My RPG Obsession

Yes, I confess, I love a good RPG (role playing game). Every since the Legend of Zelda first arrived to the video game console I've been hooked. Terribly excited when we received that shiny gold tape (or cartridge if you prefer), I'd sit absorbed for hours of my pre-teen life in our dark basement either watching my elder brother play or working to defeat the next dungeon myself.

How quickly I learned that we should take turns based on real time, not "when I die next" (dratted fairy pools!).

If you've never played an RPG or find the draw of a 50+ hour game hard to believe, let me attempt to explain. These types of games are less about conquering levels and defeating big bosses. They revolve around a central story, use experience points to strengthen the character, and encompass a vast world. They are a natural fit for those of us that love lengthy novels (eg. The Wheel of Time series). As game systems have evolved so have the stories, characters, graphics, and overall enjoyment of the game experience.

Thanks in large part to the Zelda franchise, I will forever be a Nintendo gal. The Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo, GameBoy, and Wii have been given me many hours of escapist pleasure. Along the way I also learned that its best for me to buy games when I can devote large amounts of time to them - I tend to think about how to locate the next key item or defeat a tough critter when I should be focused on church, conversations with live people, working, that sort of thing. Ha!

Since the latest release of my beloved Zelda was postponed (which could mean trouble for me come springtime), I picked up Final Fantasy The Crystal Bearers as my Christmas treat. When it comes to the RPG world FF is a great followup for Zelda - filled with the long form story I love, lots of magic action, but an intriguing mix of technology blended in as well.

While I found it hard to get into at first (lengthy story-movies when I'd rather be moving on already), I've clocked an embarrassing number of hours thus far and set a curfew of 10pm on work nights for myself. Ah for the days when I could play until 4am and no one would notice the next day. If you try to ring me and I don't pick up, rest assure all is well. Just helping Layle and his friends battle the forces of evil and bring about tribal unification.

Povitica - a Radke family tradition

One of my absolute favorite memories of Christmas (and Easter) as a child was the povitica we'd enjoy for breakfast that morning. It's a Croatian nut bread that's rich, flaky, and chock-a-bock full of walnuts. Don't ask for the recipe - family secrets, right? - but here's a general overview of the process.

The bread is similar to what you'd use to make cinnamon rolls - eggs, milk, butter, and sugar combine to make a heavy dough that's a gorgeous yellow color. While its doing the first rise you mix up the filling - walnuts, sugar, milk, butter (I mentioned this is a richly flavored special occasion treat, right?).

Stretching the dough as thin as you can is the tough part. My gran (mom's mom, the Radke side of my family tree) is so great at getting it paper thin. I'll never understand how. She literally stretched it the size of her kitchen table. Seriously. Stop reading for a second and think about the size of your table. One loaf of dough, that large, is thin enough to see through. Will I ever have the patience (or a warm enough home?!?) to accomplish that feat?

Spread on some filling, roll it up, then loop the two ends around the middle (creating a three sided mass of oozy goodness). Quickly slide into a buttered loaf pan and let rise a second time. Bake for about an hour, let cool in the pans about 5 minutes, then gently slip them out to cool on racks.

To serve, slice as gently as possible, toast in the oven just until warm, then put a sliver of butter on top. Seriously - more butter. A cup of coffee or a glass of milk makes this a wonderful holiday treat - and well worth the two-a-day workouts I'll be enjoying this weekend!

Side note - when I was in Croatia last year I was pleased to see that their povitica was as thin (ie thick!) as mine.

Bagel Making - Cranberry Walnut

A few weeks back I got to hang out with my niece while her brother slept off an illness and her parents attending a Christmas party. One of our conversation trails happened to land on bagels, and she mentioned her favorite was Cranberry Walnut. When my sis and I were discussing Christmas foods - and my choice of bagel making - a few days later, she also mentioned it. Naturally I had to try my hand at this flavorful combo for our holiday celebration.

My trusty William-Sonoma cookbook has a great basic bagel recipe, so I made a few modifications to come up with this one.The process is essentially the same as the pumpkin spice, only I subbed in 1 cup ground walnuts and 1 cup cranberries for 1 cup flour. I've used dried fruits in past bagel making, but added the fruit during the last stage of the process (when you're adding 1/2 cup flour at a time). This go round I added the fruit and nuts during the sponge stage, and it made a significant difference. I saw a great consistency of dispersal in the dough - most notably during the kneading stage.

