It’s time for the annual Tampa Tabebuia Tour. That’s not really a thing, but it should be. Every time I drive by one in full bloom I have to pull over and take a picture. 
They thrill me!
We went to a memorial service in Massachusetts. It snowed.
We came home and suddenly it felt like summer.
I’m overwhelmed by tiny tomatoes right now. In a good way.
And the mango trees are flowering beautifully. A lot can happen between now and summer, but there’s potential.
My Valentine was working this year so I had no plans to celebrate. Somehow I found myself at an Andrea Bocelli concert with family and friends. What a night!
On Saturday I went to a Collard Green Festival in St. Pete and entered the cook-off. My cousin and her boyfriend went along to cheer me on.
I picked a bunch of my beautiful, tender collards and made a collard and cornbread pot pie. It’s vegetarian, but between those super-fresh collards and my bag of tricks, I thought I might have a shot.
It didn’t get a blue ribbon.
The winner owns a popular barbecue restaurant. Those were too salty if you ask me. I overheard a woman say “I only like my collard greens,” and I thought, lady, I feel the same way.
I’m cooking up lots of recipes to share with you in March, including that collard & cornbread pot pie, despite its lack of accolades.
See you back here soon.
xo
Love it!!
Thanks, Matt. Hope to see you guys next week.
Love your tiny tomatoes!
Looking forward to the Collard and Cornbread pot pie recipe.
Eat ’em up and enjoy! I need to make another pot pie to perfect the measurements and photos. I’ll get to work on it soon.
Tomatoes look awesome! I do not eat collards but I would try yours. UF
I bet you’d like ’em in the pot pie, Uncle Freddie.
another nice job. Looking forward to recipes for florida grown vegetables. . Thanks…..
Thank you, Herman! Glad you’re looking forward to the vegetable recipes. I’d like to throw in more fish recipes but we haven’t had time to catch much lately. Hopefully soon…
Stunning vibrant colors on the blooming trees. Love your little tomatoes they sure look tasty…and you have so many!
I think you caught the tail end of all the blooming tabebuias. I always wish they’d last a little longer. They’re a sight to behold!
I feel the same way about collards, I only like my own! Stoked to try your collard & cornbread pot pie though!
🙂 You can put your own collards in that pot pie, too.
Hi Danielle, I followed your Instagram to your blog, and I am LOVING it!! Such a wonderful celebration of Florida living: the fruit, veggies, sea, land, seasons, history, traditions, the good stuff, and the, um, distinctly Florida stuff, haha. Your deep affection for this place shows through it all – very fun and inspiring. Also I enjoy the bits of stuff from Massachusetts, my home land. I’m now following your blog in my blog reader. Looking forward to more great posts!
What kind words, Craig. So glad to have you following along. I just started a book last night called The Food Explorer by Daniel Stone about David Fairchild. Have you read it? It reminds me so much of what you write about on Floridafruitgeek.com. Our blogs are very complimentary. Thanks for reaching out!