A Mess Of Greens

We're expecting low temperatures 

in the 20's next week.

Texans are not built for that!

And neither is my garden, so I went out today to harvest as many greens as I could.

As it turns out, it was A LOT of greens...

The washed greens covered the span of my island!

 Hardy greens like kale, collards, mustards, and swiss chard all lend themselves to freezing and the process in incredibly easy. 

After a thorough washing and removing the stems, roll stacks of your greens into a "cigar" shape and then make rough chops across.

Heat a large pot of water to just under boiling.  Put your greens in and blanche for 3 minutes.  Remove the leaves with a slotted spoon and submerge into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.  Keep the leaves in the ice water for 3 minutes then wring them out really well. 

Pack your greens in a quart sized zip lock freezer bag, press out all the air, and seal.

These little packets of goodness will keep 10-12 months in the freezer.

It's so nice to have these on hand to throw into a soup or smoothie.  But my favorite way is to boil a smoked ham hock and onion in some chicken stock and add the greens to that for a good 'ol southern "mess of greens."

Wild Lettuce

So in my last post, I told you about my farm job.  

Y'ALL...

I come home most days, jump in the shower,

 take 4 Motrin, 2 Aleve, crank the heating pad to the "lava" setting and crash for several hours.

  

I am old.

I am out of shape.

I am basically falling apart.

Doug had been doing some research on medicinal herbs and came across wild lettuce.  

Now, that's WILD lettuce...NOT the devil's lettuce!

  Anyway, it turns out that it is an incredible natural pain reliever.  Doug bought a bottle of capsules of the dried herb and I've been taking them daily.  

I take them in conjunction with an OTC pain reliver and only at night and I have to admit that it does what it says!  It relaxes me and makes me a little sleepy.  On the nights I forget take it, I usually wake up several times due to pain.  I liked the effects so much that I purchased a package of seeds from Strictly Medicinal Seeds and grew out five plants this past fall.

There are about 50 varieties of wild lettuce and from what I've read, they all have about the same medicinal qualities.  I recently harvested the plants and dried them.  I think I'll make a tincture to last me through the winter and then re-sow the plants in the spring.

For me, it's a great substitution 

for so much OTC medication,

and I know my liver will thank me for that!

Check out some info on Wild Lettuce HERE.

Beauty in the Ordinary

They say we, "eat with our eyes first."  

And while a basketful of homegrown green beans can be lovely, purple and yellow ones feed my soul 

as well as my body.

A basket of yellow heirloom tomatoes sitting on my kitchen counter may be boring to most people, but to me it is like a priceless sculpture.  

I'll stare at it a day or two before processing them because they're so lovely!

 

And even walking into my ordinary, unorganized, non-Pinterest pantry, I see the beauty of  the contents of these jars.  The seeds that I started in January are going to be feeding us all year long.

True contentment, for me, consists of finding beauty in the ordinary. To shift my thinking from a consumer mentality to one of being thankful for what I have right in front of me.

Our chaotic home, family dinners, hand picked bouquets, a hot cup of coffee in the morning...

and drinking it with my two dogs.

The ordinary is quite beautiful 

if we choose to see it that way.

Growing Medicine

Not only am I growing vegetables and flowers in my garden, I'm also growing MEDICINE. 

 

Medicinal herbs, that is.

My favorite by far is Holy Basil.

I've been drinking it in tea daily, but I want to make it into a tincture to last through the winter months when I can't grow basils.

Tinctures are liquid, highly concentrated herbal extracts made by soaking herbs in alcohol, vegetable glycerin, or oil.

To make Holy Basil tincture:

Rough chop enough Holy Basil to fill a jar 3/4 full.

Pour (at least 80 proof) vodka, gin, or brandy over the herb to cover.

Cap, label, and set in a dark/cool place 

for six to eight weeks.  

Shake mixture up every now and then.

At the end of your six-ish weeks, strain out the plant matter and decant into dark glass 

dropper bottles.

Take 10-20 drops in a glass of water daily.

Holy Basil has compounds that alleviate anxiety and depression, increase mental clarity, help to decrease age related memory loss, and fight inflammation in the body.

All of that goodness and healing,

just growing right outside of my back porch!

The Summer Garden

Summer is just around the corner, and I couldn't be more excited about my upcoming garden! This year, I have decided to grow some new and exciting varieties that I can't wait to see flourish. The three varieties that I am most excited about are the Yellow Stuffer Tomato, Yum Yum Peppers, and Tromboncino Squash.

