Wednesday, July 24, 2013

From My Herb Garden: Chives







Chives are one of the prettiest herbs, with their purple flowers perched on slender stems. The flowers are good in salad, broken into bits, with a stronger flavor than the stems. The bees love the flowers and there's usually a horde of them buzzing about when the chives are in bloom.
 

 Before school ended in June, I filled in for a Home Ec teacher who asked me to demonstrate the technique for a souffle. I hadn't made a souffle for several years, so I thought I should practice at home. Individual ones like these Cheese Souffles with Chives are good for a light dinner or lunch, accompanied by salad. So yummy.


Cottage Cheese Dip - something for these warm summer days. I made this last year and haven't yet done so this year. That needs to be remedied.

Chives are so easy to grow and one of the first herbs that grows in the spring. There's nothing like a snipping of fresh green chives to liven up a winter (or summer) dish. Are there chives in your garden? Are they in bloom now? (Mine are blooming for the second time round this season.)

25 comments:

  1. Yes, there are chives. They aren't blooming and have not bloomed since last summer. Winder what's up with that? Probably not enough sun. I have never tried making a soufflé...wonder if I should after the cake baking debacle of last evening...let's just say that the cake skidded off the runway.

    (We sure have been enjoying Tales from the Green Valley that you recommended. We're up to episode ten and I shall be sorry when they're ended.)

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  2. or wonder...this iPad makes me look like an idiot or perhaps confirms that I am one.

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  3. I love the purple tops of chives as well! Thanks for reminding me that I need to find a place to plant some here!

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  4. I didn't know you could eat the flowers too, good to know! I even put them while blooming in a little wild flower bouquet. It was pretty but the scent messed with my brain, onion smell from a flower bouquet!

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  5. I love chives and always have a pot outside the back door. The flowers look so pretty in salads.

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  6. They look beautiful and the food does too...but I'm never reading your blog before breakfast again....;)))).

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  7. I love them too but mine are sulking this year probably due to the lack of rain (not often we English can say that!)

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  8. Chives are so useful AND they're decorative -- as your lovely photo demonstrates well! I haven't made a soufflé for decades. . . maybe it's time again!

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  9. I love chives blossoms, and seeing your photo makes me long for the earlier days of summer when mine had pretty blooms on it. Right now there just isn't enough color for me--even the roses don't look as lush and full as they were earlier. However, my crocosmia is about to bloom and I am really excited about that:)
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  10. Hello Lorrie,

    Love this shot of your Chives! Aren't they beautiful?

    Gabriela

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  11. I keep telling myself to plant some chives and so far myself hasn't listened well and followed through...
    I love chives!

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  12. Oh, we love chives. They go with so many dishes. Your souffle and the dip look quite delicious!

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  13. That is a beautiful photo of your chives Lorrie. Yes, I have a large clump of chives in the garden and it is finished blooming. I don't know if I'll get a second bloom. It doesn't usually do that. Sadly, I often forget about them and using them in my baking. I enjoy them when they first come up in the spring though.

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  14. Agreed... chives are so pretty. Also, I had no idea you could eat the flowers! So often I learn something new when I pop over here. Thank you, Lorrie!

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  15. Gorgeous and delicious photos, Lorrie!
    Yes, I have chives in my garden. Mine have just finished blooming and I will hope to see them bloom a second time, like yours. Thanks for the reminder to use them more often! I tend to use them most in the wintertime in homemade soup.

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  16. I always have a pot of chives among my little herb section. We add them to our potato dishes all the time and also in soups.

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  17. I'm planning a tossed green salad for this evening and I think I'll throw in some chive flowers - thanks!

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  18. It all looks yummy! And yes...there are chives in my garden...which get snipped quite often.

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  19. OH I love chives - for flowers and for eating. Your recipes look like they taste wonderful - oh the joys of summer.

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  20. I miss my perennial chives plants that I had in my garden back in NY. I planted new plants this year but they are slow grow so far. Your photos are gorgeous, Lorrie! Your souffles look delicious!

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  21. I missed planting any these year and really miss having them to snip! Such pretty blooms too.

    Like the look of the soufflé - and surprise, my keyboard on the MacBoook Air actually put in the accent on the e without my help, that's a first!

    Mary X

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  22. I have chives in the garden and want to try both of your recipes. Mind you, it will be my first attempt at a soufflé!
    -Karen

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  23. I’d love to eat at your table. Must go and have a look at my chives, perhaps I should freeze them for winter.

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  24. Oh Lorrie you have made me SO hungry. Your quiche looks wonderful.

    Have a wonderfully lovely day!

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  25. Beautiful chives!
    The souffle looks to beautiful to eat, but now I want.

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