Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

July Flower Arrangement

Designer Erin Brady stopped by the house yesterday, with buckets of freshly-snipped stems in tow. Her mission? To produce a large, lavish July flower arrangement for the rusted cast-iron urn that resides on my entrance hall table.  Erin used only flowers and greens acquired from her own  garden (plus a...
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July Flower Arrangement

Rustic Peach Galette

Oh, how I love peaches. I love them in a lattice-top pie. And in a colorful summer salad. They are delicious too in a Rustic Peach Galette! This very dessert appeared in my kitchen yesterday, and someone -- I won't name names here -- ate all but one narrow slice...
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Rustic Peach Galette

Video: French Radish Sandwich

Got radishes in your garden? Then do what I've learned to do, and turn the humble pink or red roots into a Classic French Radish Sandwich. Radishes require nothing more than sweet butter, coarse salt, and a crusty baguette to make them sing. Check out my video recipe for this...
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Video: French Radish Sandwich

A Virtual Garden Tour

Can you get away for a moment? I'd love to offer you a virtual garden tour of my Kitchen Garden. After weeks of cold, wet, and downright- dreary weather, the veggies and flowers there are finally singing "June is Bustin' Out All Over." I hope you know that Broadway song....
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A Virtual Garden Tour

Cucumber and Mint Sandwich Recipe

For me, nothing says "Summer's here!" quite like a Cucumber and Mint Sandwich. This British classic is deliciously cool and  refreshing to eat during hot, sticky weather. I make the sandwich in the traditional manner, with good bread, good butter, English cucumber, and freshly-snipped mint from my garden.  Need a...
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Cucumber and Mint Sandwich Recipe

Marinara Sauce for Fish or Pasta

I know that most people associate Marinara Sauce with pasta. Historically, the sauce was intended for fish! Marinara translates to "marine," or what the online dictionary defines as "Of or relating to the sea." In any event, I make this ruby-toned condiment just as our southern Italian friends do: quickly,...
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Marinara Sauce for Fish or Pasta

Mango Salsa

Last weekend, Mr. Fox and I ordered "Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa" at a local eatery. The salmon was good, but oh -- the salsa! It was savory. And sweet. Also, it was lit with just a spark of jalapeno heat. I couldn't wait to reproduce this colorful condiment in...
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Mango Salsa

Botanical Cocktail: The Rosemary Greyhound

What’s pink, perfumed, and deliriously delicious? Me, after I’ve showered, shaved, and shampooed. Then there’s the Rosemary Greyhound! Here’s the video (and printable) recipe for this botanical cocktail, along with its fascinating backstory: Click the play arrow above to watch me make -- and taste-test -- a Rosemary Greyhound. Historical...
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Botanical Cocktail: The Rosemary Greyhound

How to Build a Tomato Trellis

Want to build a tall/tan/handsome tomato trellis on which your indeterminate varieties can cheerfully grow? I have good news for you! The trellis in question is very easy to make. The only tools required are a hammer and some wine. I mean twine. My favorite trellises are the "Tee-pee" and...
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How to Build a Tomato Trellis

Video: Spinach, Fennel and White Bean Gratin

Need a uniquely delicious but meatless main course? Just wait until you taste my Spinach, Fennel and White Bean Gratin! The veggies are enveloped in an aromatic cream sauce, and finished with a crisp lid of buttered breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.  Watch me make this … [Read more...]

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How I Plant and Grow Tomatoes

Wanna get the biggest bang from your tomato-growing buck? You've come to the right place! Here is everything I've learned over the years about planting and growing Solanum lycopersicum: First, select the right tomatoes for your needs. Tomatoes come in both … [Read more...]

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Memorial Day Menu Ideas

This weekend marks Memorial Day, the American federal holiday for remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces. In addition to honoring our heroes, many of us take advantage of the three-day weekend by brunching, … [Read more...]

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My Woodland Garden in May 2019

In late-May, when the morning air is crisp and fragrant, I like to sip my coffee while strolling the paths of the Woodland Garden. Would you like to see what's growing beneath the dappled shade there? Sip and stroll with me. Our coffee, by the way, is cold-brewed. [Read more...]

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Taste-Testing the “Beyond Burger”

You might wonder why an unabashed omnivore would bother to taste-test the vegan "Beyond" burger. Well, let's just say I have a curious mind! And here, for other curious minds, is my unsolicited — and definitely not sponsored! — review of this popular plant-based … [Read more...]

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Automatic Watering for Raised Beds

Shame on...me. For ten frivolous years (2008-2018) I relied on an oscillating sprinkler to irrigate the 12 raised beds in my Kitchen Garden. Of course, this same sprinkler watered the paths between the beds. It watered the air, too, whenever the wind kicked up. Such … [Read more...]

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Instant Pot Pork Roast with Apples and Wine

What pairs well with pork? Apples! What "goes" with apples? White wine! What makes a lovely Sunday dinner? Roast pork with apples and wine, all cooked under the high pressure of an Instant Pot. An original recipe for you: Hey look -- Kevin made another video recipe, … [Read more...]

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How I Plant Potatoes in a Raised Bed

A big potato crop from a ridiculously small space? YES! In the following video tutorial, I'll show you how to achieve a colossal harvest of spuds from one 8x4 raised bed: Just to recap: Start with certified organic, disease-free "seed" potatoes. Seed potatoes are … [Read more...]

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Rhubarb Recipe Roundup!

Have I mentioned that rhubarb is my favorite springtime crop? The tart red or green stems practically scream "Winter is over!" Here are some of my favorite rhubarb recipes, all tried and true and waiting for you: [Read more...]

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May 2019 Kitchen and Garden Chores

Take a tip from the nesting robins – May isn’t the month to snooze! Garden work we accomplish now will determine our success for the remainder of the growing season. Need a little guidance? I follow this routine: PERENNIALS Weed, Feed, and Mulch. Get out every weed … [Read more...]

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