April Gardenias in Lakeland, Florida

 

Gardenia bushes typically thrive in USDA Growing Zones 8–11, requiring warm, humid climates, though some cold-hardy varieties like 'Frostproof' and 'Kleim's Hardy' can withstand Zone 7 winters. They prefer full sun to partial shade, acidic soil, and consistent moisture. In zones 6 or lower, they must be grown in containers and brought indoors. 

 

The gardenia bush in the garden in the center of my condo building has been blooming for the last five days.  It is so wonderful to open my front door and step out on the 2nd floor walkway with a view of flowers. It really makes your day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Spring Vegetable Garden Appetizer

 

Today I’m trying a fun food for all your spring and Easter get-togethers, a Spring Vegetable Garden using hummus and fresh baby carrots, radishes, asparagus, celery, peppers, and sugar snap peas.  You can vary the vegetables according to your preference and availability. Use the smallest part of your celery bunch with the green attached. I’m currently able to get local baby carrots with greens attached. There is so much greens I must remove half or it fills the dish.  If you can’t get those, use small carrots and even cut them smaller and shorter. Watch for spring crops of asparagus and the fresh little peas. You can cut half off so it fits the dish.  (For my far north readers, pin this recipe for your spring crops later.)

I’m using my basic hummus recipe, but feel free to use your favorite. Double the basic hummus recipe using 2 drained cans  of chickpeas.  If buying commercial hummus, use 2 10-oz. hummus containers. This is the base for your garden and should be at least one inch deep in your dish. You may substitute your favorite dip if it is thick enough to support your little veggies in a vertical position.

Classic Hummus

Use organic when available. It's great with veggies or pita chips as an appetizer or snack.

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained, liquid reserved
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 drops sesame oil, or to taste (optional)
• baby veggies or cut veggies like carrots, celery, spring peas, radishes, asparagus, peppers 

Instructions

• Place all ingredients in food processor
• Blend until smooth
• Stream reserved bean liquid into the mixture as it blends until desired consistency is achieved but keep it thick for appetizer garden
• Double recipe for hummus 

  Instructions for Spring Garden Appetizer

  • Double recipe for hummus or use your favorite dip
  • Fill bottom of serving dish with 1 to 2 inches of hummus
  • Place baby veggies in the hummus vertically
  • Serve with pita chips or veggies
    
  • Enjoy! 
    

    

Spring Hummus Vegetable Garden Appetizer

Use organic when available, serves 6

Ingredients

• 20 oz or more of hummus or dip
• 6 small carrots with green attached
• 6 celery heart stalks with green attached
• 6 asparagus
• 6 radishes with greens attached
• 6 sugar snap peas or snow peas
• 6 small peppers
• optional fresh parsley or other herb for garnish

Instructions

• Spread hummus to fill bottom of a deep baking dish 2 to 3 inch
• If desired, blanch asparagus (I like them raw, but it's an option)
• Cut asparagus in half
• Cut radishes in half
• Cut any celery, carrots, or peas that are too tall
• Arrange a row of carrots like a garden
• Repeat with celery, radishes, sugar snap peas, peppers, and asparagus
• You should now have 6 rows of veggies
• Optional garnish with fresh herbs
• Serve with whole grain crackers and a tray of more spring veggies

Enjoy!

 

 

 

This dish was shared on St. Pete’s Channel 10, Good to Know Segment:

How to Impress Your Easter Guests with Creative Snacks & Thrifty Tablescapes

 

 

 

 This post was shared on these fabulous link parties!

Quinoa Brown Rice Southwest Bowl

  

This wonderful southwest bowl contains everything you need for a very healthy one-dish meal. It makes a great lunch to take to school or work. Quinoa, brown rice, beans, corn, fresh cilantro, and red bell pepper with a southwest dressing makes a yummy bowl. I like to add fresh tomatoes and avocado on top, and it's perfect. The longer it marinates with the dressing, the better it is. Make a batch of this on Sunday and then eat it for lunches during the week. This is a forgiving recipe that can be made with changes to fit your pantry or taste.