The Yellow Stuffer Tomato is a unique variety that I have never grown before. As its name suggests, it is a tomato that is yellow in color and has a hollow center that is perfect for stuffing. This tomato is perfect for making stuffed tomatoes, which are a delicious summer treat that I can't wait to try.

Another new variety that I am excited to grow this summer is the Yum Yum Pepper. These peppers are a sweet variety that is perfect for snacking on or adding to salads. The Yum Yum Pepper is also great for stuffing, and I can already imagine all the delicious recipes I can create with them.

Finally, I am excited to grow the Tromboncino Squash this summer. This is a unique squash variety that is known for its long, slender shape and mild flavor. The Tromboncino Squash is perfect for grilling, roasting, or adding to soups and stews. I love the versatility of this squash and can't wait to experiment with different recipes.

Overall, I am incredibly excited about my upcoming summer garden and can't wait to see these new varieties grow. I know that they will add a unique and delicious flavor to my meals, and I can't wait to share them with my friends and family. Gardening is a rewarding experience, and I can't wait to see the fruits of my labor this summer.

HELLO Summer!

It may not officially be summer until next month, but don't tell that to my garden!  So many lovely things are coming from it and I thought I'd share some of the staples we'll be making in the months ahead.

SALSA VERDE

I'm so excited to say that 100% of this salsa came from my garden!  Now there is no formal recipe, just let your heart tell you what you need...

In a large (I have a 14 inch) sized dry, very hot, cast iron skillet.  To half (or more) of the pan, add ripe and washed tomatillos.  To the other half add peppers, onion, and garlic.  Blister all of your ingredients and then transfer them to a food processor with a handful of cilantro, salt to taste, and ground cumin.  

Process until smooth.

This sauce is great on everything!  I especially love to cook it low and slow with a pork roast for my own spin on Chili Verde.

Next is just my favorite way to eat summer produce from the garden:

PICO DE GALLO

It's seriously just summer time in a bowl for me!

Again, no specific recipe...

Mix together chopped and seeded tomato, chopped peppers and red onion, a handful of chopped cilantro, and season with powdered or fresh garlic and sea salt.

Now with all this lovely food, you're going to need something to drink:

BASIL LEMONADE

This drink is so refreshing and basil has many health benefits!  I just take a quart sized mason jar and add a handful of chopped and muddled basil to the bottom.  Top with ice and then pour over your favorite lemonade.  I use ICE - a bottled sugar free version that's a little fizzy.  In the evenings, I'll add a shot of Tito's Handmade Vodka.  Put the lid on and give it a shake.

So if you're looking for me this summer, I'll be out in the garden...

Or passed out on the couch from one too many basil lemonades!

The Stimmy Garden

When the stimulus checks finally went out, 

I knew I wanted to spend some of it on the garden.

**Insert "DUH" with an eyeroll here**

Lumber is hella expensive these days and even though we live in the country, getting quality composted garden soil is next to impossible without spending an arm and a leg!  

So when that stimmy money hit my account...

Behold, the Stimmy Garden!

Four new 8ft X 4ft beds to grown more food and a cut flower garden, because you should always have a little bit of pretty with functionality.

I've been working in the garden every day that I have off work and I'm proud to say that I'm rockin' a pretty awesome farmers tan.

I'm sure my boys would have rather I spent the money on a new PS5, but this small bit of lumber and soil just makes me so very happy.  Being in the sunshine and fresh air is medicine to my soul!

Hopefully I can win them over to my way of thinking with fresh salsa from the garden this summer.

My Little Entrepreneur

I was planting tomato seeds one beautiful January day and Mary Grace asks me, "Why are you planting seeds when you can just go to Walmart and get plants?"  

I told her that these were special varieties of tomato that you can't find in the stores.  Then she asked if people would be interested in buying them.  I told her they probably would because seed starting is a little hard.  

So she asked if she could start some seeds to sell.

She followed my directions and planted around100 tomato and pepper seeds.  When they outgrew the starter trays, she up-potted them to Solo cups.  

She helped me water them and harden them off outside.

They were finally big enough for sale 

and the weather was warm enough for them to go in the ground. 

 

To sell them, I didn't have to go further 

than my FaceBook friend's list!

You all turned out in droves and bought 

EVERY.SINGLE.PLANT. she grew!

