In the Garden ~ Cucumber Overload

     

        If there is one vegetable that grows in abundance during the late Spring early Summer, it has to be the cucumber. Not only do they grow in abundance but they also like to hide in their own vines and can get out of hand if you are not checking on them regularly.  With the many cucumbers that end up on kitchen counters around the world, people might become stymied by what to create with this summer veg that is beyond slicing and dicing. 

A classic of all cucumber lovers is cold cucumber soup.  While many people do not enjoy cold soup, since that is not what we have been programmed to think of as soup, it is cool, refreshing and flavorful, a great complement to any dinner during the summer and an easy way to consume a few cucumbers. Our favorite recipe has yogurt and dill that helps to add a measure of summer flavors with all the freshness of the cucumbers.

Cucumber Soup

1 cup cucumber, deseeded

½ cup water

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp Dijon Mustard

2 TBSP fresh dill

2 TBSP fresh parsley

1 tsp salted herbs

Blend everything together and let chill for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator.  Serve in chilled dishes for effect and top with fresh slices of cucumber as well as additional herbs.

Another classic that leads towards fresh and tangy cucumber goodness that we featured in our Asian themed dinner last year was a Cucumber Sesame Salad. You could make this for a group or just for yourself to “spice up” your cucumber dish and use up some of your delicious grown veggie. 

Cucumber Sesame Salad

2 cucumbers peeled and sliced thin

2 TBSP rice vinegar

1 TBSP sesame oil

1 TBSP sugar or honey

2 tsp soy sauce

½ tsp Salt

1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Crushed red pepper flakes

Peel and slice your cucumbers and set them on a paper towel to remove some of the moisture.  In a medium bowl whisk together the remaining ingredients.  Add the cucumbers and stir to coat.  Taste and see if you need to add more flavor.  Then chill for up to 4 hours ahead of serving or even a whole day.  

We have often used cucumbers in multiple cocktails over the years.  An Elderflower Basil Martini, in which the cucumbers, combined with the basil, really showed off the color green.  Another great classic, especially  in March is an Irish Maid, be sure to find a bartender that knows what they're doing when you order this one.  Last but not least a full summer classic, Cucumber Watermelon Gin and Tonic.  This drink brings together two great summer flavors and puts them together in one glass.  A delicious and refreshing combination for sure. Plus, it looks amazing in the glass. 

Cucumber Watermelon Gin and Tonic 

8 cups cubed seedless watermelon

4 ounces fresh lime juice

1 cup gin

1 cup thinly sliced cucumber

1 TBSP agave

½ cup mint

1 cup tonic water

Cut up your watermelon and place it in a blender.  Blend until smooth and there are no more chunks.  Strain the watermelon through a sieve into a pitcher. Add in gin, lime juice, agave and mint.  Stir to combine.  Serve over ice, and garnish with a cucumber and mint. Top it off with tonic water. 

There are many creative ways to add cucumber into your diet everyday, when you have it growing in abundance.  Let us know your favorite way to eat and serve this summer staple. Until then happy gardening and we hope you are enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Travel East Texas ~ FIFA Fan Fest

     

    Unless you have been living under a rock or have been out of the country for a few months, you know that the FIFA World Cup has made it’s home in the United States, Mexico and Canada.  All three nations have played host to multiple games during this contest.   Dallas, Texas is a host city for games, teams and FanFest during the games.  We decided to take a trip to FanFest to explore the area and experience a game with thousands of our closest friends.

The great thing about FanFest is that it’s free to enter.  Parking, food, drinks and souvenirs are all paid for items, but there is so much to do and see that you won’t want to miss this fan experience.  There are pick up games of soccer for all the kids in your group, including the big ones, as well as challenges, where you can try your keeper skills, juggling and so much more.  The “play” area of FanFest is a stop everyone needs to make when planning your visit.

Besides the games, the hot ticket item at FanFest has been the Bank of America custom bracelets.  The line started out very long, for these items, and they have since changed the policy to be by reservation only.  If you plan to pick up one of these one of a kind items, be sure to make your reservation. As far as I know they are still free to those with reservations, but I’m not sure, since I was unaware of the change until we arrived.  

  Many of the World Cup sponsors have booths set up around FanFest for guests to explore their offerings and learn more about the products or services they sell.  One cool item sponsored by Dove was the free sunscreen.  Do not bother bringing any with you, you can’t take in aerosol cans anyway, but use the sunscreen kiosk to apply and go about your visit.

What great event for thousands of fans would be complete without some food vendors.  There is a good variety of food available for all the people in your party, just remember that you are at Fair Park and they are going to charge Fair Park prices.  Although, my husband ordered an oxtail pasta, and he said it was completely worth the price.  From wings, to pizza and veggie pot stickers, everyone should be able to find some delicious eats. You are able to reenter the festival up to two times, if you decide you want to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the parking lot. 

