My First Real Kitchen Garden - Starting Seeds

Credit: urbanhomstead.org

As I've continued to read and learn about Whole / Real Foods I've thought more and more about having a real kitchen garden this summer.  Not just a pot or two like years before that I neglected after the first harvest ... but a real garden.  We have been saving a long time to do our back yard and this spring it will be done.  Last year we literally gutted it and it is just one big flat pile of mulch so the dogs won't track in anything.  We are getting close to finalizing the plans and just in time I had the designer put in a small fenced area for a garden.  From searching on-line I decided to try and start some seeds.  My attic office is a very sunny spot and I'm up there Monday - Friday so I knew if I set things up there I wouldn't neglect them.  I'm actually kind of excited so I find I even check on 'my babies' on the weekend.

We have a Craftsman Foursquare house so there are windows right near the floor to the front.  I have an ivy there that has been happy now for a while and my neighbors all told me whenever they had a sick houseplant the old lady that used to live here would take it to her 'hospital' and then return it later big and healthy... turned out this is exactly where she kept them.  I lined up some storage shelves so that they create a waist high wall between this area and the rest of my office ...simply so the dogs don't mess with anything.  I bought two basic black desk lamps and put in grow bulbs to help give extra sunlight and warmth to the plants.  

These are herbs that I started first.  The Cilantro seems to be doing the best and though you can barely see it here the chives and basil are springing up too.  I've now got them out of the little 'greenhouse' kit I bought and in pots of their own to continue growing.  I did A LOT on purpose because I figured I'd have a high failure rate since I'm new at this.  If too many end up healthy then they will make great little gifts for the neighbors come spring!

In these 'greenhouses' I've got a new crop of seeds starting.  I did a lot of research on what was easy and also what grows well together.  I've got tomatoes and grape tomatoes, cucumbers, two kinds of lettuce, sweet peppers, marigolds, sunflowers and beets.   I also got some poppies and a mix of flowering vines that I hope to use in a patch of ugly dirt right outside of our fence to liven it up - train the vines up on the fence for  some curb appeal from the alley!   Once these are done I'll probably go get some more marigolds - since supposedly if you plant them around everything in your garden it really helps.  This is the plan I'm looking at.  The only thing I didn't get was the zucchini.  I did beets instead.

Companion planting facts are pretty interesting.  Here is what I found:

• Beets help lettuce.
• Garlic helps beets.
• Sunflowers help cucumbers & serve as a trellis for them. 
• Marigolds help cucumbers, tomatoes, pepper & kale. 
• Tomatoes help sunflowers. 
• Mint repels slugs that eat lettuce. 
• Peppers & Tomatoes grow well with basil / oregano around them as a groundcover. 
• Chives & Parsley help tomatoes.  
• Keep tomatoes away from dill.  
• Cilantro helps spinach. 
• Tarragon seems to help EVERYTHING! 

Recipe Test: Creamy Avocado Pasta

Credit: flourishingfoodie.com

Click here for full recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• Tomatoes
• Olive oil
• Fettuccine noodles (used 100% whole wheat of course!)
• Avocado
• Lemon
• Pine nuts
• Parmesan
• Salt & Pepper

I love avocados.  LOVE them!  So when I saw this pasta I thought ???  I just had to try it.  I'll admit as I made it I started to get a little worried though ... I'd printed out the recipe but hadn't looked closely at it and so when I realized there was no cream in this 'creamy' sauce I started to think this may end up tasting like guacamole on top of pasta ... yuck!

Looks like guacamole doesn't it?  I remained concerned as I stirred it into the pasta ... there is something about it that looked more like green slime than dinner.

Once I got it served up with the tomatoes, parm and pinenuts it did look better but I wasn't trusting anything until I tried it.   I thought this may turn out like the other pasta I'd tried - the olive one ... I loved every ingredient and hated the dish.  So strange.   Thankfully this one proved to be a nice surprise!

