Saturday Meanderings

May. Wow. For us in Phoenix, this is when the temperature starts rising, teasing us that the high heat of summer is just around the corner. I am holding onto Spring for as long as I can where we have cool mornings and evenings and warm days. Thank you for joining me this Saturday morning as we take a look at the past week and chat about all good things.

Husband Out of Town

I always have grandiose plans when my husband goes out of town for a few days~enjoying quiet time with a pampering spa day, or curling up and reading a book. Or better yet, having control of the remote for the weekend! But for some reason, I am busier than ever and try to get all the things I need to get done without interruption= no rest and relaxation.

However, albeit busy, I did seem to do the things I love most~spending time with Finn, my chickens, my garden/yard and baking/cooking in the kitchen. The first tomato harvest is always an exciting one. Seeing that ripe heirloom Black Krim tomato starts my hankering for a BLT sandwich on homemade sourdough bread…which started a bit of a baking frenzy.

Typically I make one loaf but why not make more? Three loaves later, I cut into the luscious tomato and made my dreams come true! Yum!

I blame this next baking/cooking spree on my friend, Christine who suggested I watch Recipes for Love and Murder on Netflix.  This 2 season (18 episode) show is a South African/Scottish dark comedy mystery television series based on the Tannie Maria Mystery novels by Sally Andrew. Each episode prompted a run to the kitchen to whip up something new and different.

With bags of peaches and apricots from last year’s harvest still in the freezer, I decide it’s time to make sorbet (which I have never made before). These cute small 4 oz. containers (which I ordered too many) are the perfect size for a post-meal dessert. Since the fruit was ripe when I picked it (lots of natural sugar), I pulverize it in my Vita-Mix blender with a little lime juice and a few squirts of honey.

The husband-arriving-home dinner is a whole chicken roasted on the outdoor grill rotisserie. As the chicken turns, the juices drip into a pan of vegetables that are also roasting. Basting it with fresh herbs and melted butter every 10 minutes or so, adds to the flavor. So easy and super delicious and I don’t know why I don’t make this more often.

A Foodie Week

With an abundance of sourdough discard, I whip up 4 loaves of cranberry orange walnut bread with an orange glaze(2 loaves are given to neighbors). This is the perfect snack with my afternoon coffee or tea.

Lastly, to end my cooking spree/mania I make a lemon sorbet with rosemary. Still have quite a few lemons from my neighbor’s tree and this is off the flavor charts. The recipe calls for fresh thyme, which I do not have in the garden, so I substitute a small sprig of fresh rosemary. As I am trying to minimize my intake of granulated sugar (which is a primary ingredient in sorbet making), this one calls for honey.

If you like a tart dessert with an essence of honey and either rosemary or thyme, this is a winner. See recipe below.

Neighborhood Music Festival

Our generous neighbors, Brian and Ann, live in a beautiful historic home on our street. Each year, they host a music festival held in their backyard to raise money for a good cause. We are so lucky to have generous neighbors who not only share their home but the charities they support with a multi-generational crowd.

The Willetta House Restoration

When I am driving home from City Hall in downtown Phoenix (a zoning case this week), I pass by the beautiful 1922 Jeffersonian house I restored back in 2017 in the historic F.Q. Story district. What a delightful surprise to see the current owners replicate the house’s architecture in their lending library in front of their home. To see the full before and after photos of this extensive restoration, click here.

Aren’t the details just adorable?

My Failed Organic Fly trap

Last Saturday, I share my attempt at making my own fly attractant liquid. A complete and total failure. Not one stinking fly is drawn to my homemade solution.

My friend and neighbor, Tevia, gives me this green netting fly catcher and after a few hours outside in the hen house, it is full of flies! You can get a pack of 4 of these nets on Amazon for $13.49. The pan in the bottom allows you to add anything that will attract flies. I use chicken poop and a little water and this does the trick. Love it!

Surprise in the Garden!

Five years ago, I plant 6 large amaryllis bulbs. Never had a bloom and I think only 2 plants ever came to fruition. Look what I find in the garden just yesterday! I thought they only bloomed over the Christmas holiday. Does anyone grow these?

That red in the blooms is just stunning!

Mary’s Must Haves

With so much time in the kitchen this week, here are a few items that I use nearly every day that make my kitchen life easier.

This sturdy lemon/citrus squeezer gets every last bit of juice out of your lemons, limes and tangerines. I purchased this in 2017 and it is still going strong. Now 20% off on Amazon, if you don’t have this affordable gadget ($15.99), it has a lifetime warranty and comes in different colors. Would also be the perfect summer gift with a basket of lemons!

My friend, Connie is one of those people who always brings the best gifts. Not expensive, but thoughtful and very useful. These Duralex 3.5″ prep bowls have been made in France since 1939. Duralex is 2-1/2 times more resistant to breakage, sudden thermal shock and chipping than normal glass.

Trust me I have dropped these multiple times and they just don’t break. Perfect for just about everything, but I use them to hold everything from the juice of one or two lemons, melting butter in the microwave, one scoop of ice cream and ingredients for a recipe.

There are other brands that are less expensive but I haven’t tried those and can only vouch for the Duralex brand. Six bowls for $24.45 at Amazon here. You can also purchase them from Walmart for the same price here.

Daily, I head out to the garden to cut fresh herbs, vegetables or flowers. I love these 6″ pocket gardening scissors and keep a few in the kitchen drawer. The Fiskars 6″ Micro-tip Pruning Shears have a comfortable grip and make clean cuts on your plants. After each use, I disinfect the blades with BD Alcohol wipes which are packaged individually.

If you are considering making the sorbet recipe below, I use a rather simple ice cream maker from Cuisinart. My machine is many years old, but here is a similar and affordable one on Amazon and is currently 30% off. It works well in making homemade ice cream and now that I’m on the sorbet kick, I will be using it more often. Also makes frozen yogurt, but I’ve not tried that yet.

Our sweet Finn isn’t feeling so good and not sure what he got into. Will be making a bland diet for him this weekend and hope he bounces back soon.

Wishing you all a very relaxing weekend. I hope to do just that with some garden work and sorbet making! Thank you for joining me today and I look forward to posting again next week. Stay safe out there!