My Gardenia Blooms in June

My Gardenia Blooms in June

Nowadays there are so few fragrant plants,
so I am always pleased when my gardenia blooms.
This variety is known as a hardy gardenia
which means it can stand our colder winters.
During a hard frost we cover the whole shrub
with a sheet and then plastic over that,
to ensure it's longevity.

Blooms so delicate and fleeting,
I've brought a single blossom indoors
to enjoy the fragrance.

Steamed Hard-Boiled Eggs

Steamed Hard-Boiled Eggs

I came across a recipe for steaming hard-boiled eggs,
so I decided to try it out.
What a game changer. Steam the eggs for 10 minutes,
Using tongs place the eggs in a iced water bath for 15 minutes.
Remove eggs and then peel them.
The eggs turned out perfect and were very easy to peel.

Try steaming your eggs, you might prefer this method.
From now on, this is my go to method.

Liatris spicata

Liatris spicata

Liatris, Gay Feather, or Blazing Star is blooming in my garden.
The clumps have slowly been spreading.
They grow from corms, a type of bulb.
They're extremely hardy and drought tolerant and bees love them.
Liatris is worth growing due to their stately presence,
even though they only bloom once a season.

Crab Imperial

Crab Imperial

1 pound can of large sized lump crab, drained

Sauce:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon dried ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon mace
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Topping:
1 teaspoon parsley
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 cup gf bread crumbs
1 teaspoon paprika

Drain lump crab and set aside. Mix all ingredients for sauce and set aside. Seafood seasoning may be substituted for the spices in the sauce. Gently fold the sauce into the crab reserving 1/3 of the sauce for drizzling over the crab mixture. Gently place crab mixture into ramekins but do not pack, leave it light. Drizzle remaining sauce over the crab mixture. Last mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over the top of the whole mixture. Bake in preheated 400 F oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and perhaps a side salad or garnish. Much easier to make than crab cakes and so delicious.