Fruit of the rains

What a wet mess we've had to start summer. With the exception of the last week, it's rained most days. The yard looks lush, but I've got powdery mildew on my black-eyed susans already. That doesn't usually show up till mid-late August. 

All this moisture has given us an interesting bumper crop of mushrooms, though.

Not usually the kind of thing I'm looking to grow, but they certainly have a beauty of their own!

Last year I planted a number of new herbs in my garden, some for cooking and some because I love herbal tea. I also started some sage from seed. One of my plants has really flourished, which is great because one of my favorite quick dishes uses fresh sage. 

Take a package of frozen cheese tortellini and cook it in boiling water. While that's cooking, bring a couple of Tbs. of butter just to the point of browning in a frying pan. Add 1-2 Tbs, of olive oil and a handful of sage leaves, sliced very thin. Saute for a few minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Drain tortellini and toss with the browned sage butter and serve. In a pinch you can season with dried sage, but the fresh is so delicious, you'll grow your own sage for this recipe.  Enjoy!