Blue Cheese Fig Tarts w Homemade Fig Jam

I so enjoy chatting with Matt Swaim, Sonrise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio. Today we revisited a popular Bible fruit: figs. Did you know figs were cultivated thousands of years before Christ was born? Sometimes it’s hard to find fresh figs, so I wanted to share a couple recipes using dried figs. The first is a lovely little tart and the second is an … Continue reading Blue Cheese Fig Tarts w Homemade Fig Jam

Summer Watering Tips

Home > Plant Care > In the Garden Blog > Gardening Tips > Summer Watering Tips From colleague and garden expert, Ron Wilson of Natorp’s nursery, another timely tip for summer. SUMMER WATERING PLANT TIP During the heat, you need to make sure to check your plants often. Always check your plants each time before you water. Physically and visually check to make sure water is needed by pulling the mulch aside to … Continue reading Summer Watering Tips

Boone County Arboretum Annual Tea Recipes

Oh gosh, I had so much fun doing my first Zoom presentation for the Boone County Arboretum’s Annual Tea with Josh, Nicole, Stephanie, Donna, and Kris last night. Log onto to their site to see just how lovely and productive this community arboretum is. There may be time for you to bid at the silent auction, too. My talk was about the 4 seasons and … Continue reading Boone County Arboretum Annual Tea Recipes

Orange Marmalade – 2 Ways to Cook

Guess what I woke up wanting to make today? Orange marmalade! All because of the windfall of thin-skinned, super juicy oranges friends Bob and Bert brought me.If you’ve never made orange marmalade, I hope this recipe makes you want to try. I’ve actually got 2 recipes for you: one a classic stove top recipe and another cooked in the crockpot. Here’s the deal: check out … Continue reading Orange Marmalade – 2 Ways to Cook

Blueberry Boy Bait and Caramel Chocolate Fondue for Valentine’s Day

Yesterday I went to the grocery with a list. All resolve left me when I spied a display of fresh, huge, beautiful blueberries in the produce section. Not on my list, but on sale!  Impulse buying? Yes, and no regrets. Especially on a snowy day with thoughts of a warm fire, a piece of fresh baked blueberry coffee cake accompanied by a mug of steaming … Continue reading Blueberry Boy Bait and Caramel Chocolate Fondue for Valentine’s Day

A is for Apple: Dumplings, Butter & Sauce!

I was in the mood for apple dumplings so I made a batch. It was the perfect fall day for making apple butter and applesauce, too.  Judy M., a longtime reader, loves the apple butter from Nashville House in Nashville, Indiana. “My sisters and I want to get together and make apple butter and we’re looking for that recipe,” Judy said. She has great memories … Continue reading A is for Apple: Dumplings, Butter & Sauce!

3 Ingredient Strawberry Ice Cream

I had a request to share this recipe – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made this while training housewares employees at Macy’s. This was always a favorite! THREE INGREDIENT STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM  Use sweetened frozen strawberries. So easy, and pretty, too. Recipe can be doubled. Ingredients 12-16 oz. frozen sweetened strawberries, thawed 1 to 1-/4 cups whipping cream, unwhipped (1 cup for … Continue reading 3 Ingredient Strawberry Ice Cream

Got Grapes? Make Fruit Terrine and Pops

Fruited Terrine Each week when I chat with Matt Swaim on the Sonrise Morning Show we talk about foods from the Bible. Today the subject was grapes. GRAPES (John: 15:5)  I am the vine, you are the branches – he that abide in me and I in him, brings much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. Mentioned more than any other plant in the entire … Continue reading Got Grapes? Make Fruit Terrine and Pops

Yellowneck Caterpillars: Have you seen these?

Friend and colleague Joe Boggs, from the Ohio State University Extension shares photos and timely information about these creepy caterpillars. Yuck!Jul 23, 2020 Jim Chatfield sent a picture on Tuesday of a group of middle-instar yellownecked caterpillars (Datana ministra) devouring leaves on a witch-hazel (Hamamelissp.) in Secrest Arboretum. Yellownecks feed in groups, sometimes called “colonies,” numbering 10 – 30 individuals throughout their development. The colonies tend to … Continue reading Yellowneck Caterpillars: Have you seen these?

Bramble Berry and Blueberry Jams

Keeping promises. I’m doing just that today by sharing recipes for bramble berry jams, aka red raspberry, black raspberry and blackberry.  I have a patch of black raspberries in the garden, plus some wild ones growing on the hillside nestled in with the wild blackberries.  Why jam and not jelly? I’d need a lot more berries than I have to make jelly, since you have … Continue reading Bramble Berry and Blueberry Jams