Hubby approved and so do I.   If I'd tried it without making it I would swear the sauce is cream based.  This would be perfect for the vegetarian or vegan (though I'd have to check if the pasta has eggs or milk obviously).  I served it with a side salad to give us more veggies ... a little homemade champagne vinaigrette on top and there is dinner. 

Recipe Test: Baked Brussels Sprout Mac & Cheese

Credit:  yummymummykitchen.com

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INGREDIENTS:

• Brussels sprouts
• Olive oil
• Whole wheat pasta
• Butter
• Greek Yogurt (I used regular whole yogurt)
• Milk
• Cheddar cheese (or whatever combo you like!)
• Salt & pepper
• Whole wheat panko bread crumbs

This one is definitely "hubby approved"!  It's not something I'd make regularly because simply, it is a lot of pasta and very little veggie and I'm trying hard to make fruits & veggies the bulk of the meal ... preferably half or more.   I'd made baked Mac& Cheese for a friend of my husband's who is going through a rough time and he seemed to have such a hard time not eating it that I told him I'd make him his own.  A different recipe of course as the other had no vegetables what-so-ever.

Hubby ate half the pan by himself.  I had just my one bowl but it was good enough that in the old days I would have gone back for a heck of a lot more.  We've been doing 'leftovers night' on Wednesdays and I'll admit I reached for this immediately as my dinner again!

Recipe Test: Clean Eating Chicken & Dumplings

Credit: thegraciouspantry.com

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INGREDIENTS:

• Chicken broth
• Marjoram
• Garlic powder
• Chicken
• Olive oil
• Onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Whole wheat pastry flour
• Salt
• Milk

I have forever loved chicken and dumplings.  It is in my opinion a perfect example of 'comfort food'.   The night I cooked it was perfect for it too as it was a cold winter night where something warm and hearty just made sense.

The recipe gave a slow cooker version - which I figured I'd use until I saw that really the conventional was even easier.  It didn't take long to cook - just long enough for the chicken to cook through and by then the dumplings were also done.

The rich chicken stock I'd made from the Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot as well as the whole wheat flour is why I think it has this orange / goldish color.

It definitely hit the spot!  And this one got the hubby seal of approval!  Damn good leftovers microwaved for lunch too.

Recipe Test: Superfood Salad

Credit: mommyimhungry.blogspot.com

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INGREDIENTS:

• Quinoa
• Red onion
• Orange
• Avocado
• Black beans
• Pomegranate
• Edamame
• Cilantro
• Shrimp
• Salt & pepper
• Lemon
• Garlic
• Honey
• Olive oil

Another salad that while I was making it I was thinking how pretty it was!  All the different colors and textures.  And the best part ... no cooking which meant very few dishes! 

Now-a-days I feel like the dishes are NEVER done!  I always fill the dishwasher before I start cooking ... and again after I'm done ... but there is always at least something left and so by the time breakfast & lunch are done and it is dinner again the sink is full.   So this made me VERY happy!

Again I forgot how filling quinoa is and gave myself a hefty portion that I could not finish.  Sadly hubby looked at the recipe and refused to even try it so I was on my own.  My only complaint is that what makes it so good (fresh fresh fresh!) means it really doesn't do as leftovers.  So sadly after trying for a couple of days to finish it all off I had my very first time throwing out food since cooking.

Recipe Test: The Life-Changing Loaf of Bread (my nickname for it is 'Birdseed Bread')

Credit: mynewroots.org

Click here for the recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• Sunflower seeds
• Flax seeds
• Hazelnuts or almonds
• Rolled oats
• Chia seeds
• Psyllium seed husks
• Salt
• Maple syrup
• Coconut oil or Ghee
• Water

When I saw the picture of this bread on Pinterest I was immediately drawn to it.  It just looked so strange.  When I read it I immediately saved it with the note 'have to try!' ... it was really easy - surprisingly simple.  And pretty much NO clean up because you just mix it right there in the bread pan ... which made me soooo happy!  Here it is before it went into the oven ... see why I nicknamed it 'Birdseed Bread'?  

