How Does Your Garden Grow?

SUM.SUM.SUMMERTIME!!

Do you plant a garden every spring & summer?  Do you love going out your back door and picking some fresh produce. I know I sure do....one of my favorite things about summer.  I don't use any pesticides on my plants so I know exactly where and how my produce is grown.

There is just something about the smell of a tomato plant that always symbols summer to me.

And when you cut fresh herbs....a little bit of heaven on earth I think.

Nothing better for you or more inexpensive than growing your own veggies and herbs.

Even if you have a garden in a pot....so worth it!!

This was my garden a month ago....everything coming in nicely and anticipating some yummy veggies and herbs.

And this is today!  Everything is growing in beautifully and we've been eating already from the garden most nights.

My zucchini plants are looking great....lots of beautiful blooms so I know we will be eating fresh zucchini by the time I get back from vacation!

I plant both the zucchini and cucumbers with seeds every year and have always had success with them.  In fact other than my tomato and pepper plants everything is planted by seeds.  For under $25 you can have a garden full of yummy produce for the summer....can't beat that!

I always plant 5 different types of lettuces in my garden...super easy to grow and OMGosh it tastes so good.  We have fresh salads, BLTs, Caprese Salad, Burgers...everything has fresh lettuce on it. And once these crops dwindle, I pull up the leftover stalks and plant new seeds. I usually have lettuce thru October most years. And enough to share with neighbors and friends too :)  Even though I use no pesticides the lettuce still has dirt on it...so everything gets washed and then I use the OXO Salad Spinner to dry it out (love my spinner).

I'm most excited about having some fresh tomatoes real soon.  There are some biggun's already growing and a ton of cherry tomatoes...I expect to have them for next weekend's Fourth of July...mmm. Can we say tomato sandwich with Dukes Mayo and a bit of pepper...YUMMO!

My basil plants are stunning...no doubt about it...they look beautiful! Planted by seeds and I have enough for 1000 Italian dinners LOL!  We've already used it in Caprese Salads, Chicken Parmesan and Italian Meatloaf.  I like the sweet basil so that's usually what I plant.  I also have chives, cilantro and rosemary planted that we've been using too.

This is one of my pepper plants...I don't like peppers nor do I eat them.  However the boys love them so I always plant a mix of green peppers and habanero peppers for them.  Those are my cosmos coming in nicely to the right of the peppers.  I like to plant flowers in my garden as well....they look pretty and deter the animals.

This is what I've been pulling out of the garden most days....along with bowlfuls for friends.

Soooo yummy!

Salads most nights with my homemade Caesar Dressing or Balsamic Dressings.

And chicken parmesan with fresh basil....so good...non-paleo yes but very good indeed ;)

So...How Does Your Garden Grow?

SUMMER Food Porn Tuesday!

SUMMER RECIPES

I'm all for yummy, brightly colored foods using veggies and fruits in the summertime. Summer usually makes me want lighter foods that don't heat up my kitchen or take too long to make...gotta have some lounge-time built into the summer right?

And fresh fruit that is so sweet it dribbled down your chin...amen I say!!!

Thought I'd share a few recipes I've seen around that got my tastebuds going....will be making these the next 2 weeks before we head out on our 15 day vacation starting July 9th.

Chili Lime Sweet Corn Salsa

Our local farmers market is promising fresh corn by next week...so I'm thinking

this would be a yummy side with some fresh, grilled fish.  Mmmmmm!

Parmesan Crusted Zucchini Spears

I make a zucchini dish that I make a lot (diced zucchini & onions sauteed then add mozz cheese on top) so I'm looking to expand my zucchini repertoire because I have a LOT of zucchinis growing in the garden. These look easy & yummy!

Caramelized Onion Quiche

Onions + Cheese = say no more.....sounds like good stuff to me and easy to cook up!

Caprese Stuffed Tomatoes

I love me some stuffed tomatoes....that's just good eating to me...especially when they are fresh 'maters!

Here's a few for ya in case you need variety like me ;)

Spinach, Mushroom & Brie Stuffed Tomatoes

Avocado & Chicken Stuffed Tomatoes

Tomatoes Stuffed with Grilled Corn Salad

Yellow Bean & Mushroom Gratin

I am going to have a bumper crop of wax/yellow beans this summer and was looking for new recipes when I came across this.  Sounds sooooo good & easy to do!

Spaghetti with Basil Pesto

I'm growing a few herbs this summer as well and my basil has come in beautifully. I'm going to make this recipe and the one below with my fresh basil...should be yum yums!

Chicken with Basil Artichoke Sauce

Sounds yum right? I'll let you know.....

Creamy Strawberry Balsamic Dressing

I want to try this version on my spinach-strawberry salads this summer.

Looks good, sounds good!

Blackberry Cream Cupcake

And for a very sweet dessert, how about these?  I think I just drooled.....
I like little desserts...just enough to sweeten you up but not enough to stuff ya!

