Padron peppers are usually eaten fried in olive oil and with a sprinkle of coarse salt that not only enhances their flavor, but adds a nice crunch. No need for any other garnish, simplicity and quality food at its best. There’s a Spanish saying: Pimientos de Padrón, unos pican y otros no (Padron peppers, some are hot and some are …

Coriander/cilantro is a fast-growing, aromatic herb that grows in the cooler weather of spring and fall. This herb is used to flavor many recipes and the entire plant is edible. The leaves are called cilantro and the seeds are called coriander. A common problem with cilantro is its fast growing cycle. When the weather warms up, many herbs want to …

Pico de gallo is used to describe a wide variety of Mexican regional salsas, which are always made with fresh cubed fruit and/or vegetables. The most common version is made with any red tomato, white onion and green chiles and is sometimes called “salsa mexicana” or “salsa bandera,” because the colors in the salsa represent the Mexican flag. Read more …

It’s easy to grow jalapenos in Sunnyvale. Plant them in April and you will have a continuous harvest from June on. The jalapeño (Castilian Spanish pronunciation: [xalaˈpeɲo], Mexican Spanish pronunciation: [halaˈpeɲo]) is a medium to large size chile which is prized for its warm, burning sensation when eaten. When ripe, the jalapeño can be 2–3½ inches (5–9 cm) long. It …

The type of blue jay we see in Sunnyvale are the Western Scrub Jay. Robin-sized, but large strong bill and long tail make it appear larger. Head, wings, and tail blue (conspicuous when it glides in a long, undulating flight). Their back is dull brown; underparts light gray. No crest; dusky face mask. White throat offset by incomplete blue necklace. …

A flock of wild parrots hang out most often in the area near El Camino Ave and Mathilda Ave, in Sunnyvale, where Matilda turns into Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road.  At various times and, particularly, towards the end of the day, they congregate in Los Palmas Park, just a few blocks away. A cluster of palm trees in the park provide a safe …

During winter in Sunnyvale, the Jade plant is covered with white flowers. It’s is frequently visited by our resident hummingbird. Jade Plant (aka Jade Tree, Money Tree) is a great landscape plant for the Sunnyvale garden. It is a succulent that needs little watering. Jade plant is toxic to pets and can cause vomiting and a slow heart rate. In …

The traditional madeleine is a small French cake baked in a special pan with shell-shaped indentations. These are a savory version that make an excellent hors d’oeuvre. I like to make them ahead because they freeze well. Just reheat at 350°F. for 8-10 minutes. These are a tasty use of the zucchinis from your Sunnyvale garden. servings makes 4 dozen …

Growing zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) in a garden is very easy and a zucchini plant can produce large amounts of delicious squash. How to Plant Zucchini When planting zucchini, you can plant them either as individual plants or grouped on hills. How you grow zucchini squash is up to you, based on how many zucchini plants you intend to grow and …

The quintessential early bird, American Robins are common sights on lawns across North America, where you often see them tugging earthworms out of the ground. Robins are popular birds for their warm orange breast, cheery song, and early appearance at the end of winter. Though they’re familiar town and city birds, American Robins are at home in wilder areas, too, …