It really doesn't look much different done.  I was worried it would be hard to get out of the loaf pan but it was super easy ... just plop there it was.   I didn't quite know what to store it in so just wrapped it up in tinfoil.  

It slices just like regular bread ... I think I should have baked it a little longer just to dry it out a little more but  after I put a slice in the toaster for a bit it was really good.  You can't help little bits of it coming off.  

A little all fruit jam on top (sweetened only with juice of course!) and it was a pretty good breakfast. I learned fast that it is filling enough I only need one small slice.  Sadly I cannot deem this recipe "hubby approved" as he HATED it.  Part of me was okay with that because then it won't disappear in two seconds!

Recipe Test: Eggplant Gratin with Herbs & Creme Fraiche

Credit: farmhousetable.wordpress.com

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INGREDIENTS:

• Eggplant
• Salt & pepper
• Olive oil
• Tomato sauce
• Chives
• Parsley
• Thyme leaves
• Cream fraiche or heavy cream
• Parmesan cheese

So I have to admit ... this recipe was much more labor intensive than I thought it would be!  Specifically the frying of each slice of eggplant.  I'm not sure I got the hang of it, nor do I quite understand why it is needed.  I'd think that brushing each side with olive oil and then roasting - flipping 1/2 way.  I'd think that would do the same thing.  Maybe I'll try that next time.  Anyway, I was so frustrated that I forgot to pick up the camera until I was putting it in the oven.  

I also made the tomato sauce for this recipe from the same site.  Click here if you are interested.  It was quite easy and good.  My only complaint is how much red pepper flakes it called for.  I followed the recipe and it was SPICY!  Well ... okay - for me it was spicy.  I like tomato sauce that is sweeter, mild.  Once it was in the oven with the cheese melting and the smells hit me I felt better about the work it took.

When it came out of the oven it looked soooooo good!  Not exactly easy to scoop out and serve.  I thought it would be more like lasagna and come out pretty stable, but instead it was a little more soupy.

It was very good ... the cream toned down the spicy sauce a bit.  Still had one hell of a kick to it.  Hubby LOVED that but next time I'll be using less red chili pepper.  Hubby can sprinkle some on top if he still wants the kick!   He actually made a pretty good suggestion, which was to either chop up the eggplant more or slice it into strips so it is more like a lasagna noodle.   I just might be getting brave enough with this cooking thing that I'll experiment with it a bit.  We'll see ... I am just a 2 month old cook!

Recipe Test: Crispy Mushroom, Spinach & Avocado Quesadillas

Credit: Cookieandkate.com

Click here for full recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• Olive oil
• Red onion
• Salt
• Mushrooms
• Spinach
• Lime
• Jack or Cheddar cheese
• Avocado
• Whole Wheat Tortillas
• Salsa 

This recipe was not as easy as I thought it would be, but only because of the part where you are supposed to spread cheese on the outside of the tortilla and then flip it back over on the griddle to make it crispy.  I could not for the life of me figure out how to then get it to come off ... the cheese was like GLUE onto the pan so my tortillas ripped and some of the insides came out.  So they didn't end up pretty ... 

But they did turn out pretty yummy!  And with a side of kale chips they were a big hit.  The bits of crispy that I was able to manage definitely made a big difference in terms of how they tasted ... maybe I don't have the right kind of pan or there is some trick to it that wasn't in the recipe.  I'll try them again sometime for sure!

Recipe Test: Kale Chips

Credit: 100 Days of Real Food

Click Here for recipe

I have to admit I have never had kale and was pretty skeptical but I'd heard of kale chips before and everything was positive.  When I saw them in my favorite blog I figured I have to give it a try!   Well ... they were right  - they are pretty damn good.  Now I'm not going to bull sh*t you - they aren't potato chips, but they are crunchy and a really great way to get your leafy greens!

