Things are looking up..and greener~

Finally!
Porch is opened..Anemones ..fairies..leaves are starting to break through their buds..

                                                                         

And the cooking changes a bit..from warm dishes to fresher more colorful platings..

I made a terrific appetizer recipe but we ate it as lunch:)

I found it on Lexibules' blog..a charming delicately soft and inspiring blog~

It's a mediterranean hummus..
The recipe for the hummus etc is in French so I am taking the liberty of translating it~

La Recette~

1/3 cup evoo
1 red  deseeded pepper ,slivered..(I used a roasted red pepper from our 2013 reserve)
2 garlic cloves,halved
1 can drained and rinsed chickpeas
2tbsps tahini
juice of one lemon

(Lexibule adds a few dashes of Tabasco)

Salt and pepper

Topping

1/4 cup kalamata olives ..pitted and roughly chopped
1/4 cup crumbled feta
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1 tomato..deseeded and chopped
1/4 cup good quality evoo

For the hummus.. heat 1 tbsp of  oil and sauté the garlic and pepper for a few minutes.
In a food processor combine with the rest of the ingredients and the rest of the oil.. and pulse until creamy and combined.
Place in a serving dish.
Mix the topping ingredients except the oil..put on top of the hummus and drizzle the oil on top.

She served it with her lovely pita crisps..
But I had Naan bread and I LOVE it warmed in the oven after being sprayed with a mist of water..
so soft..so melt-in-your-mouth.
This is a lovely app for summer and the deck!
I also made this..
and I am addicted to both now..

This was found on Pinterest which led to here..

WOW is all I can say.:)

Visit here..for gorgeous photos..

and to find the recipe for  the above salad..

Spring pasta asparagus bacon and feta salad~

I had just made a light Caesary..Ranchy dressing so used that..to me it was all the ingredients that called my name after my first 3 straight hours in the garden..mulching..attending to the fairies..etc..

Whoever said gardening is not an exercise..

well they must mean watering two windowsill plants.

When it comes to hauling mulch..transplanting..edging..

I beg to differ.

Anyways..both..I could just munch on and munch on..

Unfortunately ..something's munching on my tulip buds..and leaving me with leaves.. even munching my Iris leaves..

What's up Doc?

I wait all winter for you:(

They don't care for Allium..thank goodness..

so some green is remaining..

My first blooms with the daffodils..( and what happened to 80% of the blooms?).. Pulmonaria..I love their spotted leaves..and blue blossoms that start off pink...the anemones..soon the forget me nots..
It's all about bright life now..technicolor!
The lemon geranium comes in  and thrives..it is in Lexibules Hummus recipe..I added it..
This is a carefree plant given enough light inside and grows..HUGE..Loves water.
Now out it will go..as soon as night frost is done.

I have some chickpea shoots indoors and sunflower seeds and dahlia tubers..Fingers crossed~
Finally..Happy Spring!