Peach Rhubarb Cobbler ~ ~ Fresh From The Garden!

.

At first the combination of tangy-tart rhubarb combined with sweet peaches sounded really strange to me, but I just felt that I had to get out of the same-ole, same-ole strawberries with rhubarb song and dance that everyone bakes up. So I did some research and found many recipes that combined rhubarb with PEACHES. So I compared all of the ingredients and decided that from what I read, I needed to make my own version of a peach and rhubarb dessert by adding a little bit more of this, a little bit less or none of that, and then I also used my own yummy cobbler topping recipe.

I realize that this is my third rhubarb recipe on my blog and know that you may be thinking that we're just rhubarb fanatics. The reality is that this stuff (the rhubarb) has just been growing out of control in the gardens and I've just got to do something with it! I'm also cutting up a bunch to give to some friends down the road who've NEVER had rhubarb before. I think I'll look into the various methods of preserving it either by freezing or canning. What do you think?

Before the recipe begins, let me also say that peaches are just now showing up in the farmers' market, but they are not the 'cling free' that we like the best (so I wait until late June to pick up that variety). The peaches that I used for this dessert are those that I froze last summer (you can see this post from last year . . . just look under "peaches" in the index on my sidebar). As you can see from their thawed out version below in the plastic containers, they freeze beautifully!

Pin It

A Springtime Walk Through The Gardens of "La Bella Vita" Farm

.

Well spring has sprung and I seem to have forgotten to take you on a little walk through some of my flower gardens here on the acreage. The shots that I'm posting today are those that were taken back in March and April of this year. After a few more posts with a culinary focus, I'll add photos of my vegetable and herb gardens and also more of the flowers that are currently in bloom right now in May. It's been quite the colorful display this year due to all of the winter rain and the two snowfalls. Hope you enjoy this little walk behind my garden gate!
.
Above is a brilliant rose-pink clematis, that I simply cannot remember its name!

.
.

Here is the latest edition of iris in the front gardens which was purchased from a local nursery; the purple variety is from W.D.'s parents' farm in Ohio from many, many years ago. We've planted them and pulled them out every time that we've moved and then replanted them in their memory.

.


.
More shots of the blue and white iris patch! I couldn't get enough of these little pretties! And the deer don't touch them at all!
.


.
The bleeding hearts along the northern exposure of our house and under the River Birch trees have simply gone crazy in naturalizing! They started out as little 4-inch potted plants and now they are each about 4 feet wide! And with about 15 plants, that's a LOT of bleeding hearts. Again, these are completely distasteful to deer.
.
.

This wisteria only shows off for about two short weeks, and when it is in bloom, it steals the show in the gardens! Yes, I know that it takes over anything that it can climb, but I don't have formal gardens and I like it this way.

.
.
Below is one of our latest spring flowering beauties: Vibernum "Chinese Snowball" . . . we planted about seven of these hardy flowering plants that are very deer resistant. Most of our garden is deer resistant due to the herds of deer out here in the countryside. These produce HUGE hydrangea-sized balls of flowers (and hydrangeas are not deer resistant). They take full sun and grow quite tall.
.
.
.

What would spring be without brilliant Redbuds? We planted about eight of these trees in the past six years, but sadly, when the deer are desparate, they will chow down on Redbuds if they are short enough. We've lost half of them and it's so sad when I lose any of my 'floral babies'. But I keep on trying by planting more every year!
.
.
.

In front of our house I always, always plant salmon-colored geraniums. The color is so vivid! They are so striking against the stone-covered walls. It's been a tradition to pot these in front since 1978! Deer will eat these as if they were candy, so I have to spray them with repellent after every rain . . . it works well.
.
.
.

Here are some of our Stargazer Lilies that we plant right after Easter in a safe place away from where the deer can nibble on. I've always loved this variety of lilies.

.
.

And last, but really what appeared first in the gardens, are the cheerful daffodils of Mount Hood and Ice Follies that never fail to assure us that the cold weather of winter will soon be over! Gotta have nature's little alarm clock that alerts us that spring is on its way!

.
.
.

Through the winter, our pansies provide brilliant color through the grey, rainy days. Such sweet little things, huh?

