Keeping Your Fiddle Fig Alive (Or Going Faux)

We’ve loved and lost a few fiddle figs over the years—as many of you know, they’re a fickle bunch. But in the process, I’ve gleaned some tips for keeping them alive. Here’s what I’ve learned…

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Comfort Foods (& Friday Links)

When I was growing up, I was the lucky kid who got to have Hostess Cupcakes and Ho-Hos (or Little Debbie Swiss Rolls) in my lunch bag, and to this day I can’t resist that oddly distinct combination of slightly waxy chocolate and cream. I won’t let myself buy a box of the cakes, in fact, as I know I’d polish it off within the day. Okay, within the hour. Do you have any (guilty) nostalgic treats like that?

Sometimes I come across a recipe—like this one, pictured—that tells me I’m not alone. The resemblance is uncanny! And these are Vegan and Gluten-Free.

Here are two more recipes for recreating nostalgic comfort foods at home: DIY Magic Shell and Homemade Oreo filling.

And some links for the weekend…

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Almond Blossom Season

Every spring, acres of almond orchards around here burst into incredible displays of pale pink of white blooms, and start to buzz, literally, as bees go to work pollinating trees. If you neglect to get out and about around the  time the blossoms are on the branches, however, you could miss them entirely.

We always make a point of timing some walks along the country roads in Winters or Dixon to when the blooms are at peak, and snap some family photos. And they always end up being some of my favorites…

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