Thursday, November 20, 2008

Our first garden salad................

Straight from garden to table..................




The salad was really delicious. I don't know how to describe mesclun other than saying maybe it has a nutty flavor. Unless................. you accidentally mix a weed in with the mix. As you can tell from the appearance mesclun is a mixture of different leaves and it is easy to mistake a weed. Let me tell you a weed doesn't taste as good.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Sweet Sixteen...................

I am feeling pretty old today. My daughter turned 16 on Monday.
I found this poem on the internet and it says it all.Sweet Sixteen
Back when you were very small, which seems like days ago
We heard them say 'enjoy her now, so short the time they grow'
How right they were as we recall it hasn't been that long
Since you were just that little girl, to you our hearts belong
We blink and look and there you are, so beautiful and grown
Your long red hair and perfect smile, we could have never known
Tenacious, strong and full of life, is what we see in you
We know you'll get all that you want, just keep it all in view
Although there's been some ups and downs we wouldn't change a day
For you have brought more joy to us, so much we can't convey
These pages of your life so far can't show you're greatest feat
How proud we are of you today with every goal you meet
Today you turn sixteen but still our baby girl you are
We know your spirit and your dreams will take you very far

Swiss Chard..................

......such a delicious vegie. It is growing really well and we can't get enough of it. Our fave recipe so far.....


SAUTEED SWISS CHARD

One bunch swiss chard
1/4 cp diced onion
1 minced garlic clove
1 tbs vegetable oil
1 tbs butter
1/4 cup white wine
salt to taste
parmesan cheese


Dice onion, mince garlic, and rough chop swiss chard, discarding the toughest part of the red stalk.
Saute the onion and garlic in the oil and butter until just transclucent.
Add chard and wine and saute until chard has wilted down.
Lightly salt to taste. Serve with a few slivers of cheese on top.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Todays Harvest.......................

Every time I think that my summer plants are surely done..................... It has started cooling down quite a bit now so maybe the summer plants will be finished. Today I harvested all of the large eggplant but there are still several small ones left. Same with the okra, still a lot of very small ones left. There are more peppers on the bush that I wil bring in this week.

And this is my very first swiss chard harvest. Just enough for ME!!!

Friday, November 7, 2008

The Crazy Neighbor Lady.........................

Yesterday I made my daily trip out to the mailbox, dreading those bills that I always find there. There wasn't much in the mailbox yesterday but there was one large manilla envelope. As I headed back to the house I looked at the address on the envelope and it was from the student of the month department at the highschool. OMG I was excited to read that, I knew for sure my cheerleader, straight A, sophmore student had made student of the month. So I started to rip the envelope apart as I continued towards the house. As I began to read the letter I stopped dead in my tracks and began to laugh hysterically. It took all my willpower to not fall to the ground and roll around in hysterics. My son, my challenging child, my child who you have to fight with about homework, my child who has to smart off all the time and talk back, my son made student of the month. There are a totally of 10 students who make student of the month every month at a school of over 3000 student. What are the odds. As I sit here typing this I am still shaking my head in disbelief.

..... and why the title Crazy Neighbor Lady. Because all of my neighbors must think I am insane from that crazy, hysterical, cackeling laughter I let loose with yesterday!