Quinoa Brown Rice Southwest Bowl

Use organic when available. Serves 4

Ingredients

Bowl

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1 15 oz can pinto beans, drained & rinsed (or black beans)
• 1 15 oz can kidney beans, drained & rinsed
• 1 can corn drained or cooked fresh corn removed from cob
• 1 red bell pepper chopped
• optional sliced avocado topping
• optional halved cherry tomatoes topping

Dressing

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
• 1/4 cup olive oil or avocado oil
• juice of 2 limes
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Mix quinoa, beans, corn, red onion, brown rice, red bell pepper, & cilantro together in a glass or plastic container with a lid
• Whisk dressing ingredients in a small bowl
• Pour dressing over quinoa and rice mixture
• Toss to coat
• Cover bowl with the lid and refrigerate until flavors blend, at least 2 hours
• Top individual bowls with sliced avocado and halved cherry tomatoes Optional

 

 

 

 

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Golden Trumpet Tree & Early Amaryllis Flowers

 

 

 Today I'm sharing more photos of the Golden Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia). Close to my home are several golden trumpets but no pink ones. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The azaleas at the condo have finished blooming. Here is a shot from the balcony taken last week. 

 

 

 

Although most people think they normally bloom in the winter, the red amaryllis bulbs at Christmas are forced bulbs. Amaryllis are tropical plants that will flower in late winter or spring when planted in the ground. We plant them in Florida and they flower in April, May. 

 

For those of you who visited last year, you may remember I bought two amaryllis bulbs to pot and grow here at the condo. I had them by my front door until they had finished blooming last spring and went dormant.  I kept the two pots on my balcony until the beginning of March. I moved them back by the front door for part full sun exposure.  They like bright sunlight.  One pot has had glorious blooms for the last week.  The 2nd one is just waking up (so to speak), and I expect buds and flowers in another month. I hope you enjoy the mostly white flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Deviled Easter Chick Eggs

 

 It will be the first day of spring in a couple of weeks, and then Easter is April 5th this year. Today I’m trying another cute food presentation that I pinned years ago, Deviled Easter Chick Eggs.  Use your favorite deviled egg recipe or mine below and decorate the little eggs to look like chicks. It’s not hard to do, and it looks adorable for holiday get-togethers.

Start with week old eggs, as fresh eggs are hard to shell. To prevent cracking, remove eggs from refrigeration about 30 minutes prior to boiling. Place eggs in cold water, bring to boil, turn off burner, and cover.  Let sit for 15 minutes. Let cool, and refrigerate at least two hours before cutting for best results. Serve using an egg holder, a saucer, bowl, or a platter  To use on a flat platter, with a sharp knife, slice off a very thin layer from the base of the egg to make it flat. You have the option to make feet but it’s not necessary.  Then cut 1/3  of the egg off the top. I cut straight across but later you can make ragged edges if desired.

 

 

 

 

 

Deviled Easter Chick Eggs

Use organic when available, makes 12 Easter chicks

A cute food art for spring & Easter using deviled eggs decorated to look like little chicks.

Great as an Appetizer or Snack

Ingredients

• 12 hard-boiled eggs peeled
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tbsp yellow mustard
• Optional make w/o mustard
• 1 dill pickle finely diced
• 1 tsp pickle juice
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 carrot cut into rounds
• 12 slices of pickle or black olives

Instructions

• Refrigerate hard-boiled eggs for at least two hours or overnight 
• With a sharp knife, slice off a very thin layer from the base of the egg to make it flat if you're using a platter
• Slice top 1/3 of eggs leaving a little yolk with the skin
• Use a spoon to remove bottom yolk to a bowl
• Mash yolks with a fork
• Add mayonnaise,  pickle, pickle juice, mustard, salt, and pepper, and mix well
• Fill a piping bag or plastic bag with a corner snipped with the egg yolk mixture
• Pipe yolk mixture into bottom of egg whites to create chick
• Cut small wedge from carrot rounds to make a beak for each chick
• Cut pickle or olive slices into small squares to use for eyes
• Add 2 olive eyes to each chick
• Add egg white top to each chick
• Adjust so it looks like chick peeking out of egg
• Serve on deviled egg tray as centerpiece or in egg holders or on platter
• Optional, add a dab of deviled egg filling as glue to stick them to the platter
• Optional, make 3 cuts in carrot round for a foot, 2 per chick
• Optional, decorate platter with herbs like parsley or dill
• Optional, serve on saucer or bowl with salad greens as first course of meal – you've made a free-range chick  Enjoy!  

 

 

This dish was shared on St. Pete’s Channel 10, Good to Know Segment:

How to Impress Your Easter Guests with Creative Snacks & Thrifty Tablescapes.

  

 

Please see my Link Parties page for the parties where this post was shared.

