Spring Garden 2012: Week Six






The spring garden is growing like gangbusters. With daily inspection and removal of worms the cabbage have bounded back from their pest infestation. The lettuce and arugula are growing faster then we can eat them. Spinach is starting to look like spinach. Actual strawberries are appearing and we're becoming more certain that the leeks are leeks (and not chives). Two weeks ago three tomato plants were added: Beefsteak, Phoenix (like the symbol of Atlanta) and an heirloom. As well as an eggplant and three types of peppers. Dinner for the rest of the week will be lettuce from our garden with soft boiled eggs!


And while the plants love the springtime sun for growing.... it seems Topher loves it for something else - napping.





Homemade biscuits on a Saturday morning & other random things


While Oliver made biscuits this morning I went straight from bed to the garden. The early bird gets the worm and I had some worm getting to do. By the time he called me in to eat (bacon, eggs and biscuits) I'd squished another dozen cabbage worms of varying sizes. 


Also, this morning, the Beekman Boys responded to my plea for cabbage worm help with two ideas: "make a spray using real soap (must have lye) or use row covers". The soap spray idea led my Google searches in a new direction and I found several sites that suggest masking the cabbage scent in an effort to hide them from the white cabbage moths (who lay the eggs on the leaves that then hatch into the worms that are eating the plants).  My new plan is to make a lye soap spray as suggested by the Beekmans AND refertilize with a second round of fish emulsion. The fish emulsion is so pungent that it will hopefully overwhelm whatever natural scent is attracting the moths. 

The photo on the left is the view from my garden into my neighbor's front yard. Like I've said before, this is the most beautiful springtime I have ever seen in Atlanta. EVERYTHING is blooming at once! And there haven't been a string of violent storms to knock down the fragile blooms. Azalea, hydrangea, dogwood, cherry blossoms, jasmine, Bradford pears, daffodils, irises - all blooming together and they're everywhere! I'm loving it (it helps that over 29 years I've developed a total tolerance to Atlanta's pollen).

The photo on the right is Topher getting ready for his shower. "Get out MOM!" Ok not really. I'd just finished cleaning the bathtub and he jumped in to lick the faucet. The light was so pretty that I grabbed the camera. He's a little cat version of a Vermeer painting!

And last for today: when life gives you lemons you make lemonade. When life makes your eggplant explode on the grill... make baba ganoush! Earlier this week Oliver grilled dinner in the backyard. Whenever he does this he throws an eggplant on the grate afterwards and lets it bake while we eat. Well during that night's dinner an unmistakable burp erupted from the grill! Oh no! Eggplant explosion! No matter though, it still makes a delicious snack. 

Venison Bolognese

 
Made from scratch with roma tomatoes, homemade beef stock, onions, celery, bell pepper, carrot, garlic, mushrooms, more of our neighbor's venison, oregano, olive oil, salt and pepper. 


Topher usually sits in his basket by the heating vent while Oliver cooks in the kitchen. This evening, while I did the dishes, I looked over and saw Topher limp with his nose resting on the vent. At first I was alarmed! But then I realized he'd dozed off while basking in the heat... oh Topher. 

GEAUX TIGERS! (And a warm dinner salad too)

 

Tonight's the night! The championship game for all of American college football. Undefeated, #1 ranked, LSU is up for a rematch against #2 SEC (Southeastern Conference) rival Alabama. We already beat them once in over time so this game is sure to be a nail biter! As you can see, team spirit is running high in the Boudreaux house. GEAUX TIGERS!


On a heart healthy, blog relevant note, I cooked dinner last night. It was warm salad of thinly cut rib eye steak on a bed of arugula. The recipe came from my friend Phu. 


I picked this recipe because it was uncomplicated (read: seemed hard to mess up), fairly healthy and from  a trusted friend. The directions amounted to: put everything into a bowl except the arugula (or watercress) and shallots. Let marinate for 10 to 30 minutes. Then quickly stir fry the beef in a wok or thin saute' pan. Mix warm medium rare meat into the greens and shallots and serve immediately. The hardest part was thinly slicing the meat. But fortunately we have a great boning knife and Oliver gave me some pointers on what to do. 

Fall Planting: Final update

Three more days until the official start of winter. The fall garden has done well - but I do wish I'd have started everything a few weeks sooner. I don't want to eat the kale until it's had a chance to grow at least twice as big as it is now. The lettuces we grew from seeds are still too little to be anything - but I am happy they've gotten this far. They reassured me that I can grow from seeds; I don't have to purchase baby plants. The pepper plants mostly died during one unusually cold night. The leaves a withered but the fruit is still holding on. We pick them as we need them. The onions? Well they are still anyone's guess!


