The secret garden, part deux

Inspired by nature and unexpectedly left to my own devices, I recently made two recipes: vanilla cupcakes (care of Martha Stewart) and lobster risotto (care of IGA the SAQ).

I say inspired by nature because it seems as though the colours I recently captured in nature inspired me to make similarly-hued culinary delights.

Let me show you what I mean.

We had these beautiful pink buds, almost like cherry blossoms, adorn two trees in the backyard for about two weeks and I was so awed by their beauty (especially set against the bright blue sky and shining sun) that I had to Instagram them.

Subconsciously, I think the colours were painting a picture in my head because not long after I snapped these shots I looked up a long-forgotten Martha Stewart recipe for cupcakes and made them. 

This is how that looked.

In addition to being pretty to look at and easy to make they were also very tasty and I'd like to hone my cupcake-making skills to the point where I could attempt something like a red velvet or London fog.
Mmm. 

But on to the lobster risotto. Like cupcakes, I had never made risotto before. Every time I go to IGA and it's available I pick up Inspired, their free magazine, and usually get inspired by at least one recipe. It started with my new favourite appetizer - olive, basil, clementine and prosciutto (in that order) brochettes - and was quickly followed by another; bacon-topped pea and mint crostinis.

But hold on a sec.

In doing a little on the spot research, also known as rummaging through my recipes while I think about the next thing to write, I noticed that the lobster risotto recipe actually came from Cellier, the free SAQ magazine.

Hmm. I'm detecting another trend here.

I think what inspired me to make the risotto in the first place (other than the fact that I had leftover lobster... poor me!) was another picture I had recently taken of an almost phosphorescent, fern-like (???) plant in the garden.    

The recipe didn't call for them but I added peas and was left with a delicious, nutritious lobster risotto.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!









  

Saturday six

Yesterday kind of got away from me and to make up for missing the Friday five (two weeks in a row.... sigh), I thought I'd pen the equally list-oriented and cleverly named Saturday six (which, if you look at it, can actually be seen as a bonus, or plus one).

As a member of the David Suzuki Foundation, I regularly get updates from the organization that works to "protect the diversity of nature and our quality of life, now and for the future." This month, I received an e-mail about the 30x30 Nature Challenge which encourages (or rather, challenges) Canadian to spend 30 minutes in nature each day for 30 days starting May 1st.

According to the DSF, the health benefits of spending more time outdoors in nature include reduced anxiety and depression, decreased stress, increased energy and increased immunity, among others. 

It even makes you happier and nicer, says Suzuki.

I had the opportunity of testing this theory out for myself this week as I spent an average of three hours a day outdoors gardening.

You heard me: the citycountry bumpkin has developed a green thumb. And feels happier. (As to whether or not I'm nicer, I assume that's up for discussion.)

While three hours is decidedly more than thirty minutes I can't tell you how different I felt after having my hands in the ground.

The first day was a little hit and miss, logistically, as I had not yet differentiated the perennials from the weeds, but after a while I came to recognize the various plants and flowers growing around our house. Each morning was like Christmas as something new popped out of the ground, budded or better yet; flowered.

Hope you enjoy as much as I did.

 

And a few shots I captured at the end of the week, before stormy weathers hit.