Wen-Chia Tsai Parker

Teacher, Author, Illustrator, Designer and Architect

Tag Archives: recipes


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Picking Summer Fruits Apples & Peaches

Apple and peach trees have rich and ancient histories, originating thousands of years ago in Asia. Apples are believed to have first been domesticated in the mountains of Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan, while peaches trace their roots to China, where they were cultivated as early as 2000 BCE. Over centuries, both fruits spread westward along trade routes and became staples in orchards across Europe and the Americas. In Southern California, the warm days and cool nights create ideal conditions for many low-chill varieties of apples and peaches to thrive. Planting these trees not only provides delicious, homegrown fruit but also supports local biodiversity, encourages sustainable gardening, and enhances backyard landscapes with their beautiful blossoms and seasonal harvests.

While it might seem natural to grow apple and peach trees from the seeds inside their fruit, doing so rarely produces the same quality or type of fruit as the parent tree. This is because both apples and peaches are genetically diverse and do not grow true to seed—the resulting trees often bear fruit that is very different in taste, texture, or quality. Instead, Home growers rely on grafting, a horticultural technique that joins a branch or bud from a desired fruit variety onto a hardy rootstock. This ensures the new tree will produce consistent, reliable fruit identical to the original cultivar. Grafting also allows for better disease resistance, improved growth, and earlier fruit production, making it the preferred method for propagating apple and peach trees.

Apples and peaches are incredibly versatile fruits with a wide range of culinary and practical uses. Apples can be enjoyed fresh, juiced, or cooked into pies, crisps, and sauces, and their firm texture makes them ideal for baking and preserving. They’re also commonly dried for snacks or fermented into cider and vinegar. Peaches, with their juicy sweetness, are perfect for eating fresh off the tree, blending into smoothies, or baking into cobblers and tarts. They can also be canned, made into jam, or grilled for a savory-sweet twist. Beyond the kitchen, both fruits are rich in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, making them nutritious staples in a healthy diet.


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Planting Basil in my Garden

I’m planting some beautiful fresh Thai basil in my garden from stems that I purchased from a farmers market. These beautiful stems are easy to root to propagate to make new plants to grow into full basil plants that can be harvested and use in all sorts of delicious food. In this video, I show how easy it is to plant basil into pots and in directly into the soil in my garden. Thai basil, scientifically known as Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora, is a staple herb in Southeast Asian cuisines. It is easily recognizable by its striking purple stems, small and narrow bright green leaves with serrated edges, and clusters of pink-purple flowers that bloom in late summer. Cousins to the sweet basil; Thai basil has a robust, spicy-sweet flavor profile with pronounced notes of anise and licorice, making it highly prized for its ability to withstand high cooking temperatures and infuse dishes with bold, aromatic complexity. Commonly used in dishes such as Thai curries, Vietnamese phở, and stir-fries, Thai basil is valued for both its culinary versatility and its nutritional benefits, including high levels of vitamins A and K. Its sturdy leaves and stems are all edible, and the plant is often grown as an annual in temperate climates, thriving in warm, sunny conditions. This plant is very easy to grow in the warm temperatures of SoCal as long as it gets enough water. Enjoy the fragrant and beauty of Thai Basil in your garden and home cooking! #Composting, #GardenCompost, #DIYComposting, #CompostTips, #WormComposting, #Vermicomposting, #LazyComposting, #CompostBin, #OrganicGardening, #GardeningForBeginners, #HotComposting, #SustainableGardening, #EcoFriendlyGardening, #HomeGardening, #UrbanGardening, #SoilHealth #PlantNutrition, #GardenHacks, #FallGardening, #ZeroWaste, #MomLife, #GardeningWithKids, #FamilyGardening, #KidsInTheGarden, #GardeningMoms, #SustainableLiving, #EcoFriendly, #ZeroWasteLiving, #GreenParenting, #NatureLovers #rooftopgarden #guava #herbs #fruitbearingplant #fruittrees #fruitrees #greenparenting #ecofriendly #gardeningtips, #rooftopplants #reducecarbonfootprint, #rooftopplants, #ZeroWaste, #MomLife, #GardeningWithKids, #FamilyGardening, #KidsInTheGarden, #GardeningMoms, #SustainableLiving, #EcoFriendly, #ZeroWasteLiving, #GreenParenting, #NatureLovers #basil #greenlove #herbs #cookingwithlove #plants