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Daffodil

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DAFFODIL – MARCH BIRTH-FLOWER
Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including DAFFODIL, narcissus and jonquil are used to describe all or some members of the genus. Narcissus has conspicuous flowers with six petal-like tepals surmounted by a cup- or trumpet-shaped corona. The flowers are generally white and yellow, also orange or pink in garden varieties, with either uniform or contrasting coloured tepals and corona.

Violet

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VIOLET – FEBRUARY BIRTH-FLOWER
Viola is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae. It is the largest genus in the family, containing between 525 and 600 species. Most species are found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere; however, some are also found in widely divergent areas such as Hawaii, Australasia, and the Andes. The terms viola and violet are normally reserved for small-flowered annuals or perennials, including the wild species.

 

Josephine Skriver

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Josephine Skriver – Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam January-2021

Bacon-Pecan Stuffed Mushrooms

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Bacon-Pecan Stuffed Mushrooms

Best Party Appetizers!

  • 4 tbsp butter, divided
  • 2 tbsp canola oil
  • 12 large fresh mushrooms (about 1 pound), stems removed
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped onion1
  • 1 cup soft bread crumbs
  • 6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
  • 2 tbsp chopped pecans
  • 2 tbsp sherry or beef broth
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh chives

  1. To make soft bread crumbs, tear bread into pieces and place in a food processor or blender. Cover and pulse until crumbs form. One slice of bread yields 1/2 to 3/4 cup crumbs.

1 stuffed mushroom: 184 calories, 16g fat (6g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 277mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.

Lavender Fields of Provence

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Lavender Fields of Provence – France

Provence is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east, and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south.It largely corresponds with the modern administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and includes the departments of Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, as well as parts of Alpes-Maritimes and Vaucluse. The largest city of the region is Marseille.

Frida Khalo Inspired

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Frida Khalo Inspired

 

Pickled Shrimp

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Pickled Shrimp

A mixture of white wine and white wine vinegar, plus a host of spices and vegetables, infuse these shrimp with tangy, fragrant flavor.

  • 1 medium carrot, cut into thin rounds
  • 1 medium bulb fennel, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium zucchini, cut into half moons
  • 2 tsp kosher salt, divided, plus more for blanching
  • 1 red onion, julienned
  • 1 red bell pepper, julienned
  • 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp whole coriander
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp caraway seed
  • 1 tsp fennel seed
  • 1 cup olive oil, divided
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 1 cup white wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp thyme leaves
  • 2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed
  • 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped

  1. Blanch vegetables: In a large pot of boiling, salted water, blanch carrots, fennel and zucchini until firm-tender, 1 minute. Use a slotted spoon to remove vegetables and plunge directly into an ice-water bath. Remove and dry on paper towels. In a medium bowl, toss blanched vegetables with 1 teaspoon salt. Chill in refrigerator until you are ready to assemble dish.

  2. Make pickled vegetables: In a sauté pan over medium-low heat, heat 1/2 olive oil and sweat the onion, pepper, garlic, spices and 1 teaspoon salt until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in wine, vinegar and thyme. Remove from heat and let stand 15 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, bring salted water to a boil in a large pot, then turn off heat. Stir in shrimp and let cook until firm but still slightly translucent in the center, 1-2 minutes depending on size of shrimp. Place cooked shrimp in a nonreactive dish and sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Then pour pickled vegetable mixture over shrimp.

  4. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Before serving, stir in blanched vegetables and remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. Adjust seasoning, adding more salt and vinegar if needed. Garnish with parsley.

Carnation

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CARNATION – JANUARY BIRTH-FLOWER
Carnation or clove pink, is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years.