cookingincleveland

Moving Day...

2009-07-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Capricious In Cleveland aka Cooking In Cleveland has a new home. We have moved our entire household over to the new blog, so please bookmark the new url and/or update your feeds so you can find us again. This old house (blog) is scheduled for demolition at the end of the month.

Click on the Lily to be redirected to our new home...

Thinking inside the box...

2009-07-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

"Oh, how beautiful!" and sitting in the shade ~ Rudyard Kipling

I picked up these wine boxes curb shopping one day, they have served as shelves and bookcases so why not plant containers? The Coleus was not happy in full sun and this corner of the roof is shaded by a large Ash tree, the Sedum seems happy draping over the sides of the box. This is a lovely spot to sit on a hot summer day and you can usually find me here dreaming of filling the roof to overflowing with flowers and food.

Rainy days...

2009-07-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

Living in Cleveland my entire life, I am quite familiar with "lake effect snow", but "lake effect rain"???? I popped out between showers to grab a few pics of my blooms after the rain, or so I thought.

Zucchini and Marigolds

Impatiens

...this little beetle was floating upside down in a puddle, I rescued him with the stick and asked him to pose for a pic

...just as I was snapping this pic of my asparagus fern, the rain came sheeting down giving the pic a rather eerie look

Whimsy in the garden...

2009-06-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

These boots are made for walking but that's not what they'll do, one of these days these boots are gonna bloom all over you.

Tickseed (Coreopsis)

You know it is summer when the "garage sale" signs appear in my community, my feet automatically turn down those blocks. Who knows what goodies you may find? I spotted these boots for a grand total of 50 cents and knew they would be cute planted up. I brought them home, removed the insoles and drilled holes in the bottom. Next I added pieces of broken pot and potting mix and planted them up.

Capricious...

2009-06-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

... subject to whim; impulsive and unpredictable

Perhaps you noticed (or not) that Cooking In Cleveland has evolved into "Capricious in Cleveland". After almost two years of posting food porn and recipes it is time for a new direction, if only I knew what direction that will be :) There will still be the occasional recipe and of course the local food movement and farmers markets, I just need to change my pace. Hope you continue to stop on by and visit me.

Meanwhile I wanted to share some new garden pics with all of you. The hydrangea and astilbe are in the front yard beneath my living room window.

Oakleaf Hydrangea

The hydrangea flowers start off white, fade to pink and by Fall will be a rust color. It is really quite large, notice the Astilbe off to the side?

Astilbe

....the rooftop garden June 26th

....the Roma maters will be ripe soon!

To Market, to market....

2009-06-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

....to buy a plum bun. Home again, home again, market is done.

Well I didn't buy a plum bun at the Coit Road Farmers Market today, but I did manage to get some special goodies. Taking center stage is......

Ohio-Grown Strawberries!
(Click on Pic for some creative strawberry treats)

..... another once-a-year favorite

Garlic Scapes

....which I will use with

Frances's farm-fresh eggs in this Frittata

I coudn't resist picking up some additional mater plants while at the market, these Husky Red Tomatoes will make a nice contribution to our table this summer.

Until later....

Garden Update

2009-06-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

In gardens, beauty is a by-product. The main business is sex and death ~ Sam Llewelyn

"Female Zucchini Bloom"

First Zucchini

Big Cherry Tomatoes

The Pesto Bed

Dark Opal Basil and Italian Basil

Egg Noodles With Chicken, Bacon and Rosemary

2009-06-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

While waiting for the growing season to kick into high gear here in NEOhio, there are Spring crops available at the markets. One is fresh spinach. The taste is superior to the pre-packaged (shipped from long distances), and the cost savings are better too. Do you have a meal that is oft requested in your household? In my house, the son of the food critic requests this one often. Me thinks for him it is the bacon!

Egg Noodles With Chicken, Bacon and Rosemary
Recipe:

1/4 pound sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch strips
1 pound skinless chicken breasts
Salt & Pepper, to taste
1 1/2 pounds fresh spinach
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 to 1 tsp. dried rosemary, crumbled
1/2 pound wide egg noodles
1 Tbsp. butter

In a large deep skillet, cook bacon until brown and crisp. Remove from pan and drain. Pour off all but 2 Tbsp. of bacon grease from pan. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper on each side. Add chicken to pan and cook till brown on both sides. Set aside.

While the chicken is cooking, remove stems from spinach and wash thoroughly to remove the grit. Add the broth and rosemary to pan and bring to simmer, stir to dislodge any brown bits on bottom of pan. Add the spinach and cook just till wilted.

In a large pot of salted water, cook the egg noodles. Drain. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Add noodles, butter, chicken and bacon to pan with spinach mixture. Toss well.

Early Morning Enchantment...

2009-06-07T15:17:00.000-07:00

“The only words that ever satisfied me as describing Nature are the terms used in fairy books, charm, spell, enchantment. They express the arbitrariness of the fact and its mystery" ~ Gilbert Keith Chesterton

The Bud

The Unfolding

The Bloom

...and the Bee

Up on the rooftop...

2009-06-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

...the garden grows

Lookie Lucy at my Zucchini!

June 4th

Not to be outdone, the maters bloom!

In the Beginning - April 29th

Garden - May 29th

What's growing?

Tomatoes (roma and cherry)
Onions
Oregano
Parsley
Basil
Lavender
Zucchini
Blooms for the Bees