letter with his original spellings:

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not. (The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784, Harvard University Press, 1975, 142).

Happy 4th Everybody - It's worth fighting for!

Salad by the numbers.

One of my favorite summer salads is a raw corn salad. I make it with corn that has been cut right off the cob. Try to get corn from your garden, local farmers market or buy organic.



Mix with black and kidney beans, cilantro and sweet Vidalia onions.



Next mix in some halved grape tomatoes and pickled jalapeño peppers that have been coarsely chopped and some finely-chopped garlic.



Now give it a splash of olive oil and juice from one orange. Salt and pepper to taste.



It’s a delicious cold salad but what’s even better is it can be cooked. We cooked some this evening to serve with burritos. You can even freeze this salad for use during the winter months! So versatile and so yummy!



Enjoy!

Garden Party

Having a garden party is a nice way to gather friends and family in a unique environment. Setting up card tables and chairs isn’t too difficult and when draped with a colorful cloth it makes for a festive site. Placing flowers of any kind centered on the tables also keeps with the theme.



I didn’t have time to plant these Purslane into festive pots so I placed each pot into a ceramic pepper meant for dips. Worked out just fine in a pinch. Purslane is an herb that contains Omega-3 fatty acids so it would be helpful to get to know this plant. You can find lots of recipes online and it’s super easy to grow.



Next, I chose Masterpiece disposable plates (www.wna.biz) that look like china. They are pretty and strong enough to handle outdoor fare. I also used silver colored cutlery from Reflections which provided something a little fancier than picnic paper goods. (I got them both at Costco.)



Setting out pillows, cushions, umbrellas and lighting citronella candles and torches help to keep things cozy and comfortable. We also set up some electric fans to help cool off our guests and help keep the smoke from the grill out of everyone’s eyes.
We first start out the meal with grilled fry bread. So delicious. (You can find the recipe at http://www.barbecuebible.com/featured/bbqu/bbq_u_grilled_fry_bread.php. by Steven Raichlen, a BBQ genius.) We serve this with hummus, soft spreadable cheeses and a brie. This is always a hit and not too difficult to make. You can make this ahead of time but be sure to cover each one with damp paper towels and plastic wrap so it stays moist until it is time to grill.
Next, we use the rosemary from our garden to make a Tuscan rosemary and garlic chicken. My husband discovered this recipe as a child while on a trip to Italy with his family when their tour bus broke down and they took refuge at a monastery on a hill.
We also grilled some flank steaks marinated in Italian dressing.
It is always good to serve all the summer salads you can while the picking is good. If guests ask “what can we bring?”, then ask them to bring their favorite salads. People won’t ask it they don’t want to help. My motto is “Always take help when offered!” Of course one of my favorite salads can be found on this blog dated August 23, 2011. Check it out.
Also, corn is especially good when you split the husk, pull it down but not completely off the ear, take out the silk, pull the husk back over the corn, soak it in water for half an hour and then grill. Once it’s cooked (turning often only a few minutes) pull the husk back off and coat with lime juice and sprinkle with chili powder.
Lastly, I made some Red, White and Blue Dessert Squares (a recipe I found on Cooks.com) which incorporates raspberries and blueberries and tastes old fashioned according to my daughter. I think she liked them.



We served lemonade, sweet tea, cucumber and mint infused water, beer and wine (which most of the guests happily provided).
A Garden Party is a special time with special people. It’s a chance to hide away from our daily struggles and venture back into a simpler time. Try having just one in your yard this summer and create an experience to remember.