Fruit Season Has Begun!

Whoa. It's been a long time! I wasn't really thinking about it until my friend Michael politely pointed out that he's a little tired of seeing little red cranberries in a pot (see: last post, or don't, it's been up so long!) A friendly nudge is always what I need. I've been doing a bit of traveling and preparing for my third season making jams as Half-Pint Preserves. It's a busy time of year when the fruit starts happening! Rhubarb has been on my cutting table as of late, and soon strawberries will be firmly in my grasp.

In my garden, the strawberries are ripe, but it's a small patch just for snacking. We can't wait to hit the bigger farms, in our case either Greig Farm, Fishkill Farms or Thompson-Finch Farm. I've been baking up a storm: strawberry rhubarb pie, and rhubarb jam quick bread (using this recipe for marmalade quick bread). I think tomorrow I will make this custardy rhubarb pie that I've been making for years. It's amazing.

Another exciting thing is new vegetables and herbs! My favorite herb in the garden these days is salad burnet. Have you tried it? It's very cucumber-y tasting. It's delicious on eggs with some chive blossoms. 

And I finally roasted some radishes, in particular these local long reds that were rumored to be very spicy. A slow roast with their greens were the perfect foil to some roasted homemade sausages and chicken.

And don't forget other things that are growing! This guy is almost five! And trying to figure out his bicycle. Good times in the Hudson Valley these days. How about you? I'd love to hear from my friends out there, what are you making these days?