The Call of Ladyslipper Cove

When the word was out in our Up North neighborhood the pink plants were blooming we jumped at the chance to visit Lady's Slipper Cove. Our neighbor has over some 700 Lady's Slipper plants. You need to know that is quite rare to have so many Lady's Slipper plants in one area. Usually the plants are scattered about near the shoreline and into the cool damp woods. These plants have a short bloom life often under a week. They are Minnesota's state flower and this wildflower has been protected by state law since 1925. It is illegal to move or cut these plants. What a relief there are no restrictions on how many pictures one can take! Indeed all these plants certainly were a yard show stopper.

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A bit of a twist on Strawberry Spinach Salad

some added items to the standard salad

Ingredients:

• red onion rings
• bag of baby spinach leaves
• sliced strawberries
• sliced cucumbers
• blueberries
• dressing: Girard Raspberry (it is a great accompaniment)
• Honey Roasted Almond Accents (3.5 oz) found in the deli section (sprinkle on top of salad to serve)

A light-summer dish Broccoli-Asparagus Pasta

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked small pasta (ex. gemelli or corkscrew)
• 1 head broccoli chopped
• 2 zucchini sliced
• 8 oz. asparagus (cut off woody stem)
• 1-1/2 cups snow peas
• 1 small package of white mushrooms sliced
• 2 TB. butter
• 1/3 cup chicken broth (low sodium)
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup chopped green onion
• 2 TB. fresh parsley
• 3 TB. fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

• Cook pasta and drain
• Steam veggies (except mushrooms) over a pan of boiling water and cook just till they soften
• Rinse veggies with cold water
• In same pan that had pasta melt butter and add onion and mushrooms
• Saute 1-2 minutes
• Add veggies and cooked pasta
• Using a wooden spoon stir in cream, broth, parsley, Parmesan cheese and heat all the way through
• To serve add a dash of nutmeg and more grated Parmesan cheese on top