Blue Starr Gallery

Baked Okra with Garlic & Tomatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:02:29 +0000

Baked Okra with Garlic & Tomatoes

I purchased some fresh okra at the farmers market.
I also bought fresh garlic and one tomato.
Coat an 8 x 8 baking dish with olive oil.
Chop okra into bite sized pieces
removing the end a the tip.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, dried oregano and more olive oil.
Toss mixture in the pan.
Slice 5 garlic cloves lengthwise into slivers
and sprinkle those over the top of okra.
Dice one large tomato and sprinkle it over the top,
(or you may substitute halved cherry tomatoes).
Half way through cooking time stir mixture.
Bake in 400 F oven for 40 minutes.

So fresh and delicious and no slimy okra.

BBQ Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:03:32 +0000

BBQ Chicken

We had our first outdoor BBQ yesterday.
Previously I marinated boneless skinless thighs overnight
in a simple soy, vinegar, sorghum and lemon concoction.
I did toss a few hickory chips over the briquets.
Thankful for small gifts.

My Gardenia Blooms in June

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 08:05:06 +0000

My Gardenia Blooms in June

Nowadays there are so few fragrant plants,
so I am always pleased when my gardenia blooms.
This variety is known as a hardy gardenia
which means it can stand our colder winters.
During a hard frost we cover the whole shrub
with a sheet and then plastic over that,
to ensure it's longevity.

Blooms so delicate and fleeting,
I've brought a single blossom indoors
to enjoy the fragrance.

Steamed Hard-Boiled Eggs

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:14:28 +0000

Steamed Hard-Boiled Eggs

I came across a recipe for steaming hard-boiled eggs,
so I decided to try it out.
What a game changer. Steam the eggs for 10 minutes,
Using tongs place the eggs in a iced water bath for 15 minutes.
Remove eggs and then peel them.
The eggs turned out perfect and were very easy to peel.

Try steaming your eggs, you might prefer this method.
From now on, this is my go to method.

Liatris spicata

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:04:39 +0000

Liatris spicata

Liatris, Gay Feather, or Blazing Star is blooming in my garden.
The clumps have slowly been spreading.
They grow from corms, a type of bulb.
They're extremely hardy and drought tolerant and bees love them.
Liatris is worth growing due to their stately presence,
even though they only bloom once a season.

Crab Imperial

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:11:13 +0000

Crab Imperial

1 pound can of large sized lump crab, drained

Sauce:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon dried ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon mace
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Topping:
1 teaspoon parsley
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 cup gf bread crumbs
1 teaspoon paprika

Drain lump crab and set aside. Mix all ingredients for sauce and set aside. Seafood seasoning may be substituted for the spices in the sauce. Gently fold the sauce into the crab reserving 1/3 of the sauce for drizzling over the crab mixture. Gently place crab mixture into ramekins but do not pack, leave it light. Drizzle remaining sauce over the crab mixture. Last mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over the top of the whole mixture. Bake in preheated 400 F oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and perhaps a side salad or garnish. Much easier to make than crab cakes and so delicious.

Sungold Tomatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:08:10 +0000

Sungold Tomatoes

Just picked 5 sungold tomatoes, great snack food.
They are some of the sweetest cherry sized tomatoes.

Rabbit Rabbit

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:15:09 +0000

Rabbit Rabbit

We've been seeing lots of baby rabbits this year.
If you say rabbit the first day of the month
upon rising it's supposed to bring good luck.
Hope you all have a great month, year, life.

Pickled Red Onion Relish

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Sun, 31 May 2026 14:14:55 +0000

Pickled Red Onion Relish

1 very large red onion sliced very thin, then chopped
1-1/2 cup white vinegar
4 tablespoons white granulated sugar
1/2 tablespoon kosher or sea salt
1 tablespoon black pepper corns
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 bay leaves crushed
3 half pint canning jars

Peel and prepare onions and set aside. In a non reactive pan add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil and boil one minute, stirring to make sure the sugar and salt dissolve. Leave pan on heat. Fill each canning jar with chopped onions and pour strained hot liquid into each jar to the top. When I add the hot mixture to a glass pouring cup I put a metal spoon in the cup to absorb the heat. When I add the hot liquid to each jar I place a table knife in the jar to absorb the heat. Placing hot liquid in glass containers can create thermal shock. The metal utensils are used to absorb the shock. Place lids on jars and let cool and refrigerate overnight. This time I decided to chop the onions into small pieces since they will be easier to put on cream cheese with lox, on burgers as a condiment, and so many other uses. Just tasted this, so delicious, tangy, a some bites are spicey. Great over lox, cream cheese, and rolled up into a bite of deliciousness.

Caramelized Pears

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Sat, 30 May 2026 10:01:44 +0000

Caramelized Pears

4 pears peeled, sliced in half and cores removed
1/4 cup water or less
3/4 cup granulated sugar
dash of brandy bourbon

1/2 cup heavy cream
Dash of fleur de sel or maldon salt flakes

I purchased a bag of small pears
and decided to make caramelized pears
Melt sugar and water in a frying pan.
When mixture starts to bubble,
add pears cut side down.
Cover and let cook for 15 minutes
turning pears over once.

Cook till a fork inserted gives only slight resistance,

and mixture starts to brown.
Add cream and cook till incorporated and browned.
Sprinkle sparingly with salt and serve immediately.
A scoop of vanilla ice cream would be good, but not necessary.
Don't use half and half, the milk solids will separate.
Ask me how I know this.

Enjoy!

Seared & Braised Creamy Cajun Cabbage

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Fri, 29 May 2026 10:04:31 +0000

Seared & Braised Dreamy Cajun Cabbage

1 small head of cabbage, cut in half, sliced in one inch slices
2 tablespoons olive oil for searing, (I used caraflex cabbage)
a small yellow onion, chopped fine
5 garlic cloves, chopped fine
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons cajun seasoning
1 tablespoon all purpose seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley as garnish
lemon slices (optional)

OR
(substitute for seasonings)

1 teaspoon ground oregano
1 teaspoon ground thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
1/4 teaspoon dried cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley as garnish
lemon slices (optional)

In a hot frying pan with olive oil sear sliced cabbage pieces till browned on both sides then set aside. Add butter and onions and saute till soft, then add garlic and saute one more minute. Slowly add heavy whipping cream and all the spices and herbs except garnishes. Cook till just starting to thicken. Add sliced cabbage pieces back into the pan, cover and cook till soft. Serve with some crusty bread. Top with lemon slices and parsley garnish. A side salad would compliment the rich cabbage dish. Cabbage never tasted so good, yummy and rich.

Slivered Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Thu, 28 May 2026 11:07:09 +0000

Slivered Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry

1 large bunch of fresh sugar snap peas, strung and slivered
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small white or yellow onion chopped fine
2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and grated fine
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon dried Thai chili pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

These peas are so delicious, soft and crunchy and good for you.
The most amount of effort comes from stringing the peas
and then cutting them on the bias into thin slivers,
then blanching for one minute, immerse in ice water, then drain.
You may do this ahead of time and then prepare the dish when needed.
Add olive oil to medium frying pan along with the butter.
Add onion and saute till soft and just starting to brown.
Next add ginger, spices, and seasonings.
Last add slivered peas and cook till al dente.
If you wish the peas to be a bit softer,
just cover with a lid for 10 min or so till soft.
Very tasty and good for you too.

Kohlrabi and Pear Slaw

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Wed, 27 May 2026 09:06:43 +0000

Kohlrabi and Pear Slaw

3 small kohlrabi bulbs peeled and cut into shoestrings
4 pears peeled, cored, and cut into shoestrings
8 small mini peppers cut into shoestrings
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup raisins
4 tablespoons fresh mint leaves chopped
2 tablespoons fresh Thai basil or cilantro chopped

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon agave syrup
2 tablespoons olive oil

Mix kohlrabi, pears and peppers and toss with lemon juice to prevent browning. Add raisins and herbs and toss again. You could add some shredded carrots for added color and flavor if desired. Whisk lime juice, mustard, agave syrup, and olive oil, add to salad, and toss just before serving. I make slaw salads without a mayonnaise base in warm weather because mayonnaise can go rancid very quickly. A very unusual yet pleasing flavor sure to delight those with an adventurous culinary paleate.

Variegated Yucca Ready to Bloom

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Tue, 26 May 2026 13:13:27 +0000

Variegated Yucca Ready to Bloom

If you want to see several in bloom,
the cemetary across from the library
has them in bloom, their foliage is green.

Yucca take little to no water and are pest free.
The ends of their leaves are sharp so be careful.

CSA Basket This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Mon, 25 May 2026 09:13:09 +0000

CSA Basket This Week

Baby Carrots

Too many have given all for us to be free and I am grateful.

Caraflex Cabbage

Baby Beets

Cilantro

Kohlrabi

Baby Leaf Lettuce

Broccolini

Sugar Snap Pease

I've got my work cut out for me cooking these beauties.
I've made recipes I never would have tried utilizing all this produce.
Stay tuned for some of those recipes.
Participating in CSA - Community Supported Agriculture
All produce was grown at Levity Farms right here in Blairsville, GA

Dry Brined Smoked Salmon

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Sun, 24 May 2026 11:33:38 +0000

Dry Brined Smoked Salmon

1 slab of salmon fillet cut in 4 inches pieces across
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon pepper

2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Mix sugar and spices. Place salmon in a large
non-reactive baking dish.
Pat sugar mixture over each salmon piece.
Cover and refrigerate over night.
Next day wash salmon pieces
to remove excess brine. Pat dry and
let salmon pieces dry with a fan to develop the pellicle.
Smoke with some whiskey soaked hickory chips.

So far I've made salmon dip.

Mix sour cream, whipped cream cheese,
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish,
ground pepper and fresh chopped dill.
Better the second day when flavors meld.
Up next will be some smoked salmon risotto.

Blooming Stuffed Baked Potatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Sat, 23 May 2026 10:06:39 +0000

Blooming Stuffed Baked Potatoes

4-6 small to medium baked potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
4-6 half inches cubes of butter
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground hot pepper of your choice
3/4 cup grated cheese such as cheddar or gouda
green onion slices or chopped parsley for garnish

The potatoes are cut into blossom shapes just like onion blossoms.
Photo shows a potato with bacon but I omitted bacon this time.
Cut potato bottoms off to make a flat potato.
Then cut in quarters or 6ths down to one inch of bottom.
Slice bottoms into thin strips to place in cut sections.
Put potatoes in an 8x8 inch baking dish rubbed with olive oil.

Put one cube of butter in each potato opening in the center.

Sprinkle with spices, then top with grated cheese.
Bake in preheated 375 F oven for 45 minutes
tented with aluminum foil.
Remove tent and bake another 15 minutes till browned.
Sprinkle baked potato blossoms with green onion or parsley.
Serve with protein of your choice.
These potatoes are quite striking on the plate,
and sure to impress your guests.

Blueberry Picking Has Commenced for 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Fri, 22 May 2026 09:05:28 +0000

Blueberry Picking Has Commenced for 2026

Gary does the picking, freezing, and packaging.
He freezes them on trays and then packs them when frozen.
We have five plants and they produce
approximately 40 pints a year.

This year will be a little less due to dry conditions
and should have fertilized more last year.

Blueberry plants are sensitive to over fertilizer,
so we must be careful of overdoing that.
Nothing like organically grown blueberries.
Planting blueberry plants is well worth the rewards.

Here's a down view of one of the plants from
several years ago. The plant was loaded with blueberries.
The plants are now 12 years old and produce an abundance.
They're planted against a south facing half-wall
of our solarium (an enclosed porch).
Plants were covered with ground cover cloth to keep the weeds down,
then mulched and a topping of pine straw on top of that.

Mountain Laurel

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:01:32 +0000

Mountain Laurel

Blooming now deep in the wood as an understory plant.

