My first EVER recipe post (and garden update-week 5)

SO, I have been DYING to use something from the garden, and since the vegetables aren't ready yet, I was left with the herbs. My basil plant has been growing like a weed, and my sister had told me about a pesto recipe she had tried, so I thought I would give it a try! And let me tell you....the whole batch is gone already! Yum yum!

The actual recipe can be found here. It's from a website called Our Best Bites. My sister introduced me to the site and if you haven't heard of it, you are totally missing out! A couple of their recipes have become regulars around our house!

You need:

2 1/2 – 3 C basil leaves, gently packed
3/4 C fresh Parmesan cheese (this is not the time for stuff in a plastic bottle)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 C pinenuts, toasted
1/2-3/4C extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt
a few cracks pepper

To toast the pine nuts, just but the desired amount in a skillet over medium low heat. Shake the skillet frequently for about 10 minutes to avoid burning. (This technique can be found here.)

I used closer to 3 cups of basil because I love it!

Then you just chunk it all in the blender and voila!

The leftovers can be frozen in an ice cube tray so it's easy to thaw small portion of it for later use.

We used it the first time on pizza with mozzarella, sliced roma tomatoes and pepperoni. The second time was on turkey wraps with tomato tortillas, turkey, cheese, and homemade pico de gallo (using the cilantro from the garden, too!). All of it was so yummy! We loved it so much that this whole batch was gone in 3 days. So so good and super easy!

And here are some updated pictures from the garden (week 5, I believe). You can compare it to the last post here.

Roma tomato

Cherry tomatoes

Grape tomatoes

BIG slicing tomato

Squash

Jalapeños

** Check out the new buttons to the right (one for my blog and one for my sister and I's etsy shop. Feel free to add them to your blog to show your support!**

My kids make me laugh

Apparently, we have been watching this youtube video WAY too much.

BECAUSE.....this is what they are now singing.

Oh no.

I'm ashamed that this is one of the first Pop songs they know, but it IS super cute.

And this is the way they have been dressing recently.

It makes me smile and they are happy. Why not, right?

Happy Tuesday friends!

Hernando A'Fair 2011!!!

HERNANDO A'FAIR

SATURDAY, MAY 21

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

APPROX. 400 BOOTHS OF

HANDMADE ITEMS

YOU ARE BOUND TO FIND SOMETHING YOU LIKE!!

AND DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY OUR BOOTH (#338 NEAR THE LIBRARY) TO SEE MY SISTER AND ME - WE WON'T PRESSURE YOU TO BUY ANYTHING, I PROMISE!

MAP OF THE VENDOR BOOTHS CAN BE FOUND HERE.

(OURS IS IN THE SECTION AT THE TOP RIGHT)

SOME OF THE ITEMS WE WILL HAVE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE CAN BE FOUND HERE.

them maters are a'growin' (week 3)

Contrary to what my West coast family may think, all southerners don't REALLY talk like this. Although it's fun to pretend.

Anyway, on to more important matters......

The roma tomato plant I planted last week is already growing tomatoes as well as the cherry tomato plant. I am so excited!!!! It literally made me skip, yes skip, across the yard to tell Mike the joyous news! And if you know me then you know I don't get excited very often, much less skip. So this is a BIG DEAL PEOPLE!!

Here is the source of all my excitement:

Roma tomato plant

Cherry tomato plant

Happy Gardening!!

Gardening, in the beginning.....

A couple of weekends ago (I believe it was the weekend after Easter), I finally got around to purchasing and planting my vegetables and herbs. I have NEVER done this before, so I hope to blog about my successes (ha!) but more importantly and, I'm sure, much more frequently, my mistakes. A lot of my decisions were based on my brother-in-law's garden, since they did it for the first time last year and had a lot of success.

First M made me a raised box out of, who knows what kind of wood. I left that up to him. He did the research and all the labor on that part. Then we had a friend of ours go with M to pick up all of the dirt and bring it back to the house. We were so thankful for the help because they were going to charge up $60 to deliver $20 worth of dirt. I get they have to make money on deliveries, but it this case, it wasn't worth it. (Oh, and don't mind the crazy black liner that is all messed up - the box was made before the terrible storms hit the south a couple weeks ago).

Once, the box and dirt were complete, I was given the 'go ahead' to purchase whatever I wanted to plant. I designed our box to have 3 different sections - 2 small on either end, and a large section in the middle. Herbs were planted in the far small section, vegetables were planted in the middle large section, and onions in the near small section (side note: I learned from someone this week, that onions are actually supposed to be planed in the fall and grow throughout the winter and spring.....they should still grow, but won't be very big. Mistake #1 of 1,000).

These were planted a little over a week ago, so we are at Week #2 now. I will try and post a picture each week to show their growing progress. And let me tell you, these suckers grow fast! It's so fun to check on them each day. I didn't think I would like it, but so far, so FUN (I know, I'm a dork)! The kids absolutely LOVE getting their rainboots on each morning (well, in Eli's case, he's wearing his snow boots since we don't have any rain boots that fit him....SO CUTE!) and helping me water the herbs & vegetables. It's a fun morning ritual!

I hope everyone is have a fantastic week in this this amazing weather!!

Oh, and HAPPY BELATED MOTHER'S DAY to my Momma (and all the other awesome moms that have mothered me or I've gotten to witness their mothering)!!

Circa 1984

Hodge Podge

Where did April go?!?!? I was getting really good about updating the blog for family and friends (especially those far away) so they could keep up with us, and I guess life just got in the way. We have been going no-stop but I have so much fun with my boys recently. They are both at such a fun age and are learning to play with one another....ok, play sometimes and fight most of the time.....but for now, we'll just act like they are perfect angels. Ha! Here are some recent random pictures of fun family times!

J enjoying his dessert after being a good boy and eating all his dinner!

Had to get a picture of cousin P. He looks like he's sneaking into something!

Having fun with my new iPhone:

I LOVE this picture of E. It is VERY rare to get any pictures of him looking at the camera, let alone looking at the camera AND smiling!

Reading time with Mammy! (J is totally cheesin' it up - he loves the attention!)

Brotherly love!

J has recently started singing, and now he does it ALL the time. I LOVE it!

In TOTAL contrast to the last video (cute, sweet, etc.), this one is definitely more of a regular occurrence - brothers screaming at each other trying to get the most attention. Oh, and the hands in the underwear is a regular occurrence too. Completely gross. I guess this is a common thing with boys. Or maybe mine are the only crazy ones. Either way, the second video is a more accurate depiction of our daily lives. Enjoy!

Oh, and happy Mother's Day to all you rockstar moms that read my blog!