THE VILLAGE VOICE

~ Late August Sunset (Hubbard Lake) ___________________ "Let me enjoy this late-summer day of my heart while the leaves are still green and I won't look so close as to see that first tint of pale yellow slowly creep in. I will cease endless running and then look to the sky ask the sun to embrace me and then hope she won't tell of tomorrows less long than today. Let me spend just this time in the slow-cooling glow of warm afternoon light and I'd think I will still have the strength for just one more last fling of my heart." - John Bohrn ( Late August)

"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." - Henry David Thoreau ~ August 'All-Stars' _______________ GRILLED LEMON HERB STEAKS ~ Savory flavor for a simple holiday dinner adapted from Bon Appetit (July 1991) ___________ 8 1 1/2-inch thick Porterhouse, New York Strips, or T-bone 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup lemon juice and zest 1/3 cup dry vermouth 4 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary (2 Tbsp. dried) 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (1 Tbsp. dried) 2 cloves minced garlic 1 Tbsp. brown sugar freshly ground black pepper to taste Combine all ingredients and pour over steaks. Marinate several hours. Prepare grill. Allow steaks to rest 30 minutes at room temperature before grilling. Remove steaks from marinade. Sprinkle with a bit of coarse salt & freshly ground pepper to taste. Place marinade in saucepan and bring to boil. Simmer gently for 5 minutes. Grill steaks to desired donenesss , about 5-7 minutes per side for rare. Allow to rest before serving. ...

'ANNABELLE' (H. arborescens ) (Found originally in Anna, Illinois, and introduced into Great Britain in 1907) ~ Traditional Home (May 1997) Gardener's Note: 'Annabelle' (an American native hydrangea) represents the quintessential picture of a mophead or snowball hardy hydrangea. Performing well, its flower green buds mature to white and then back to green. Large globular symmetrical bloom heads can reach 12 inches across, a bit too massive to hold up when wet, needing support to keep her upright. If pruned to the ground in spring, plant will be smaller and flowers larger, an advantage in tight quarters. (Hardy for zones 4-9)

"The morn is up again, the dewy morn, With breath all incense, and with cheek all bloom, Laughing the clouds away with playful scorn, And living as if earth contained no tomb,-- And glowing into day." ~ Lord Byron ~ Morning sky and August flowers ( Turtlehead , Rose of Sharon, Japanese astilbe , Ivy Geranium) ~ Coneflower and sky ________ SUMMER BREAD PUDDING with WARM BERRY SAUCE ~ Delightful treat laden with plump berries, perfect for a summer day (from Pamela Morgan's Flavors ) ______ soft butter for baking dish 3 large eggs 1/4 cup sugar 2 cups half & half 1 cup whipping dream 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 2 Tbsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. minced orange zest 1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg 8 cups (1-inch cubes) crustless day-old brad 1 12 cups quartered hulled fresh strawberries 1 1/2 cups blackberries Confectioners' sugar WARM BERRY SAUCE Position rack in middle of oven and preheat to 325-degrees. Lightly butter a 2 1/2 quart ovenpr...

"When gardeners garden, it is not just plants that grow, but the gardeners themselves." ~ Ken Druse ~ Chelone obliqua Common name : Pink Turtlehead ~ Lovely combo ________________ PORK TENDERLOIN with GINGERED JEZEBEL SAUCE ~ Great easy recipe (adapted from old Southern Living clipping) for the holiday weekend. Combine with any treat from the great August harvest ... sauteed summer squash & mushrooms, crisp salad, sliced tomatoes ... the world is our oyster this time of year. _________________ 3 lbs. well trimmed pork tenderloins fresh rosemary 1/2 cup Tarmari or soy sauce 2 Tbsp. brown sugar 2 chopped green onions 2 cloves crushed fresh garlic 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh ginger 4 Tbsp. sherry (or bourbon for bolder taste) 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh chopped rosemary freshly ground cracked pepper to taste Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, green onions, garlic, ginger, sherry, rosemary and pepper. Pour over pork and marinate several hours or overnight. Remove pork from marinade and...

"I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys." - Song of Solomon 2. 1-17 Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) also called shrub althaea

"The daisy's for simplicity and unaffected air. " ~ Robert Burns ____________________ GRILLED SWORDFISH with AVOCADO & TOMATO SALSA ~ Simple summer dining, perfect when tomatoes are at their peek _____________ 4 6-oz. swordfish (Halibut or salmon ) steaks extra-virgin olive oil sea salt & cracked pepper to taste 2-3 peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped tomatoes 1/2 diced red bell pepper 1/2 cup diced green pepper 1/2 diced yellow or orange pepper 1/2 chopped small red onion 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil juice and zest of 1 large lime 1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar 1 minced clove garlic 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley) 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme dashes of Tabasco to taste 1 peeled, seeded, and diced avocado Combine chopped tomatoes, diced peppers, red onion, olive oil, lime juice, zest, vinegar, garlic and chopped fresh herbs. Add a dash or dashes of Tabasco, according to taste. Set aside. (Can be made several hours ahead.) Prehe...

