Today in our Winter Garden︱ Spring is in the Air #GardenCuizine

Today in Our Garden

South Jersey
USDA Zone 7a (formerly zone 6b)
February 24, 2014

What a winter it's been. We are so very happy to see the deep snow, slowly-but-surely, melting away. After taking a close look around today, it looks like Black and White kicks off the 2014 gardening season.  

We've had so much of the white stuff and are so ready to usher in some spring color, but ironically, some of the first blooms - Snow drops (Galanthus) - are white. Ours have buds and look just about ready to bloom. Contrasting, black pussywillows (Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys') are another of the first to bloom.

We plan on lots of spring cleanup this season. Thanks to the storms this winter, we have several large branches that broke off pine trees from heavy snow and ice. Yard and gardens always provide rewarding work. 

Gardening counts as physical activity! However, unless you're planning on moving serious mounds of dirt, going to the gym is still a good idea for weight bearing exercise.

As you can see, brown colors still dominate...memories of the harsh winter. Just keep reminding yourself that next month, just in time for National Nutrition Month, gardens will be warming up and full of vibrant color.

Rosemary showing winter damage

How did your yard and gardens fare this winter?

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Spring is in the air at the 

Philadelphia Flower Show March 1-9

ARTiculture

To Celebrate National Nutrition Month

March is also a good time to sow veggie seeds 

indoors under grow lights.

Photos and blog post Copyright (C)2014 Wind. All rights reserved.

5 minute @RothCheese Blue Cheese Dressing and @Chobani Dip #GardenCuizine #SuperbowlXLVIII

5 Minute 

Blue Cheese Dressing and Dip

Making your own blue cheese dressing and dip is quick and easy, plus homemade provides you with more calcium and much less sodium and fat than store-bought. So, forget about using mayo and sour cream - use Greek yogurt for a healthy version that tastes just as good.

Chicken wings with blue cheese dip are one of the most popular foods for Super Bowl Sunday. According to the National Chicken Council, Americans will eat over 1.25 billion wings today on game day. Fast food blue cheese dips can be 5½ x’s higher in calories, 12x’s higher in fat, and 70mg lower in calcium than homemade blue cheese dip.

First of all, avoid "fried" chicken wings; bake your own wings to avoid consuming excess calories. For example, KFC original recipe whole wing 47g = 145 calories per wing; 370mg sodium per wing, and total fat of 9g in just one chicken wing.
 
Rather than dip your veggies or baked wings in high fat, high calorie, blue cheese dressing - make your own low fat, more nutritious version in 5 minutes or less!

Serves 3-6 
Ingredients

1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles (we used Roth Buttermilk Blue - a Wisconsin blue cheese made from Holstein cow milk. Creamy and tangy with a sweet finish)
1 cup plain Greek yogurt (we used Chobani)
1/2 teaspoon reduced sodium Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup 1% milk

Putting it all together 
Combine yogurt and blue cheese crumbles in a bowl. Stir in Worcestershire and add milk to thin to desired consistency. Transfer to serving container. Recipe can be doubled as needed.

This recipe makes a flavorful salad dressing or party dip. We served this as our Super Bowl XLVIII dip for veggies and sweet potato chips.
GardenCuizine Homemade Blue cheese dip Nutrition Data: coming soon...
Pizza Hut blue cheese dip 1 serving: 42g: 220 calories; 24g fat; 440mg sodium; 20mg calcium (2%DV)
Blog post and photos Copyright (C)2014 Wind. All rights reserved.