Rise 2, boil, bake, serve, enjoy!

Book Review: Daemon

I'm coming to believe that some books are best enjoyed as audiobooks - Daemon definitely fits that bill for me. It's a first novel by Daniel Suarez that my friend/boss Jim kept telling me I needed to read/hear. I'm glad I finally remembered when my Audible credits came around last month!

Daemons are computer programs that run in the background. Suarez takes that idea and spins a story that involves big government, corporate America, the average 20-something game aficionado, and those that know absolutely nothing about computers and the tech behind them. Years are spanned but the story moves at quick, smooth pace. The characters are well developed and the scenes are so real I found myself holding my breath to hear how they would end. The use of computer noises and sterile computer voices only added to the reality I felt of the story.

What made it so compelling is the idea that it could be real, that this story could really happen. Both a fascinating and frightening thought. Suarez presents some notions for AI (artificial intelligence) that were new to me, and I'm still pondering the implications.

Not into tech? Don't worry - you don't have to be to enjoy this novel. Complex ideas are explained by the characters as the story unfolds, and these days most readers/listeners are fairly comfortable with Internet concepts. Great novels - check them out if you'd like a glimpse of what our future may hold.

Bagel Making - Pumpkin Spice (traditional)

Christmas brunch has been our family tradition for many years, and this year will be no exception. I offered to bring bagels - the perfect opportunity to perfect the base recipe and try some new flavors. Bread baking is fairly simple once you get the basics down, the challenge is making adjustments to the dough due to weather changes. Baking in the winter is more challenging than summer - my home is older and therefore drafty, and chilled dough just isn't easy to stretch.

First new recipe - Pumpkin Spice. I found a recipe on the web that used the traditional pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves) so I mixed up a batch. The recipe makes 6-8 bagels (all depends on how you divide your dough), the raw color is really gorgeous. Its a brilliant orange until the spices are added - then it turns a lovely speckled brown.

The second rise for bagels is only 30 minutes - just enough time to put a kettle of water on to boil. Boiling is a key step to bagel making - its what gives the interior that lovely chewy texture. Just 1 minute per side (use a slotted spoon to flip), place on a towel to dry, then return to the baking sheet. Most recipes utilize an egg wash before baking, but I prefer to see the color of the bagel without the egg (it really just adds a bit of brown).

Alton Brown is a fount of wisdom, and he provided a key baking tip on a cookie (or was it pie?) episode. Anyway. He suggests setting the oven timer for half the time, and when it beeps rotate the cookie sheet (or whatever). This helps ensure consistent exterior color to the finished product - ovens aren't exactly a balanced appliance and can have hot spots. If I have multiple trays in the oven I rotate shelves and rotate pans (180 degree turns).

Fresh from the oven this recipe was great - a bit of butter is my typical companion for fresh bread. A bit of cream cheese would probably taste great on these, or cream cheese icing and you have fun dessert treat.

My Recipe

2 tablespoons + 1/2 cup lukewarm water
3 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
3 cups white flour
6 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon allspice

Combine 1 Tablespoon water and yeast with a pinch of sugar; set in a warm place to activate (approx. 10 minutes).

Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl; add yeast mixture when foamy. Stir to combine, then knead to consistent color/texture. Return to oiled bowl, cover, and set in a warm place to rise until doubled in size (approx. 1 hour).

Place dough on a floured surface. Divide into individual parts. Form 8 small balls, gently press thumb through center of ball and form a bagel shape using the sides of your hand. Place on oiled baking sheet, cover, and allow to rise (approx. 30 minutes)

While bagels rise, bring 3 quarts of water to a rapid boil in a large saucepan; once its boiling add 1 tablespoon granualted sugar. Using a slotted spoon, drop 2-3 bagels into rapidly boiling water. Boil on each side for 1-2 minutes. Remove, place on towel to drain for 1 minute, then return to baking sheet. Brush with egg and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds, if desired.

