Every year our farm changes and grows just a bit. We become more efficient, find a new passion that we want to incorporate, or maybe babysit a new animal or two. Well this year our newest addition to the Lavender Apple Farm was a Hoop House. These babies are also known as High Tunnels or Green Houses. 

Hoop Houses provide an easy way to gain greater control over your weather environment and extend your growing season in a cost effective way. We plan on using ours for herbs this winter. It's also ideal for vegetables, small fruit, and flowers. We plan on now being able to supply our clients with the freshest Lavender Herbs De Provence all year round!  

Have you tried any of our blog recipes featuring this delicious herb blend yet? If not, just do a quick search in the search bar and you will find many yummy recipes you can make tonight! 

 This moody spooky lavender wants to wish you a happy halloween! Doesn't this look like a bunch of witches brooms? (Order your own lavender bundles at www.lavenderapple.com)

Well our cute little grand baby Mimi also wants to wish you a a spooky holiday. Remember to use lavender as a pallet cleanser between all your M&M's and Butterfingers! 

Have a spooky weekend!

I love a tasty dish that comes together in just a few minutes with just a few ingredients. This pumpkin seed pesto is a wonderful diversion from a normal basil pesto, its perfect for fall - and a great way to use all those pumpkin seeds you'll have laying around after you carve your Jack-O-Lanterns! The fact that you brown the gnocchi in the pan with the mushrooms at the end, it just makes this dish much more magical than normal boiled gnocchi. I'm betting you and your family will really enjoy it. 

Ingredients for Pesto:
1 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
juice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 
1 tablespoon water
1 garlic clove
salt & pepper to taste

Ingredients for gnocchi:
1 sixteen ounce pkg gnocchi
16 ounces baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
2 cups arugula

Directions: 
In a food processor pulse your seeds, cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, water, and garlic until a smooth paste forms. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. Cook your gnocchi for 2-3 minutes in a pot of boiling water until they float to the top. While your gnocchi boil, heat your butter in a large skillet. Add your mushrooms and saute them. Once the gnocchi is done cooking, drain them and add them to your skillet of mushrooms. Add your pesto to the pan and cook everything on medium high heat until your mushrooms are sauteed and your gnocchi are golden brown. Add basil and arugula at the end and cook for another 60 seconds. 

Full of protein, greens, and a wonderful texture and flavor. What more could you want from a quick easy 15 minute meal? Enjoy!

Tonight we made a mixed grill skillet for dinner. It's very simple and has few ingredients, but it is so good. It's similar to a hash, but without the egg. This would be a perfect hearty breakfast, but it actually makes a wonderfully satisfying dinner as well. It has charred peppers, sautéed onion, juicy sausage, and crispy potatoes. Its a simple and easy last minute dish that no one will feel sorry for eating. 

Ingredients: 
2 bell peppers, diced, diced (choose 2 different colors to make the dish pretty) 
7 red potatoes, diced
1 onion
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried lavender
Salt & Pepper to taste
6 sausages , sliced (We used Aidells Bacon Mushroom & Swiss Cheese Sausage from Costco because its Nitrate free and has great flavor!) 

Directions :
In 2 separate skillets add your sausage pieces and cook on medium high heat until charred and crispy. Remove from the skillets and set aside, keeping the remaining grease in the pans. In one of the skillets add your potatoes, salt and pepper them, then cook until golden brown and crispy. In the other skillet add your bell peppers, onions, herbs, and salt and pepper them as well. Cook until soft and caramelized. Add back your sausage and mix the two skillets together. 

This simple and satisfying dish is one your family will ask for again and again. Enjoy!