BBQ Chicken

BBQ Chicken

We had our first outdoor BBQ yesterday.
Previously I marinated boneless skinless thighs overnight
in a simple soy, vinegar, sorghum and lemon concoction.
I did toss a few hickory chips over the briquets. 
Thankful for small gifts.

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.