Growing squash and pumpkins in the home garden: evade squash bugs, avoid chemicals, choose varieties, and harvest an abundance of nutritious fruits.
Continue readingYearly Archives: 2013
Wild cranberries begin to ripen in September, but I like to wait until late October, or even November, to harvest them. They sweeten as the season progresses, especially if they are hit with a frost after they have already turned … Continue reading
Recipe for the smoothest and creamiest maple ice cream ever, uses pure maple sugar, rather than syrup.
Continue readingBirch syrup is made from the sap of the paper birch (or black birch) tree, in the same way that maple syrup is made from the sap of the sugar maple tree. But the spicy, warm caramel flavor of birch … Continue reading
This must be a banner year in Massachusetts for woolly oak galls produced by the wasp Callirhytis lanata, because we naturalists-but-not-bug-experts who’ve never noticed them in past years, have been finding these quarter-inch, buff colored pompoms scattered all over the … Continue reading
This subtly spiced pumpkin or winter squash ice cream packed between gingersnaps is the perfect fall treat to follow a savory meal, or a brisk afternoon raking leaves. I include my own recipe for homemade gingersnaps, but you could go … Continue reading
Most hickory nuts in the US are edible, the most popular one being the pecan, which has a limited range in the south. Here in central New England (and in much of the estern US), the most common hickories are … Continue reading
If you’ve been disappointed with the flavor and texture of coconut milk ice cream, try this one. Virgin coconut oil, creme de cacao, and tapioca syrup lend this chocolate coconut milk ice cream a smooth and creamy mouth feel, and … Continue reading
Why not turn an invasive plant into an elegant dessert? This sumptuous pie starts with a nutty, no-bake graham cracker crust. It’s layered with a thick, sweet-tart autumnberry sauce made from the berries of the invasive shrub, autumn olive. Then … Continue reading
Until recently, few people were aware that the berries of autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata, are edible. But the secret is out. More and more are harvesting these tasty fruits for both sweet and savory dishes. In addition to great flavor, … Continue reading