Bake at 400 degrees on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal, until golden - approximately 15 minutes

Christmas Decor

I'm not one to decorate my house for every holiday, but a few years back I decided to do it up when Christmas came around. My inspiration? Hallmark began producing Dr. Seuss ornaments - the perfect collectible for this book lover! An artist switch made my interest wan ('inspired by' versus based on book illustrations just didn't work for me) - but I absolutely love my Dr. Seuss tree. I can be a bit Grinchy - but I'd like to think my heart isn't "three sizes too small" - and Miss Sumatra plays the role of Max quite nicely (I will never make her wear false antlers). Here's a few shots of my favorite ornaments - I hope your decor says "you" too!

Max is the perfect tree topper.

Green Eggs and Ham

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Horton Hears a Who!

Oh the Places You'll Go

Plums and Italian Food

A couple years ago when I was talking books with a friend, she encouraged me to check out Janet Evanovich novels. It took me some time, but this past month I've gone through eight of her Stephanie Plum series and eagerly await the next batch from my local library.

Stephanie Plum is, in word, hysterical. She's a bounty hunter in New Jersey - what a premise in and of itself - and she's terrible at it. Anti-exercise, pro-junk food, single with hamster for a roommate, Evanovich has created a female character more true to life than many others I've read. Her technique focuses on following her gut (which I can appreciate) and she tends to foul up and get wounded each novel. Which only makes it more laughable.

The books don't just depend on Stephanie for laughs - her family and co-workers are characters in and of themselves. I'm torn as to whether 80+-year old Grandma Mazur or Lula get more chuckles out of me. Grandma makes funeral parlor her social scene, while Lula and her spandex attire attempt to help Stephanie catch perps. Seriously. You have to check these out!

The mystery of the books are well thought out and engaging - I've found myself many a night staying up way later than I should to find out how in the world Miss Steph was going to get out of her latest mess. On-again, off-again boyfriend Joe Mazzoli, the mysterious bounty hunter Ranger, and the local police are always on hand to help.

So what's all that have to do with Italian food? Well, Stephanie is from a Polish-Italian family, and all the discussion of alfredo sauces, noodles, pasta, etc. had me craving before I realized what was happening. So last night I whipped open a jar of alfredo sauce (not the time to attempt my own), mixed it with fresh Italian sausage and poured it over snail shell pasta. Paired with a dry red wine it was the perfect way to finish To the Nines.

Exploring new paths

A few weeks ago the Lord made it clear that it was time for me to step out of ministry in Focus (my church's young adult class), and simply take a break for a while. I'm one of those people that when I'm "in", I'm in all the way - so its hard for me to just jump from one ministry to another. So far I've found the time off to be quite refreshing - grabbing a coffee and relaxing before corporate worship allows me to observe what's really happening within our body. It also gives me time to reflect on where God would have me use the talents and abilities he gifted me with next. I have some ideas but am still uncertain where he'd have me move.

While most of the people around me see my decision as a good course of action, there are some that have kindly expressed concern that I'll remain unplugged indefinitely. One conversation today started my mind percolating, as the speaker commented about those that had become involved with the Emerging Church movement (yes, I count myself as one of those) tend to leave a ministry/the church and never put down roots with another body of believers.

I can confidently state that this will not be the case with me. And while The Matrix has been overused by my generation as a way to express themselves, a conversation between Neo and Trinity near the beginning may help clarify my stance.

Trinity: Please, Neo. You have to trust me.
Neo: Why?
Triniity: Because you have been down there, Neo. You know that road. You know exactly where it ends. And I know that's not where you want to be.

I know the road of disconnection. I walked it for five years. I know where it ends: misery, despair, hopelessness, loneliness. It holds the illusion of freedom but in reality is laced with chains and traps that bind. I'll never forget what it felt to walk that road - which is why I can be so confident when I say that it will not happen again.

Nothing can compare to the completeness I feel when connected with God's people. I love the imperfectness of it, as we all strive to learn what it means to live like Christ. I love that progress is expected - just like you expect from any child as they learn and develop.

Prayer is a powerful thing. So pray that I discover the path the Lord has before me - and that those who may have been led astray will return to the only path that leads to true joy.

Refreshing the Kitchen, part 2

The weather has turned colder, which means I've moved from outdoor to indoor projects. A rainy day in May led to the beginning of my kitchen refresher, and last week I happily finished the task of repainting my kitchen cabinets. Paint is a cheap, easy way to achieve a fresh look (much like hair dye, hmm...) - a gallon of paint is around $15 and the cabinet liner was $4/roll and I only needed 5. The most expensive part was my time - probably 30 hours all told.

