THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire." ~ Virgil Pansies, hyacinths and daffodils Yoshino cherry blossoms, shadblow serviceberry blossoms ( Amelanchier canadensis ), American Elm Forsythia Tulips Groundcover (myrtle, pachysandra , bergenia ) Trillium

"There is nothing pleasanter than spading when the ground is soft and damp." ~ John Steinbeck Tulipa tarda ( Eye-catching early Species tulip native to Turkestan. Neat foliage multiplies rapidly, happy to return each spring) ___________________ LUSCIOUS LEMON MOUSSE ~ Adapted from The New Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen comes this luscious tart ending for a warm spring evening. _____________ 1/4 cup cornstarch 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 cup water 1 tsp. grated fresh lemon rind 2 room temperature egg whites 1 cup heavy cream heavy cream 1 cup fresh berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries) Mix cornstarch and sugar in small saucepan. Add lemon juice and water and whisk until smooth . Cook, whisking constantly over medium heat until thick (at least 5 minutes.) Pour into bow and stir in the lemon rind. Let cool to room temperature. Beat egg whites at high speed with electric mixer until they form stiff peaks. Fold into lemon mixture...

"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. " ~ William Shakespeare VIRGINIA BLUEBELLS ( Mertensia virginica ) _____________________ Gardener's Note : Sweet blue blooms, suddenly springing in the woodland garden, nodding hello in the breeze will warm your heart ... a wildflower MUST for for Zones 3-6. Plant under deciduous trees (mine under revered Mulberries) where they will receive early season sun. Happy companions are trillium, Jack-in-the- pulpit , celandine poppies, lady slippers, bloodroot , bleeding heart, etc. Perfect planted with hosta , ferns and other shade loving plants since once dormant, new plants will hide the ripening foliage and fill in the empty spot. _____________________ GRILLED SESAME PORK TENDERLOIN ~ Perfect sustaining supper for long day in the garden. __________ 2 well-trimmed pork tenderloins 1/4 cup fresh orange juice zest of orange 1/2 cup Tamari or low-salt soy sauce 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp. Asian sesame oil 1 tsp. rice...

"Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world." ~ John Muir 'Lonesome Pine' Sunset (Hubbard Lake) _______________________ White Pines ' Pinus Strobus ' (Michigan State Tree) _________ "It is well that you should celebrate your Arbor Day thoughtfully, for within your lifetime the nation's need of trees will become serious. We of an older generation can get along with what we have, though with growing hardship; but in your full manhood and womanhood you will want what nature once so bountifully supplied and man so thoughtlessly destroyed; and because of that want you will reproach us, not for what we have used, but for what we have wasted." ~ Theodore Roosevelt ( 1907 Arbor Day Message)

"Spring - An experience in immortality." ~ Henry D. Thoreau Flowering Norway Maple ( Acer platanoides ) _____________ GRILLED ROMAINE SALAD (with Charred Tomato Vinaigrette) ~ Grilled Romaine! Give it a try ... f rom Chandler's ( Petoskey ) comes this robust 'gearing for spring' salad. ___________________ 4 Tbsp. olive oil (extra-virgin) 4 romaine hearts 1 cup feta cheese 1 cup assorted nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc. Dressing Preheat grill. Brush romaine hearts with olive oil and char on grill until blackened all over, but not excessively so. Assemble grilled leaves on plate and drizzle with Dressing . (4 servings) Dressing: 6 tomatoes 1 juiced lime 1/2 red onion 1 rough chopped bunch cilantro 2 Tbsp. srirachi (Thai-style hot sauce made from sun ripen chilies ground into a smooth garlic paste found in the Asian food section) 1 cup olive oil 1/2 cup white wine or Champagne vinegar 3 Tbsp. stone ground mustard Char tomatoes on hot grill until black. In...

