From the McDonald Garden Center Blog
Decadent and rich but with a fresh and fragrant nuances, this strawberry chocolate mint pie is a heavenly balance of sweet and soothing. Crust:200g flour100g butter1 egg yolkWaterCrème pâtissière:1/2L whole milk5 egg yolks125g sugar50g flour1 vanilla bean 1 pound of strawberriesChef Jeff’s Chocolate MintCeramic balls (or dry beans) for baking crustCrust:
Everyone knows that April showers bring May flowers, but recently Hampton Roads has experienced more than its fair share of rain. And even though rain is good for plants, these unusually wet conditions can lead to the development and spread of many diseases that affect plants and vegetables. Prolonged periods of leaf wetness and humidity can create conditions that are ideal for disease development like powdery mildew.
Ever daydreamed of picking huge clusters of sun-warmed, juicy grapes from your own backyard vines? Here are ten solid reasons to add these highly-productive and also decorative vines to your edible landscape this season. Cheers!Gardeners have been cultivating grapes for more than 6,000 years; if they can do it, so can you. Growing grapes is easier than you think, and the benefits range from the “It’s like I never tasted a grape before” flavor to the old-world elegance they add to the landscape. Here are our top ten reasons why you need to get growing grapes.
This Week’s Cuisine du Jardin/w Chef Manu Featuring Crème BrûléeA delicate balance of aromatic and sweet, crème brûlée infused with lavender is an ethereal play of perfumes for the palate. Ingredients:• 2 cups heavy cream• ½ cup whole milk• 5 lavender flowers (Monrovia Hazel Lavender)• 1 vanilla bean• 6 egg yolks• ¾ cup sugar6 terracotta medium-sized cassolettes Directions:
Lavender Love!The invigorating aroma, the lovely purple color of the flowers – it’s no surprise that lavender has been a prized commodity since the dawn of recorded history. Lavender is an herb garden staple that is cherished for its fragrant, purple flowers used in dried flower arrangements and potpourris. As an edible, lavender can be used in a variety of ways. The chefs in Provence, France, have incorporated this herb either alone or as an ingredient of herbes de Provence for years. Lavender lends a floral and slightly sweet flavor to most dishes.
Featured Recipe Exclusively for McDonald Garden Center Salmon en Papillote with Dill and Thyme This simple and classic French fish dish is traditionally steamed in the oven using parchment paper (hence the name), but you may also use aluminum foil (pictured) if you want to add additional oils and/or wine, as this recipe calls for. Typically served in paper or foil after cooking, salmon en papillote ‘s fragrant and beautiful presentation always makes it an esteemed, polished, and sought-after choice for dinner parties.
Remember when macaroni art and burnt toast was enough? Well, as you’ve aged, so has mom’s need for a more sophisticated, practical Mother’s Day gift. Lucky for you, we’ve taken the guesswork out and offered up our proven picks to make Mom the superstar this Sunday. …this may even get you a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies.
These outrageously beautiful blooms are popping open all over Hampton Roads right now. A garden favorite, who doesn’t love the low maintenance, ruffly big flowers of a peony? These blooms are the quintessential cut flower, so remember to cut the blooms and bring them inside for colorful indoor vases. Peonies come in several varieties: Tree peonies, Herbaceous peonies and a cross of the two -- Itoh peonies.
Featured Recipe Exclusively for McDonald Garden CenterTian MéditerranéenA classic French Mediterranean vegetarian dish, this fresh side is perfect for your Saturday evening cookout. Fragrant, colorful and easy to make, Tian Méditerranéen brings the elegance of the French Riviera to your table. Ingredients:
