AND THE TRUMPETS PLAY ON...

Another discovery this summer... Nasturtium! The little trumpet flower and its lily pad leaves adorn the garden with dashes of beauty and... aphid magnets that both are... diligently take care of the tomatoes. Some trail, carpeting the ground while others reach for the skies. Every variety will spice up salads and dishes with smooth texture, prettiness and a sweet, subtly hot pepper taste. 

RECIPE 3:

TRUMPETS A LA MANGO SALAD

Thank you, Nasturtiums! Your trumpets are instruments of unique beauty, and without a doubt, you are a dish! A snip, a bath, and in you go... adding a musical note to salads.

Ingredients:
Music, Imaginary Or Real

Nasturtium Trumpets & Leaves

Spinach, A Bunch
Garden Tomatoes, Red For Color

Champagne Mangos

Boiled or Roasted Chicken Breast

1/2 Garden Jalapeño Or Serrano

Salt

Pepper

Olive Oil

Directions:

Let the trumpets inspire the music you hear... whether it's in your head or through your headphones. Rinse the spinach leaves and pat dry with a paper towel. Pinch off the pistils from the trumpets and the stems from the leaves. Wash and pat dry. Slice the tomatoes (I used Camparis, but any red garden tomato will give it the color and taste you want... Granaderos, coming soon). Pull the meat off the chicken breast and dice the Jalapeño or pepper of your choice. Stand the mango vertically and slice each side parallel to the pit. Scoop or, with a knife separate the fruit from the peel and cube. If you're alone and no one is watching... eat the excess fruit right off the peel and pit. Toss all the ingredients into a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Drench with olive oil. Serve.

CARDINAL RULE!
DO NOT... I REPEAT... DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR VEGGIE SCRAPS. INSTEAD, FEED YOUR COMPOST BIN. IT'S HUNGRY FOR THE NUTRIENTS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY NOURISH YOUR GARDEN (AND YOU).