I loved the modern look of black cabinets, but I'm really enjoying the white. My kitchen is pretty small, so anything that helps it seem larger is great. Painting the cabinets white allows the sunshine to reflect from the two windows - and that really helps when I'm struggling to wake up each morning! I painted the handles the same brown as the walls - having a bit of trouble finding the look I wanted so that was my quick fix.

Lower cabinets

I just love using Mason jars to store items - they are an easy way to organize and also see what I have left. Can you guess which items were canned fresh from the garden this summer?

Above the stove - currently holds random small appliances.

Dishes, baking supplies, spices and cook books (Joy of Cooking and Williams-Sonoma).

A remnant of cabinet liner gave Miss Sumatra a new mat as well.

Thanksgiving

I happily joined my brother Daniel, his wife Kim, and their son Barak for T-day at their home again this year - I knew that if it was anything like last year it would be memorable. Sure enough, Daniel had a crazy story to share . . . and while I won't share it here, suffice it to say it involved ashes, fire, and an almost call to emergency services. Ah, family - love it! Contributions included cornbread casserole, green bean casserole, beverages, hors de ouvres and likely other things I'm forgetting!

Mom and Dad kindly provided the turkey (quite moist and lovely), dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy. The dressing was a crockpot recipe via Southern Living which turned out quite well, and very much reminded me of what Mama Sue used to make - err, provide. When I arrived at Dan and Kim's Mom was playing Wii bowling with Barak - who was gleefully provided Gramma with advice.

It was great to see Gran and my aunt Lorie from Far Far Away (Overland Park). Gran is doing well and had a great time playing Mexican Train with myself, Kim, and Barak after dinner. It was wonderful to catch up with Lorie and chat about how our pups are doing. I was impressed that she'd taken her pup out for a walk this morning - way too cold for me!

My contributions to the meal were rolls, blackberry cobbler and pumpkin pie. I'm not a pastry maker (yet), so pies were my option to help push my culinary boundaries. I definitely made a few mistakes with the blackberry cobbler. Looks lovely in the pan but pretty impossible to dish out - should have drained the berries (why in the world didn't I think of that?). Next time I might do a vanilla wafer crust - that would likely give it a bit more stability.

Pumpkin pie, I must confess, has never been high on my dessert choices. There's just something about the texture that doesn't sit well with me. Yet I knew it had been asked for specifically so I had to do my best. Turning to foodnetwork.com I found Alton Brown's recipe - if anyone can change my mind it's him! I'm happy to report that I ate an entire piece - and gladly brought the leftover home. I'll never fear it again.

One final pic - my aunt and I both worked hard on the weight thing this year, and I'm so proud of both of us! What a great feeling to look back and see so many positive changes after a crazy start to this year. There is so much to be thankful for, and I was glad to share this day with my family.

Quick Quiche

Brunches are lovely, so when my mornings are a bit more laid back I love to try out new recipes. I chose to make pies for Thanksgiving dinner this year - opting to purchase pie crusts since I've yet to conquer pastry making. Since I only needed one - this was the perfect chance to try a quiche! It also helped that I came across an amazing sale and picked up a great quiche pan for less than $3.00.

I was familiar with the basic ingredients for quiche, but just to ensure I used correct proportions I did a few recipe checks. Eggs, half and half (you can swap for milk, but as this is a splurge sort of dish I stick with the richness of half and half), veg, cheese, perhaps a meat (ham or bacon usually) all whipped together and poured into an unbaked shell. Forty-five minutes later I was enjoying this loveliness!

I used spinach, onions and Swiss cheese - it turned out so great I'm sure this dish will enter regular rotation. Next time I'll caramelize the onions first though, to add a bit more flavor. I'm also thinking that a Greek version would be amazing - think Feta cheese, red onions, green and red peppers ... mmm. A bit of fruit on the side and this makes a refreshing breakfast and a great treat for a cool fall morning.

Review: Towers of Midnight

If you're a Wheel of Time fan and haven't read Towers of Midnight yet - well, go no further until you have. Definite spoiler alert as I discuss the highs and lows of the 13th book in arguably the BEST fantasy series of my generation.

