Author Archives: Ann Lovejoy

Plants That Thrive On Benign Neglect

Workhorse Plants For Tough Places A few years ago, I was asked to plan and plant beds at the entryway to Bainbridge Island, a new pocket park above the ferry dock. Created by a team of Rotarians and community volunteers, … Continue reading

Posted in Easy Care Perennials, Health & Wellbeing, Sustainable Gardening, Sustainable Living | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Great Garden Sauces

Home grown tomatoes often ripen in a rush, leaving the cook with a pantry full of produce that won’t wait. While drying or canning are the usual methods, I’ve had good luck freezing roasted tomatoes for up to three months, especially when prepared without seasonings. What? But yes, herbs and garlic (especially garlic) can develop off-flavors in the freezer, so the sauce will taste a lot better if you saute your onions, garlic and herbs before adding frozen roasted tomatoes. Luckily, the entire process is extremely simple! Continue reading

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The Tomatoes of High Summer

We all have our favorite summery recipes, from tarts and pizzas to ice cream and cobblers. Many of my favorites come from Italy and France, where I’ve enjoyed some of the best food of my well-fed lifetime. Gazpacho is a perfect example; many recipes try too hard to dazzle and end up tasting of heat and spice rather than their main ingredients. This one is my attempt to recreate a meal at a small Provencal restaurant under the shade of a trailing grape vine, with cicadas creaking away endlessly in the dry heat. Like all very simple food, it’s only as good as the ingredients; made with sun warmed, just-picked garden produce, it’s glorious, especially when served as it was in Provence; at room temperature with a dollop of creamy, subtly savory Basil Sorbet. Continue reading

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Dark Of The Moon Pie

After the Eclipse: Beauty In Shadows After so much hype, the eclipse came and went in my neighborhood without much fanfare. Though we only enjoyed about a 92% eclipse rather than a total event, it was still enchanting to hear … Continue reading

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