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2
Jul
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Feasting on our Harvest! |
Happy Friday, everyone! Queue the countdown to the long weekend… I’m sure some of you have already started but I still have about 8 more hours of work! Leave me some love to pass the time, k?
I haven’t blogged too much (or anything at all, maybe) about our vegetable garden. I didn’t want to make a big hype of it and have it be a total bust, know what I mean? Ben grew up with a gardening momma, and I did not, but we decided to tackle it this year and really learn together. We started out building two 4×4 raised beds, carefully selecting both our soil composition and our crops. Altogether, we have two kinds of squash (one was supposed to be zucchini, but I think the plant was mislabeled – I’m preparing for a whole lot of summer squash, send the recipes my way!), two kinds of winter squash, beets, carrots (purple haze, ’cause you know I can’t resist purple veggies), Swiss chard, two kinds of peppers, two eggplant, two tomatoes, cukes, beans, and snap peas. Yes, really, all that in two little boxes.
I’m not ready to say it’s been a total success, just yet. There are definitely some things I’m afraid are just ruined… but yesterday morning I went to check things out and was delighted to harvest a giant handful of snap peas and a perfectly good summer squash. Enough to make a meal! Granted, it was really only enough for one, but that worked out perfectly since Ben had a softball game. Fresh veggies, all for me! I was practically salivating all day 🙂
Keeping it simple, I just steamed the snap peas and squash and then tossed them with a little olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and mint. I grilled up a chicken sausage for some protein, and simply savored, looking forward to (hopefully) many more fresh veggies this summer.
I'm Cara, lover of creative, clean food and healthy living. Pumpkin, goat cheese, and eggplant make me swoon. I have an insatiable sweet tooth and desire to lift heavy things. 
Elina — July 2, 2010 @ 2:03 pm
That's so great! I love picking up veggies + fruit at the farmers market but I can't even imagine how proud you must be to grow your own. Your dinner looks lovely :)Happy 4th! I have a whole day of work too… and maybe even some weekend work. Oh well, at least it's going to be nice out for the rest of the time. 😀
Bridget — July 2, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
oh yes, working all day today as well!Your veggies look awesome!!! Our snap pea plan did not make it sadly 🙁 Sucks too becuase it was getting some pea pods on it but the whole plant kind of shrivled up? WEird. Other than that, we dont have any veggies to pick yet but everything else seems to be going good! Can't wait to have some homegrown veggies to eat! Actually I did find a couple ripe cherry tomatoes last night 🙂
ruthiejoy — July 2, 2010 @ 2:54 pm
Cara,Wow!! I didn't know you had a food blog –wonderful!! And congratulations on your harvest! I have a big garden too –check out my photos on Facebook!Also, are you interested in cooking/baking with some Equal Exchange products? We give free products to food bloggers who use and write about them. Let me know if you're interested –email me on FB.Love and blessings!Ruthie
Alexandra London-Gross — July 2, 2010 @ 3:14 pm
I love that you have your own garden! Fresh peas off of the vine are my favorite snack. I'm kind of weird and just eat them raw. Have a great weekend!Alex @ ieatasphalt.com
Joanne — July 2, 2010 @ 6:13 pm
Judging from this bounty, I would say you are safely in the green thumb zone. Looks fantastic! Oh how I wish I had a garden. Can I live vicariously through yours?
Raina — July 2, 2010 @ 8:52 pm
These veggies look fresh and wonderful. I think you garden sure sounds great..a lot better than mine which is pretty much nil. Never got to it this year:(
Debi — July 3, 2010 @ 12:37 am
That photo looks delicious! I love the simple veggie dishes. I'm a deck gardener and feel so proud when I see that first little zucchini! Can't wait to see the rest of the veggies make an appearance.
grace — July 3, 2010 @ 9:00 pm
looks like you've reaped some tasty produce, cara, and you've picked a fine way to prepare it. way to let its goodness shine!
Chelsey — July 6, 2010 @ 5:37 am
Isn't it awesome to eat something you planted yourself? I swear it tastes ten times better than from a store…even if it only serves one!
Dawn — July 6, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
SO jealous of the garden. I grew up with a dad that gardened and always had raised beds. As of now I just don't have the time with a toddler but soon I hope to be able to do it together!
Bridget — July 6, 2010 @ 5:38 pm
Wow, that sounds ambitious for your first time gardening! I planted a few similar things in a raised bed, but so far I haven't been able to harvest anything except herbs – even though my growing season starts months earlier than yours! A lot of my plants have flowers that aren't turning into fruits for some reason. Sigh.
Bridget — April 5, 2011 @ 1:16 am
Wow, that sounds ambitious for your first time gardening! I planted a few similar things in a raised bed, but so far I haven't been able to harvest anything except herbs – even though my growing season starts months earlier than yours! A lot of my plants have flowers that aren't turning into fruits for some reason. Sigh.
Raina — April 5, 2011 @ 1:16 am
These veggies look fresh and wonderful. I think you garden sure sounds great..a lot better than mine which is pretty much nil. Never got to it this year:(
Elina — April 5, 2011 @ 1:16 am
That's so great! I love picking up veggies + fruit at the farmers market but I can't even imagine how proud you must be to grow your own. Your dinner looks lovely :)Happy 4th! I have a whole day of work too… and maybe even some weekend work. Oh well, at least it's going to be nice out for the rest of the time. 😀
Bridget — April 5, 2011 @ 1:16 am
oh yes, working all day today as well!Your veggies look awesome!!! Our snap pea plan did not make it sadly 🙁 Sucks too becuase it was getting some pea pods on it but the whole plant kind of shrivled up? WEird. Other than that, we dont have any veggies to pick yet but everything else seems to be going good! Can't wait to have some homegrown veggies to eat! Actually I did find a couple ripe cherry tomatoes last night 🙂