Winter/Spring Harvest

This

+ This

= a Delish Dish!

Our oranges and cilantro made it through the frosts.  Wish I had a lime tree old enough to produce.  Anyone want to trade oranges, clementines for limes?  The over wintered cilantro is really growing with our warm days.  I thought I'd share a favorite recipe while this fresh abundance lasts. 

CITRUS YOGURT MARINADE AND SAUCE

2 Cups plain low fat Yogurt
2 Medium Shallots, finely chopped
3+ Medium Garlic cloves, minced (garlic lovers feel free to add more)
1/4 Cup freshly squeezed  Orange Juice
             frozen pineapple orange juice concentrate may be substituted
2+ Tablespoons freshly squeezed Lime Juice
2 teaspoons Cilantro, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground Cumin
1/4 teaspoon White Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Salt

After thoroughly combining the above ingredients set aside some marinade to use as sauce after the meat is grilled.  Marinate meat (chicken, fish, pork) for 1 hour to overnight before grilling, allowing meat to get to room temperature before putting on the heat source.

For garnish:  2 oranges and 2 limes, sliced plus 1 bunch cilantro


BTW if you have not grown or tasted Cilantro Delfino I highly recommend it (not pictured above).  It looks airy like dill but has a supreme cilantro flavor AND it is heat tolerant!  It not only has bigger (not bolder) flavor but is easier to work with and eat due to it's leaf size and shape.  I've only found it in seed.  If you prefer transplants and not having to start your own then start asking your nurseries to carry it.  They and the growers can respond to requests when enough of us chirp.

First Friday Flea Market and more

A fabulously busy two weeks here at Tre Soli.  All of the roses have been pruned and fed.  Two new rose beds with irrigation built and planted.  Four new veggie/ herb beds built and irrigated.  Six more fruit trees espaliered.   Daffodils blooming.  Peaches and Apples bloomed and leafing.  Plums, cherries, apricots and figs budding.  Corn, herbs and tomatoes planted.  And drum roll please...Gophers caught!  Oh boy goody!! So this is such a busy time that the blog languishes but I have posts in the works with photos so stay tuned. 

In the mean time I hope to see you Friday at the Willows for their monthly First Friday Flea Market. 
http://thewillowshomeandgarden.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-first-friday.html
The weather will be perfect.  I have met such wonderful artists and craft women at these affairs.  And of course Bev and the girls always have the dearest lovelies for sale in the shop.

Since the roses are just leafing out I will not have any of the girls with me at the First Friday Flea Market. They don't like to come out in public without full regalia. Instead I will be squeezing fresh tangerine/orange juice. Liquid Gold we call it at our breakfast table. Additionally I'll be cutting cilantro, dill, chard and perhaps some daffodils. If you purchase the juice and cilantro I'll give you my favorite grilling marinade recipe that uses both of those ingredients.

+=

Marinade

And isn't it the perfect time of year for us to grill outside and enjoy the evenings.  The best of both worlds, warm enough to be outside yet cool enough for a fire later in the evening!  Don't gloat too much to your friends and rellies back home.

See you Friday?!