Gluten Free Onion Rings

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Wed, 20 May 2026 10:00:44 +0000

Gluten Free Onion Rings

1 large yellow or white onion, sliced in 2/3 inch rings
3/4 cup avocado oil or high smoke point oil
1/2 cup gluten free flour
1/4 cup gluten free bread crumbs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, ground
3/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup sour cream
1 large egg

Slice onion and separate rings, set aside.
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
Whisk wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
Dip each ring into wet, dry, wet, dry and set aside.
Heat oil in a tall saucepan to 350 F.
Drop battered onion rings one at a time
into oil and cook on each side till browned.
Set on paper towels to drain.
Serve with your favorite dip or just plain.

Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese Dressing

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Tue, 19 May 2026 12:29:28 +0000

Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese Dressing

4 smaller beets

aluminum foil
4 ounces softened goat cheese
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon agave syrup
a few drops of hot sauce of your choice
salt and pepper to taste

Wrap beets in aluminum foil and roast at 375 F for 45 minutes.
Let beets cool then peel them and cut them into bite sized pieces.
Whisk remaining ingredients and drizzle over beets.
yummy, Gary doesn't like beets but I love them.

Shaved Rainbow Carrot Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Mon, 18 May 2026 09:07:23 +0000

Shaved Rainbow Carrot Salad

1 bunch of small rainbow carrots, shaved then chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1/4 cup raisins
3 green onions sliced thin
4 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped medium
salt and pepper to taste
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper or other ground hot pepper
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

Saute coriander seeds in olive oil till oil starts popping.
Add carrots, raisins, green onions, and cilantro.
Add salt, pepper, and hot pepper.
Cook till warmed through and slightly wilted.
Add lemon juice and serve warm.
So good for you and quick to make
except the cutting of the carrots.
I cut the carrots the day before and refrigerated them
till I was ready to use them.

Steamed Then Sauteed Broccolini

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Sun, 17 May 2026 11:03:13 +0000

Steamed Then Sauteed Broccolini

1 bunch of broccolini
dash of olive oil
2 garlic cloves sliced

salt and pepper to taste

dash of red pepper flakes if so desired

Steam the broccolini till al dente,
then add to a pan with olive oil
and garlic cloves and saute
till just starting to char on edges.
Add salt and pepper and pepper flakes.
Serve with some lemon wedges.

Spicy Amberjack Over Creamed Leeks

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Sat, 16 May 2026 12:27:31 +0000

Spicy Amberjack Over Creamed Leeks

10 ounces amberjack fillet cut into one inch cubes
2-4 wood or metal skewers
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
1-2 teaspoons siracha sauce
2 garlic cloves minced
1 teaspoon minced or grated ginger
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

If using wood skewers soak them for 30 minutes in water so they don't burn. If using metal skewers, no additional treatment is necessary. Whisk all ingredients except amberjack to make a sauce. Cut amberjack fillet into one inch cubes. Marinate amberjack cubes in the sauce. Drain amberjack cubes then slide amberjack cubes onto the skewers leaving a scant space between each cube. Cook remaining sauce and use as additional sauce over the amberjack skewers after plating. Cook amberjack skewers on the stovetop or on the outdoor grill till internal temp reaches 140 F.

3 leeks washed well, quartered then chopped

2 tablespoons butter for leeks
2 tablespoons butter for bechamel
2 tablespoons flour
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1-1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Saute leeks in butter till al dente. Meanwhile in a separate pan melt additional butter, add the flour to make a roux and stir till combined. Slowly add whole milk to desired smooth consistency. Add cream mixture to leeks and then the mustard. Cook till combined. Serve the amberjack skewers over a bed of the creamed leeks. Add additional spicy sauce over the skewers. The leeks tame down the spicy nature of the amberjack. Not too difficult a dish to make and definitely impressive to those who are served.

Flame Azalea are in Bloom

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Starr) — Fri, 15 May 2026 11:03:17 +0000

Flame Azalea are in Bloom

Driving through the countryside this time of year
you're sure to see flame azalea in bloom.
They're native and grow wild.
Spring is a time of renewal and growth.
Take advantage when you can.