One of my favorite childhood special breakfasts was corned beef hash with a poached egg on top. First the can of corned beef was opened at both ends, then the solid cylinder was pushed out of the can, sliced into perfect 3/4″ circles and fried on both sides. While the circles cooked, eggs were poached…
Flower buds of Oregon grape or Mahonia aquifolia
One of the stars in the Pacific Northwest garden in the month of March is Tall Oregon Grape, also known as Mahonia aquifolium. This super hardy evergreen will thrive almost anywhere you put it. It tolerates wet or dry soil, sun or shade, but prefers shade to semi-shade.
Tall Oregon grape can grow as high as 10 feet and can be used as a hedge. The thorny, stiff and leathery leaves will deter those dog and cat “visitors”. In a shady location it tends to be thinner and leggy so pruning is a must if you want a thicket. It could be used as an alternative to bamboo.
Oregon grape in bloom
The yellow flowers that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are followed by bitter blue fruit which will attract other birds. The leaves will turn a reddish color in the fall.
There is also a dwarf variety called Mahonia nervosa.
Sautéed Winter Greens with Spicy Italian Sausage and Farfalle Serves 4 This is the third recipe in the Delicious Winter Greens series Italian cooks have combined winter greens with sausage and pasta for generations; this recipe shows why. Vibrant colors (note the bright red pieces of beet stems), flavorful greens, spicy sausage and aged Parmesan…