And while I can't get her to EAT a tomato,

she has learned to love them from an economic standpoint!

Hey, I'll take what I can get!

Growing these tomatoes for you has taught her:

Responsibility for living things

Understanding of cause and effect

Encouraged her love of nature

Boosted her self confidence

Thank you for your support and encouragement!

It means so much to Mary Grace

but it means so much more to this mama's heart.

You all have been such a blessing.

So happy gardening to all our friends and I'm looking forward to all the FaceBook photos of your giant tomato hauls and delicious tomato sandwiches!

Mary Grace is already planning for next year's seeds! 

Tomato Time!

For the past few weeks, I've stolen this corner of my dinning room and converted it to a mini greenhouse.  You won't find shelves of little seedlings under grow lights 

in the pages of 'Better Homes & Gardens' magazine...

and I'm sure Joanna Gaines would not approve...

 BUT

these shelves full of life make me so happy 

during this chilly, dreary time of year!

Best of all, the tomato seedlings are ready to be up potted!

That means they have outgrown their seed trays and need a bigger home for development.  

The way I do this is to up pot them into Solo cups.

It's cheap.

It's the perfect size.

I use them year after year.

Each little seedling gets popped into a cup with fresh potting soil.  You'll want to bury that little seedling up to it's top leaves because tomatoes can send out new roots all along their stem.

It makes for a stronger, healthier plant.

I then put all the cups into bins so I can begin to take them outside to "harden off" as the days become warmer.  By the second week of March, they'll be ready to plant in the garden.

But until then, the little corner of my dinning room is over run with plants.  I'm sure the purple glow coming from my windows is concerning to my neighbors and passers by.  But I assure you folks, it's JUST tomatoes and peppers, nothing illegal going on here!

If you'd like to follow my gardening adventures, 

follow the hashtag #Creamergarden

on Instagram.

The Fall Garden

The Fall garden is in full swing and I find myself out here most days just sitting in a chair.  The days are cooler, the air smells sweeter, and the sun feels so good on my skin after being mostly inside for the last six months.

The garden is wooing me, y'all!

And I must GO!

The Easiest Pickled Peppers

There is never a shortage of peppers in the summer garden. Peppers LOVE the Texas heat and my plants usually produce well into late October.  My boys love pickled jalapeños and pepperochini on just about everything, so I’m sharing the easiest quick pickled peppers recipe. It’s my favorite way to preserve peppers. 

PICKLED PEPPERS 

1 cup of vinegar (either white or apple cider)

1 cup of water

Three cloves of garlic smashed

1 Tbs salt

1 Tbs honey (optional)

Combine all the ingredients into a saucepan and heat until boiling.  Remove pan from heat and add sliced jalapeños.  Give it a quick stir and allow to cool slightly before packing into clean jars.  Seal jar with lid and cool on your counter until room temperature. You can enjoy them then or put them in the fridge for a couple of days to let the flavors develop. 

These peppers will keep up to three months in the fridge...

IF they last that long!

Saving Summer, Saving Seeds

For the most part, the summer garden is done with.  The only thing that loves this Texas heat are my peppers.  Since getting my cast off, I've really wanted to get out in the garden (because who wants to garden with a heavy, hot, sweaty cast!).  So earlier this week, the boys helped me weed some beds and I gathered the last few bits of summer from the garden.

Beautiful and fragrant Holy Basil for winter teas.

Besides the peppers, my herbs are the only plants still going strong.

Due to the pandemic, many seed companies are sold out due to panic buying.  But if you already have a garden, it's as simple as letting a bit of your harvest dry on the vine.  With a handful of our favorite pole beans, we'll have way more seed than we need for next year.

Same with the cucumbers.  Just let them over ripen on the vine and harvest hundreds of seeds.  And although I wish I could say this was all an experienced gardener's calculated move...

in honest, I simply let my garden go to hell because it was to hot to tend to it!

I even harvested the sunflower seeds that the birds didn't take!

I love that the garden is so forgiving.

Even if you neglect it, you still can reap it's bounty.

One fun project I did was stringing chili peppers for drying.  It's the first time I've dried peppers this way and I can't believe I haven't done it sooner.  When these beauties are dried, it'll be just in time to make the mole sauce for our Christmas tamales!

And you better believe I'm going to be saving those seeds!

I might even just leave it hanging in my kitchen so I can save the remnants of summer just a little longer.