 

 

Fast & Filling Meals

 Everyone should have recipes for crazy nights when you need a meal in minutes not hours. Here are a few ideas to keep your family fed fast.

 

 

I. Pan Seared Tilapia 

 

This 15-minute recipe is great for a weeknight meal. My seasonings are simple: salt, pepper, basil, garlic, and lemon juice. If you like a little spice, try adding a pinch of paprika or crushed red pepper flakes. Serve with simple side dishes for your fast meal, like a simple green salad with frozen corn. 

 

Pan Seared Tilapia 

 

 

II.  LInguine With Red Clam Sauce

 

An Italian pasta classic, Linguine with Red Clam Sauce is a fast and filling meal. Delicious clams in a savory tomato sauce make an easy meal that is on the table in 30 minutes. I’m using canned clams, which can be a staple pantry item, for a quick meal.

 

 

 

 

Linguine With Red Clam Sauce

 

 

 III. The Easiest Vegetable Stir Fry

 

The Recipe Critic has a recipe for The Easiest Vegetable Stir Fry. Like always, modify as necessary. What makes this an amazing recipe? The great sauce you make. 

 

Recipe Critic

 

 IV. Spend With Pennies has an Easy Beef Stir Fry.

 

 

 Beef Stir Fry

 

 This easy beef stir-fry is a quick weeknight meal with the most delicious sauce.

 

 V.  Mac and Cheese

 

Mac and cheese is another fantastically simple delicious meal that the whole family can enjoy. It takes no time at all to prepare and it is one of those meals that can be prepared in the morning and then reheated in the evening. Take a look at an easy mac and cheese recipe at Sweet C’s Design if you are unsure how to make it. If you are wanting a low-fat healthier alternative then you can even accomplish this also. Switch out the pasta for whole wheat pasta and the cheese and milk for low fat versions. You will get the same end result and then pair it with some veggies for a filling meal. 

Sweet C’s Design

VI.  Broccoli Pasta Shells

 

If you’re looking for a healthy meal that’s fast and easy to prepare, then you might want to try broccoli pasta shells. Broccoli is a great addition to your diet and will certainly offer fantastic health benefits. There are several recipes online, but I like the one by RecipeTinEats. The recipe uses olive oil which I love to use and a little lemon juice, one of my favorite flavors. One of the best emergency quick dinner ideas with broccoli, pasta and not much else; it’s a little bit lemony, a little bit cheesy and a whole lot of yum. 

RecipeTinEats

VI. Noodle Recipes

If you’re a fan of your noodles in a packet that you can throw in the microwave, then it’s time for the real thing. I promise you, the ones that you prepare yourself taste even better, and they won’t take up that much of your time at all. One point to consider with noodles is what you’re going to put with them. Similar to stir fry, you have countless options that are worth considering here. For instance, you can create some chicken noodles in about twenty minutes. Or, if you want a great vegetarian dish, just add some peppers and herbs for a delicious meal that you can easily get ready when you come in from work. Insanely Good has 27 Easy Noodle Recipes to consider.

Paula Dean’s Goulash

VII. Fried Rice 

If you are looking for a healthy meal choice, then you can try mixing some ingredients with egg fried rice. This can be as healthy as most meals in this list, if you avoid MSG and packets of ingredients with lots sodium or chemicals. The main consideration will be choosing and preparing the right protein. Fish can be a great choice here as well as chicken. They pair quite well together. Gimme Some Oven has a great basic recipe that takes 5 minute preparation and 10 minutes to cook it. Check it out at Fried Rice.

Gimme Some Oven

I hope this inspires you to create some fantastic meals that are easy to prepare when you only have a little time to spare. Keep a few ingredients in the pantry for an unexpected busy work day and you won’t be spending an age in the  kitchen preparing the family meal. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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It's Spring in Central Florida With Trumpet Trees & Azaleas in Bloom

 

 

Tabebuia, commonly known as trumpet trees, are spectacular tropical flowering trees known for their explosive, often leafless, spring blooms in shades of pink, yellow, or white. Primarily native to Central/South America, these trees reach 20–50 feet tall and thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.

 It's spring in central Florida with pink and yellow tabebuia or trumpet trees in blooms.  For a brief time, the blossoms appear like magic. I can never get enough of blossoming trees. I just want to drive and hunt for them.  

 

 

 

 Here at the condo, the garden in the center of our wrapped condo building has azaleas in bloom. 

 

 

 

 

 

 I hope you are enjoying spring in all its new life wherever you are.

 

  

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