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Tomatillo Salsa

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(Used in this project: Canning Labels and Small Circle Labels in Boxicle style.) Last year for Christmas, my daughter-in-law Ari and my son Kyle made this salsa for Christmas gifts. They loved both the making and giving of this wonderful recipe. Kyle says that Ari’s tomatillo salsa makes a meal. You can pour it on anything, he says, chicken, scrambled eggs, enchiladas, tacos, and it turns it into a fabulous dish. He says he can eat it every day. This, from a guy who doesn’t talk much, and … [Read more...]

Dehydrated Tomatoes

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After my husband and I decided to take up vegetable gardening on a regular basis, we knew we would need to get inventive with our harvest so nothing would go to waste, and so we could enjoy it throughout the year. Last year, aside from all of our usual pickles, jams, and baked goods, I used a food dehydrator for the very first time, and it was a huge success! I was able to dehydrate all sorts of things, like peppers, assorted fruits, and homegrown tomatoes, and it all turned out really … [Read more...]

DIY Garden Label Markers

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At this point in the season, with all the planting done and warm weather we’ve been having, my garden is getting pretty wild and woolly. While I’ve been able to start harvesting strawberries, herbs and greens for a few weeks now, I know my cottage garden like the back of my hand and can easily get in, dig up some dinner, and get out. My girlfriend, though, can be a little more clueless. Recently, while making dinner, I asked her to grab a few sprigs of santolina, a new herb I’ve just … [Read more...]

Fruit Infused Lemonade

By Guest Blogger, Bobby Pathammavong

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Summer is finally beginning to appear out here in the northwest and I am so excited for the fresh fruit that is ready for picking here at the My Own Labels garden. This year I plan on using the abundance of fruit to create a variety of fruit infused lemonade because as the heat begins to rise the best way to cool off is with a refreshing cold drink. I start with a basic lemonade recipe that I found on allrecipes.com Ingredients: • 1 3/4 cup sugar • 8 cups water • 1 1/2 freshed … [Read more...]

Fourth of July Caprese Kabobs

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When my home-grown tomatoes are ready to eat, one of the first things I love to make with them is Caprese salad. Vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh basil & mozzarella with a little olive oil and vinegar drizzled on top - a simple but delicious combination of flavors. It’s one of those summertime classics that’s super easy to make and perfect for picnics and parties. An even simpler way to serve Caprese is kabob-style. Skewering cherry or grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls and basil leaves … [Read more...]

Lavender Sachet

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I’ve always believed that the scent of a space sets the tone of the environment you are walking into. My favorite tone is set by the scent of fresh flowers, or some hint of earthy spices. I’ve been known to take plant leaves and rub them on my wrists as I walk through a garden- Rosemary, lemon balm, mint- there are so many! One of my favorites, since trying desperately to grow my own in Florida, is lavender (bountifully grown in temperate climates). I thought that as the weather warms up, … [Read more...]

DIY Spring Greeting Cards

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Spring is coming and I am pretty excited about it! I have lived in many different places and when people ask me if Portland is really that rainy, I joke that Portland has only two seasons: "Raining" and "Not Raining". And spring in Portland usually falls firmly in the "Raining" part of the year. So to mark the very happy occasion of new things, new gardens, new plants, new life and a new season in general I decided to make up a simple flower card to send with spring greetings to friends. I … [Read more...]

Quince Paste

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It’s magical here in the middle of Portland, Oregon. I am amazingly fortunate to live in the city while at the same time have a beautiful backyard to escape to. Every year I look forward to the ripening of the two quince trees that grow in my backyard. I, like others who are fortunate to possess this fruit tree, admire its flowers, pray for healthy fruit and feel guilty if we don’t harvest every last aromatic quince. Only a few make it to full ripening without blemish. Those I use for … [Read more...]

MOL Garden Update #3: Harvest

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Just thought I'd give you a quick update on the My Own Labels community garden. It's harvest time! So far, we've harvested a total of 156 pounds of produce! We harvested 174 pounds total in 2010 and we hope to beat that this year! Tomatoes, tomatillos, chilis, cucumber, and onion have all been gathered and brought home by our staff. Jeanne is almost ready to start making her famous tomatillo salsa (stay tuned for her recipe in the coming weeks). Helpful Links MOL Garden Update #1 MOL … [Read more...]

Garlic Bundles

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Bundles and braids of garlic are a pretty addition to a kitchen, either as part of a still-life on a counter, or hanging on a wall. Garlic is very easy to grow, even in the city, if you have a tiny piece of land or just a pot on a windowsill. Garlic evolved as a survivor. Its ancestors thrived where other plants failed. Proof of that is in its leaves - long and thin, good for getting plenty of sunlight on a broad dry plain where nothing else grows. Put them in the company of other plants, … [Read more...]