The weekend is a good time for grazing. This is a summary of some of the delightful Blog articles I have been reading during the week. I invite you to graze through these, and also through the archives of the creative writers who wrote them.

Food canning equipment, tool carts, compost bins, growing kits, cider and fruit presses, the Squeezo Strainer, food dehydrators, juicers, smokers, cold frames, greenhouses and so many more innovations contribute to making our lives organized and healthier and to turning our homes and properties into an oasis where the living is good.

All of these things exist because we are creative and because we have a unique ability to adapt to our environment. In truth, foodies, homesteaders and gardeners who write about their experiences are telling the ongoing story of our inventive spirit. On their pages, every tool and appliance is like a paint brush; ready to express a new vision.

You can access the entire Weekend Highlights series to date by clicking on that category in the sidebar at left.

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This week, I suddenly realized that every article I had selected pertained to food. I felt this was fitting for Easter weekend and for the beginning of spring, when we think of gatherings with friends and family. The last selection is the only one that is not about food, but it feeds the senses in its own way. Let’s begin.

It has been a while since we have stopped by Savory Simple‘s kitchen and we arrive just in time for sweet, healthy and fun bites. Often, simplicity is the one ingredient that makes a difference. We honestly try to change our diets, often forgetting along the way to keep it simple and fun. We want our children to accept better alternatives for treats, but providing healthy home-made options can be time-consuming. How about a 3-ingredient treat that is healthy and easy to make?

With Easter at our door, we think chocolate. Savory Simple offers an attractive alternative with Fruit and Nut Bites. I could see children helping to make these. They love playing with food and healthy ingredients make it even better. These would probably hold pretty well in animal-shaped cookie cutters, such as bunnies perhaps… a great little recipe with infinite potential.

“Truthfully, I think the simplicity of these bites is what makes me love them so much,” shares the author, “there are only 3 ingredients… This recipe is a blank template open to your interpretation…” [Read Full Article]

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Sharyn Dimmick, of The Kale Chronicles, kindly took the time to write to recommend an article she felt might be a good addition to this review. Let’s add The Botanical Baker, Baking inspired by nature’s botanical garden, to our list.

Elderflower & Honeycomb Tarts with viola

“For centuries, people have used ingredients from across the botanical spectrum,” explains the author, “and the recipes in this blog are based on those I find appealing and tasty…”

Spring flowers – just in time to eat! This is quite different from our usual food-related reads. “I’m so excited to see all the Spring flowers coming into bloom,” it begins, “Did you know that a lot of these are edible? Let’s start with tulips…”

Indeed, let’s start with Primavera Tulips (I did not post the picture so you would be curious and want to discover it for yourself), Chrysanthemum and Dandelion Frittata, Rose macrons… and did you know that rose petals have a sweet taste and can be used in jams and teas? And, “Who new dandelions would work well with eggs?” asks the author. “It does though so get florally creative…” [Read Full Article]

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And a  side dish with panache…

On the menu: Twice-cooked French fries with sriracha mayonnaise and Lamb sliders. Daisy’s World suggests an elegant reminder that general commentaries about fries and burgers miss the mark. Home-made with attention to quality and presentation, they are worthy of a feast and a gift to feed the body and the senses. The author turns fries and burgers into something to experience fully. I dare anyone to not want to pause between each bite. [Read Full Article]

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Living Large in Our Little House tells us why Muffin Tin Cooking Makes Meals Fun, why muffin tins are for more than just muffins, why they are green, why they are suited for veg­gie dishes, why they help manage portions and why they help get kids interested in cooking. Imagine the presentation on a dining guest’s plate or lunch-sized portions to bring to work, or a hearty and fun way to get the kids to take a healthy lunch to school… and eat it too! And what say you to Cornmeal-Crusted Mustard Chicken with Sweet Potato Coins?

“If you’re liv­ing in a small space, you’ll find that you can make many dishes with just a six-cup muf­fin pan which is easy to store and doesn’t take up a lot of room in your cupboard…” [Read Full Article]

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We close with a song, thanks to Curtiss Ann Matlock’s Wordless Wednesday… Click on the image!

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Thank you for stopping by to read this Weekend’s Review. Please take a moment to leave a few words on the Blogs you enjoy, if you feel so inclined that is.