For those that don't know, Robert Jordan began the series in the 1990s - and knew how it would end from the get go. Originally envisioned as a trilogy, the series presents an immense world filled with politics, religion, culture clashes, the One Power, and of course, male/female misunderstandings (which are simply hysterical). Jordan died before completing the series, and Brandon Sanderson was tapped to complete it. This is the second of three novels Sanderson writes, using the extensive notes Jordan left behind.

In all the ways that matter, this is a much better work by Sanderson than the previous (The Gathering Storm). While there were sections in which Sanderson's voice was obvious, for the most part it felt like text Jordan had written. It was great to see Mat acting more like the rouge I've come to love - he wants nothing more than to be considered normal, and he's anything but. Perrin has been my favorite character since The Shadow Rising, and I found myself staying up late many nights to find out what would happen. His storyline had felt quite scattered - and it was quite satisfying for the Berelain and Morgause stories to be resolved. Galad, a character that was introduced early but received very little face time, played a key role and is one of the few that has been consistently portrayed through the novels. And thank goodness we finally made it to the Towers of Ghenjei - a spectacular section (that came at the end of the 861 page book - I was seriously worried the cover art was a big tease).

Yet there were flaws - the most notable were proofreading errors in the copy (dear Tor, I'd be happy to take on that task with the final novel). Egwene seemed to have completely changed personalities between TGS and TOM. If Elayne complained one more time about drinking goat's milk...Aviendha showed up 2/3 of the way through - and she got little text in the previous book. I can only hope the next novel features her more (it must - she learned some key things in Rhuidean). The title itself - we saw the towers in the opening and that was it - what the heck? I assumed we'd learn more about Seanchen, but that was a total bust.

All in all, a great novel and a perfect buildup to the 13th and final book in this epic series (due out this time next year). I've read each so many times I've lost count, and the audio books are in regular rotation. This series is one that I've spent nearly 20 years reading - and it covers a 2 year time span for the characters. Highly recommended - start them now, you won't regret it!

An Art-full Weekend

It was a week filled with major (hard drive failure) and minor (what, no coffee beans in the house?!?) disasters - that ended on a high note. As I sat home Friday evening, trying to decide which of the downloadable classic Zelda games I'd purchase next, I received a timely IM from my dear friend Emily. Symphony tickets you say? Yes! I'd love to get dressed up and head out for a night on the town. And when I discovered that she'd never been before, well, that just made it all the more exciting.

I was lucky enough to receive quite a bit of arts exposure when I was young - school trips to the symphony, summer musicals at Starlight and Shawnee Mission Park, visits to the Nelson-Atkins Museum - and the realization that not everyone has that chance makes me a bit sad. It's difficult to express why the arts are so impactful - you just have to experience it. So go already!

Anyway. I was excited to find the Michael Stern would be conducting - I haven't had the chance to see him in action yet and his passion was awesome. He's a full body conductor, as much a part of the story telling process as the musicians. Each of the three pieces told an emotional story of romance - at times gentle and soothing but at others wild and dramatic. There's a need for both in life, right? Absolutely breathtaking and truly and evening to remember.

Saturday evening saw the debut of my darling niece, Miss Ella Grace, in a KCBT children's program. I was so thankful I could attend! She even had a solo near the beginning of the program, and gleefully sang to the joy of her happy parents and brother (and aunt of course). It's such an exciting thing that children in our church are exposed to arts opportunities, and I think she's one that will enjoy them for a lifetime. The fact that she gave me a bit of a shout out and wave from the stage, well, that's just a moment I wouldn't trade for anything.

A truly wonderful end to a rather stressful week - and the perfect way to kick-off some vacation time. Here's to a memorable Thanksgiving week!

House painting - week 4

Trim work! Amazing how such a small thing makes a big impact. I'm doing my best to put in some time after work this week, but daylights gone by 6:30. Planning to do the doors Saturday afternoon - the end is getting closer. Just fill work, trim, and step repair remain.

 

House Painting - week 3

Week 2 was caulking (ie. boring), but week 3 was full of excitement! The day started at 8am (made possible by coffee and my mom's coffee cake recipe) with Jesse working on board replacements and then the color began. Josh and Scott dropped by and between the four of us we got a coat of yellow on all 4 sides and 2 sides received a second coat. I worked to fill in the gaps around doors/windows/spouts/cable lines, etc. Everyone agreed the color looks great - can't wait to see it with the trim and doors done, too. Anyway - on to the photos!