Be sure to plan your visit and check out all the information before going to FanFest.  You can only bring in certain items, no digital camera with a removable lens, weapons and umbrellas.  Be sure your bag is the correct size and clear.  You will want to carry reusable plastic water bottles to refill at the many refill stations around the park.  

Now this might not seem like a big deal but they had pretty cool port-a-potty toilets.  They were vacuum suction waste removal units, which means not having to enter a toilet that really needs to be cleaned, like normal port-a-potties.  Not something everyone gets excited about I know but it’s still good information to have, since the regular flush toilets are few.  

The best part about FanFest is watching the game with thousands of fans cheering the teams on to win.  There were fans from all over the world in attendance at the game we watched.  Not just US jerseys but Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Argentina, and so many more. Everyone is there to watch the game, cheer on the team when they score and enjoy the atmosphere where the goal is the same for everyone.  

You can purchase tickets to FanFest but those are going to be for seats under the pavilion or for concerts. If you purchase those tickets you get a wrist band to help separate you from the crowd.  There are advantages to both free and paid for tickets, you just have to decide what you want to do.  The concerts fall on match days that you can attend, be sure to check the schedule.   There are still multiple days left of FanFest. Be sure to pick a day and go explore this event that FIFA and Dallas have put together for all the soccer or futbol fans out there. 

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Watermelon Basil Lemonade

 

    What could exemplify summer more than watermelon?  Add it to your drink menu and bam, you have summer

in a glass.  What could make the watermelon even better than adding in some lemonade to give your drink a little

bit of tart to match the sweet?  With the addition of basil this drink is simple to make and delicious to enjoy.

Basil is by far one of my favorite summer herbs and there are so many flavors to choose from.  We typically

grow three different varieties, traditional basil, purple basil and lemon basil.  For this drink we are going to use

both traditional and purple basil to make the simple syrup.  Give the basil a rough chop before making the syrup

to help release the flavors even more into your syrup.  

Watermelon Basil Lemonade

¼ cup basil simple syrup

3 large lemons, just the inside flesh

4 cups watermelon cubed

1 cup water

Basil to garnish 

To make the basil simple syrup take one cup of water and add in one cup of sugar with another cup of chopped

basil leaves. You should have just about one cup of liquid left after cooking. Store any extra in an airtight

container in the fridge.  Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.  Then remove it from the heat.   Once cooled, strain

the basil leaves out and transfer to an airtight container. Peel the lemons and cut into smaller pieces.  Cube up 4

cups of watermelon.  Combine the ingredients In the blender, along with 1 cup of water.  Blend everything

together for 2 minutes.  Strain through a fine mesh to create a smooth drink.  Store in the refrigerator, and stir

before serving. Garnish with lemon and basil.

As you can see in this recipe this month we do not have any alcohol.  The water can easily be replaced by

gin or vodka to give your drink a punch.  This is the perfect mixer for any 4th of July party, to enjoy by the pool,

or gathered around the night sky to watch fireworks with friends and family.  Keep it a mocktail, for everyone to

enjoy, or go out on a limb and make two batches, since we know those melons are pretty big, and make an over

21 batch along with your mocktail.

If you want your drink to be a little sweeter, feel free to add in more simple syrup to your desired sweetness

level.  Over here we prefer our drinks to be more on the tart side so ¼ cup works just great.  Plus I like for the

flavor and sweetness of the melon to speak out in the drink as well.  Mix it up and try out different ways to make

this drink your new favorite. 

We hope you enjoyed this mocktail, summer recipe, or as a cocktail.  Let us know if you decide to make

one for your event or just because.  This will keep in your fridge for about 3-5 days, depending on the container. 

Please remember to drink responsibly and always have a designated driver. Cheers!

In the Garden ~ Gardening in the Texas Heat

Summer is rapidly approaching and you want to make a garden that your neighbors will be envious of and that is low maintenance.  Which can mean many different things in Texas but the main one is going to be something that can survive the Texas heat!  We all know how hot it can get in Texas, with very little to no rain, during those late summer months.  Here are our top five suggestions to keep your garden in color, and not break the bank on watering.

One of our favorite plants is Lantana.  We happen to have five planted right in front of the breakfast room window, which is perfect for early morning bird watching during the season.  Hummingbirds, butterflies and all sorts of pollinators love this bunch of flowers, and can be seen gathering pollen from the plants, once flowers start to bloom until the first freeze.  Our secret, we do not water these beauties at all.  They keep growing and supplying lovely color, from April until about December, when we cut them back to rest until next year.  Nature keeps our lantana in water when it rains, and they seem to be thriving.

