Many of you know that we have been attending classes at Lady Slipper Nursery on Saturday mornings. This Saturday we had the opportunity to attend Preserving the Harvest by Liz Porter of Buckeye Creek Farms. Liz led a fun, informative class and gave tips for both newbies and veterans alike. She had excellent suggestions for tools, methods, and resources. Specific topics discussed were pressure canning versus water bath canning, blanching before freezing, canning additives, and the canning of Continue reading Preserving the Harvest by Liz Porter
All posts by Bethany Berg
Merrilily Gardens
Our Saturday morning classes at Lady Slipper Rare Plant Nursery have been quite a joy, and this last Saturday was no exception! In the latest class we were privileged to learn from the owner of Merrilily Gardens. Merrilily Gardens is a local business that specializes in over 350 varieties of day lilies. The owner of Merrilily Gardens, Merrily McLaughlin (yes, you read that right), was especially helpful in explaining how to propagate daylilies. This is an inexpensive way to get your landscaping dollars to go further. Furthermore, splitting your day lilies is actually good for the plant. It is advantageous even if you do not want more day lilies (You can always give the cuttings to friends and family to share the pleasure of these beautiful plants). Continue reading Merrilily Gardens
Early Harvest Salad
This Early Harvest Salad was a perfect addition to our Mother’s Day celebration. There’s nothing like eating a freshly picked salad 10 minutes after it was growing in the soil! This salad was kindly harvested from the garden by Anthony for an extra special Mother’s Day treat. Sometimes the best salads are the ones where you head to the garden and collect a little of this and a little of that – whatever looks fresh and appetizing. Such was the case with this salad. Continue reading Early Harvest Salad
Beet Juice Cocktail
This Beet Juice Cocktail is surprisingly addictive. A Vitamix blender
Beet Crisps
These beet crisps are infinitely superior to the commonplace chips you find in the supermarket snack aisles. Packed with nutrition and fiber, these crisps have no evil ingredients to spoil the fun! Who needs MSG and preservatives when you have a chip with the depth of flavor that these have? This recipe starts with the pulp left over from the Beet Juice Cocktail recipe. Just a couple of minutes of effort followed by an overnight stay in the dehydrator, and you will be gnoshing these tasty snacks down. Try them out on your friends at your next get-together! Continue reading Beet Crisps
Ladyslipper Saturday Morning Class – Hans Rueffert
A couple of weeks ago we wrote a post about a class we attended at Ladyslipper Rare Plant Nursery taught by Farmer’s Organic. Yesterday we had the privilege to attend another class, this time led by the renowned Hans Rueffert. Hans is the chef and owner of Woodbridge Inn in Jasper, GA. Hans comes with a list of credentials including appearing on Next Food Network Star, CNN, and The Doctors. The biggest reason this chef has my ear, however, is his triumph over aggressive cancer. This man was given a 2% chance of survival and was told on several occasions that he would not live beyond 24 more hours. Hans emphasizes food quality above food quantity and approaches his meals with a different twist on carpe diem – “Eat like there’s no tomorrow.” Something to think about! Continue reading Ladyslipper Saturday Morning Class – Hans Rueffert
Gluten Free Carrot Muffins
These gluten free carrot muffins are a quick, healthy substitute for carrot cake. They use cholesterol-fighting oats instead of wheat. The coconut oil is also a pleasant wholesome addition. These muffins also have an entire pound of carrots – a very nice way to get your beta carotene! The texture is especially soft and scrumptious … your friends won’t believe that they contain no wheat at all. The next time you get a craving for fat-laden carrot cake, reach for this yummy alternative instead. Your taste buds and waistline will thank you! Continue reading Gluten Free Carrot Muffins
Designing Kitchen and Cabinet Layouts
When we first set out to design a custom home we knew the kitchen would be a focal point of the whole design and that the layout and design of the kitchen would receive our highest attention to detail. One of Bethany’s favorite things to do is prepare meals for our family and experiment with new recipes in the kitchen. For our family the kitchen has become one of the primary hangouts to talk, play games, and work on school. We wanted a design that would provide the storage space, convenience, and amenities of a 5-star kitchen but we also wanted the kitchen to be open, spacious, and an extension of the family and dining areas. Continue reading Designing Kitchen and Cabinet Layouts
The Value of a Real Estate Agent
Is hiring a real estate agent worth it? Doubtless, many people ask this question when venturing to buy or sell a home or piece of property. One may wonder if he or she wants to pay a real estate commission on top of the loss of equity experienced in the last several years. One may wonder if he or she would come out ahead on their own.
I would argue vehemently that YES . . . a good real estate agent is worth every penny.
An outstanding real estate agent is worth every penny and more. Continue reading The Value of a Real Estate Agent
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
These Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins are a perfect wholesome treat for fall weather. They have just the right mix of spicy, chocolatey goodness! The texture of the muffins is especially yummy and the pumpkin flavor just shines through. If you are looking for an outstanding autumn recipe to add to your archives, this could be the one! These are equally good in the morning or for an afternoon snack with tea. Try them once and you will love them. I promise! Continue reading Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins