Friday Edition: Yummy Finds

Over here at our house we are going crazy with tomatoes!  I planted three early girl tomato plants and they have produced like crazy.  I can't keep up with them!  Which is okay, because now I can share with co-workers, neighbors and my mom. 

The eggplants also came in really quick.  I got four of them - not too big - but they look nice and shiny and purple-y.

I wish my cucumber seeds had taken and that I had planted some zucchini as well.  Some friends have given me summer squash and Swiss chard, but it's not the same as pulling it out of your own garden.  Don't you agree?

In case your house is going crazy with fresh veggies, I thought it would be fun to feature some recipes that feature some common home-grown ingredients!

YUMMY FIND NO. 1: Squash and Zucchini Vegetarian Burritos by Two Bears Farm



Image via Two Bears Farm



 Okay, so Lisa has more than a backyard garden like me.  She has a farm!  If you haven't visited Lisa's blog, you should check it out.  She talks about her life on the farm, her kids (she has three boys), running, crafts, and other fun things.  Fun fact about Lisa - she's ran eight marathons!

YUMMY FIND NO. 2: Cucumber and Tomato Salad from Eat at Home

Image via Eat at Home



Cucumber and tomato salad has to be one of my favorite summer salads!  And doesn't Tiffany's salad look great?  So much color!  The cukes aren't from Tiffany's garden, but if you have some, you should definitely try this salad.  Also check out Tiffany's other recipes on her blog where she posts weekly menus and full shopping lists. 

Have fun checking out Lisa's and Tiffany's blogs this weekend!  Let me know what you're creating with your home-grown ingredients.  And if you want to be featured on a Yummy Finds, send me an email!

Wednesday Edition: What's New

Well I did try a new ingredient this week, but I am going to wait until next week to post it!  Instead, I wanted to share my garden, which is new to me.

In the past I have grown one or two tomato plants, maybe a pepper plant, and some herbs, all in pots on my deck.  This year, I persuaded the Husband into assembling a raised bed planter for me to put some plants.  It's pretty small.  Only 4 feet by 4 feet.  But I have already gotten some yummy romaine lettuce and radishes from my garden!

So since this is my first time truly having a veggie garden, I went crazy!  I was just so excited and kept finding fun things to plant at the garden center.  Even though I did control myself, I planted WAY too much in to small of a space.  In my tiny garden I planted:

• 3 Early Girl tomatoes
• 3 eggplants
• 3 sweet bell peppers
• radishes (from seed!)
• 3 string bean plants (from seed!)
• 3 broccoli plants
• 3 garlic plants
• 6 romaine lettuce

It is a jungle!

the pots next to the jungle are where I started some things from seed

Do you see the broccoli?  In the middle?  It is huge.  It is taking over.  I don't even know if it really is going to produce anything!

blurry close-up of the broccoli

Do you have a garden?  What are you growing?  If you have a garden - please leave your tips in the comments!!

Updated 7/25: I joined Centsational Girl's linky party!

Wednesday Edition: What's New

Well.  I have a confession.  I have no new ingredient to share with you today.  Tuesday night was too hot to cook and even if it had been a comfortable evening, I was too busy with work and running around and doing things.  So instead of pictures of a fun new ingredient - I give you pictures of a hamburger and fries from Dairy Queen!

It was yummy!

But I do have a picture to share with you of something that is new to me.  It isn't a new ingredient, but I grew it! In my garden.  And I harvested it!  It's radishes!

How cool is that?! I grew them from seed, and I couldn't be more proud!  Can't wait to eat them :)