Not Gardening, But ohhhh the Chocolate!!

So while getting all the stuff ready for graduation I thought I would share this Chocolate Delight with you all. Brownies are great and very chocolatey, but this takes it over the top!



I did take a shortcut of using a boxed brownie mix, today was ballet, refill on meds pickup, get wine, go to the commissary, get cards, and then come home and make brownies and coleslaw. The slaw is good, but hey, it is not chocolate!!



So here is the recipe for this Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Brownie-- courtsey of my sister

Chocolate Sin Raspberry Truffle Brownies

BROWNIES:
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (Belgian PS)
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee -- crystals (I used espresso powder)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour


RASPBERRY TRUFFLE FILLING:
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (Belgian PS)
• 1/4 teaspoon instant coffee -- crystals (I used espresso powder)
• 1 package cream cheese -- 8 oz
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup seedless red raspberry preserves (I used “All Fruit”)
GLAZE:
• 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips (Belgian PS)
• 1 teaspoon shortening
Brownies: In saucepan over low heat, melt morsels and margarine; cool slightly. In large mixing bowl, beat sugar and eggs. Add chocolate mixture and coffee dissolved in water. Mix well.
Stir in baking powder and flour; blend well. Spread in greased 9x9 pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick tests clean.
Raspberry Truffle Filling: Melt chocolate with coffee in pan over low heat. Set aside. In small mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese until fluffy; add powdered sugar and preserves. Beat until fluffy. Beat in melted chocolate mixture until well blended. Spread over cooled browned layer.
Glaze: In small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and shortening. Drizzle over truffle layer. Chill 1-2 hours. Cut into bars.
Recipe source: The Marlborough Meetinhouse Cookbook
Serve COLD! Store in fridge!

If you NEED some chocolate- try this!! Everyone have a great weekend!

Afer these cool, comes the next step....

After the Sale and Before Graduation

Many thanks for all the well wishing on our plant sale. It was a success. Especially fun for me was the fact that Racquel, one of my blogging buddies, came by with her husband. Thanks for coming Racquel, we will get together soon!
One of the first purchases I ever made at the Learning Garden plant sale was this Rhododendron 'Elsie Lee' (Azalea). I think it was about 10 years ago that I bought this beauty. She has thrived in my front flower bed. You can see the rain is hanging on every petal.



Something else that is really blooming at full tilt now is the Columbine, Aquilegia. I have a few colors, really like this color combo.



And then there are these taller ones in the curved bed.


The rain has taken a toll on the Irises. In the front yard I have white iris and purple and white in the back yard.


One sweet little plant that I bought at Smithfield Gardens years and years ago is this Ledebouria cooperi, aka Scilla cooperi. The common name is Zebra quill. Tiny bulbed plant in the Hyacinth family. It is so tiny. You can see the pine straw beside it. This was an impulse buy on my first visit to Smithfield Gardens. The botanical name is very similar to my own, so of course I had to buy it. This is one plant I will be taking with me to South Carolina. Just have to.



The tray of snapdragons that I bought in March are all blooming now. I thought it was a mix of colors, but it turns out they are all this deep red with the yellow throat that echos the azaleas and wallflowers near where they are planted.





and finally.......... my week will end with us going up to James Madison University for graduation. One is graduating from grad school and the other from undergrad. We are very proud of both of them.
So fluttering above a sea of Stringy Stonecrop, Sedum sarmentosum, and a few Dusty Miller-- JMU Duke Dog! Love you girls! Congratualations to you both.

Getting Ready for Our Plant Sale

Yesterday and today I am in the Learning Garden getting ready for our sale this weekend. We get a lot of donations from folks in the community, so the selection is always varied. In past years I obsessed about whether we had enough plants. Every year, it works out. So I am not getting too worked up this year....am I getting wiser as I get older?!?!
After things were set up yesterday I walked around the garden with the camera. The Rhododendrons are starting to pop like popcorn. Each one is a new favorite as I walk through the Rhododendron section........




From the Rhodie section I went past our trellises that have lots of blooms.




The Chionanthus virginicus is in bloom for the sale...always a bonus!


And one of the Amsonia...


The various Aquilegia are also showing off-


Azaleas are also putting on a great show at this time... Beautiful settings...full of color.


One of my favorite azaleas is Rhododendron 'White Rosebud' ('Kehr's White rosebud')



I finished my walk through the Shade Garden... love the combination of foliage contrasts. Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate' Spider wort and Polygontum odoratum 'Variegatum' Solomon's Seal.



HAPPY MAY!!!!