To my mind, May is a colorful and celebratory month. After a chilly and damp spring here in the Pacific Northwest, the days are getting longer and colorful signs of spring are popping up everywhere. The rhododendrons, which are Washington’s state flower, are finally in bloom. While I don’t suffer from allergies, many of my friends do. Thankfully, one benefit of our damp spring is that pollen counts have remained generally low. Even the pine tree pollen that blanketed the cars parked along the street in a dusting of yellow earlier this month was less than in previous years.
I love rhododendrons both because they come in so many different colors and because they’re a relatively low-maintenance plant.
The farmers markets are in full swing, numerous festivals are opening up, and Memorial Day caps off the month. Getting up on a Saturday morning and visiting the local farmers market is always a fun way to spend a couple of hours outdoors, plus I get my walking in and have a chance to chat with so many people. Small farms comprise 83% of the more than 39,000 farms here in Washington State, so farmers markets are also a great way to support small, local businesses.
The produce is fresher than I can find in any store, and everything I cook just tastes better. With vendors selling flowers, cider, soaps, honey, hand-crafted textiles, fresh-baked bread and treats (even doggie treats for Piper!), I seldom leave without a bag full of goodies.
Honey in every shade from pale gold to dark brown at the local farmers market.
Farmers markets are also a great way to get new ideas when I get in a rut for what to make for lunch or dinner. Just ask – farmers love to share their secrets, tips and recipes on how to prepare their fresh offerings. I challenge myself to try one new thing each time I go. I’m debating what to do with the rhubarb I bought, perhaps a rhubarb cheesecake? Although I picked up a recipe for rhubarb honey chicken that sounds very tasty, so I might end up making that instead.
Rhubarb, with it’s tart/sweet/spicy flavor is wonderful, not just in baked good, but in savory dishes as well.
If you’re in the mood to share, I’d love to hear some of your favorite farmer’s market recipes!
Enter my giveaway for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card and a copy of any of my books. Winner has three days to claim their prizes by returning my email. US and Canada only. Good luck!
Love your books! Still hoping to get Marguerite!!!
The only time I eat rhubarb is when I’m in Lancaster ☺️
When a friend serves it I will eat some then.
Love your storytelling thanks for an opportunity.
Loretta Shumpert
I LOVE your books. Have a shelf on my bookcase for them.
A lovely compliment, Sue!
Thanks so much! you can still buy copies of A Portrait of Marguerite on Amazon or at are used books stores, https://www.amazon.com/s?k=a+porcher+of+Marguerite%2C+Kate+Lloyd&crid=K10C93PWNYK5&sprefix=a+porcher+of+marguerite%2C+kate+lloyd%2Caps%2C149&ref=nb_sb_noss
Love reading your books. Would love to win! Blessings!
Thanks so much, Mary! I’m wishing you the best of luck.
Would be amazing to win
Good luck in the giveaway, Mary!
I would love to win this.. Love your books.. Thank you..
Thanks, Janice! I appreciate your words of encouragement.
awesome prize – thanks!
My best to you!
Your drawings always have such fine gifts.
I’m wishing you the best of luck, Paula!
Thank you for the chance to win! I have a couple of your books and read some that my sister lent me to read! Thanks again for another give a way!
It sounds as though you have a great sister!
Kate,
Thank You for a chance to win! Great Giveaway, Enjoy readying your books I own a couple of your books, but my sister lends me books to read. Thanks again
Love your books, I read each night before I go to sleep. If I have extra time during the day, I read every chance I get.
I can’t go to sleep at night without reading first, Tammy! I bet I could go without food longer than a book.
Never read your books but it sounds like great reading
I hope you get a chance to read one of my books soon, Gloria!
I hope you get a chance to read one of my books soon!
Love your books! Thank you for the amazing giveaway!
Can’t wait for the newest
I love the farmer’s markets but most of them in my area start at 3 or 4 in the afternoon. I’m already settled in for the day after running around doing errands in the morning. I do go to one on Saturdays in the morning if I can get myself out the door early and drive there. Right now, I’m looking for rhubarb to make strawberry rhubarb jam and an Amish rhubarb drink that I saw a recipe for.
That sounds so good!
I read seventy of you books they were great books,would love to read more,wow awesome giveaway thank
Thank you, Kate, for the chance to win. Can’t wait to read the next!
I hope you get a chance to soon!
I love your books, thank you for a chance to win. Looking for my next book to read.
Thanks, Andrea!
Thanks so much for this wonderful opportunity! I would love to receive some more of your books, they are always so good!
Thank you for this opportunity! So much fun!
Love your books, own some, also. I am getting ready to male strawberry rhubarb pie very soon. We love it, and I make extra to give a pie to one of our sons and wife, we have 5 grown sons, all married. Would love to own another of your books from this give-away. Thanks for the chance.
Five grown married sons is an amazing accomplishment, Norma. And your pie sounds divine!
Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway. I’m looking forward to the markets here in MD as well. Wonderful goodies on the Eastern Shore.
Wonderful giveaway. Thank you for the chance.
Farmer’s Markets are fun & a way to learn new things about foods & preparations!
This retiree loves reading your books. Thanks for the chance to win one. Stay well.
Oh gorgeous. The colors are so bright and happy. I love our farmers markets here also. One is from the area and the other has vendors from around the state. Thank you for such a wonderful give a way.
I love your Books and I love spring time.
All your books are great
I love rhubarb muffins and strawberry rhubarb sauce. Blessings
Love this time of year with all the bright colors of flowers popping and the fresh fruits and veggies coming to harvest. Right now we are in strawberry harvest time. Two of my favorite strawberry dishes are homemade strawberry ice cream – which I made day before yesterday with two cups of diced strawberries and a cup of mashed and slightly sweetened added to my tried and true rich ice cream recipe.
Tomorrow I’ll be baking a Summer of 1975 Strawberry Cake from the Imperial 150th Anniversary Cookbook
Ingredients for cake
1 pkg. white cake mix
3 tablespoons flour
3 eggs
¾ cup cooking oil
¾ cup water
1 – 3 oz. pkg. strawberry gelatin
½ cup frozen or fresh sliced strawberries
Ingredients for icing
2 tablespoons butter
1 ½ cups Imperial Powdered Sugar
2 tablespoons crushed strawberries
Directions
Combine all cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Bake in greased and floured tube pan in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes or 2 – 9” layer cake pans for 25 minutes.
For icing combine melted butter, powdered sugar and crushed strawberries. Drizzle over warm cake. Decorate with fresh strawberries.
Plus I have put up many in the freezer for use later in the year.
Thanks so much for sharing your strawberry cake recipe!
love you….your books…your FB and email posts…
Good Luck to all
Thanks, Kris!
The closest I ever had rhubarb is Rhubarb wine and it was delicious!
Thank you for the chance to win your wonderful giveaway!!!
Love reading your books! Get your newsletter! Follow you on all platforms and entered your contest! Thank you so much
Love your books! Looking forward to more!
Loved your email with the beautiful pictures and now I want some of those flowers!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know.
Love this! Thank you! 🙂