Peach-Rosewater Earl Grey Granita inspired by Unearthed | #UnearthedParty

Nature has a way of grounding us, helping us get back to the basics and connect with ourselves. In the newly released Unearthed, a memoir by Alexandra Risen, we see a neglected garden used to represent Risen's journey of understanding and accepantance. While the description of the memoir is "How an Abandoned Garden Taught Me to Accept and Love My Parents", I think, though real, the garden is actually a representation of history, growth, mystery, nurture, and understanding—and that true acceptance can only come with time and age. Unfortunately, we don't often get to that point until it's too late to say goodbye or share our growth with loved ones. But we can still make peace with ourselves.

When it comes to memoirs, I usually wind up on one extreme or the other (love 'em or hate 'em). It's usually a question of interesting versus boring. Fortunately, this one was on the love side for me. As someone who feels entirely disconnected with her past on one side of the family, I could identify with Risen. I know next to nothing about the paternal side of the family because similarly, they never talked about the past.

Yucca Flower, Mushroom, and Feta Frittata

One of the things I love about the house we moved into just over two years ago is the yard.  I mean, it's smaller than our old yard (but still good size)...but there are numerous edibles that were already planted in the earth.  Things that I can count on to pop up year after year without any work on my part.  We have a couple of ever-expanding grape vines.  There's lots of mint; while we all know how invasive mint can be, fortunately it grows under the grapes, so I don't mind a bit.  We have chamomile.  We have ground cherries (that I have yet to figure out how to beat the bugs and birds to, but one day...).  We have purslane (or verdolagas) which is one of my favorites.

But why, oh why, did I never make use of what is probably the most prolific feature of our yard - Yucca!?  I just never really thought about it until I saw Hunger and Thirst using yucca blossoms.  Well, duh!  We have them in the front yard, the back yard, and on the side of the house.  I need to brush up how to use each part.  By the time I thought of it, I'd already missed the young, tender stalk (which looks a bit like...and here tell tastes a bit like...asparagus).

I'm still looking into using the root...because if I use the root, doesn't that mean I won't have the plant anymore?  Hmm...we'll see.  But since the gorgeous, milky-white flowers are in bloom right now, I knew that would be a great place to start experimenting.  The petals would make a great addition to fresh, raw salads.  I think they taste slightly reminiscent of mild cauliflower.  They also pair well with eggs, which is why I started with a simple egg dish.  Although, I do think that using yucca flower makes it seem elegant.  How crazy is that?  A simple back yard ingredient transforming a dish to elegant...kinda backward if you stop to think about it.  I can't wait to experiment with the abundant yucca that is waving in the breeze outside my window at this very moment.  I need to find a use for the seeds...I usually use the dried pod as an ornamental in autumn.  Until then, enjoy this frittata.

I'm hosting GROW YOUR OWN #45 this month!

I am very excited to be hosting GROW YOUR OWN this month!  Grow your own is an event that celebrates and shares what you have grown, foraged, hunted,  or fished.  This is a fun way to see what is growing, what is in season, what you eat from your own "back yard" throughout the year in different regions all across the world!  GYO was started by Andrea of Andrea Meyers: cooking, gardening & 4 hungry guys...and while she hosts often, she also gives others the chance to join in the hosting fun yay me!

Rules:

*Make a dish that uses at least one item from your very own garden or farm and post about it. Your garden doesn’t have to be big, container gardens are welcome! If you hunted or foraged, those items are also eligible. You can also use something that was given to you, but the giver must have personally grown or raised the item. If you paid for it, then it doesn’t count.

*Anything edible that you have grown or raised qualifies, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, sprouts, edible flowers, nuts, grains, legumes, dairy products, eggs, livestock, fish, etc.

*Please make sure your dish is posted during the month of the event. One entry per blog, per month, please.

*Please include a link to THIS POST in your GYO post. (Use of logo is optional, but you can find more options here)

How to participate:

Send me an email girlichef at yahoo dot com by September 30, no later than 6:00 pm (Eastern) with the following information:

~Subject line: Grow Your Own #45
~Your name and location (State, Country)
~Your blog name and URL
~Permalink to your post
~Attach a photo for the round-up (or else I can just pull one from your post.)

I will post the round-up at the beginning of October. I'm looking forward to see what you've grown, foraged, hunted, fished, hustled....

Tigerellas, Sunrays, & Green Zebras...oh my!  I'm gonna have lots this month!