Kevin Lee Jacobs

A Guide to Creative Living

Taste-Testing the “Beyond Burger”

What possessed me to taste-test the much-hyped "Beyond" burger? My curious mind. And here, for other curious minds, is an   unsolicited -- and definitely not sponsored! -- review of this vegan patty: The following video review is very short and to the point. Click the "play" arrow to watch it:...
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Taste-Testing the “Beyond Burger”

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 waste! To ease my guilty...
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Automatic Watering for Raised Beds

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 spuds which have not been treated...
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How I Plant Potatoes in a Raised Bed

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: Three Ingredient Rhubarb Sauce. What a glorious condiment. I love it on pancakes,...
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Rhubarb Recipe Roundup!

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 from the flower...
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May 2019 Kitchen and Garden Chores

French Asparagus Tart

Earthy asparagus...sun-dried tomatoes...zingy lemon zest...there's nothing about this springtime tart that isn't wonderful. Ready for a taste? Below is the recipe in video format. Farther down is the recipe in printable format. Somewhere in the middle is a link for the recipe in photographic steps. Obviously I like to cover...
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French Asparagus Tart

Mushroom, Spinach and Rosemary Galette

The right food at the right time? Yes, please. I want strawberry shortcake in June. And Thyme and Wine Beef Stew in December. In April, my body demands meaty mushrooms, baby spinach leaves,  fragrant rosemary, and buttery French pastry dough. I answer the call with this springtime galette: NEWS FLASH!...
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Mushroom, Spinach and Rosemary Galette

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Pie (No-Bake!)

My favorite finale for a spring or summer dinner party? Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Pie. Here's the video how-to and printable recipe for this light and refreshing make-ahead dessert: As mentioned, I originally published this recipe in June of 2013. Check out these reader reviews: Divine. Tasted at 3 1/2 hours…...
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Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Pie (No-Bake!)

Caramelized Onions

I'm addicted to Caramelized Onions. The dark-bronze, candy-sweet strands are almost too delicious for words. I love them on pizza. I love them on hamburgers and steaks. Heck, I even love them on a bologna sandwich! Easy to make? Yes. All you need is the patience of a … [Read more...]

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March 2019 House and Garden Chores

Happy third day of March, everyone! If it wasn't for my calendar, I'd hardly know that spring arrives in 17 days. Winter continues here New York's Hudson Valley (zone 5-b), along with bitter cold and gale-force winds. And would you believe that another snow storm is … [Read more...]

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Snowshoe Naan Pizza

When you have homemade Snowshoe Naan in your freezer, fabulous pizza is only 15 minutes away! Here are some topping suggestions for you, along with the baking instructions:   Wanna make your own naan? [Read more...]

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“Snowshoe” Naan

WHAT CAN YOU DO with flour, water, milk, yeast and salt? You can make Naan, just as I did this week. Naan is an ancient, Central-Asian flatbread with a wonderfully wheaty taste and a deliciously chewy texture. I like to form the dough into long “snowshoe” shapes, and … [Read more...]

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Drip Irrigation: A Question for You

Do you have drip-irrigation installed on your property? If so, then I have some questions for you! First up, did you install the system yourself? And next; do the water lines require annual maintenance? Read on, and I'll show you three of the gardens at Clover Hill … [Read more...]

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Chick Pea Fritters (Vegan; Gluten-free)

Yesterday, for the fun of experiment, I fried up some simple vegetable fritters, and served them in folded, homemade Paratha (Indian flatbread).  The egg-less patties were all I wanted them to be:  crispy-crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and majestically … [Read more...]

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How to Thin a Boxwood Hedge

I planted tons of boxwood cuttings many years ago, and my, how they grew! Those cuttings today are enormous plants that I annually shear into hedge forms. Like all boxwood, the shrubs over time have developed a dense, green exterior -- and a sparse (okay, nearly naked) … [Read more...]

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Persian Lime Pie

A firm, cookie-like crust...a soft, citrussy center...a crown of sweetly whipped cream...can you blame me for wanting to share this Persian Lime Pie with you? Note: I ate half of the pie as soon as I'd finished filming the recipe. Another note: My friend Brenda J. … [Read more...]

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Crusty French Baguettes

French baguettes in an American kitchen? Yes! And you can make these crusty batons entirely by hand. Here's my tried-and-true method for mixing, kneading, forming, and baking the 3-ingredient dough: As you've just seen, baguettes are not difficult to make. For me, … [Read more...]

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Buttermilk Cornbread

What goes together like a horse and a carriage? Chili con Carne and Cornbread! My favorite cornbread is the old-fashioned kind, made with real buttermilk and 100% cornmeal (there's no wheat flour in the batter). To insure a deliciously moist interior between crisp top … [Read more...]

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February 2019 Garden Tour

Up for a February garden tour? Better grab your bourbon-filled flask. The garden in question is mine, and the temperature here is as cold as a loan shark's heart: We are in the front yard now, gazing at a house that has withstood 193 winters. As you can plainly see, … [Read more...]

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Cuppa Chocolate Cake

Craving chocolate cake? Is the temptation somewhat...dire? Here's a single serving of dark, decadent, pleasantly moist chocolate cake that will surely scratch your gotta-have-chocolate itch. The batter is mixed -- and baked -- in a coffee cup. Click the "play" arrow … [Read more...]

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