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." ~Native American Proverb EARTH DAY NETWORK __________________ "There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of this planet. " ~Brooke Medicine Eagle

"Blue color is everlastingly appointed by the Deity to be a source of delight." ~ John Ruskin Siberian squill ( Scilla siberica ) ' Rhapsody in Blue' _________ "Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer." - Geoffrey B. Charlesworth Gardener's Note: One of the first brave visitors poking its nose through the earth ... noteworthy ... its intense hint of true blue exerts a mysterious magnetism.

"Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are." ~ Alfred Austin Snail and Baby Tears wall (Detroit Garden Works) Detroit Garden Works is one of America's finest purveyors of antique, vintage, and contemporary garden ornament from all over the world. An unrivaled selection of garden pots and containers, fountains, sculpture, trellising, outdoor and conservatory furniture, architectural garden artifacts, and ephemera are standard fare. PLANKED WHITEFISH with DUCHESSE POTATOES ~ Owner Gary Cochran's ( Beau Jack's - Bloomfield Hills) memorable signature dish, Charlevoix -style, piped with duchesse potatoes around the plank. _______________ Duchesse Potatoes: 2 lbs. Idaho or russet potatoes 1 tsp. salt 4 softened butter 1/2 - 1 cup hot milk 3 large egg yolks 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese salt & pepper to taste Planked Whitefish: 2 lbs. boned fresh whitefish fillets (about 5-7 oz. each) olive oil sea salt or kosher salt white pepper granulated garlic...

"In a way, nobody sees a flower really, it is so small, we haven't time ~ and to see takes time, like to have a good friend." ~ Georgia O'Keefe ~ Potted friends greet guests at front door (Container gardening) ------------- Heuchera (Creme Brulee ); Polar Red English Daisy; ' Etain ' Viola hybrid; 'Sweet Sorbet' Erysimum ; 'Chic in Red' Primula; 'Golden Flourish' Alyssum saxatile -------------- ( visit : GARDEN BLOGGERS ' BLOOM DAY)

"There is not a single colour hidden away in the chalice of a flower ... to which, by some subtle sympathy with the very soul of things, my nature does not answer." ~ Oscar Wilde ~ Indoor azalea basket ___________ HAM, ROASTED PEPPER & PESTO GRILLED PANINI ~ Delicious sandwich with leftover Easter ham ________________ 8 slices coarse multi-grain bread (or sour dough) 1/3 cup light mayonnaise 2 Tbsp. pesto sauce (good jar is fine) thinly sliced ham 1 (12 oz.) jar drained and thinly sliced roasted peppers 4 thin slices provolone cheese 4 thin slices cheddar cheese Combine mayo & pesto sauce. Spread evenly on 1 side of each slice of bread. Place 4 slices face down on wax paper. On inside of the 4 slices, layer each with 1 slice provolone cheese, thin slices of ham, bell peppers, and cheddar. Top with remaining bread, pesto side up. Cook sandwiches in panini pan (or on hot griddle) until golden brown. (4 servings).

"On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer. " ~Douglas Horton

"Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life." ~S.D. Gordon MUSHROOM SPINACH STRATA ~ Lovely to look at ... luscious to eat __________ 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 lb. sliced mushrooms 1 cup chopped onion 8 slices good whole wheat bread, trimmed & halved diagonally 2 cups shredded Swiss or Gouda cheese 1 10-oz. package chopped spinach, thawed and well drained 6 slices crisp bacon (optional) 4 organic beaten eggs 1 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 cup milk coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper Grease a 10-inch quiche pan and set aside. Melt butter and saute mushrooms for about 5 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside. Add chopped onion to pan and saute for 5 minutes. Arrange 6 of the half slices of bread to cover bottom of quiche pan. Atop bread, spread 3/4 of sauteed mushrooms and all of the onions, 1 cup of cheese, and drained spinach. Sprinkle crisp bacon over top. Arrange 8 half-slices over spinach, overlapping the pieces to fit in a circle; place remain...

LEGEND of the DOGWOOD An old and beautiful legend has it that, at the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other monarchs of the forest. Because of its firmness and strength it was selected as the timber for the cross, but to be put to such a cruel use greatly distressed the tree. Sensing this, the crucified Jesus in his gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all said to it: "Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross ~ two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints ~ brown with rust and stained with red ~ and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember." ~ Author Unknown Christ on the Cross Marshall M. Fredericks ~ sculptor 1959 (Indian River, MI)

'They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." ~ Mark 14 Full Moon of Passover

"The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers." ~Basho ~ Pure Easter Lily ____________ COCONUT POUND CAKE with LEMON CURD FILLING ~ From the archives ( Bon Appetit /June 1984) appears this favorite Spring classic _______________ 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) room temperature unsalted butter 3 cups sugar 6 room temperature eggs 3 cup AP flour 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1 cup sour cream 4 oz. flaked coconut 2 tsp. vanilla Lemon Curd Filling (recipe follows) Orange Glaze (recipe follows) lemon leaves (garnish) Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Generously grease 10-inch tube pan (preferably with removable bottom ) with vegetable shortening (or Pam) and dust with flour. Cream butter in large bowl of electric mixer. Slowly add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Sift dry ingredients. Blend into butter mixture alternately with sour cream. Mix in coconut and vanilla. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted in...

"The daisy's for simplicity and unaffected air." ~ Robert Burns ~ Simple daisy _____________ HERB ROASTED RACK of LAMB with PORT CURRANT SAUCE ~ Spring lamb sings April and Easter and this red currant sauce is a lovely compliment . ______________ 3 1/2 lbs. 'Frenched'* rack of lamb (*have butcher trip meat from tips for easy serving) 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper 3 cloves freshly chopped garlic 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (1 tsp.dried) 1 Tbsp. finely chopped oregano (1 tsp. dried) 1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary (1 tsp. dried) 1 Tbsp. finely chopped thyme (1 tsp. dried) juice of 2 lemons fresh rosemary springs Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Rub room temperature lamb with olive oil and garlic. Sprinkle with the combined herbs and salt & pepper. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Rub with garlic. Arrange on rack and roast 25 minutes for medium rare (130-135 degrees). Tent and let rest for 10 minutes before serving....

“ It's spring fever.... You don't quite know what it is you DO want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!" ~ Mark Twain ~ Primrose (early spring visitor) ________________ LOBSTER CORN DOG ~ With a focus on Detroit and Michigan State in the 'Final Four Slam-Dunk Weekend' , enjoy this yummy elegant Midwest appetizer compliments of Executive Chef David Hubbard and the (best view overlooking Detroit, Canada & the St. Marys River) beautiful Coach Insignia (Renaissance Center, Detroit) __________ 2 4-5 oz. lobster trails (shells removed and split lengthwise ) 2 3/4 cups flour 1 cup corn meal 1 tsp. baking powder 1 Tbsp. sugar pinch salt 6 cups soda water 1/2 cup flour seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika 2 6-inch bamboo skewers 4 cup blend of olive oil and vegetable oil for frying To create batter, mix flour, corn meal, baking powder and sugar. Add soda water slowly while mixing wit whisk. Mixture should look like pancake batter. Heat oil i...

"This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four." ~Mark Twain 'Earth's Dark Breast' April Gift ~ in time Lungwart ( Pulmonaria ), Tulipa tarda , Bergenia , Trillium, Primrose Yoshino Cherry, Cherry blossom, Wood Anemone, Pansy, t. Tarda Japanese painted fern, Myrtle, Tulip, Pachysandra, Johnny-jump-ups Primrose, Hyacinth, Yoshino Cherry tree, fern, Tulips Fern, Yoshino Cherry Tree, Tulip face, Whimsy frog, Shadblow ( a few of April's many gifts ) "And Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest." ~ Percy Bysshe Shelley (The Sensitive Plant) (Join Carolyn for Garden Bloggers' Muse Day )