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~Henry James 'BEE ~ UTIFUL ' (Bee kiss ... Japanese Anenome ) _______________ LAYERED COBB SALAD ~ 'Delightful presentation in a glass bowl ... same 1920s true ingredients in a, 'kick-it-up-a-notch', layered look originally adapted from Gourmet (June 2002) ____ DRESSING : 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar juice from 1 fresh lemon (reserve zest) 2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1 clove minced garlic 1/2 tsp. coarse salt 1/2 tsp. sugar 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil SALAD: 3 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (1 1/4 lb.) 2 California avocados 8 cups romaine (cut crosswise into 1/2 inch wide slices ) 6 chopped crisp bacon slices 3 seeded and cut (1/2 inch pieces) fresh tomatoes 3-4 oz. crumbled Roquefort cheese 2 bunches stemmed watercress 2 (forced through sieve) hard-boiled eggs 1/4 cup finely chopped chives ...

"Let no one think that real gardening is a bucolic an meditative occupation. It is an insatiable passion, like everything else to which a man gives his heart. " ~ Karel Capek ~ Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) • Family: Aster (Asteraceae) • Habitat: fields, open woods, roadsides •Height: 1-3 feet • Flower size: 2-3 inches across • Flower color: yellow and dark brown • Flowering time: June to October• Origin: Midwestern U.S. ________________ “If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive." ~ Eleanora Duse

"A Garden is the best alternative therapy." ~ Germaine Greer ~ Rose Mallow (hardy hibiscus) Hibiscus ____________ LIME MOUSE PIE ~ Tropical in flavor, this bold tart compliments a hot summer day . Keep it handy ( Bon Appetit 1991) as I have for over 18 years _________________ Crust: 8 whole graham crackers 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut 7 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter Filling: 1/2 cup amber (gold) rum 1 1/2 tsp. unflavored gelatin 4 large eggs 1 cup sugar 2/3 cup fresh lime juice 3 Tbsp. grated lime peel 1 cup chilled whipping cream Sweetened flaked toasted coconut For crust : Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Process graham crackers in processor until finely ground. Add coconut and butter and pulse to blend. Press crumb mixture on bottom and 1 3/4 - inches up sides of 8-inch springform pan. Bake until golden brown on edges, about 10 minutes. Cool completely. For filling : Place rum in small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand 10 minutes to soften. Whisk eggs, sugar a...

“We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between we garden.” ~ Author Unknown Henry Eilers Strap Petal Black Eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia 'Henry Eilers ') ________________ PESTO-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS ~ An old favorite, delicious served at room temp ... good for a picnic or lunch on the boat _____ 8 skinned & boned chicken breast halves 1 lb. fresh spinach 3 finely chopped shallots 2 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter Pesto Sauce, divided 1/2 cup. ricotta cheese 1 egg yolk 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts 1/2 tsp. coarse salt 1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper 4 (1/8-inch thick) slices prosciutto 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1/4 cup mayonnaise Flatten each chicken breast to 1/4-inch thickness; set aside. Clean spinach and remove stems. Steam for 2 minutes and drain. Squeeze until barely moist & coarsely chop. Saute shallots in 2 Tbsp . butter until tender; drain . Combine shallots, 1/4 cup Pesto Sauce, ricotta cheese, egg yolk, pine nuts, salt & pe...

~ Sunset meets Moonrise ( Miini - giizis - 'Berry Moon') ~ Ojibwe __________________ "... I'm smart and at four know that the moon is not made of cake with frosting on the top like the stupid song I learned in kindergarten. Maybe green cheese? I see big lemon-green Swiss-like holes on its pocked marked face and wonder how it could be either. I'm glad its glowing face is yellow. It's my favorite color. My father tucks me in between worn buffalo plaid flannel and kisses me goodnight; his salt and pepper mustache tickles. I like the red and black soft squares and grains of rough sand from the lake that I rub with my toes on the bottom sheet. Grey smells ooze through the old log cabin. The goodnight moon smiles through the wavy glass-paned window. I look into my father's soft steel-gray eyes and ask, "How did the moon follow me all the way from home?" He grins wide as the world, shows his big white teeth, and says, "Because I tied a string arou...

