May 2026 Newsletter
Herb & Veggie Plants
Warm-weather garden plants like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lima beans, basil, lemon grass and mexican oregano are now ready.
Spring Herb & Veggie Recipes
This time of year is perfect for spring herb & vegetable starts, and we have a great variety available at the nursery (with more coming through May), so what better time to introduce some new recipes utilizing some of our favorite options plucked straight from the garden.
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Fresh Garden Tomato SauceCoat the bottom of a saucepan with olive oil, heat to medium, and toss in paste tomatoes like San Marzano to simmer until completely cooked down; cool and remove tomato skins, and blend/food process the tomato sauce until smooth or mash for a chunkier texture.
Return to heat with salt, pepper, and garlic to taste to simmer again and cook off some excess moisture; add another splash of olive oil and tear or chiffonade some fresh sweet basil when nearly done. This sauce goes great over pasta, used as a base for pizza or dipping crostini, and works as a great jumping off point for other sauces. |
Easy Greek Feta + Tomato SaladFor an easy and refreshing summer salad, pair about equal parts by weight halved cherry tomatoes and crumbled feta cheese; combine with a splash of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, and some fresh oregano, basil, or parsley for garnish and an additional pop of fresh flavor. For an even more colorful salad, you can combine standard cherry tomatoes like ‘Supersweet 100’ with some of the more interesting cherry varieties such as ‘Sun Gold’ or ‘Purple Bumblebee’
If two ingredients is too easy (or too boring), finely dice some cucumber, thinly slice some red onions, and chop up some kalamata olives to toss into the mix too. This version can also be brightened up some white wine vinegar. |
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Refreshing Raita or TzatzikiPeel or partially peel three or four young cucumbers and either grate, process, or chop finely, along with a few cloves of garlic, combining with fresh, unflavored Greek yogurt. Finely chop dill, mint, parsley, or any combination and combine into yogurt mixture along with salt and pepper to taste. This mix works well on just about anything, but makes an especially excellent addition to kebabs and gyros.
For some extra flavor that leans more toward Indian instead of Mediterranean, add in some finely chopped onion and some warm, aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, or garam masala! |
(All food photos courtesy of AllRecipes)
Mason Broderick