California Asparagus Bruschetta

in Recipes / by AndreCarthen

February 5, 2013

from our friends at the California Asparagus Commission

1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces

8 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated

6 ounces good country ham, or 4

ounces Prosciutto, finely chopped or

ground in food processor

1 10 oz French baguette, cut into 1/2-

inch slices, grilled or toasted

3 garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half

extra-virgin olive oil

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

Preheat broiler.

Bring a large sauté pan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the

asparagus and cook until tender crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer the asparagus

to a colander, refresh under cold running water to stop the cooking, and drain

well. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the cheese and ham; toss to mix. Set aside.

Using your fingers to hold the garlic, rub the clove against one side of the toasted

bread to flavor the entire surface. Drizzle or brush with a bit of the olive oil.

Arrange the blanched asparagus on the toasts, then divide the cheese and ham

topping evenly over the asparagus. Season with salt and pepper.

Place bruschetta on a baking sheet and broil just until the cheese melts and

begins to brown, about 1-2 minutes. Keep a careful watch so as not to burn.

Serve immediately.

Serves 12 (3 pieces per serving)

Nutrients per serving: calories 177, calories from fat 72, fat 8 gms, saturated

fat 4 gms, cholesterol 28 gms, sodium 404 mg, carbohydrates 16 gms, dietary fiber,1

gm, protein 12 gms.

“The recipe and image is provided to you through the courtesy of www.calasparagus.com”

The Design of a Potted Garden

in Living Green / by kiww

June 19, 2012

The Design of a Potted Garden

There is something beautiful about flowers and plants in pots. A contained garden cannot contain a gardener’s enthusiasm and it is easy to see why. Whether scattered about a terrace, hidden amidst a flower bed for a touch of whimsy or making a garden on a balcony or in a small garden space, everyone is potty about pots. For either a master gardener or a beginner planting in pots is a pleasantly pleasing horticultural task and a great addition to any garden space; and let’s not forget that bringing the outdoors indoors works like a charm when pots adorn your inside living space.

The first thing to decide on is how do you want to use pots in your gardening space? Do you want to pots to be the main focus or merely scattered about your yard? Do you want to make an area especially for your pots and make a feature of them? Are you bringing the pots inside to make a living indoor garden? Once you have answered these design questions you are ready to begin the task of making your potted garden grow.

Gardening centers, nurseries, craft stores and craft fairs are all excellent places to pick up a pot. Some styles of pot are almost as pretty as the flowers you plant in them and decorating pots can be a fun, family project that really adds a personal touch to a garden space and gets kids involved in the process.

Choosing plants and flowers for your potted garden can be daunting, but with a few guidelines you can make it an easier task. Choose a theme such as color or choose only leafy plants, a cluster of pots with a similar theme is visually pleasing. Make a potted garden with a southwestern feel and plant succulents or cacti for a hot, desert look. An edible garden can be as pretty as a picture and useful too; herbs are gorgeous, aromatic and can be used for cooking. Tomato plants do very well in pots and so do strawberries and raspberries for an extra sweet garden.

When planting your pots use a good potting soil and a fertilizer to enrich the soil, to help with drainage and moisture levels placing stones or pottery shards at the bottom of the pots will help your plants thrive; a great tip is to use your old, broken pots for drainage. Whether indoors or outdoors placing a cluster of pots in one area you will make a great impact; and a few pots on a windowsill can add charm and color to any living space.