Damaged boards removed

New boards with primer

Miss Sumatra kept a close eye on our work

Rach, El, and Roone stopped by with lunch and to check things out.

Making the rounds

A work in progress

Learn to Rest

Resting is not something that comes naturally to me - whether it be physical or mental rest. This year has been one of growth for me on many levels, and discovering my learning process is just one of them. This weekend I realized once again how bad I am about hearing my body ask to rest.

I like to live a fairly organized life - not so much on a set schedule but with set tasks to accomplish in one day. Last Saturday's task was to caulk the windows and doors of my home as preparation to paint this coming weekend. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why I wasn't feeling motivated and was moving terribly slow. About 3pm I finished working and realized I had the dreaded flu. Spent the rest of the evening on the couch with Eureka Season 1 via Netflix Instant Streaming and cups of chicken broth and hot tea.

As I contemplated that rest this morning, I realized its what my body wanted all along. I tend to push and push to get things done, forgetting to relax and enjoy the results of projects along the way.

House Painting - week 1

So yeah, its been 3 months but I'd rather be outside during the summer months than indoors blogging. I've been gardening, canning, building, exploring, having all sorts of in the city adventures. No worries - I'll fill you in as the months progress. My fall interior projects lend themselves to photos/descriptions of my summer.

My big fall outdoor project this year: paint the house. There were some places around my front window that were clearly damaged, and the idea of waiting until spring to fix it just didn't sit well with me. Last weekend my amazing bro-in-law Jesse Bowman (@redbowman) and I scrapped the exterior and removed the damaged portions. Seeing the exposed wood was a heartstopping/slightly overwhelming moment for me, but Jess was quick to assure me it could have been much worse.

My fear of heights is pretty real (I've lost count of the number of times I've fallen on my back), so Jess scrapped the top and I scrapped the bottom. Miss Sumatra kept her eyes on us and did not approve of the loud noise in the home while we worked! Next up, patching holes and caulking window, then painting can begin. I love the colors I've chosen and can't wait to see how they turn out.

As part of this project I've also installed a new exterior light fixture - wiring it up myself! - and a new mailbox. I have a few other ideas for 'accessories', but those will depend upon my project budget. I'm still on track to be debt free (except the house) come spring, and I can't wait for that day!

Garden Update

Here's my lovely garden in the steamy July weather! I had to give you a wide shot first because I just love the way its laid out. All the time I spent planning and sketching over the winter was really worth it. This fall I'll going to build a couple smaller beds for greens to go under the arches, and I'm planning to plant mums in the corners. That marigolds are doing their job (keeping bunnies at bay!) and a splash of color out there while the leaves are changing will be just lovely.

My tomato plants are massive! Last year they weren't all that successful, so I purchased the smaller tomato stands - ha! Next year those will be used for the pepper patch - those plants were struggling but are finally going. Next year they'll be in a more shady patch and I think I'll have better luck. I love the smell of tomato plants - reminds me of summer in my childhood. Dad had a huge garden in our backyard and the second row was pure tomatoes. There is nothing like the taste of a warm tomato you dust off and eat while examining the bounty. I seriously feel sorry for non-tomato eaters. The Mortgage Lifters and Brandywines are turning and they are HUGE! Can't wait to make fresh salsas and sauces using all garden grown ingredients (basil, garlic, oregano, lovely!)

The cucumbers are really taking off, and I just love the way they vine around the arches. Its almost a game for me to examine the plants in the morning, over lunch, and in the evenings. The tendrils grow that quickly, seeking new places to latch onto the trellis and are all over the place! I spotted the first cuke yesterday and got so excited I think I scared Miss Sumatra a bit. I have tons of blossoms and I'm really hopeful that I'll get lots of dill pickles made this fall - I'm on my last jar from last season!

And finally - here's the zucchini plants. They are loving this weather and are starting to spread outside their box. Just such an event is exactly why I planned pathways in my garden. They are spreading backwards to the rather sad pepper patch, so its not too worrisome as yet. This is another vegetable for which I have found memories. Mom made so much zucchini bread and muffins its amazing I still love it - but I do. It's also great pan seared with a bit of olive oil and lemon juice. Serve over rice for a hearty, healthy meal or snack.