Summer Blues - (and purples)

 

 Happy Summer...

It's mid summer and the farm has again been very productive.  Lots of bright colors but I LOVE the BLUES

So let's focus an this vibrant color:

butterfly pea tea

This is a tea I have brewed from butterfly pea blossoms.

butterfly pea blossoms

pea blossoms harvested

Add the blossoms to hot water and watch the water turn blue.  This tea is high in antioxidants and has a very mild flavor

So I spiked it up a bit with some elderberry syrup

Elderberry, butterfly pea blue with some fresh lemon juice and s tiny bit of lavender simple syrup

This is a cluster of ripe elderberries

and a whole bowlful

brew the elderberries with some spices; strain liquid and add good raw honey to the cooled brew

I add about one tablespoon of elderberry syrup to a beverage for a boost of antioxidants.

I also added them to my blackberry boysenberry summer pie.  

But wait there's more.  Here's a pic of this week's harvest

I love the contrast of the purples and greens: Asian pears, eggplant, dragon tongue beans, yellow summer squash, a single white radish, blackberries, a single violet fig, a black shouldered tomato, oodles of elderberries, and at the top-lemons and limes

Dragon tongue bush beans

My new favorite bush bean.  Earlier in the spring I had my favorite haricot vert but these beans are now my favorite.  If you can find them at your Farmers' Market try them - raw

Eggplant

of course there is always an abundance of lavender

Can't forget the blue eggs my ladies gift to me daily

There are so many beautiful vibrant colors in summer.  I invite you to look around and spot your favorite BLUES and purples