Kidney Bean Salad

 

New recipe tried - Kidney bean salad with Lemon (recipe is free online at A Virtual Vegan).  I did make slight changes to the recipe.

What I did. . .

Instead of cane sugar, I used a Tbsp. of lemon infused honey.

I used a full organic English cucumber.

I used both fresh parsley and cilantro (had some that needed used up, as it's not garden season and I have to buy it).

I used red onion.

I chilled the salad for a few hours before serving.

We added crumbled feta to the salad when I served it.  Yum!

Rain is here again.  It's due to come down off and on later and even tomorrow morning.  Our evenings will start dipping into the 30's (hopefully no hard freeze). Thankfully, my three cilantro plants, that came up by themselves, from last year's seeds, are still thriving in the herb garden.

Kidney Bean Salad ©  April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Fragrant Lilacs ~ Chickweed

 

I haven't had time to porch sit, so I have not smelled the lilacs wafting through the country air.  I noticed a bit late this season, but they also bloomed early.  

A few years ago, a pine tree died and fell down, breaking off half of our lilac bush.  It's still blooming, but barely. 

Lilacs smell so wonderful.  I remember, as a young teen, my Grandma bringing cuttings from her lilac bush. 

You can make a lot of things with lilacs, but I have yet to try any recipes.  You can make syrups, infused sugars, jelly, teas, tinctures, and even body care.  Do you make anything with lilac blooms?

There is a possibility to plant another lilac this spring, but the rain is still an issue.

I had "plans" to do some weeding, but we are saturated here still.  Rain is not ending today again either.  I think we may even see rain a bit Thursday, but hopefully not. 

The rain is giving us chickweed, and we are enjoying pesto.  I mixed other greens in this batch too.

Fragrant Lilacs ~ Chickweed ©  April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart