THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Well pleaseth me the sweet time of Easter That maketh the leaf and the flower come out." ~ Bertran de Born ~ White cyclamen ______________________ COCONUT CREAM CHEESECAKE ~ 20 year old recipe from The Heritage House in Little River, California ____________________ CRUST: 2/3 cup flour 1 Tbsp. sugar 5 Tbsp. chilled unsalted butter, cut in small pieces FILLING: 3 8-oz. packages room temperature cream cheese 1 1/2 cups sugar 4 room temperature organic eggs 2 room temperature egg yolks 2 cups flaked coconut 1 cup whipping cream 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. almond extract toasted coconut For crust: combine flour & sugar in large bowl. Using pastry blender (or 2 knives) cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Gather into ball. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 325-degrees. Press dough into bottom of 10-inch springform . Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Cool slightly. Cool slightly. Reduce oven to 300...

"Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men." ~ Chinese Proverb Pussy Willow ( Photoshop fun) _____________ ROAST LEG of LAMB with TARRAGON MINT BUTTER ~ Spring lamb basted with fresh herbs, garlic smashed potatoes, sautéed asparagus and carrots complete this delightful seasonal meal, perfect for Easter (adapted from Bon Appétit - April 2009) ________ Lamb: 1 6 1/2 lb. well-trimmed leg of lamb several 1-inch strips (very thin) orange peel 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 2 cups dry red wine 1 cup low-salt chicken broth 1/3 cup lemon juice 2 tsp. finely grated orange peel tarragon and mint sprigs for garnish Lamb : Using small sharp knife, make 1-inch deep slits all over lamb. Insert 3 or 4 orange peel strips in each slit. Can do 1 day ahead (wrap in plastic and chill). Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 450º. Heat oil in large skillet. Sprinkle lamb with coarse salt and pepper. Add lamb to skillet an...

"Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke Cymbidium Orchid ________ CHICKEN SATAY & ASIAN ASPARAGUS ~ Simple supper with fresh asparagus ... a hint of 'spring' (adapted from Foodie Froggy ) ______________ 6 chicken breasts, cut in strips 1 1/2 Tbsp. canola oil (more if needed) bamboo skewers Marinade: 6 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 Tbsp. Mirin (sweet rice wine), sherry or Marsala coarse salt and freshly ground pepper Satay Sauce: 4 Tbsp. peanut butter 2 Tbsp. chopped garlic 2 tsp. chili oil 3 Tbsp. white rice vinegar 4 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 tsp. red pepper flakes Combine soy sauce, Mirin (sherry or Marsala ), salt & pepper. Add chicken strips, toss, and marinate for 20 minutes. Combine ingredients for Satay Sauce in blender. Set aside. Heat wok with 1 1/2 Tbsp. canola oil until it smokes a little. Add chicken and sauté about 5 minutes (don't overcrowd ... sauté in batches). Lower heat...

For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise my love, my fair one, and come away. ~ The Song of Solomon, 2:11-13 VERNAL EQUINOX (Hubbard Lake, MI) PENNE PRIMAVERA ~ ' Primavera ' means 'Spring' in Italian _________ 1 lb. penne pasta or bow-tie ( farfalle ) 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter 4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 large sweet ( Vidalia ) onion 2-3 minced garlic cloves 1 tsp. red pepper flakes 1 lb. diagonally cut asparagus spears (woody stems snapped off) 1/2 lb. sliced mushrooms 3 diagonally sliced carrots 1 matchstick sliced yellow pepper 1 matchstick sliced orange pepper 1 hefty cup frozen peas 1 pint grape tomatoes 10 oz. fresh stemmed baby spinach 1 bunch chopped fresh basil coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper freshly grat...

"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 friend takes time." ~ Georgia O'Keeffe FORCED FORSYTHIA (Forsythia x intermedia ' Lynwood ') PROVENCAL BEEF STEW ~ This simple French peasant meal is perfect for an informal dinner with friends or after a busy day in the garden. Round out the meal with crusty French bread and a complimentary salad of arugula, tomato and black olive salad dressed with balsamic vinaigrette. (clipped and adapted from Observer & Eccentric 3/3/2005) _________ 2 1/2 lbs. lean beef stew meat, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes 3/4 cup flour 1 tsp. coarse salt 2-3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil (more if needed) 2 sprigs fresh thyme 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 2 sliced yellow onions 4 cloves minced garlic 1 cup dry white wine 1 (14 1/2 oz. can crushed tomatoes 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 cup pitted green olives additional thyme and rosemary ...

For each petal on the shamrock This brings a wish your way - Good health, good luck, and happiness For today and every day. (Irish Blessing) SHAMROCK ( Oxalis regnellii ) __________________ IRISH WHISKEY SOAKED DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE (adapted from Dec. 3, 2008 New York Times) ______ 1 cup room temperature unsalted butter (additional butter for greasing pan) 2 cups all purpose flour (additional for dusting pan) 5 oz. unsweetened chocolate 1/4 instant espresso powder 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup Irish whiskey (other whiskey, bourbon or rye - additional for sprinkling) 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 2 cups granulated sugar 3 large eggs 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. baking soda Confectioners' sugar for garnish fresh mint sprigs Preheat oven to 325º. Grease and flour a 10 cup capacity Bundt pan or two 8-9 inch loaf pans. Melt chocolate in double boiler over simmering water or in microwave. Let cool. Add espresso and cocoa powders in large glass measuring cup. Add enough b...

"The beauty of daylight-saving time is that it just makes everyone feel sunnier." ~ Edward Markey Garden Clock and Daffodil ___________ LEMON COCONUT CAKE ~ Outstanding triple-layered treat from Oct 2007 Southern Living ______________ 1 cup soft butter 2 cups sugar 4 large eggs, separated 3 cups all purpose flour 1 Tbsp.baking powder 1 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut mint or rosemary springs for garnish Lemon Filling Cream Cheese Frosting Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg yolks, 1 at at time, beating until blended after each addition. Combine flour and baking powder;add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Beat egg whites at high speed with electric mixer until stiff peaks form; fold 1/3 of egg whites just until blended. Spoon batter into 3 greased a...

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children." Ancient Indian Proverb HUBBARD LAKE (Winter thaw) Earth teach me stillness as the grasses are stilled with light. Earth teach me suffering as old stones suffer with memory. Earth teach me humility as blossoms are humble with beginning. Earth teach me caring as the mother who secures her young. Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone. Earth teach me limitation as the ant which crawls on the ground. Earth teach me freedom as the Eagle which soars in the Sky. Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring. Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me to remember kindness as dry fields weep with rain. Ute

"The flower is the poetry of reproduction. It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life." ~ Jean Giraudoux ~ Orchid throat (Phalaenopsis ~ 'Moth Orchid') This is a brief description on Orchid plant anatomy. Hopefully it will be helpful if you are new to growing orchids. The roots and stem form the bottom portion of our orchid plant. These absorbs and brings life needed nutrients to the plant. Sometimes, within the root system you may find the water absorption system of the orchid. These are called pseudobulbs. They are very efficient at absorbing and storing water. However not all orchids have pseudobulbs. Remember in the rain forests where some of the orchids grow the showers are usually quick. Above the roots you will generally find a stem from which the leaves are born. The stems are quite sturdy in some orchids and are delicate in others, especially, the miniature orchids. A healthy leaf is one that is firm, non-wrinkled, and bright green. It is not a...