from Florisbella's cookbook
"The leaves of this plant are often used to flavour teas, jellies, or salads"
I am sure everyone can feel that the days are slowly getting warmer and longer, the lovely sun shines on my garden and that can only mean one thing: A bountiful harvest coming summer! My oh my, spring is running away so fast, I can scarcely keep up with the growth rate of my vegetables... perhaps I used too much fertilizer. Or the plants are just so happy to pop out of the soil! One especially has grown a big, beautiful bush and it is my wonderfully scented mint. not just scented but tasty too, so I think I shall make myself something fresh as a snack.... hm, let's see what I have:
5 fresh beets
2 tablespoons of cool water from my well
2 tablespoons vinegar I dubbed "Lobelia's perfume"
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/4 cup pitted olives
a sprig of woolly mint
I scrubbed the beets, trimmed the tops and shoved them in a large pot. Then I drizzled with water, and put to simmer with the pot lid on, until they got cooked enough to be easily pierced with a fork, I think it took... fifteen minutes at best?
Once they cooled, I peeled and cut them into small cubes. In a bowl I whisked vinegar, oil, salt and pepper until blended, then added olives, beets and my wonderful mint. some of it I left to mince and sprinkle on top once the salad cooled completely... done!
°°°
Oh me, oh my, sometimes the tall folk says we hobbits only eat hearty meals and in great quantity.... and that is mostly true. But if you ask me, sometimes all you need is a light, fresh salad to keep you filled until dinnertime!
(image lotro wiki)
