Poke Tacos Monkeypod
Tomato Tart - Jose Andres
LuLu Dog treats
Soup Alexis Alvarez Armas
Cafe Cubano
Riva @ Gritti Palace
Having been home less than a week from our fabulous island vacation I’m beginning to settle in to my home routine…it is just the beginning of summer and not having to go to work is a bonus. I’m pretending I’m on a stay-cation now and making the most of the simpleness of summer on the Ridge. Simple summer comprises staying up a little late, sleeping in just a bit, not rushing through a cup of coffee, and not wearing any makeup.It’s made up of late dinners, when the sun drops below the horizon in its pink and orange grandeur, ice-cold beer, Trinidadian rum and coke with a squeeze of lime and firing up the grill each evening.
Simple summer includes, tending the garden, which I must mention is doing quite well. We have endless tomatoes and herbs, not as many peppers as I’d like and strawberries are few, but when I pick one it is sweet! Fighting the grasshoppers could become a full-time profession as it is hotter than blue blazes and they seem to adore the heat. I do not like them.
This summer we chat often about a daughter headed to college in the fall, being empty nesters, paying for tuition, plans for the future…..
Today as part of my simple summer lifestyle I went out to the apiary early, I mean early. I did wait until the girls were up and out of the hives, but it was early by my summer standards. It was hot, but tolerable if I worked swiftly. Hive #1, still has a pest problem, wax moths. Tomorrow, early morning, I”ll be handling that nasty situation. Hives 2-6 look deliciously healthy and full of honey. I am certain we will be conducting our first harvest of 2012 next week. It appears that I may harvest as much as 20 gallons of honey this year. I will have a clearer estimation of how much honey as soon as my man Dan can help with the inspection. You see, when a super is full of honey it weighs somewhere between 80-100 pounds. Considering that it is a box full of bees, with precious golden nectar to protect it is a tad risky for me to try to lift and move those by myself. That is the exact reason my adoring husband is the proud owner of a bee suit and tools of his own. I could not perform this important step of beekeeping without his help and muscles. It looks very promising so stay tuned for the story of Honey Harvest 2012.
This past weekend I found myself in possession of a bounty of fresh peaches, Lorings to be exact. We visited our favorite local peach orchard, Ham’s, and brought home bags full. I think you’ll like this BBQ sauce that contains the fresh peaches, spread on bone-in loin chops. We were of course grilling our dinner late in the evening and by the time it hit our plates I didn’t pause to style my photo before I snapped a quick shot to share with you. I think it looks pretty tasty but is it styled to perfection? Heck no. It’s summertime and I’m
chillin’.
Enjoy!
Brown Sugar Brine Pork Chops with Peach BBQ Sauce
[…] Brown Sugar Brine Pork Chops with Peach BBQ Sauce […]
Karen says
I’m sure your summer meal was delicious and I think that it is nicely presented. Fresh peaches really had to add to the taste.
The Orange Bee says
Thanks Karen…they really do add a sweetness and juiciness found only from a peach. You don’t h
ave peaches in your area do you?
ceciliag says
Gosh i am excited about your honey and i know what you mean about the weight! You are going to harvest early.. you must be doing really well.. I will have to wait a while yet.. but they are piling it in this year! c
The Orange Bee says
Well let’s say the bees are doing well…we had a lot of rain and not too hot until now. If I’m lucky I’ll get two harvests. I know it must be different in your neck of the woods. How are your bees…I HATE wax moths!
Karen says
I had eight trees in my orchard but they died of a disease that is unknown at the present time. UNH and the state are investigating and they call it “X” disease until they can find what is causing it. I was really surprised that peaches would even grow this far north as I grew up in the south but they grow in Canada as well.
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide says
What a great looking plate!
The Orange Bee says
Well thank you !
Jane NEWBERRY says
Linda, I always enjoy your blog and recipes. This is my old email address so I have unsubscribed it since I will be discarding it soon. I am already signed up under my new email at teresa.newberry@ymail.com Just wanted you to know I am not “quitting you”! 🙂 Looking forward to my honey! Jane
The Orange Bee says
Thank you Jane! I’m happy to know you are still a subscriber! You’re gonna love the honey.