~ Garden Goodness ~

 Fresh spinach from the garden....hubby away until late fishing.....I think I'll have a salad for dinner :)
  I was at my Mom's yesterday & she has beautiful spinach in the garden & wondered if I would like to help them out & take some. She didn't have to ask me twice! So I came home with a bag full of goodness, the perfect thing for dinner for one.

Spinach & Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Dressing

Tear up the spinach into a bowl, add sliced strawberries, broken up english walnuts, & crumbled feta cheese. 

  For the dressing I started with some strawberry rhubarb jam that I had made last year.....added Balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, just a little water & a little distilled vinegar. Mix together well & drizzle over the salad.

  This salad is very tasty & sooo summery & refreshing... Since Daren had to miss out on it last evening I made him one for lunch today. He liked it alot. Makes me wish I had spinach in the garden :( 

                                                               ~Sheila 



{ Almond Rhubarb Coffee Cake }

  Yay!! My rhubarb is finally ready to use again.... I love rhubarb & I always wait anxiously every spring until it is ready.

  I almost always use the same recipe just because we like it so much, but decided to branch out this time & try something new...so glad that I did! This turned out really yummy! =) 

Almond Rhubarb Coffee Cake

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

2/3 cup canola oil

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups finely chopped rhubarb

1/2 cup sliced almonds

Topping:

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tbls butter, melted

1/4 cup sliced almonds

In a large bowl beat brown sugar, oil, egg & vanilla until smooth. Combine flour, salt & baking soda; add to sugar mixture alternately with milk. Beat until smooth. Stir in rhubarb & almonds. Pour into two greased 9" round baking pans. For the topping combine brown sugar, butter & almonds. Sprinkle over batter. Bake @ 350 * for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

  I just made half of the recipe & baked it in a square dish; also made a almond flavored glaze & drizzled it over top after it had cooled awhile. Will definitely be making this again!

                        ~Sheila                                                              

     

~Asparagus~

  Hi all! :) It has been awhile since my last post....with spring finally here (I think) I'm spending more time outside; planting garden, cleaning out flower beds etc...so I haven't had quite as much time to spend cooking; well at least trying new recipes. This isn't a new one for me, but it is sooo simple & delicious that I wanted to share it! I never really cared for asparagus at all until I tried it this way & now it is probably one of my favorite vegetables!!



[[Baked Asparagus]]

Arrange asparagus spears on a baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil. Add fresh ground pepper & salt to suit your taste.

Bake @ 350* until tender crisp...around 8-12 minutes.

 

  I usually sprinkle sesame seeds over top before serving, but didn't do that this evening. Also if you want to take the time or if you are grilling something else it is even better grilled!! =) Adds a nice flavor.......

Hope you enjoy!

~Sheila