Overall, the fall garden went well enough that I'm eager to try it all again in the spring. Perhaps on a larger scale too.

 

Topher wishes you warm blankets for cold nights and a spot of sunlight to rest in everyday. Bring on old man winter! We're ready!

TGIF (from the Toph)

It's our first weekend "off" in weeks and weeks. No tailgate parties, no big family dinner, no house cleaning and prep work. What a relief! Laying low tonight and planning for a good long work out tomorrow morning. Then possibly some painting and Christmas gift crafting. 


While I was blow drying my hair this morning Topher climbed into the sink. I think he was trying to soak up the heat from the blow dyer. It looks like even HE is happy it's Friday. 


Gotta run. It's dinner time. Oliver is about to put some shrimp and pasta on the table!
Eat well, drink and be happy it's Friday!  Cullen, Oliver & Topher too

Dinner from the garden - bibb lettuce with poached eggs

Tonight we ate the biggest, prettiest head of homegrown bibb lettuce for dinner. It was a simple salad: oil, vinegar, shallots, poached eggs, walnuts and some left over red pepper. A perfect dinner to follow a week of heavy holiday eating. 


For dinner last night we finally had left over turkey sandwiches. Delicious!


Tomorrow we're back to YDFM. I want to make a jalapeno, roast butternut squash soup. Oliver will be picking up groceries for our Saturday SEC championship tailgate party at the Georgia Dome. Geaux tigers!









From the comfort of his Macy's shopping bag, Topher would like to wish you a month of easy and affordable holiday shopping! If you're looking for gift ideas for locavores and foodies please check out the gift guide I put together on Etsy. It's full of gorgeous work by other Etsy crafters: click here!

Red curry with vegetables (and Topher likes it too)

It's our second night of red curry with vegetables. I love the second night of a same dinner - because I don't have to clean the kitchen! Woo hoo! One night of cooking made four individual dinners and two individual lunches. (This is me trying to convince my non-cooking friends to give up the frozen meals and cook a big batch of anything).


This curry had eggplant, snap beans, sweet potato, basil, onion, bell pepper and baby corn. It was the baby corn that really rang Topher's bell (video below).

A note about curry: it's made with coconut milk. Coconut milk is low in cholesterol and sodium but is very high in saturated fat. Weigh your food choices from the rest of the day before picking this as dinner. 








Let's get a physical, physical!

This morning I will have my first physical exam in at least ten years. I've made a list of questions:
1. What is my blood pressure?
2. Am I at a healthy weight?
3. How are my cholesterol levels? Specifically: HDL, LDL & Triglycerides.
4. Could you check out my moles and make sure they're not cancerous.
5. Do I need to worry that I'm on Prevacid for the 2nd time this year?
6. How long is too long to be on the pill?


If the answers I receive aren't TOO personal then I'll share them for everyone's benefit. Until then, wish me luck! 


(Hello from Topher too!)

What's for lunch? Arugula with lemon and parmesan

This has been one of my favorite salads for at least five years: fresh arugula, the juice from one lemon, a drizzle of olive oil, a small pinch of salt and parmesan cheese. Its an easy lunch to make in the office too. I keep all of the ingredients in the office fridge or in my desk drawer so I don't have to worry about finding time to make a lunch at home in the morning. It beats the pants off a can of Slim Fast!

This arugula came from the Grant Park Farmer's Market on Sunday. When I got  home and put my bag down Topher went straight for it. He rubbed against it incessantly until I pulled the arugula out. I finally gave in and let him have a leaf...because Topher wants a healthy heart too! The video is posted below.









TGIF! Boiled Peanuts

Earlier this week Oliver picked up a bag of fresh green peanuts from YDFM. The result, a tasty (read: salty) local snack that probably does NOT count as heart healthy. These bad boys had our ring fingers swollen within 24 hours. Oh well, everything in moderation. Enjoy your weekend!

























And a "Thank Goodness its Friday" from Topher too!

Monday night BLT

The much anticipated BLT! Actually, Oliver made one a BLT and the other a "PPLT" (pulled pork, lettuce and tomato). Made from some of the pulled pork we'd frozen and saved from our wedding reception's pig roast in May.

























In the background you can see a pint of Oliver's Rye Saison homebrew (in a Redbrick Brewery glass) and, of course, Mr. Topher begging at the screen door.

Oh that Topher! (Seen here on Sunday running off to enjoy a grape tomato from our garden. He prefers to eat them on the carpet in the living room).