"Between two worlds life hovers like a star, twist night and morn, upon the horizon's verge."
~ Lord Byron
MAY GARDENS OF OVERHILL
(Bloomfield Village)
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From morning to night, ever-changing perennial gardens
(Bearded Iris, Wildflowers, Hosta, Rhododendron, Azalea, Ferns)
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RICE NOODLES with SHRIMP AND CILANTRO
This yummy colorful Pad Thai variation skips bean sprouts, eggs, and peanuts in favor of fresh red pepper and cilantro ... a favorite 'simple supper' at both home & cottage (slightly adapted from Fine Cooking)
8 oz. 1/4 in. wide dried rice noodles (pad thai)
2-3 limes (1 juiced and 1 sliced in wedges)
2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
2 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. fish sauce
1 lb. peeled and deveined large shrimp
3 generous Tbsp. peanut oil
1 tsp. ground coriander
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cored, seeded, and finely diced red pepper
1 cored, seeded, and finely diced orange or yellow pepper
1 seeded and finely diced large jalapeno
1-2 finely diced large shallots
1/4 heaping cup fresh cilantro
- Bring a pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add noodles, lower heat to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally until noodles are just tender, 5-7 minutes. Transfer to colander and run under cold water to cool slightly. Drain well.
- In a small bowl, combine lime juice, sugar, soy sauce and fish sauce; set aside. In a medium bowl, toss shrimp with 1 generous Tbsp. of the oil, coriander, freshly ground pepper and pinch of coarse salt.
- Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. of oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Add peppers and shallots, sprinkle with pinch of salt and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
- Add shrimp and cook, stirring, until it turns pink and almost cooked though, about 2 minutes. Add lime juice mixture and cook, stirring, until shrimp is cooked through, about 1 minute more.
- Add noodles and half of the cilantro; toss until noodles heat through and pick up the sauce, 1-2 minutes.
- Serve topped with remaining cilantro and lime wedges on the side for squeezing. (3-4 servings)
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WEEKEND 'ROCK GARDEN' PROJECT
(Hubbard Lake)
Blessed to share time between 'Two Different Worlds' ... thankful for the beauty of each.
Comments
What glorious worlds you inhabit. Each so very different and yet each with a beauty that is absolutely enchanting. And, the food you write of here also seems to bridge the cuisines of East and West.
Living as we do between Brighton and Budapest we can so readily identify with the sentiments of this most atmospheric post. A clash of cultures, of Eastern Europe and Western Europe,can be daunting at times but also brings a spark of adventure to life that really does make one appreciate the good things that both have to offer.
And, two very different gardening styles here too. How we love the gloriously flamboyant bearded Iris but also the strong simplicity of the huge rocks. The best of both worlds, we think, toasted with a glass of red. What could be better?
I just love that rock project you are doing at Hubbard Lake but it must be a lot of work.
Delicious recipe, love shrimp and cileranto flavor.
Eileen
[may I ask a small favor - eliminate the impossible-to-read word verification; I did with no ill effects; tx]
Cumprimentos
Thank you, Lindalou ... do hope you can make it NORTH this summer. I know how you enjoy it ... it's 'the bestest' :)
Hi Karin and thank you. Lucky you ... July in MI is wonderful ... and where are you headed?
Thank you, dear Diana, and frankly, I am a bit pooped! It's been crazy/busy running back forth with our many projects, entertaining, gardening, filling in gaps with grandboys (son OOT last week, DIL this week, son again next .. ). As you can see, I am behind here too ... my posts have been short since I can't possibly keep up with the exploding garden/life! But life is good and lucky to be enjoying all on our plates.
Thank you, dear Kala!
Thank you sweet PP Beth ... we are very lucky that everything is so lush this spring although we are in need of rain that is predicted for the weekend. I will so miss this beautiful month of May ... :(
Welcome Sarah and thank you for the kind comment. Love your MI connection ... I grew up not far from Midland (Linwood) on Saginaw Bay. And I so agree, MI is an awesome state ... especially summers UP NORTH! Looking forward to our fun connection. Your blog is a delight!
Thanks Eileen ... yes, the rock project, thanks to our talented designer, was great fun! Plus hope it works diverting the deluge of heavy rain that we often get rolling down the hill. Have also been working on major projects revamping gardens here on Overhill. All of my iris have been especially spectacular this year. Enjoy the recipe ... we love it!
Thanks Rick and yes you too are blessed ... guess we share many of the same blessings.
Welcome Fernando and thank you for the kind comment.
Thank you, Robin, and the weekend was indeed Hubbard Lake glorious! Rock Garden project was great fun but must wait until fresh wood chips season before we plant. Now, back home tweaking the gardens here and filling in with grandchildren. As you can see, I am very remiss in catching up on my comments. I hate to say goodbye to May, my favorite gardening month :(