Second on our list is Salvia.  We typically have the blue variety planted in our garden and this year we added a red and dark purple.  This native plant thrives in the Texas heat and can grow to be fairly substantial if given the space to spread it’s foliage.  The beautiful blooms give color the whole season, and come back year after year.  Of course it attracts pollinators of all kinds.  The bees really love the flowers and return every year.

Third, is the Red Yucca.  While we just added our first one to our garden this year. This popular plant can be seen along road sides, in multiple businesses around town and even along the freeway in larger cities.  Native to West Texas, the Red Yucca thrives in rocky soil and tends to be a little drier.   If you are trying to get away from having a yard full of grass and want to add a little xeriscaping, this should be your top pick.

Fourth, is Texas Sage.  The silvery foliage gives color and interest all year round and has a profusion of purple blooms during the rainy season.  Be sure to have enough space for this beauty to spread out, it can grow up to 6 feet if that is your desire.  A great benefit besides being good for those hot Texas summer days, if you have deer, this plant is deer resistant.  Add them along the edge of your beds to form a wall of sorts to protect your garden while adding interest and color throughout the year.

Fifth but definitely not the end, Rudbeckia, loves the sun and Texas heat.  You can find these flowers blooming in hay fields, along roadsides, and in many gardens.  The seeds spread with the wind, so if you only want them in certain locations be sure to move them early before blooming.  If you like a little chaos in your garden then let the seeds fall where they may and see just how far mother nature's hand will go.   These lovely yellow flowers add great color to any garden and of course the pollinators love them.  Be sure to add some to your garden for added color and interest.

While these are some of our favorite plants and flowers to have on hand to combat the Texas heat, there are many more you can find that you might enjoy more.  After all your garden is what you make of it and can be as full or as sporadic as  you like.  We prefer to have our’s be a little chaotic and colorful, with the least amount of maintenance possible.  Stop by anytime to explore our garden or ask questions to discover how easy it is to grow heat and sun tolerant plants. 

Around Town ~ KJ's Boutique

     

    Just over a year ago, KJ's Boutique opened its doors at 214 Main Street, bringing children's fashion to downtown. The sister store to Marlene's Sass and Class, KJ's was named after owner Marlene's first granddaughter's nickname — a sweet tribute that turned into a thriving business. Shoppers can visit in person Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or browse anytime at www.shopkjsboutique.com.

The idea for KJ's took root years earlier. Shortly after Marlene's opened more than eight years ago, customers kept asking for children's and tween clothing. When Marlene's first grandbaby was on the way, and the building next door happened to come available, KJ's Boutique was born. Today the store carries girls' sizes from newborn through tween (14/16) and boys' sizes from newborn through 7/8, with newborn items quickly becoming customer favorites.

Clothing is only part of the story. KJ's also stocks toys and squishies, including Discovery Toys; a popular educational brand you won't find in big department stores. Whether you're looking for a thoughtful gift or a cute new outfit, it's an easy stop for the kids in your life.

Marlene has also made sure shopping with little ones in tow is easy. A dedicated play area with books, toys, and movies keeps kids entertained while parents browse. That attention to experience extends to the staff, personal shoppers are on hand to help customers find just the right piece for any occasion.

Many of the items at KJ's are one-of-a-kind finds you won't see at corporate retailers, including matching outfit sets for moms and their kids that are especially popular for holidays and family photos, and tend to sell out fast, so it pays to shop early.

KJ's also hosts a regular lineup of community events, many of them free. Storytime with Kate is a favorite, along with craft and painting projects for tweens led by Babrae McFarlin (a small fee covers supplies). Seasonal events have included Valentine's bath bomb making, egg decorating, ornament decorating, and visits from the Easter Bunny and Santa. Follow KJ's on Facebook and Instagram for the full event schedule.

Kids who love the spotlight can stop by to "model" new outfits for the shop, while parents can head to the Hat Bar to personalize their own trucker hat.

As football season approaches, KJ's is the place to find cheer outfits, not just in Sulphur Springs colors, but for surrounding area schools too. Check back this fall for costumes and "make-believe" play outfits, and watch for holiday pajama sets arriving in September.

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Blueberry Basil Margarita

 

Summer is coming in hot this year! Pun intended! The weather has been erratic at best and those temps are creeping up quickly so that your outside time should be from 5 a. m. to 8 a. m. or late evening hours. If only that worked in the real world.  At least, we have the perfect cocktail to help cool you down, after working in the garden, or just for sipping on the back deck.  

What is a better way to cool down, than with some favorite summer flavors of blueberry and basil?  Toss in an extra mint leaf and you have a drink worth sipping, to cool you down, or to enjoy with friends.  The white tequila and fresh lime give it a great flavor while being refreshing and cooling over ice.

