Hot Vegan Mess

This is turning into a gardening blog! And that’s ok – because I really feel eating healthier goes hand in hand with knowing exactly where your food comes from. Two years ago was the start of this journey as we moved to WV and I used the gift of being a stay-at-home mom to work on improving our eating habits – which had become very unhealthy. Last year was my first foray into gardening – with the three beds you see above. I also participated in a local CSA and went to the weekly veggie stand that is 4 blocks from my home. This summer I am back to being a working mom but we have doubled the size of our garden.

Doesn’t this bed look fabulous? I’m currently harvesting radishes and spinach from it. I have rainbow chard and cabbage that are growing really well. I just transplanted my tomato seedlings into it and also planted onions. This bed if officially full!

Yesterday we ripped out our back fence – it was old and falling down and was also blocking a lot of the light to the bed closest to it.  We replaced the fence with the cute picket fence panels you see on the right. We used the existing fenceposts and repurposed some supports. By adding eyescrews and a lot of twine we created a large funky trellis. We then created narrow planter boxes all along the bottom and planted beans. Below the big sign we created another bed that we planted with sunflowers and perennial wildflowers. The two beds on the right have lettuces, collards, and brussel sprouts going. And I just transplanted some tomatoes as well. I’ll be adding some carrots and beets tonight.

The other new back bed does not look like much right now. I have a zucchini plant going and just planted corn. More on the new front beds in another post.

Look at this lovely lettuce!!! I made a little salad that I stuffed into a pita pocket and ate for lunch this afternoon. I have enough for a late-night snack or lunch tomorrow. This is my first time growing lettuces and spinach and it’s so awesome to be able to step outside, pull off a few leaves and make a salad!! It doesn’t get any fresher than that!!

I also made a BBQ bean and sausage dish with garden spinach thrown in. And I have a soyrizo chili going in the crockpot – that utilizes frozen bell peppers from last year’s garden!!

We went to the grocery store and spent a grand total of $54 for the week. Mostly because I’m utilizing the garden and cleaning out the freezer in anticipation of more garden bounty!

Cincinnati market radishes on the chopping board

I just posted some pics from the garden. It’s so cool that we are already enjoying a bounty from the garden and it’s only May – radishes and spinach to be specific. I used the radishes in a recent succotash-like concoction, and the spinach is going in a sausage/bean dish tomorrow. I need to harvest some kale and lettuce in the next few days.

Souped Up Hoppin John

Can’t believe the last time I posted was August of last year! Well, I can actually as soon after that I started a full-time job, then added a part-time job, and then added several weekly volunteer commitments. It’s been a wild and crazy time!! And cooking just went by the wayside. It was not something I enjoyed anymore as it became something I’ve done it batches when I’ve had a few hours to spare – or I haven’t done it at all and we’ve eaten out.

Both of my jobs are “sit at the computer” jobs – the only time I get up is to check the fax machine. At my full-time job we have unlimited free soda available and I work nights which has thrown my eating and cooking schedule way office. And we have a nice fat stack of takeout menus. Not a good combination. The result of which is that I’ve gained 10 lbs since August.

In recent weeks I’ve made a concerted effort to cook more and have been actually enjoying cooking again. I’ve also been teaching Chris how to cook and that has been a good way for us to spend a little time together.

Tonight we had already had dinner but I had Chopped on and became inspired to do my own version. We have so much random stuff in our freezer – stuff from last year’s garden, store-bought frozen veggies, and some beans from when I was cooking more often.

So I pulled out 4 cups of frozen black-eyed peas, corn from my mother-in-law’s garden, and chopped bell peppers from mine. I added two cans of diced tomates and fresh onion, celery, and spinach. I sauteed the onion, celery, and bell peppers with some diced garlic. Added the tomatoes with the still-frozen beans and corns and seasoned with some Zatarain’s. Once everything defrosted and was warmed through I added the spinach (chopped) and let it wilt down. I’m calling it “Souped-Up Hoppin’ John.” Wow – this stuff is good!! Chris kept walking by and stealing forkfuls as it cooked so I guess he agrees.

And we officially have dinner for Wednesday. Tomorrow Chris is making spaghetti with a side of leftover veggies. Tuesday is a leftover millet and kidney bean dish I made a few days ago. Wednesday is my day off so I’m hoping to be inspired again (and since we will have a meal ready to go I won’t feel obligated to cook if I’m not inspired). And I need to watch Chopped more often.