Last weekend we saw a near constant rain that left our land a soft shade of emerald, and the garden looking fresh and yummy.
This week we harvested a bit more arugula, as well as chives, sage, mint, basil, thyme, rosemary, spinach, collards, kale, chard, lettuce, and radishes.
This early time in our garden seems so perfect and fun. The boys and I are out there every morning picking weeds, checking every last crop, and ooohing and ahhhhing over even the tiniest of sprouts.
As the days grow longer (and then shorter), we find our front door always open and friends always somewhere inside. I love having people in my kitchen; eating, talking and enjoying, and summertime potlucks are a staple part of our rhythm.
A good loaf of bread and cream cheese can normally always be found in our house, and the addition of herbs and radishes turns these staples into a quick and easy grab when friends drop by.
Radishes with Fresch Bread and Herbed Cream Cheese
Bread (If you do not eat GF, I would suggest using french bread)
Softened cream cheese
Herbs (I used chives)
Fresh radishes
Allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature. Snip the chives and mix into softened cream cheese. Slice bread, and spread with herbed cream cheese. Thinly slice the radishes and place on top. Snip a a bit more chives for garnish and serve.
As the rain poured down last Saturday, a friend’s annual cocktail party seemed surely rained out, but never one to let the weather effect their spirits, Sarah and Doc decided to keep it going as we all piled indoors to enjoy good food and drink. Perhaps my favorite dish of the night turned out to be the most creative of cocktails, as one guest carried a basket full of greens in one hand, and a bottle of flavored vodka in the other. Rosemary called it the Lawnmower, and it may very well become the classic drink of the summer. While I have no idea exactly what was in the drink that she made (I watched her put a lot of greens and a lot of alcohol into the blender), here is my version of this fun and healthy (somewhat) twist.
Rosemary’s Lawnmower
1 large bunch of greens (I used fresh spinach and collards)
1 diced apple, skin on
1 small bunch fresh mint (I used Kentucky Colonel)
2 diced kiwi
1 cup blueberries
1/2 cup broccoli sprouts
1 tbsp Spirulina
1 Tbsp Honey
1 cup of flavored liquor (I used raspberry flavored rum)
Ice
Blend together and serve chilled
I wish you a weekend full of fresh food and good fun, and to all of the fathers out there, thank you for all that you do.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Right now our market is in swing but the only things that are fresh and local right now (and therefore the only things sold at the market) are strawberries, green onions and radishes. Good thing I love all of those. Your radishes and cream cheese will be our strawberry jam-making snack!
That looks delicious! i just love eating from the garden this time of year.
interesting…a green smoothie cocktail. your garden harvest looks wonderful!
Oh, I just knew I loved the green smoothies. Now I have even more reason to drink them in the evening. Great idea!
ohmyohmyohmy…it's a naughty green smoothie! Thanks for the idea….I could really take this to extremes!
ps–very impressed with your garden so far!
gush! what a beautiful post! yum
gush! what a beautiful post. YUM
Constant rain?? Oh how lucky! We say a brief shower or too… But our greens are nearly ready for some harvesting too!
Gorgeous radishes! The "Lawnmower" sounds like the perfect summer drink! We are always looking for ways to drink our greens.
such pretty radishes! you always have such gorgeous pics.
now that sounds refreshing and delightful – look forward to trying this green recipe out!
your garden pics are lovely.
Sadly, I am the only one in my family who loves radishes… now wait a minute, that means I could make that recipe and eat it all myself… not too bad after all! I had my first radish from our garden yesterday. It may be one of the only few that made it.
And hmm, the green smoothie cocktail. Awesome! I've been enjoying green smoothies for breakfast almost every day for quite a while now. I'll have to try one in the evening this weekend!
Mmm, we did little radish sandys like that, too, but with plain old butter and salt. Herbed cream cheese sounds like the next step to take with them.
+Chelsea
I hate to admit that I have never liked radishes, but I hear they grow supper quick and was thinking that alone would make them fun to try. But that picture and the idea of good bread and herb cream cheese just may be the tipping point. And oh, my "dirty" green smoothies sound awesome.
lucky you
yum! I just harvested a whole basket full of radishes today and am looking forward to snacking on them with a fresh baguette…just as soon as it is out of the oven;)
I will have to pick up some radishes at our CSA farm this week – love the idea for quick sandwiches. That and a salad with the ginger soy dressing that you led me to last week will make a perfect supper for these high 80 degree evenings. And maybe start with a lawnmower – I think that is hysterical – love the name. And will have to try the drink, though am not sure how I'll take to that. I think by evening I want to drink something without the texture. I'll keep an open mind – haha.
Oh, and I mentioned the lawnmowers just now to my husband as I was making my morning smoothie. Never missing an opportunity for a pun he comes up with "Yeah, and we can put tequila in it and call it a 'greengo". Ooooh.!
what a great idea for the radishes. i'm never quite sure what to do with them and this looks so yummy. thanks for the inspiration! and thanks for your beautiful comments yesterday. always love hearing from you.
you've gotten me excited for my garden. we got a late start but everything is looking good and i can't wait to start picking!
happy day.
beautiful!!! I love radishes!
Thank you, Rosemary's Lawnmower sounds delish. Clarice
your garden looks wonderful….my favorite way to have radishes is with sweet cream butter. I'll have to try them with cream cheese. Have a wonderful week heather….hope your hand is all better!
That post is lovely. I dream of a large garden. Unfortunately, each time we garden the squirrels and ground squirrels and rabbits get more of the harvest than we do. This has caused me to cut way back on what we plant each summer (total bummer). This year we have just tomatoes and peppers.
That cocktail sounds amazing! I just wrote an article for the newspaper here in Lexington about herbal infusions~ including infusing herbs into alcohol. (i.e. basil infused vodka)
Have a lovely week!
What wonderful summer abundance! Lovely to see.
There is nothing qite a satisfying or nourishing as homegrown is there Heather! Looks like a bountiful garden you are lovingly tending there!
I was going to make the radish & cream cheese sandwiches, but then I ended up with spring turnips (not as spicy, but equally delicious) and a large tub of goat cheese. YumYumYum!
Heather, did you get my email from several days ago re: the art book giveaway? It seems like somehow our emails aren't reaching each other…I'm sorry if it looks like I was ignoring you!
Thanks for leaving a message on my blog. I think golden syrup is called Kings syrup in the USA. Love this blog and your beautiful photgraphs.
Scrumptious!! Your veggies look amazing. Arugula grows well where we live to. Radishes are my husbands favorite and even my children enjoy them with our delicious homemade raw butter. All our greens have been waterlogged this year from the continuous tropical rains we've had. We make herbal teas every night but will definitely try out this cocktail some time.
What an amazing idea for serving radishes! Yum! And we still have a number of them in the fridge right now! And that cocktail/smoothie sounds delish; I'd just have to have my mine the virgin version right now…