Garden Update 6/13

Harvested all the lettuce yesterday!

Monster Tomato! Golden Cherry from the nursery... got a nice cluster of buds!

These tomatoes I started from seed! Heirloom "Early Red Cheif"

Potatoes I pulled from the compost bin where they were trying to grow!

Heirloom "Top Crop" Green Beans. Bush type, growing intensively in a container!

And all ready lot's of little bean flowers!

Ridiculously fast growing radishes. "Cherry Belle"

Planted from seed only a few weeks ago and almost fat enough to harvest! I don't even know if I like radishes!

Basil... also from seed! Gonna be making some pesto in a few weeks!

Started this Chive and Thyme from seed. Eventually they will live in the back garden!

Jalapeno Babies!

Recently started "Kentucky Wonder" mix of green and wax beans! Pole type will cover that fence soon!

Pumpkins! Lost one to wind, still 2 healthy ones!

A  new cucumber "Spacemaster" that can be grown in hanging planters!

In the center of this photo is a big Horseradish plant Ben's friend gave us last year! I almost pulled it out thinking it was weeds but looks like we will have a bumper crop! Sinus cleanser anyone?

 So far so good, I'd say!

Ben's muscles and my green thumb will have us eating good soon enough!
We've all ready been eating salads for a few months, and peas too (though our crop was sad... will plant more for fall!) But this is what they looked like!

Fresh garden peas quickly blanched then sauteed in butter with shallots and kosher salt!

First Post: Starting Simple

Ok! First post... a simple recipe I perfected last night after multiple attempts at creating a relatively healthy, chewy granola bar! I used this recipe as a starting point. 

Best Chewy Granola Bars!

1 c. Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

1 c. Bob's Red Mill 5 Grain Cereal (contains flax, oats, other healthy bites)

1/2 c. Raw Wheat Germ 

1 1/2 c. Raw, Slivered Almonds (coarsely chopped in food processor)

1/2 c. Shredded, UNsweetened Coconut

1/4 c. Sesame Seeds (raw)

1/4 c  Pumpkin Seeds (raw)

Mix all of the above on a rimmed baking sheet and toast at 325 F for about 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until the oats are lightly toasted and the aroma fills the kitchen!

Line a 9x13" glass or metal baking dish (the straighter the sides the better) with parchment so it overhangs a few inches on each end to allow you to lift the bars out.

Meanwhile:

Gather and set aside: 

               1/2 c. Dried Apricots or other Dried Fruit, Chopped

               1/2 c. Golden Raisins

               1/2 c. Chocolate Chips (all optional- but fruit adds to the chewiness)

Then: Combine in a medium saucepan over med-low heat  and heat gently until combined.

               2/3 c. Honey

               3 Tb + 1 tsp Coconut Oil

               1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

               1 tsp Vanilla Extract

When all components are ready, decrease oven heat to 300F. 

Mix the oat mixture into the melted honey & oil mixture and stir to coat. 

Next, stir in the dried fruit. If adding chocolate chips you may wish to cool the mixture a bit before adding them. If you don't, you'll have more of a chocolate laced bar than one with any chips in it... but it's chocolate, so in either scenario, it's gonna be good :)

Spread the mixture with a rubber spatula (you should have at least 10 of these if you do any cooking) into the pan so it's nice and even and spread into all the corners.

Bake in lower part of oven for about 25 minutes.

It's hard to tell what done is... it was still very soft to the touch, but toasted nicely and pulling away from the sides of the pan.

Place the pan on a cooling rack for about 1o minutes. Then, SLICE the bars. Do not wait until it's completely cool! I sliced 16 bars out of mine (about 1 1/4" wide by 4 1/2" long.) After slicing allow to cool completely then lift the bars via the paper out of the pan! Store in airtight container for a week or so (if they last that long before you DEVOUR them!!)

SO- Almond, Apricot, Coconut this time... 

What flavors should we try next time?

NEXT UP:  Garden Update!