Here they are drizzled with olive oil and ready for the oven.  They shrink up quite a bit while cooking.  This is what they look like done:

Hard to believe that's the same amount, isn't it?   I ended up serving them as a side to a quesadilla recipe dish I'd found.  They even were hubby approved!

The New Normal ...

It hit me tonight that I've really got a new pattern of life.  It's not that much different than before but it is indeed different in a way that is good for me.

Before I started this journey my average week day:

7AM - wake up to alarm... sit up in bed trying to will myself awake

7:05AM - zombie like walk downstairs, let dogs out ...stumble to get coffee started & fill up dog food bowls.  Prep cereal or toast with peanut butter - usually throw a banana in.

Photo Credit: www.pbfingers.com

7:10AM - thank God for coffee, pour in huge mug with about 1/4 cup of liquid coffee mate.  Grab breakfast and make zombie like walk down to the basement.

Photo Credit: www.battermanphoto.com

7:15AM - I'm on the couch with the TV on eating my breakfast and slowly sipping my coffee & watching the Today Show as zombie like trance wears off.

Credit: www.thesaleminsider.com
PS:  I MISS ANN CURRY!!!! 

7:55AM - Growly and reluctantly get up and let dogs out.  Grab more coffee and coffee mate.  Let dogs in and herd them all upstairs to my office.

Photo Credit: www.islandprovisioning.bz

8AM - Groan as I start work still in zombie like state.   Work... work ... work... work...

10AM - Let dogs out ... get more coffee / coffee mate.  Let dogs in, herd them back upstairs.  Work ... work... work...

Photo Credit: us.123rf.com

12PM - Let dogs out ... grab 'meal bar' or quick nuke a quesadilla or grab a hand full of baked tostitos and throw cheese on top - again, nuke.  Let dogs back in.  Grab diet soda or splenda sweetened ice tea & 'lunch' and herd dogs back upstairs.  Work ... work.... work... work...

Photo Credit:  farm4.static.flickr.com

3PM - Let dogs out ... grab snack of some sort - hand full of baked chips or some string cheese - usually 3 pieces or crackers like wheat thinks or cheese its - reduced fat of course!  Let dogs in, herd upstairs.  Of course bringing my snack and more diet soda or tea with me.   Work ... work ... work...

5PM - Hear Hubby come home, let dogs out of office to run down and greet him.  Work... work... work...

6:30 PM - Growly about how much work there is left do quit for the day and head downstairs.   Let dogs out.  Fill up their food bowls.  Then yell down to hubby (on couch in front of TV in the basement) "What are you doing for dinner?"  (translation - are you going to run out to a restaurant and pick us up take out or do I need to actually make myself something?)  If yes ... bug Hubby about being hungry now and not wanting to wait until he goes out to get food or breaks down and we order Jimmy Johns.  If no ... nuke a quesadilla or go for the chips and cheese again ... or even sometimes cereal or popcorn for 'dinner'.   If motivated for 'healthy food' nuke frozen weight watchers meal or add mushrooms or chicken to my quesadilla.  If REALLY motivated do a basic stir fry of vegetables and chicken or beef.  (rare)

By 7PM - I'm on the couch eating while watching TV.   Tv ... more Tv... and more Tv....

Photo Credit: optimalhealthresource.files.wordress.com

8:00PM - Let dogs out.  Grab snack or dessert of some sort - popcorn, crackers, cookie or brownie - all 'reduced fat, low calorie or high fiber' with added vitamins and such... grab diet soda or tea.  Let dogs in ... herd back downstairs ... More Tv...

9PM - Let dogs out ... grab diet soda or tea.  Let dogs in ... herd upstairs to bedroom.  Read book in bed.

Photo Credit: skinnymom.com

By 10PM - Lights out / try to sleep ...

10:30PM - mind racing usually about work ... still trying to sleep ...

