Imagine Childhood : Magic & Memories That Last a Lifetime

... saturday links

Here are a few things that kept us curious this week.

- You might think that with all the technology we have these days we would easily find something like this... thank you Mother Nature for keeping us on our toes!

- This week in wildlife sure was a pretty one.

- Care for a cup of tea? Your garden does! Our current book giveaway also has a great recipe, but here is an online version for compost tea.

- Handmade toys from scraps.

- This print featuring the anatomy of a flower is pretty, and educational.

- A good article with a great point, what is an experience in nature if we can't engage with it?

- The world lost a treasure of a human being this week... thank you Maya Angelou, for being so wonderful.

 

Happy Weekend!

 

xox

~i.c.

... tell me a story: compost book giveaway!

Hopefully, unlike me, you have all gotten some seeds in the ground and are seeing sweet little green shoots make their way into the sunlight. But if you are like me, still struggling to get the dirt ready, this delightful family guide will help you get there.

 As a kid, the vegetable garden was my territory. I was obsessive about the dirt, it had to be just right. That meant turning over the dirt several times, breaking down the clumps, and raking it out into "perfect" rows in which to plant my chosen seeds. I wasn't what you would call a disciplined kind of kiddo, but for some reason I had to be in the garden. After all, it meant the difference between pulling yummy carrots out of that carefully tended dirt or pulling up nothing.

 My mom had lots of great books on gardening, but we didn't have this dandy. When I first picked it up I liked it just for the appearance. After all, grommets holding a book together looks pretty cool. Aside from the aesthetics, the book turned out to be incredibly useful.

This book is filled with a good balance of fun facts for the kids, useful information for adults, and great compost-themed games for the whole family to enjoy together.

Most of the time I channel my inner child to review books for these posts, but this time I had some help. After much time spent reading through the book in a well built blanket fort, and then putting it to the test in the garden, I can happily attest this book is very much "kid-aproved'. Oh yeah, the book also includes lots of fun stickers, and a "Worm Society" membership card, bonus!

We love this little book so much we just have to share a copy with one of you lovely readers!

For a chance to win a copy of Compost: A Family Guide to Making Soil from Scraps simply leave a comment on this post by 10am MST Thursday June 5th. The winner will be chosen by random number and announced later that day. 

And the winner is Kasi who wrote:

This looks like a great book to get kids in gardening and compositing.

 

Thank you everyone for participating! 

 

~ Jordan

 

 

*Last time in Books and Stories: Garden Stories

. . . strawberry lemon tart with vanilla cream

What do you make. . .

. . . for someone. . .

. . . who hates cake?

A strawberry lemon tart. . .

. . . with unsweetened vanilla cream.

I know, I know. . . there's been a lot of sweets popping up on the blog lately.  I promise, there will be something savory soon.  But with all of the beautiful lemons, rhubarb and strawberries that have been showing up in my CSA box lately, I just couldn't help myself.  Not to mention my annual quest to satisfy a birthday that wants nothing to do with cake.  This little lovely surely fit the bill. Sweet and tart in all the right places, the unsweetened whipped cream really takes it over the top.  It took all my will power not to eat the entire thing the moment it was done. So, without further ado. . .

Strawberry Lemon Tart with Unsweetened Vanilla Cream

Ingredients:

Crust

• One rounded cup all purpose flour
• 3 oz unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons water
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Lemon Curd

• 3-4 lemons room temperature
• 1-1/2 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs room temperature
• 1 stick of unsalted butter room temperature (1/4 lb)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Topping

• 1 quart fresh strawberries washed and sliced
• 1/4 cup of raspberry preserves
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

To start, I returned to my favorite no-fuss tart shell via David Lebovitz

Preheat the oven to 410. 

Place the flour, water, oil, salt, and 1 tablespoon of sugar in an ovenproof bowl.  Leave it in there until the butter is melted and bubbling and just beginning to brown.

Pull the bowl out of the oven with an oven mitt or cloth and use that to stabilize the hot bowl while you quickly mix in the flour.  When it forms a ball and pulls away from the edges transfer it to a prepared tart tin (I didn't have one so I just used my spring form tin).  The dough will be hot, so be careful.  When it has cooled enough to handle, press it out into the tin with your hands, trying to keep it as even as possible.  Prick all over with a fork and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until it is golden.  Set aside.

While the tart was in the oven I made Ina Garten's lovely lemon curd. It's so good I could eat it with a spoon all day long.  When the lemon curd was ready, I poured it into the tart shell and let it set at room temperature.

To add the strawberries, start around the exterior edge and overlap the sliced fruit until you arrive at the center.  Place a whole berry there (minus the leaves of course).  To finish off the tart, heat up the raspberry preserve a bit on the stove to thin it down (you can add a little water if needed) and paint the fruit with the preserves using a small brush. Allow to set.

When you are ready to serve, whip the heavy cream adding the vanilla at the end.  Top each slice with a dollop of cream.

 

With the Kids: Go to the farmer's market or the grocery store and pick out the strawberries and lemons together. Invite them to squeeze the lemons and slice the strawberries (with adult supervision) Ask the kids to help you arrange the fruit on the tart and paint on the preserves. Make paper flags with sweet messages on them to add to each slice when you put it on a plate. Invite a few friends over to spend an afternoon outdoors, or celebrate a special birthday with this lovely spring tart.

 

Enjoy!

~ Sarah

*Last time in Recipes: Rhubarb Thumbprint Cookies

 

. . . weekend zen

xox

~ i.c.

 

... saturday links

Here are a few things that kept us curius this week...

- Check out this handy map to help you find the closest National Park Near you!

- A little something for all our super sleuths out there... make invisible ink with your breakfast!

- Nature informs technology in these new flying robots.

- We made a sweet little hanging fairy house on the blog this week, check it out!

- Check out the world's most complete mammoth...

- 5 tips to help you make the most of, and extend your time outside.

- May is National Bike Month, make the most of your time on two wheels by following these simple safety guidelines.

- It's been a stormy week in our neck of the woods, this is a great activity to ward of the indoor blues.

 

Happy Weekend!

 

xox

i.c.