The Kitchen Window

The Kitchen Window
Antique Milk Bottles with Herbs and Flowers

Welcome!

Welcome to the Frog Hollow Farm blog! I've been blogging since January 2010 and have switched from Blogger to Word Press, but I'm back to Blogger because, for me, it's easier to use. My husband and I live on a little farm in Northwest New Jersey. We have some chickens and a very large vegetable garden with asparagus and raspberries, and rows and rows of sunflowers, snapdragons and zinnias. Traveling, entertaining, gardening, spending time with family, studying Italian, blogging and reading keep us busy and happy. With all of this going on, moving towards a simpler life seems almost impossible but it's definitely a daily goal.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Tuesday at Frog Hollow Farm

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Tonight's Aperitivo at Frog Hollow Farm

This sweet simple sign is from a street in the little town of Bellagio in Lake Como, Italy.  The town is built into a hillside, so every street is comprised of steps that take one up tiny alleys full of wonderful shops and beautiful views of that lake.  I'd love to go back and take a car trip around the entire lake, just Frog Hollow Farm Boy and me, stopping at as many of the small towns that surround it as possible - drinking their local wine and experiencing all of the aperitivo experiences possible! 

As you probably know, I am infatuated with  Italian aperitivo and have adopted the custom (have tried to anyway) in my home as part of our daily evening meal.  This is easy for me now since I've retired recently and Frog Hollow Farm Boy can be home as early as 5:00 some days.  Though most days we have our aperitivo here at Frog Hollow Farm earlier than they do in Italy - they usually start around 6:30 or so, it's flexible, like everything in that wonderful country! 

On the Menu for today:

Gnocchi di Carote
Roasted Red Peppers
Roasted Golden Beets

The gnocchi is from my Pasta Fresca cookbook by Vianna La Place- I've referred to this book several times in other posts.  Gnocchi that Americans are familiar with is usually made with just potatoes, this recipe also incorporates steamed carrots into the mix, and since I have one of those REALLY BIG bags of organic carrots in the fridge, that's what I'm making tonight. 

The roasted red pepper recipe is a favorite one from Rao's Cookbook by Frank Pelligrino. Rao's is one of those very established restaurants in the city, Harlem to be exact, where people have the same table reserved for them on one or more nights a week - from what I've been told it's impossible to get into this restaurant unless you're invited by someone who already has one of those established reservations - I don't know anyone, do you - because I'd love to have a meal there one day!  Rao's also has the absolutely best Lemon Chicken recipe I've ever had - take a look if you have a moment.


My roasted beets are just a recipe that I have made many times.  Frog Hollow Farm Boy has a fantastic vegetable garden every year, and for some reason he is a master at growing beets, all colors of beets.  Last year we had the most beautiful golden yellow beets, the traditional red beets and a pretty red and white swirl beet.  They all taste like beets, but look so pretty when I put them into old, glass mason jars with a vinegar mix.
Some of you have noticed that I cook with mostly vegetables - that's because of Frog Hollow Farm Boy's high cholesterol numbers.  But, I'm happy to say that he went to the doctor for a follow up yesterday and his numbers have improved so much from the diet he's been eating that the doctor was amazed - he actually thought he had someone else's lab report.  So, it is true that one's body really appreciates a diet full of delicious, organic vegetables and legumes along with whole grains.  We also have steak, chicken and fish, but in moderation the past few months -we leave those meals for the weekend when we're out with friends or just home.  Frog Hollow Farm Boy has also been enjoying a glass of red wine with me most nights, which can only help most things if you ask me!
All of my vegetable photos were found on Google Images, but since I've started blogging I plan on taking tons of photos of our own garden vegetables this year - I can't wait!  We also have a wonderful established asparagus patch and rows of red and yellow raspberries - YUM! 

6 comments:

  1. HI FROG HOLLOW FARM GIRL, YOUR GRANFATHER MASTERSON WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR GREAT GARDENS. YOUR RECIPES SOUND WONDERFUL. I MADE GNOCCHI ONE TIME, THEY WERE FAIR. I LOVE TO ORDER THEM OUT OR BUY THEM FROZEN. YOU DESERVE A MEDAL, YOUR ITALIAN MEALS SOUND REALLY YUMMY. WE HAVE RAIN AGAIN TODAY, VERY DREARY, BUT BETTER THAN SNOW.
    TAKE CARE, LOVE, AUNT RIZ

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  2. Hi Ann Marie, Ollie and I are heading out for a few minutes and I wanted to stop by your blog before we leave....Your menu sounds delightful and I too love lemon chicken. I crave lemons. I'll check out the recipe later when we get back home. I can't wait until the gardens are filled with vegetables and fruit. I hardly ever eat red meat and could live on fish and veggies. My husband likes meat so I try and make it about once a week for him. I just eat around it. So glad to hear FHFB is doing well! That is wonderful news. I swear by red wine and lots of fiber. ( I think the fiber absorbs bad cholesterol and pushes it out of the body...but I'm no dr. its just my thoughts on that ) My cholesterol is so low my doctor thinks I'm a freak of nature I also do a ton of cardio which helps but I still eat everything I want in moderation. Its all about the wine :)
    xoxo
    Bunny

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  3. You are making me soooooo....hungry!

    But I have to say, I saw your favorite movies and any woman who has "Out of Africa" as their favorite movie is a friend of mine!!! :)

    Sarah
    www.respitehouse.com

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  4. Thank you for visiting my blog, thought I would stop in and see yours. I am new to the whole blogging thing as of Jan myself. Looking good. I will be following.

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  5. love the name of your blog, there is a pond below us, i love the winter croaking with the heavy rains~

    love lake como too, we only passed by on the train to switzerland, love to go back and stay.

    looks like fine dining to me~

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  6. Darling I just had breakfast and now I am feeling peckish and just want to reach into my screen and grab the beets. I adore beets. I roast them and use them in everything. Your menu sounds delicious and the sign adorable. My daughter and I started eating veggies and omitted meat about a year ago and I have to admit I have never felt better. I am going to check the chicken recipe now.

    Love & Hugs
    Duchess

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