Gearing Up

I think it is important to note here that several things in my life have changed recently, and in keeping with that spirit, I probably need to change the direction of my blog. When I started this blog, I had quite a bit more time on my hands, and enjoyed the cooking and recipe's etc. Clearly, when I got the second job, the blog fell off dramatically.

Over the holidays, I found out some bad news in regards to my fertility (or lack thereof) and have completely changed my life around to eating completely healthy, working out, etc. Admittedly my meals have become quite boring. There is the occasinal new recipe but the majority of the time its salad and occasionally a baked or crockpotted lean meat. I will continue to post the occasional recipe but I think I'm going to streamline for the 2009 season to be focused on the garden, the entire process, what I'm growing and how I'm preserving it and using it. So strictly garden recipes, canning tips, freezing tips and "how does my garden grow" will be the focus of the blog for 2009.

In the next few weeks, I will be putting together my planting schedule, my seed order and pouring through the catalogs and companion planting books. So bear with me as I gear up for a new year of perfecting harmony with mother nature.

Journey

Wow. I haven't posted since July. I can not believe it. I have been so busy with the two jobs and all the changes in the garden, yard, kitchen etc. I have thought often of posting a recipe I tried or created without pictures but then decided against it. I have also thought of writing nonsense about my culinary capers without recipes just to keep the blog going but it was not my original intention to do so, so I didn't. Now looking back, I wish I had. Had I done so I would not have months of emptiness on my blog. So I think it is time to just write. I used to enjoy writing back before life got in the way. So I think writing about my garden and culinary experiences will still stay in the spirit of the blog and if not, oh well, its my blog, I can change it if I want to right? Don't worry, I promise to continue with wonderful recipes, just forgive me if I am not as dilligent with the picture updates as I used to be. With time being of the essence and having so little of it, keeping the camera handy to snap food pictures is not really a priority at the moment. As always, good food, and new recipes is.
As we enter into the holiday season (and I do have a vacation coming up in which I hope to work on winter garden projects and try some new recipes..and ofcourse have time to post the results) look forward to renewed energy in the blog and I hope in yourselves.
~K

First Pickings

Our first pickings were lettuce and raddishes. I was so excited! I did take pictures...of the first things coming out of the garden...the past month I have been very slack about it...which is sad..because my counters have literally been over run with vegetables and I forget to take their pictures. So please enjoy my garden salad pictures since I'm stingy on sharing the rest of it..LOL

Growing, growing GONE!

It seems like our garden grew overnight....we waited patiently and then BAM...everything started getting huge!! (must have been when the rain finally came in...ya think?)

cabbage
squash and zuchini

Lettuce (below)


Houston, we have sighted a tomato!

Green beans running!

Mary Mary, How does your garden grow?

These pictures were taken mid-late May...the plants had taken root and begun to grow. We had added zuchini, squash, tomatoes, eggplans, corn, cucumbers, peppers and mulched around the plants in part of the beds.

As a side note: I had read somewhere that petunia's give greenbeans a stronger flavor so I always plant them together....a side benefit is it makes that garden pretty!

Garden Beginnings

I have taken several pics of my garden through the planting and harvesting process. I am going to try and post them in order. This first post is a few weeks after planting. The first things in the ground were radish, cabbage, lettuce and greenbeans.

Stuffed Zucchini Parmesan

This recipe is fantastic and excellent warmed up the next day for lunch. I found this on Cooks.com and followed someone else's adaptation plus adapted it myself to creat a completely new recipe. This is how I MADE it.

Stuffed Zucchini Parmesan
Ingredients:
2 LARGE zucchini (I'm talking baseball bat size here...or 4-5 small zuchini for a gathering of people or side dish).
1/2 cup of Pepperidge Farms Seasoned Stuffing mix
1 lb hamburger, browned and chopped
1 tbs melted butter
1/4 stick butter
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper, to taste
zucchini pulp
Ragu Pizza Quick Sauce
1 cup Mozzerella Cheese
Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Drop whole zucchini into boiling salted (about 2 tsps salt per 5-6 quart pot) water. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender.
Drain; cover zucchini with cold water to stop the cooking. When cool, slice in half lengthwise; scoop out meat from centers ( I used an icecream scooper) leaving a hollow shell. Reserve zucchini pulp and set aside.
Mash zucchini pulp using a potato masher or a fork.
Stuffing:
In a small saucepan, melt 1/4 stick butter. Blend in the flour until no lumps remain; add sour cream. Combine with salt, hamburger and zucchini pulp, mixing ingredients until well blended.
Fill the zucchini shells evenly with the stuffing.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in microwave. Stir in 1/2 cup Pepperidge farms stuffing crumbs, mixing until all are coated. Sprinkle a layer of buttered crumbs on top. Drizzle Ragu Pizza Quich Sauce over the top and Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 20 minutes. Sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese and shredded mozzarella and bake for 10 minutes more.