Columbine never ceases to amaze me, such colorful beauty in SHADE, no less.  The Yelton Manor Gardens have 6 different varieties and I am still lusting after more!!

Mother Nature does the details!

A spring favorite, dazzling in a vase paired with bleeding hearts!

Mini Iris bloom early and today they are open everywhere!  Sweet, only about 6 inches high, very dainty and  detailed.

I am always looking for great snacks to serve at Yelton Manor Bed and Breakfast, and this amazing recipe has absolutely BLOWN MY MIND!  It’s SO delicious! And perfect for spring when lighter, greener fare is your craving!

Credit where it’s due, this is lifted from the spring issue of Real Simple!  Though it’s not REAL simple, it’s simple enough.  I used store bought pizza dough, EASY, and made 4 pizzas from two tubes of dough. Assemble all ingredients before putting together and it’s a snap to make.

Ingredients:   1 lb pizza dough, at room temperature, corn meal for dusting the baking sheet,

1 lb asparagus, halved lengthwise and across, 5 ounces baby bella, crimini or button mushrooms,

2 cloves of garlic, minced, 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese, 3 T olive oil, salt and pepper,2 cups baby arugula, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice.

Directions: Heat oven to 400° F.

Shape the dough into 4 rounds and place on 2 cornmeal-dusted baking sheets.

Dividing evenly, top the dough with the asparagus, mushrooms, and garlic, then the ricotta, Parmesan, and 2 tablespoons of the oil. Season with ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the crust is golden brown and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the arugula with the lemon juice, the remaining tablespoon of oil, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Top the pizzas with the arugula just before serving.

The ricotta cheese is surprisingly light, a nice change from mozzarella on pizza.  The arugula and lemon juice make a spicy tart contrast to the other ingredients.

I guarantee that you will love these!!!!!

Pre-season is recipe testing time at Yelton Manor Bed and Breakfast!

Cindi and I have tested 7 new recipes in two days! This one got TWO YUMS UP!

Here are Breakfast Cookies! Just 4 ingredients!

6 ripe bananas, 2 cups unsweetened applesauce (we use our home canned of course), 1 cup dried cranberries and 3 cups oats. Just mix it up.

350 degrees for 35 minutes.

As an extra bonus, these are Vegan and Gluten Free.

We tried 3 methods of storing: room temp, fridge and freezer.  Freezer cookies were best and somehow married the flavors optimally.  Fridge was fine.  But we nixed room temperature.

Yield: 18 cookies

Yelton Manor Bed and….SKIP Breakfast!!

We played around with the Sharpies again this morning!!!

At Yelton Manor B&B, we are humming the great old tune by The Beatles!

In February, I fell on the ice and broke my shoulder and arm. After a successful surgery and a long 9 weeks of therapy, I am doing very well.  Last week my friends Mike and Marci came “in for the assist” from Indiana and put in 5 long hours of shoveling and spreading compost in the garden with me.

I am so grateful!!!!!