Are any of you growing some fresh veggies this summer?  What's your favorite veggie to eat and grow?

Apple Mania!

I love apples. Apple foods. Apple smells. Fresh Apples. 

They're all good. mmmmmm.

Apples are in season everywhere right now. The farmers markets here have bushels of them in shiny, pretty colors that just make me happy :)  And fresh is best y'all!

So I thought I'd round up some yummy, gooey, sometimes-healthy, sweet, tart, happy Apple Recipes with everyone today.  Some I've tried and loved and others are ones that I need to try.

*******************************

Buttery Cinnamon Apple Pancakes

{Sunday Brunch..mmmm}

Carmel Filled Apple Cupcakes (drooling)

Crockpot Sweet Potato Mash

{with apple juice}

Don't forget the Crockpot Applesauce I shared

{so easy & sooooo good}

Caramel Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese

{calorie bustin..but a must try..mmm}

Caramel Apple Slab

Beef Apple Stew

Brie & Apple Soup

{I love brie with apples..gonna try this}

Caramel Apple Cider 

{only thing I drink at Starbucks}

Apple Roasted Chicken 

{I'll skip the coconut sugar tho}

Curried Apple & Pecan Slaw

{I love a good crunchy slaw & want to try this one}

Crock Pot Cinnamon Apple Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

{think I'll wrap them in bacon for extra flavor}

******

Ending on a Sweet & Easy Note

Caramel Apple Snickers Salad

{yesssssssss}

Are you Apple-Satisfied Now?

Mmmmmm I can't wait to make these...now I'm hungry!!

A Lil' Bit of Everything!

Quick and Easy Side Dish

VEGGIE SAUTE

I'm always trying to figure out healthy & easy side dishes to serve with dinner that my family will eat.

This dish I make is something my mom used to throw together growing up and I've just tweaked it a bit.  The best thing about it is you can include whatever you want or like!

I call it Veggie Saute and its soooo good.  If you have leftovers of this, the 2nd day is even better after those flavors really marinate together...mmmm!  

This is great if you have a bunch of veggies laying around that you need to use up or only have a few of each...chop them up and add them to the mix.  That way the veggies don't go to waste!

Ingredients that I use:

*Remember you can add whatever veggies you choose

*any amount of veggies that you want, its up to you

-zucchini

-yellow squash

-onion

-tomatoes

-mushrooms

-any peppers you choose

-Olive Oil

-3-4 garlic cloves pressed/diced

-salt/pepper

-red pepper flakes

-shredded mozzarella

Add your Olive Oil to a saute pan and cook your garlic for a few mins.

Then add all your veggies (chopped) and seasonings...I love a kick so I add a good amount

of red pepper flakes.  

Cook over medium heat until veggies soften up to your liking, stirring well every few minutes.

If you are in a rush put a lid on the pan so the veggies cook down faster.

You can do this with fresh or store bought veggies....here's the secret though (shhhh ok)?  No matter whether you use fresh or store bought you cannot really tell because you are sauteing it down with flavorful seasonings.  So what's that mean?  

You can make this all year long and its super healthy for you and EASY!!!!

Ta Da!  Yum Yum...now here is the kicker...listen closely ok??

CHEESE

If you like cheese...sprinkle a bit of shredded mozzarella on the mixture while warm so it melts a bit and then serve.  YUMMO!  Course you don't have to use cheese, but it adds a special sumpin' to the mix!

Easy to make, cooks up quickly and its healthy!  Yum Yum!

A View From the Garden!

Treasures from my Garden

 This was a pic of my tomatoes before I went on vacation 2 weeks ago. Lots of green tomatoes all over my plants. 

This is what they look like now...another day and the large ones will be 100% ready.  I picked about 20 Cherry Tomatoes today for a fresh salad tonight...YUM!

 I grow my cucumbers UP/vertically so they don't take over my whole garden.  I picked two yesterday and this one is almost ready.  Looks like I may have about 50 blooms on these plants...that means I will be canning lots of PICKLES!!

 I planted more lettuce seeds before I left and this is what I came home to.  We had lots of rain so the lettuce just sprang up...will be using this in fresh salads and on sandwiches this week.

 I have 4 large zucchini plants and we've gotten 3 zucchinis off of it so far with many more growing...including the GIANT one below LOL!  I love grilled and sauteed zucchini.  I like to dice it up and saute it with some diced onion, salt/pepper and some red pepper flakes in olive oil.  Then top it with some mozzarella cheese...mmmmm good!

 Yes, Yes...that is a GIANT zucchini from my garden LOL!  I chopped it up and put it in foodsaver bags to use in zucchini bread real soon.  Those were some of the treasures from my garden when I got home.  A few radishes, a few tomatoes, lots of wax beans, lettuce and zucchini.

My zinnia seeds also sprouted up and frame the backside of my garden.  So pretty and good for keeping garden pests at bay along with my marigolds.  Organic pesticide I call them!! 

How's your garden growing?