.
,

Thanks for taking a little stroll with me through this garden palette of natural color! I hope that you enjoyed this gift of beauty and that you, too, have lovely gardens to escape and restore your soul in. The azaleas and roses are in bloom right now and I'll be posting photos of those later.

.

And in the meantime, don't forget in your days of insane over-busyness . . . STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS!

.

Pin It

A Beautiful and Delicious Week on Hilton Head Island, SC

.

I just spent a glorious week with my hubbie on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina for some simple and hard-to-find rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation for the mind, body and soul. This was just the restoration that both of us needed after nine months of teaching college students. We love staying at destinations before the Kindergarten through 12th graders get out of school so we have even MORE peace and quiet! Not that we don't love kids, of course we do, having four of our own and five grandchildren. It's just that when we want blissful serenity, we really seek it out!

.

Here are just a few shots of what we experienced on this nature-preserve island of Hilton Head:

.

.

The lighthouse above actually does work to warn both boaters and sailors. Restaurants are on top and bottom as well as surrounding it. Below is another view of it from the pier. To the right is the final hole of the PGA Verizon Heritage Professional Golf Tournament that takes place the week after the Master's Tournament.

.

.

Hilton Head Island is only one of three islands in the U.S. that was purposefully developed to preserve nature at all times. Below are a few photos of the wildlife on and surrounding the isle: an egret and a bottle nose dolphin.

.

.
.

An incredible array of dining options awaited us. We always refer to travel web-sites for reviews prior to making any reservations. We've been lucky enough to select some really outstanding eateries to break bread and drink wine and this week was no exception. Below is a sample of one of the local waters fish entrees that we sampled: Carolina "redfish", a robust flavored, firm salt water fish sauteed in brown butter and garlic, and topped with a Mediterranean medley of peppers, tomatoes, slivered garlic, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. Perfectly steamed broccoli rabe and velvety mashed potatoes finished it off. Just divine! Other fresh caught fish that we devoured were grouper, striped bass (in season now), and lobster and crab for my husband (I have the horrible shellfish allergy, so I just get to watch him enjoy those last two). But all of the fish were straight out of the Carolina coastal waters, so everything was super fresh!

.

.

Here was the most interesting appetizer that I've simply got to put on my chef's hat and do my best to try and recreate: Sushi nachos! They were just out of this world incredible! A huge, crisp, spicy nacho chip with a sliced avocado topped with very rare ahi tuna slices, ginger, a spicy tomato topping with wasabi and sour cream drizzled on top. It's the spices that I will have to figure out! But, oh yum!

.

.

After a superb dinner, we went out along the Marina to simply rock the evening away in Harbour Town where a soft breeze blew in from the ocean. What a life!

.

.

The next day we boarded an excursion boat for a sunset dolphin and crabbing nature cruise. It just doesn't get any better than that!

..

.Crabbin' South Carolina style! Blue stone crabs at that!

.
.

Here is how you can tell whether or not the blue stone crab is female: by the orange markings on her claws.

.
.

A graceful and quiet pod of dolphins swam swiftly by us for our utter enjoyment!

.
.
.

Our captain drove the boat through the protected eco-system marshlands of the Lowcountry of the Carolina's and gave us detailed explanations of how Mother Nature makes it all work in harmony!

.
.

And finally before the night enveloped us in darkness, we were able to sail during a delightfully, peaceful sunset with nothing but the wind to listen to and the waves lapping softly against our boat. Just bliss and pure beauty.

.
.

May all of your travels this spring and summer be blessed with God's beauty and splendor! Please leave only small carbon footprints to keep this great country the gem that it is. And of course fellow foodies, don't forget to do your best to eat well too and experience the fresh, local cuisine specialties that you'll not be able to find when you return home!

.

Happy travels (buona viaggio) . . .

.

Pin It

Strawberry (Fragole) Shortcake with Marsala

.

Fresh strawberries (fragoli) from local farmers market -- 3 inches high!

Are you having just the most beautiful spring like we are having down here in the South? With weekly rains we have been basking in one of the most lush and green springs that I have ever seen! And the STRAWBERRIES are just the biggest and juiciest I've seen in this part of the country! I have a great, yet simple strawberry cake that I make, and then of course is the good old stand-by of strawberry shortcake.

.

Pin It