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do." ~ Helen Keller Ah, Sunflower by William Blake (1757-1827) _ Ah, sunflower, weary of time, Who countest the steps of the sun; Seeking after that sweet golden clime Where the traveller's journey is done; Where the Youth pined away with desire, And the pale virgin shrouded in snow, Arise from their graves, and aspire Where my Sunflower wishes to go! ___ _____________ CASHEW ZUCCHINI CRESCENT PIE ~ A summer favorite for over thirty years. Perfect for brunch with a fruit salad or dinner with grilled steak. ______________ 8 oz. can Pillsbury Crescent rolls 1 cup or more cashew nuts 4 medium zucchini squash 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 crushed clove garlic 1 tsp. dill weed or more to taste 1/4 tsp. coarse salt freshly ground pepper to taste 2 large organic eggs 8 oz. small cubed or shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or mixture 1/2 Monterey and 1/2 cheddar or Colby) 1 Tbsp. chopped fres...

Queen Anne's Lace Her body is not so white as anemone petals nor so smooth--nor so remote a thing. It is a field of the wild carrot taking the field by force; the grass does not raise above it. Here is no question of whiteness, white as can be, with a purple mole at the center of each flower. Each flower is a hand's span of her whiteness. Wherever his hand has lain there is a tiny purple blemish. Each part is a blossom under his touch to which the fibres of her being stem one by one, each to its end, until the whole field is a white desire, empty, a single stem, a cluster, flower by flower, a pious wish to whiteness gone over-- or nothing. ~ William Carlos Williams (1883 - 1963) (POET'S CORNER) ~ Queen Anne's Lace ( Daucus carota ) __________ Gardener's Note: "Queen Anne's Lace, also called Wild Carrot, is tall with stems covered by tiny hairs. Once a European garden plant, it has escaped to the wild and is considered a week because of its aggressive gr...

"The aspects of things that are most important to us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity." Ludwig Wittgenstein 'Ride the wave' (Petunia) ____________________ GREEK POTATO with FETA VINAIGRETTE ~ Are there ever enough summer potato salad recipes? Try this yummy picnic twist adapted from That's My Home _______________ 2 lbs. 1-inch wedges of red potatoes 2 Tbsp. red wine or white balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil juice and zest of 1 lemon 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp. fresh oregano coarse salt & freshly ground pepper to taste 1 cup pitted and coarsely chopped Kalamata olives 1 seeded English cucumber 1 jar roasted red peppers 1 diced yellow or orange pepper 1/2 cup diced red onion 8 oz. crumbled feta cheese 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley additional fresh parsley and oregano for garnish Steam well scrubbed potatoes 12-14 minutes or until firm-tender. Combine vinegar, olive oil, lemon, zest, Dijon, oregano and salt & pepper...

"Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon Like a magician extended his golden want o'er the landscape; Trinkling vapors arose; And sky and water and forest Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~ August sunset (Hubbard Lake)

Sometime since I've been in the garden I've looked up through the trees at the sky and I have had a strange feeling of being happy as if something were pushing and drawing and making me breathe fast. Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of Magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all round us. In this garden ~ in all the places . ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett ~ Early August magic

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." ~ Sam Keen ~ 'Fiery' red daylily ______________ COLD THAI PEANUT NOODLES ~ Ingredients are always on hand for this favorite, easy simple supper ______________ 1 lb. cooked whole wheat pasta 4 Tbsp. sesame oil (regular or hot chili) 4 cloves peeled garlic 2 (1/4-inch) slices ginger 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup spicy rice vinegar 1 Tbsp. Mongolian Fire oil (chili oil) 2 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 bunch chopped green onions 1/2 cup chopped peanuts 1/4 cup reserved pasta water (if needed) In large bowl, toss cooled pasta with 2 Tbsp. sesame oil to coat evenly. In good processor or blender, mince garlic and ginger. Add 2 Tbsp sesame oil and remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth. Pour over noodles, add 1/2 of chopped green onions and toss well. Add additional pasta water if needed to thin. Transfer to serving dish and top with remaining chopped green onions and chopped peanuts. _______________________ ...

"There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart." ~ Celia Thaxter ~ Early August Daylilies ______________ GRILLED PORK TENDERLOIN with BLACKBERRY MUSTARD SAUCE ~ A Delicious taste of summer ... "It's the berries!" ( loosely adapted from August 1994 Cooking LIght ) ____ 2 (3/4 lb.) trimmed pork tenderloin 2 Tbsp. minced fresh thyme 2 tsp. ground ginger 1 Tbsp. Coleman's dry mustard 2 cloves minced garlic 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive coarse salt & freshly ground pepper to taste 1 cup organic chicken stock, divided 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar 1 Tbsp. brown sugar 1/2 tsp. cornstarch 2 Tbsp. dry white wine 1/2 cup Blackberry Mustard Sauce 1 tsp. chopped thyme 1 pint fresh blackberries fresh thyme sprigs Combine thyme, ginger, dry mustard, olive oil, salt & pepper. Rub into well trimmed pork. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. Light grill and prepare sauce. Add chicken broth and brown suga...