11PM - finally fall asleep but wake up three or four times during the night regularly

Photo Credit:  img.webmd.com

New Pattern: 

6AM Wake up right before alarm goes off, hit snooze once but don't fall back asleep - just enjoy some doggie cuddle.

You know you'd stay in bed to cuddle this face too! 

6:15AM Wide awake - herd dogs downstairs, let them out, turn on coffee.  Fill their food bowls.  Let them back in.   Fix breakfast - no "regular" yet - can be anything from whole wheat pancakes to quinoa to oatmeal to eggs with veggies to whole wheat toast with all fruit jam.   Coffee usually with whole milk and a little maple syrup.  

6:20AM Downstairs on couch eating breakfast and sipping coffee but now wide awake actually paying attention to the news.

6:45AM Let dogs out.  Warm up coffee mug (no longer drinking full mug during breakfast) with a little more.  Let dogs in and herd upstairs.  Work ... but actually productive in the morning b/c I'm AWAKE!

7AM  Poop.  Dude - it is like CLOCKWORK!

Photo Credit: etc.usf.edu

10AM Go downstairs, let dogs out.  Grab water.  Let dogs in.  Herd back upstairs.  Work...

12PM Go downstairs, let dogs out.  Make lunch - leftovers from dinners or make glass of fresh juice - usually 4 carrots, 2 apples and some ginger.  Let dogs in.  Herd back upstairs.  Work ...

Photo Credit: naturalfemina.files.wordpress.com

3PM Go downstairs, let dogs out.  Grab water.  Let dogs in.  Herd back upstairs.  Work...

Photo Credit: runstreet.com

5PM Hear Hubby come home & let dogs out to greet him.  Start thinking about how much more time I need to put in before I can get downstairs and start dinner.

5:30PM Remind myself the work will still be there tomorrow.  Head downstairs, feed dogs.  Flip on little iPod boom box in kitchen and jam while I get the planned recipe out and review.   Clean any dishes in the sink to make room for the mess I'm going to make cooking.

Photo Credit: static.moo-shop.com

5:40PM Cooking!  Dogs at feet hoping for my messiness to pay off.  Dinner is usually something with a good deal of fresh vegetables.  Whole grain tortillas are a regular as is real cheese.  Sometimes meat but that's about as rare now as veggies used to be!

Between 6:30PM & 7PM Dinner is finished.  Bring plate down to Hubby as he happily accepts being served  / spoiled.  Head back to kitchen, put away leftovers.   Grab my plate & drink (usually some whole milk or water) and eat on couch usually talking with Hubby about the recipe / dinner instead of paying attention to TV.  

7:30PM Head upstairs with empty dishes.  Let dogs out.  Flip back on the music and clean kitchen / load dishwasher, start dishwasher, etc.  When let dogs back in they are at my feet hoping for any final scraps that may fall.

Photo Credit: us.123rf.com

7:50PM Grab small dessert - chocolate power ball or piece of primal fudge or another glass of fresh juice or tea with a little honey - and head downstairs.  Play on computer on Pinterest finding recipes, catching up on blogging or researching kitchen gardening for beginners while Hubby watches TV.  Sometimes watch show or movie on Netflix.   Oh and of course cuddle time with dogs!

How could you resist?! 

9:00PM Head upstairs, let dogs out.  Rinse any final dishes / glasses used and leave in sink for when dishwasher is free again.  Let dogs in.  Go upstairs to bedroom.  Read book in bed.

10:30PM Realize that I need to stop reading and turn out the lights or I won't get my 8 hours (which I no longer feel like I need as desperately as I used to but I know it is also about taking care of myself) so lights out and close my eyes.  No problems falling asleep!   No waking up in the middle of the night!

Photo Credit:  www.drinkingdiaries.com 

Like I said ... it isn't a HUGE change - much of the pattern remains the same.  But the differences are clear in both what I'm doing and how I feel.  And just 1 1/2 months in ... I wonder what my average weekday will look like at 6 months ... at 1 year?