Blueberry Basil Margarita

1.5 ounce Tequila Blanco

½ ounce triple sec

¾ ounce fresh lime juice

½ ounce simple syrup

8-10 blueberries

3 fresh basil leaves

1 mint leaf

Salt and lime zest for the rim

Prep your glass by running the lime round the outside and partially down the side.  Roll in the salt and lime zest.  Muddle blueberries, mint and basil together, with the simple syrup.  Add in the tequila, triple sec, and lime.  Shake with ice until the shaker cup is cold.  Strain into your prepared glass over fresh ice.  Garnish with blueberries and basil.  

This simple drink is perfect to prepare for friends, for a dinner party or back yard barbeque.  Be sure to not over muddle the herbs, so they do not become bitter, just enough to release their flavor into the syrup and spread color into your glass from the berries.

We have three different types of basil and three different types of mint growing in our garden.  For this drink we use the standard green basil, you can find at your local grocer and any of the mint will work as well.  If you do not like mint, feel free to leave it out.  Make this drink your own with your favorite liquor and herbs.  

We think you will enjoy it no matter how you make it.  As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Cheers!

Travel ~ AI and planning

   

      For those of you who know, our two oldest children went about as far away from Texas, to college as they could possibly get and still be in the contiguous United States.  Our daughter was recruited to play soccer for an engineering school in Maine and loved it so much that she convinced her brother to attend the same school.  This summer both of our older kids are in the State of Texas for one reason or another.  Reach out if you want to hear the full story.  She wanted to have her car with her while in Texas, which means that I traveled to Maine to pick them up.

Our original trip was going to just be she and I, but  life happened and the boy came along as well.  To help us plan our road trip home, since it takes a few days and we were going to leisurely make our way back to Texas, I thought it would be entertaining to see how AI could plan our trip.  

If you have never used AI to plan a trip before, I highly recommend checking it out, and seeing what comes up.  Of course, do not take AI as gospel, verify the information and make sure it actually fits what it says and what you are looking for.  When you ask your AI of choice your question, be as specific as you can.  Give it lots of parameters to consider, and off it will go, scouring the internet way faster than you and Google could ever do in the past.  

I will say when we used this tool, I tried multiple different AI options to plan our travel.  Claude, Copilot, Chat GPT, and Gemini to name a few.  Each one gave me different information, and a different route to take based on how I asked it to go.  We usually like to leave out Tennessee, but since she wanted to visit her cousin, we ended up driving across the entire state.  But in our original query we had a route that would divert us away from Tennessee for the most part due to time constraints.

The best thing I liked about using AI was the data it pulled for places to stay.  I’m sure it won’t surprise anyone that we selected to stay at Bed and Breakfast locations along our route.  For each stop we requested, it pulled at least three options to select from.  After verifying the distance from point A to point B we made our choice and hoped it was going to be great.  

When I stay at a bed and breakfast I want to have the full experience, similar to what we give our guests.  A full breakfast, a beautifully appointed room, and that at home feeling, when you travel to help keep guests comfortable and willing to return.  I made sure to request locations that offered breakfast, with their stay.  I will say that a few of the choices AI gave us did not have a breakfast option or they charged extra for the breakfast meal.  I don’t know about you, but I like to see that cost included in my stay not an additional add on.  For whatever reason, I feel that breakfast is integral to a person’s stay at a bed and breakfast.  At The Oaks Bed and Breakfast, breakfast is always included in the price of your stay.

Needless to say, that is not always the case when using AI to help plan your travel.  I strongly recommend always checking the results of your AI query, and call to verify details before booking.  The other obstacle we ran into was the distance, that AI thought we were traveling.  The first day, we wanted to drive for about 3 hours.  In the first set of options, AI had us traveling only about 1.5 hours.  With better questions and a little more searching we finally landed in the correct location, and for a 30 hour drive, those first 3 hours made the difference when driving back to Texas. 

The moral of the story is that if you are using AI to plan your travel, yes absolutely do so, but be sure to check your results.  Call and ask questions of the establishments where you plan to stay, unless of course you are going with corporate lodging, they will always be the same.  If that is how you want to travel, go for it.  For those of you who want to experience travel, then staying at a boutique inn or bed and breakfast is the better way to go.  Check the mileage on a map before booking to make sure you are getting the most out of your travel days that you need or want to make.  

Most important is to enjoy the experience.  Hit the road with an end in mind or just hit the road to see what you can see.  AI can be most helpful right now with gas prices so high to help you plan travel around a single tank of gas.  Explore your “backyard” to discover something new, and experience your State, close by.  You never know what new adventure awaits.