Grilled Romaine, Asparagus & Onions, and BEES

My girlfriend Vivian has gotten me into this strange dish: Grilled Romaine. 

Sounds odd, I know. But really it's delish!

What to do: Start up the grill. Drizzle olive oil on both sides of a rinsed head of romaine (do your best). Don't chop so much off the end that the head comes apart. Then add salt and pepper. Throw it on the grill.

I'd say I grill it about 5 minutes each side on medium heat. Use tongs to flip over. 

Drizzle a little extra olive oil on top and EAT! Sounds strange, but it's yummy. Throw a few crumbles of feta or blue cheese on top if you like. Lots of freshly ground pepper.

Here are fried onions with braised asparagus fresh from my garden. Just fried up in a little olive oil, salt and pepper. 

My bees were going bonkers yesterday. Orientation flights in the afternoon. It was crazy over there!!

See the butt of the honey bee sticking out of this apple blossom?

Welcome Spring!

Spring has sprung! There is evidence and excitement all over our yard . . .

Rhubarb (now in it's 3rd spring) is showing itself . . . 

Swiss Chard, overwintered in cold frames are looking fabulous . . . 

Strawberries are coming to life and have been thinned and strawed . . . 

Hens (now almost one) are in the full swing of laying motion. Here is Pearl, our best layer.

The hens have been in trouble recently though for raking the nice straw in their nesting boxes, out with they big ole feet!! Silly hens.

This is probably Elizabeth, our medium sized Barred Rock. 

The Rocks were very keen on investigating this camera business . . . 

Garlic (4 varieties) planted in the fall is looking healthy! Can't wait!

Asparagus (3rd spring) is ready to start picking daily. A wonderful thing.

My honey bees are a-flyin' -- pictured here on a peach tree.

Both hives have made it through the winter.

One has symptoms of Nosema, so I've treated both hives with medicine. Both queens are laying, and there is fresh brood in both hives. We actually saw baby bees being born when we went in for the first time last week! 

One of my dwarf peach trees in bloom.

A plum-cot tree in bloom. (plum & apricot combined)

Banana Bread

cream below:

1 stick butter, room temp

1 C sugar

add in:

2 eggs

sift together then add to above mixture:

1 1/2 C flour

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

combine then add to above mixture:

1 C mashed ripe bananas

1/2 C sour cream or plain yogurt

1 t vanilla extract

stir in 1/2 C walnuts & 1/2 C chocolate chips (if desired)

Bake in one greased loaf pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling rack.

Delish!