Herb Simple Syrups

Last weekend I attended a bridal shower for a dear friend of mine.  I don't tend to be the type who buys things off of registries, so I racked my brain for what to get her (or more likely, make her).  I stumbled across a recipe for Basil Mint Mojitos, so I decided to put together a basket of all the ingredients and tools to make this recipe (a jigger, a muddler, limes, potted mint from my garden, mason jars, rum, basil simple syrup and the recipe itself).  It turned out really cute and I hope she and her fiancee enjoy it.

But that isn't what this post is about.  Let's rewind the tape to the part where I typed basil simple syrup. Yes, I was a little skeptical at first and then I realized-I love basil and I love sugar-so I should try a little myself.

H-O-L-Y Crap!

I put a little of the basil simple syrup in a glass, added some ice and little soda water, and voila!  My very own basil soda (you could add vodka and have a nice little cocktail).  Once my husband tried it, between the both of us we drained that little mason jar of every drip of that delicious simple syrup.

So today I decided to try making simple syrup out of most of the herbs in my garden: mint, basil, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and marjoram.

I haven't tried any but the basil yet, but will keep you updated on which ones are hits and which, if any are misses!  I'm the most excited to try the tarragon and the most nervous for the marjoram and sage (I'm pretty confident that rosemary and mint will be successes).

Don't be put off by the fact that they look a little like jars of urine!

July Showers Bring August Flowers

I returned from a month on the West Coast to find Kansas lush and green....in August!!!

Which means my flowers and plants are, well, blossoming.

Somehow we have extremely tall sunflowers towering over our backyard, my perennial vine is blooming, my cannas are sky high and growing, our sidewalk is no longer visible thanks to the basil, marjoram, sage, oregano and mint that decided to take over, my front flower bed is a tangle of multi-colored zinnias, and my rose bush is budding out more than it did this spring!

I needed a little pick-me-up this afternoon, so I convinced the above to pose for some photos and voila...

Everything's Coming Up Roses

When I see a recipe I want to make, I usually make it within the following couple of days.

Not today.

Today, I made it within the following couple of hours.  And the "it" I'm referring to, is a Rose Pound Cake.  I've always wanted to try something with rosewater in it, and today I did, but first things first.

First I had to make some rose bud tea.  Luckily, I already had rose buds on hand (I had made rose sugar as a gift for Christmas, along with lavender sugar).

Then, because now I can't get enough of rosewater anything, I found a recipe for, made and drank a Rose Spritzer while I baked.

Finally, the cake was done.

 I had my official taste-tester taste it...

Success.  Again, my impatience pays off.

The [Plants] Are Always Greener...

I finally had time this weekend to work in the yard and plant our garden.  It was definitely hard not to plant a shit ton of everything, but we want to keep it simple this summer.  I went heavy on the herbs (there is nothing like opening your trunk full of herbs when you get home from the market!)  We have some returning perennials and some random weed/flowers that were growing everywhere (so I transplanted some to pots to save on buying a ton of annuals to brighten up the front porch).  As the spring and summer progress we are going to transplant prairie perennials from ditches and our friends' land.  They will be easy to care for and will make an appearance every year (can't wait to see you year after year butterfly milkweed!)

 Mmmm...Cilantro

Our false indigo came back! 

Julie Child is starting to bud and has doubled in size! 

Lavender! 

I could just wallow in lilacs. 

Marigolds in the garden to attract butterflies. 

Our mint is also back! 

These are the flowers that were growing everywhere in our yard (and I repotted).  No idea what they are. 

Oregano. 

...keep waiting, it will never drop. 

 Rosemary.

I'm very lucky to have so much room to garden, but if you aren't so lucky, don't fret, you can garden anywhere!  Here is a fantastic book to check out: Garden Anywhere by Alys Fowler.

Friends Here and There

I just read a great post by Garance Dore about what it means to be a good friend.  These are a few things that stuck out to me and made me, of course, immediately think of these beautiful gals....my absolute best friends in the world.


"Best thing to do with friends, the international renown creme de la creme friend activity: Party the night before and spend the morning after having tea (or mimosas!) and recapping all the night's events."

"Some friendships die, but it doesn't mean they weren't beautiful and true."

"Sign of a true friendship: After three minutes of no one saying anything in a conversation, no one feels embarrassed." (although I don't know how often there is silence when we're together!)

"Some profound friendships can be formed in three minutes..."

"With a true friend, you can be completely yourself."

"Sign of a true friendship: Even after not seeing each other for three years, you feel like you're picking up a conversation you didn't quite finish the day before." (Maggie!!!)

"Sign of a true friendship: after twentysome years of friendship, you still laugh like teenagers." (Sissy!!)

And for one day in my life, I had them all together in one place.

Roasted Garbanzo Beans

I think I've roasted more this winter than I ever have before: potatoes, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, kale, pork chops, chicken, salmon...you get the idea.  

For some reason, in my 31 years I had never tried Brussels sprouts, and then thanks to a small dinner party we had in January (and a request from the birthday boy whom the dinner party was in honor of) I roasted said Brussels sprouts...and consequently fell in love with them!

And thanks to another small dinner party we had a few weeks ago, and more importantly to my dear friend, Denali, I was introduced to roasted garbanzo beans.  She brought with her the roasted garbanzo beans for all of us to try before dinner and now I'm hooked.

I made some of my own today in two different flavors: Sriracha & Cilantro, and Rosemary & Sea Salt.  I need to get my roasting fix satiated for the season, as we don't use our oven when it starts to get warm outside (I also love any excuse to put sriracha on or in something!)

These little suckers would be the perfect healthy snack to make for any little people you may have roaming around your house and eating all of your food.

Happy Roasting!

Blossoming

Across the street...