Couscous with Garden Vegetables

What better way to celebrate the first harvest of the year than with a big delicious bowl of couscous loaded with veggies fresh from the garden.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup couscous
• 1/2 small orange bell pepper chopped
• 4 scallions sliced (avoid the dark green bits)
• 12 small cherry tomatoes halved
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• Lemon zest
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Place couscous in a heat proof bowl. Pour 1 cup boiling water over couscous. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Fluff with fork.
2. Whisk oil and juice together with salt and pepper and dress couscous
3. Mix in cut veggies and sprinkle with lemon zest.

Grilled Rosemary Sausage Skewers

I'm going to buy a grill next week this is deffinatly going to be on the menu in one of the coming weeks, it is a perfect summery dish.

Ingredients:

• Assortment of bite-sized veggies (I usually use cherry tomatoes, chopped Bell Peppers  and Mushrooms)
• 3 Sprigs of fresh Rosemary
• 1 Cup of Olive Oil
• 1 Garlic Clove minced
• Juice from 1 Lemon
• 1 pound Italian Sausage cut into bite-sized pieces

Directions:

1. Alternate veggies and sausage on a skewer.
2. Remove Rosemary leaves from sprigs and chop finely. Combine with garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice.
3. Baste skewers with mixture.
4. Grill 5-7 minutes on each side.

This dish goes well with crusty bread and a fresh salad.

Seafood Stuffing.. Sort Of

I don't know about you but I love seafood. I mean L-O-V-E. Especially lobster, steamed to perfection and dipped in garlic butter...mmmm... okay I'm gonna stop now before I need a moment alone. Anyway, one day I got it in my head that I was going to make stuffed lobster tails.... for a random weeknight dinner.... when I had never made it before.... because that's just how I roll. Like most people in the digital era I hopped on line for a good recipe. Every single recipe I found for stuffing seafood had crab, or shrimp, or a combination of crab and shrimp. I was already having lobster tail, I didn't want to stuff it full of more shellfish.. it would have been like a Turducken of the sea. So off went the computer and off I went to the kitchen to come up with one of my own with stuff I already had. Oh My Goddess! It was freaking amazing, and has stuck with me ever since, and here it is for you to try on your own.

Ingredients:

• 6 Tbsp Butter
• 1/8 Tsp paprika
• 1/2 a large Onion, minced
• 2 Cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp Sherry
• 2 Carrots, minced
• 4 large Mushrooms, minced
• 1 stock Celery, minced
• Juice of 1 Lemon
• 1/2 Cup Bread crumbs
• 1/4 Cup Parmesan

Directions:

1. Combine vegetables, butter, and paprika. Cook over medium heat until veggies are tender.
2. Add bread crumbs, Parmesan, sherry, and lemon juice and mix thoroughly.
3. Remove from heat add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Use to stuff seafood, chicken, or pork.

Learning About Lemons

Lemons are the perfect summertime fruit with their tart scent and flavor. The bright yellow color and rounded shape liken them to tiny suns caught up in fresh scented glossy leaves. This highly acidic fruit has a mysterious history and a variety of uses making them a witches favorite summertime tool.

History
The exact historical origins of where lemons come from is as far as I've seen unknown (please correct me if you have knowledge otherwise). It would seem however that they most probably come from northwestern India. Like all citrus fruits lemons flourish in warmer climate and when grown in America mostly come from California or Florida.

Nutrition
Lemons are loaded with Vitamin C, Calcium, Potassium, and Vitamin A. They are also low in natural sugars, fat and calories. Lemons help the body absorb iron and contain individual amino acids considered to be the building blocks of protein.

Medicinal Uses

• A combination of lemon juice, honey, and hot water is a wonderful natural remedy for sore throats
• The same mixture as above as well as adding lemon wedges to ice water and tea are all thought to help promote weight loss.
• As a natural laxative when mixed with warm water
• When used on minor cuts and abrasions it can help to stop bleeding and disinfect the wound.
• Can reduce the swelling of bug bites.

Cosmetic Uses

• Gargling a combination of lemon juice and water helps to reduce bad breath
• A powerful astringent the juice can be applied to acne to reduce swelling and alleviate pain.
• Give yourself natural highlights by spritzing your hair with lemon juice before going out in the sun.
• Rinse hair in the shower with lemon juice for a healthy shine.
• Helps reduce cooking odors from your hands.

House Cleaning Uses

• Equal parts of water and lemon juice poured into a spray bottle makes for an effective all purpose cleaner. It can also be used to help deter ants.
• Rub a cut lemon over a cutting board to help remove stains and to deodorize.
• Run lemon wedges through a garbage disposal to deodorize.
• Warm a sliced lemon in the microwave to reduce grease build up from inside the microwave.
• Add a 1/2 cup of lemon juice to a load of whites before drying in the sun to brighten clothing.
• Combine 1 cup of olive oil with 1/2 cup of lemon juice for homemade furniture polish.
• Clean brass or copper with a paste made of baking soda and lemon juice.
• 4 Tbsp of lemon juice blended with a half gallon of water makes for an effective glass cleaner
• Hot lemon juice combined with baking soda can be used as an all natural drain cleaner
• Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to dish liquid to help cut grease

Magickal Uses
Lemons are associated with friendship and platonic love. Use lemon peel, seeds, and juice in spells and charms to help preserve friendships and make them last.

Lemon-Rosemary Grilled Chicken

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp Honey
• 1 Tablespoon chopped rosemary
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 Garlic cloves (minced)
• 3 lbs chicken breasts

Directions:

1. In a small bowl combine all ingredients except chicken, mix well.
2. Place chicken in a shallow dish, brush or rub oil mixture on chicken breasts using all of it.
3. Cover and refrigerate one hour to marinate.
4. Heat grill and remove chicken from marinade.
5. Cook chicken on medium heat for 30 minutes or until juices run clear turning and brushing with leftover marinade 2 or 3 times.