German Food

German food is so tasty and I profess a weakness
for Weiner Schnitzel.

On a recent trip to Dusseldorf, Germany this delicious platter of Weiner Schnitzel, smothered
in a creamy mushroom sauce, tempted my tastebuds.

Served alongside a cold,
dark, Alt beer from this region of Germany, the meal was a hit. The Apfel (Apple) Struedle and striped
pancake desserts more than satisfied my sweet tooth.

Birds, birds, birds

These little house finches have found the sunflower seeds! It didn't take long for the sparrows and goldfinches to get in on the action too. Even a small, black and white downy woodpecker swoops in to grab a seed and then swoosh back out to the pine trees in the ravine behind our house. The bluebirds are too big to perch on the feeder, but they still come for a look-see anyway.

Tiger Swallowtail

Those red zinnias are a siren call for even more butterflies this morning. This elegant tiger swallowtail returned again and again, probing his proboscis for nectar. Even the hummingbird knows where to come for a snack throughout the day.

The large, red zinnias outside my library window have become quite the attraction. In just the past half-hour, three different kinds of butterflies stopped for a drink of nectar. This dark swallowtail sat and posed for quite a while.

During the morning hours, handsome, American Goldfinch males peck at the petals. Their vivid yellow coats and black markings are considerably brighter in coloration than the duller hued females.

Georgia wildlife

Our northern Georgia location brings many birds to our backyard including Eastern Bluebirds and the American Goldfinch. The bright, red zinnias are quite a draw for both the Goldfinches and also for the tiny, Ruby-throated hummingbirds. The finches pull out the petals searching for seeds while the hummingbirds poke their long, needlelike bills searching for nectar.

In the ravine behind the house, Red-Headed Woodpeckers scamper up and down the tall pines, boring holes to find a steady diet of insects.

Those tomatoes just keep coming on strong. What a lovely dilemma to have! So I've been busy making fresh salsa and many, many Caprese salads. Especially since there is so much basil as well.

Take advantage of the fresh produce from your garden while it lasts. Nothing tastes better than the veggies you pick in your own garden. And did you notice something else? These tomatoes actually have all the aroma and all the flavor a tomato should have, unlike so many store-bought tomatoes that don't have the luxury of hanging out until the peak of ripeness beckons from the vine.

For those of you not lucky enough to grow your own, search out the nearest farmers market or even a roadside stand with baskets of ripe, red tomatoes. Then savor the flavor as you enjoy one of the best fruits of the farm.

Summertime

Wow! It is already mid summer and I've been busy in the small garden outside my library window. So far the harvest has been tasty, vine-ripened tomatoes, a special Greek type of cucumber and loads of basil, mint, parsley and thyme.

All those fresh tomatoes and basil mean summer meals with my favorite Caprese Salad. To make this delicious salad, round up the best,full-of-flavor summer tomatoes you can find and a handful of green, leafy Italian basil, along with a big ball of soft, Buffalo mozzarella. (This isn't the traditional mozzarella used in pizza making. This mozzarella is soft and white and usually comes packaged in a cup filled with a salty brine to keep it fresh longer.)

To make the salad, slice one or two of the juicy, meaty tomatoes on a plate. Add a sprinkling of sea salt. Then top each tomato slice with a slice of the Buffalo mozzarella. (Hint: use a wire cheese slicer or a piece of unwaxed floss or thread to easily cut the cheese into slices.)

Then slide a few leaves of fresh basil between the tomato and the mozzarella and continue around the plate. Add another sprinkling of sea salt and ground, black pepper. Drizzle the salad with extra virgin olive oil and dashes of white or dark balsamic vinegar to taste. Serve with crusty bread.