Tag: BBQ spice rub

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Summer in a Jar

Strawberries mean the start of summer and watermelons mean the end. By Labor Day, watermelons are everywhere. One year, we tried to grow them without success. I haven’t wanted to give up prime garden space to try again but maybe someday.

Earlier this week, I bought three huge watermelons and got to work making this week’s offerings: watermelon lemonade jelly and cinnamon watermelon rind pickles. Wow! It was a lot of work — but worth it. After all, capturing summer in a jar is no easy feat! 😀

  • Gorgeous, summery red watermelon
  • Separating flesh from rind
  • Using food mill to puree
  • straining the puree for the jelly
  • Finally! All of the rinds are peeled!
  • Cinnamon, spice & everything nice
Is there anything more summery than a watermelon??

Even though making the watermelon recipes took two days (the rinds have to brine overnight), it was fun! And I was able to use the food mill that my mother-in-law gave me earlier this summer for my birthday. (When I first heard of food mills, I was skeptical. It reminded me of the old hand-crank beaters that everyone used to make whipped cream with. But, unlike a manual whipped cream beater, no one has come up with a way to improve what a food mill does, which is separate large seeds and pulp when pureeing. Food processors and electric blenders puree everything together, which is gross if you have bitter seeds or too much pulp.)

What else am I bringing tomorrow?

Classic BBQ Spice Rub: I’ve offered this before, back in June for Father’s Day. Use it to season rib racks, flank steaks, or anything else you want to grill.

How to use the jelly and pickles

Watermelon Lemonade Jelly: In addition to your morning toast, use this to flavor cakes, cupcakes, or other baked goods. Can also be used as a flavoring for vodka cocktails (which is how I used it after two days of chopping, peeling, hand-cranking, and processing!)

Watermelon Lemonade Cocktails

Put 2-3 tablespoons of Windtree Bee Watermelon Lemonade Jelly in a rocks glass. Heat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Watch it and remove it as soon as it turns to liquid. (Don’t overheat.) Fill the glass halfway with sparkling water. Add a shot of vodka (citrus flavors work well). Stir, add ice & enjoy!!

Cinnamon Watermelon Rind Pickles: these turned out fantastic! They are delicious paired with chicken salad or pork chops. They would also be perfect on a charcuterie board, especially if you are looking for something different and hard to find.

We’ll be at the Hereford Farm Market, 17004 York Road, in Parkton, Maryland, from 9:00 a.m. until noon tomorrow. Look for us at the “Hats & Honey” table beside The Contented Rooster.

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Bee, Honey & Flower Update

Healthy Hive

Three of our hives look really good. They’re so healthy that Craig’s added extra supers and is worried about them swarming. Look at them in this pic! They are practically bursting out of this thing. We’ll know more about the honey harvest in about a month.

My zinnias look horrible. I don’t even have the heart to share a picture. They are the opposite of the bees. Instead of thriving, they’re just… not. They’re not growing. They’re stunted. It’s not that we planted too late. It’s not the rabbit. It might be that I didn’t mix in the right soil amendments this year. But I think what really happened is I didn’t thin them when they first came up as seedlings. It’s a rookie mistake and one I’m regretting. Live and learn.

My beautiful “Brush Strokes” violas are doing well.
They look terrific and taste earthy. Sort of mild and spicy at the same time.
And the surprise flower success of the season — clover!
Both in our garden as ground cover for the walkways and in our yard.
We intentionally sprinkled clover seed in all our bare patches and it came up beautifully. The bees love it!

What am I bringing to the market tomorrow?

This week’s choices were inspired by Father’s Day. All savory, spicy offerings that pair well with grilled meat.

Honey Peach Chutney — With vinegar, ginger, mustard seeds, and crushed red pepper flakes, this has a tangy, spicy bite. Serve with pork chops, beer-can chicken, or goat cheese and toasted baguette slices.

Apple Onion Marmalade — this is actually an apple jelly flavored with onion. Spread it on a turkey & cheese sandwich or an everything bagel.

Dad’s BBQ Spice Rub — a classic barbeque rub with brown sugar, smoky & sweet paprika, and a half-dozen other grilling spices.

  • Honey Peach Chutney
  • Apple Onion Marmalade
    &
    Dad’s BBQ Spice Rub
SEE YOU AT THE MARKET!