How Does My Garden Grow?

Now that my vegetable garden has been planted it's time to sit back and watch it grow.  I wish it was that easy.  Usually, this is a full time job, watering, weeding, critter watching, double fencing  (booby trapping) almost every thing, but in a month or less I'll be feasting on recipes containing the following:

5 assorted squash, zucchini, etc.
2 butternut squash for the Fall.
4 tomato plants
Thai basil and Thai peppers
Lemon balm for seasoning and tea
Italian parsley
scallions (not having much luck with these)
arugula for salad and pizza
spinach (the first batch has finished, more to come in the Fall)
radishes (showing signs of rabbit interest)
mint, great for tea, ice cream, pasta salads and marinades
oregano  This comes back every year but I don't use much.
hops vines  A great ornamental fence covering vine.  Does anyone need it to make beer?
lavender   One of my favorites for just about anything
blackberries  This will need to be covered with netting...birds love these!
beets Newly planted.  I'll be making beet gnocchi soon!
Japanese eggplant  Trimmed by an eager rabbit...now double fenced.
cauliflower  A first for me.  One looks very promising if not found soon by Peter rabbit or Sam the squirrel!
chives  An old dependable for marinades and topping baked potatoes
Swiss chard  I don't think this will make it.
Lemon cucumber  These are especially good.
Lettuce  Last but not least an assortment of lettuce for salads....soooo fresh!

So, now you have it.  All I need are a few goats, chickens and a little man to take care of it all!

Look closely on both.  Rabbit birthing center in my main lavender bush. (above)
Unlucky rabbit trapped in tomato cage. (below)  Gardening is such a hoot!

The great thing about growing your own food is that you don't get the pesticides, etc.  I'll do this until I can no longer bend over!!

Honey Soy Marinated and Grilled Flank Steak

As the heat rises, I don't know about you but the oven mitt comes off and we fire up the grill!  I like to spend more time outside with my garden instead of being cooped up in the kitchen.  I've never been a beefaholic, so a well marinated thinly sliced piece of meat is a great alternative to a hunk of steak.  And, if you're lucky enough to have leftovers, it makes for a great sandwich the next day.

I can't justify buying a marinade already bottled from the store when it's just as easy to mix up your own.  You can purchase a decent sized flank steak for less than $10.00, which would be a quarter of what you might spend for 4 steaks.  

Grilled Flank Steak

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and place the meat into a gallon plastic bag.  Pour the marinade into the bag and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.  Lay it out flat in the frig so the meat sucks up all the juice!

3/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

2 Tbsp honey

1/4 cup seasoned (or plain) rice wine vinegar

2 cloves of garlic, minced

for added flavor you can add some herbs like chopped parsley, cilantro or rosemary (optional)

Next, grill it until done and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing as thin as you can.  Delicious!

Grilled Turkey Sliders

If you're looking for an alternative to hamburgers, this fits the bill.  For me, one slider is enough to satisfy a burger craving!  I've always had trouble finishing a big juicy home made burger...sliders where were you all my life?  Turkey hamburgers can  be overly dry, but over the years I've gotten more savvy or just simply more creative about how to overcome dry turkey.  

The secret to these sliders is diced mushrooms.  They add moistness and flavor to an otherwise dry burger.  Try these..turkey isn't just for Thanksgiving!

Grilled Turkey Sliders

1 1/4 lb ground turkey, preferably a mixture of white and dark meat

2 finely diced mushrooms

pinch of garlic powder

1 egg

1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

dash of salt, pepper and herb de Provence

Mix together and form into small patties.  Grill until almost done, add optional cheese slices and melt.  I used smokey cheddar.  I also used Hawaiian sweet buns...tasty.  Garnish with sliced avocado, lettuce and red onion, if you wish. To give it extra spice slather on some wasabi mayo.  If you want fries with that, make some baked sweet potato fries.!

Sugarless Oatmeal Bars

Breakfast "on the run" used to be a given for me years ago.  Yes, I punched a time clock for most of the jobs I had..sad, but true!  Thinking back, the only job I had where I didn't, was at a government agency.  Here, at 3 minutes before "closing time" we all gathered around the back door to the parking lot, like we were caged animals and couldn't leave one second before the clock hit 5:00 pm.    Now, employees have freedoms I could only dream about...childcare in house, gyms, restaurants, flexible hours, and the list goes on!  Don't get me started!

Anyway, most mornings I would make a mad dash to the car, sometimes with a piece of toast or a hastily prepared chalky tasting protein shake in hand.  These oatmeal bars would have been a welcome change to my routine.  They are ridiculously easy to make, too!  

Makes 16-20 bars

Sugarless Oatmeal Bars

3 very ripe mashed bananas

1/3 cup apple sauce, unsweetened

2 cups regular oats

1/4 cup almond milk, unsweetened

1/2 cup raisins

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix ALL the ingredients in a bowl and pour into a 8x8 glass pan which has been greased or sprayed with pan spray.  Spread evenly.  Bake for 15-20 minutes.  Cool thoroughly and cut into squares.  Delicious and nice to know you're eating something relatively healthy.

Next time, I may add pecans and/or mini chocolate chips.  Less healthy, more decadent!

Make Reno Sweeter with IceCycle Creamery

Yes, you've heard it here....a dream come true...ice cream for life!  What's it all about?  This is a new business start up in Reno, Nevada.  The owners are near and dear to me...my son and daughter have decided to make the leap into the world of ice cream, although not just any ice cream.  I've provided their link and kickstarter campaign (to raise funds) on the right.  Press PLAY and watch the video and if you're compelled to do so because they have the know-how and entrepreneurial spirit, not to mention a great product, click on the big K in the left top corner!

You'll see their operation this Summer at food truck events, private parties or tastings, and anywhere they are summoned to.  You can hire them for your own ice cream social!  Some of their many flavors include Chocolate Curry, Sweet potato casserole, spumoni, cucumber lime sherbet, chocolate salted lavender and one of my favorites, goat cheese chocolate mint chip!  Yummy!  The picture above is Peach Cobbler, delicious!

To find out more, visit the website:

IceCycle Creamery Handmade Ice Cream

Kickstarter Campaign:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/117744364/icecycle-handmade-ice-cream-bike

Be a huge part of Reno history and support this start up!

Honey Sesame flavor

Dairy-free coconut Thai Tea flavor