THE VILLAGE VOICE

"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year." ~ Mark Twain GERBERA DAISY "When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment." ~ Georgia O'Keefe , New York Post (1946)

"In summer, the song sings itself. " ~William Carlos Williams Alpine Poppy ( Papaver alpinum ) _______________ PEPPERED ROAST BEEF SANDWICH with DILL HORSERADISH SAUCE ~ Travels well and always a hit ... adapted from The Totally Picnic Cookbook _____ 3 lb. tied roast beef 1 Tbsp. cracked freshly ground black pepper 1 Tbsp. coarse salt 1 tsp. garlic powder 1/4 tsp. mustard seeds 1/2 tsp. Hungarian paprika 2 Tbsp. butter good rolls Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Pat roast dry. Combine pepper, salt, garlic powder mustard seeds, and paprika . Press mixture over roast. Melt butter in roasting pan in hot oven. Add beef, rolling to coat evenly and return to oven. Roast 45 minutes for rare, up to 1 hour for well-done. Set aside to cool. Thinly slice. Serve on good rolls with Dill Horseradish Sauce (Combine 1/2 cup fresh grated horseradish, 1/2 sour cream, 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise, pinch coarse salt and 1 tsp. dill weed). Alpin...

"But thy eternal summer shall not fade." ~ William Shakespeare ~ Vibrant gerbera daisy _____________ COFFEE INFUSED GRILLED PORK TENDERLOIN ~ Lingering robust summer flavor ( adapted from Cooking Light) __________ 2 (1-lb. trimmed pork tenderloins 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee 2 Tbsp. cider vinegar 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp. brown sugar 1/4 cup finely ground coffee 2 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. Hungarian paprika 2 Tbsp. coarsely ground black pepper 1 tsp. coarse salt 1/4 favorite barbecue sauce 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar Combine coffee, vinegar, mustard and brown sugar in large zip-lock plastic bag; add pork and seal. Marinate in refrigerator 2-12 hours, turning occasionally . Remove pork from bag; discard liquid. Prepare grill. Combine ground coffee, sugar, paprika, cracked pepper & salt. Rub over pork. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Combine 1/4 cup barbecue sauce and 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar . Reserve 2 Tbsp. of barbecue sauce mixture; set aside. Place pork on grill...

"There is not a single colour hidden away in the chalice of a flower ... to which, by some subtle sympathy with the very soul of things, my nature does not answer." ~ Oscar Wilde ~ Garden Gerbera Daisy ______________ HONEY~SESAME GRILLED SHRIMP ~ adapted from razzledazzlerecipes .com ____ 2 1/4-1/2 lbs. peeled, deveined uncooked jumbo shrimp 1/4 cup sesame oil 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 1/4 cup soy sauce 3 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds 3 Tbsp. honey 2 cloves minced garlic 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh ginger 1-2 Tbsp. Mongolian Fire Oil (House of Tsang ) 6 chopped scallions Combine sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds, honey, garlic, ginger, fire oil, and 3 chopped scallions. Add shrimp and marinate several hours. Remove shrimp from marinade and thread on wooden skewers. Bring marinade to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until syrupy. Grill shrimp, 2 minutes per side, basting with marinade. Transfer to platter and sprinkle with remaining sesame seeds and scallions. ...

“One swallow does not make a spring, nor does one fine day." ~ Aristotle ~ Spring bouquet ( Gerbera daisy & tulips) _______ FRENCH BLUE CHEESE SPRING SOUP ~ A taste of spring in January (National Soup Month) __ 1 bunch carefully washed and chopped leeks (white part only) 1 chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped celery 1/4 cup unsalted butter 2 quarts organic chicken broth 6 cubed (well-scrubbed) cubed redskin potatoes 2 chopped carrots 1 bunch fresh trimmed asparagus, cut in 1-inch pieces with snapped tips reserved 1/3 cup Arborio rice 1/2 lb. fresh baby spinach leaves 1 cup half & half (or heavy cream) coarse salt & white pepper to taste 1/2 lb. crumbled mild blue cheese ( Bleu D'Auvergne ) Roquefort or a mild Stilton Melt butter in large stockpot. Saute leeks, onion and celery. Cook until vegetables are soft. Pour in chicken broth and bring to boil. Add potatoes, carrots, and rice. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Remove lid and add asparagus stems. Cover and cook another...

" Spring flowers are long since gone. Summer's bloom hangs limp on every terrace. The gardener's feet drag a bit on the dusty path and the hinge in his back is full of creaks." ~ Louise Seymour Jones ~ Sedum , heuchera , pink turtlehead , phlox, Japanese anenome ~ September garden ~ Hosta , coleus, Japanese astilbe ~ The herb garden ~ Gerbera daisy, black-eyed susan

~ Gerbera bouquet _______________________________ CREAM of OYSTER and SPINACH SOUP ~ a Lenten favorite adapted from The W illiamsburg Cookbook * 1 1/2 quarts oysters 2 lbs. frozen shopped spinach 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 cup coarsely chopped onion or leeks 2 ribs finely chopped celery 6 Tbsp. flour 1/2 tsp. garlic powder juice of 1 fresh lemon & zest coarse salt & freshly cracked pepper to taste 1 quart milk 1 quart light cream Cook oysters in 3 cups of water until firm; drain liquid and keep it hot. Puree oysters in food processor. Cook spinach ; drain well. Puree in food processor. Melt butter over medium heat. Add onions & celery, stirring until translucent. Push onions & celery to one side of pan. Sprinkle flour over butter to make a paste. Pour in hot oyster liquid and lemon juice; whisk smooth. Simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes. Strain. Return to heat and simmer. Add pureed oysters & spinach to simmering liquid. Season with garlic powder, salt & pepper....

FIRE UP THE GRILL! (Record breaking March temperature ~ 81-degrees) ___________________ ~ Gerbera daisy _______________ GRILLED TURKEY TENDERLOINS ~ good hot off the grill or sliced cold in a salad * 2 plump boneless and skinless turkey tenderloins 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 cloves minced garlic 1/4 cup soy sauce juice of 1 lemon plus lemon zest 1 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 tsp. thyme 1 tsp. rosemary freshly ground cracked pepper Combine all ingredients and pour over turkey tenderloins. Marinate at least 2 hours or longer. Preheat grill on high. Remove tenderloins and place on grill, reserving marinade. Lower heat to medium and grill about 10 minutes on each side or until done. Bring marinade to boil. Simmer 5 minutes and serve over turkey. ______________________________ SPRING TORTELLINI PESTO SALAD ~ delicious alone or with the above turkey tenderloin * 1 lb. trimmed fresh asparagus (snap off tough ends) 2 9-oz. packages refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini 1 cup basil pesto (homema...