Our Winter Garden

 

The long days of summer are behind us, and with them are also gone some of my favorite past times such as:  sipping sweet iced tea from my front porch rockers, catching fireflies until dark, eating ice cream cones with the kids (well...maybe I'll keep this past time going all winter long!), and harvesting the wonderful, fresh, produce from our lovely raised bed gardens.  Sigh!  Oh how I will miss my gardens!

But wait! Didn't I recently read an article by Eliot Coleman on cold frame gardening?!  You can  also read it if you click on this link:

How to make a cold frame garden  

 

Oh, and by the way, if you're wondering what you can get me for Christmas, I would really love to have this book:

 

Four Season Harvest

 

or this one will suffice....

 

The Winter Harvest Handbook

 

 

After researching cold frame gardening, I felt confident that we could turn one of our raised beds into a lettuce producing factory.

 

I made out a honey-do list and batted my eyes at my man.  The next thing you know, he got right to work!  Oh how I love that man!

 

We....ummmm....HE started with one of our existing raised beds. 

 

We chose this one because it already had some mature kale plants and green onions.  Both fair well in cold weather.

 

Next he took 10, one foot each, rebar pieces and placed them inside each of the four corners of the raised bed, spacing them 2 feet apart along both sides of the bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next he measured and cut 5 pieces of 1/2 inch pvc piping, 8 feet each.  He then attached the piping from each piece of rebar directly across the top of the bed to another piece of rebar.

 

 

 

Well at least someone offered to lend him a hand!

 

 

 

 

 

Next comes the fun part.  He, with the help of his lovely assistant, measured enough heavy plastic to cover the bed.  This was about a 10' x 14' piece if 6 mil. plastic.  The bed is 4' x 8'.

 

 

 

 Next they  covered the bed with the plastic piece.......

 

And used heavy screws and bungee cords to attach the plastic to the frame of the raised bed.

 

 

It's important to have a way to vent your cold frame so that the plants don't overheat.  Even on cold days, the sun's rays can beam down and make the temperature inside the cold frame too hot if not vented properly.  I open the sides and use heavy clips to keep the plastic sides open.

 

 

Next we added mature salad greens from a local nursery and herb seedlings from my daughter's indoor greenhouse, a light hut that she created out of a box, fluorescent light, and aluminum foil.

 

 

And there you have it! Lots of salad greens, kale, green onions, and cilantro to feed our family this winter.  All for about the cost of $30.00!

 

 

So grab yourself a tall glass of sweet iced tea and come on over.  It's going to be summer all winter long at our house!

 

 









Got stale bread?

 

Got stale bread?  I know that we always do! What are some ways that you use stale or leftover bread?  In the past, I have made many things with stale bread including:  French toast, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot browns, breakfast casseroles, both plain and cinnamon toast, stuffing, croutons, and bread crumbs.

This is my kids favorite way to use up stale, fresh, or just any ole' piece of bread.....we call these buckeyes.....we used an apple cookie cutter for this one..... 



1)  Use a cookie cutter to cut any shape out of a piece of bread.

2)  Butter both sides of the piece of bread with the shape cut out.

 



3)  Throw buttered bread in a greased hot skillet or griddle and..... crack an egg right, smack in the middle!  Cook on both sides until the yolk gets done to your liking.

 

 

 

This one is a gingerbread man with a fat, little, round belly!  Pair him with his gingerbread cut-out, lathered with butter and jelly.

 

While you've still got out the bread, butter, and cookie cutters, you might want to give this a try....

 

 

 

Use the middle shape that you cut from your piece of bread.  (This one is a snowflake) Butter both sides, throw it on a hot skillet or griddle.  Brown both sides to perfection.  Add cheese, herbs, and garlic salt.  Let cheese melt and you have a perfect, fun, side to any meal. 

 

By adding sauce first,  and following these directions, you could also make mini cheese pizzas.  If you need to melt the cheese a little more, put a lid on your pan or toast them in the oven a few seconds.

 

Your kids will love you because they will think that you are the coolest mom on the block!  (We all know that you really are!)

 

Getting creative with some day old bread.....

now that's a  really FRESH idea!

 

Eeyore's House in the Woods

 Today I am thankful for the discovery of a really cool stick structure in the woods, and an AMAZING 7 year old who has the imagination to turn it into "Eeyore's House!"

 

 

 

 

"A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference."

- Eeyore

Undies as bunny ears

Ahhh....November.....that month where we reflect on all of the many things that we are thankful for.

This should be fun.......

Today I am thankful for a sweet little gal who is gracious enough to allow her big sisters to dress her up, using undies as bunny ears!

 

It's the little things in life that matter most!

Excuse Me While I Put My Kids to Bed

I think it's really, really  sad that my kids never get to eat their Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.  In fact, I'm not even sure they know that these amazing delicious morsels exist.

 

 

Excuse me while I put my kids to bed!







Darn Target Catalog!

We got our Target catalog in the mail the other day, along with LL Bean, Bed Bath and Beyond, Oriental Trading Company, and many others.  It seems that everyone is gearing up for the Christmas season already, before the Autumn leaves even have a chance to fall to the ground.

 

My birthday and Christmas just so happen to be really close to each other, so this time of year, my family begins asking the age old question, "What do you want, mom?"

 

Hmmmm....let's see....well.....

 

Months ago, a friend told me about the Fagor Muli-Cooker.  It has a pretty impressive resume, including:

 

 "An exceptionally versatile addition to any busy kitchen, this 6-quart multi-cooker offers a variety of functions all in one handy appliance--use it as a rice cooker, a pressure cooker, or a slow cooker. In rice-cooker mode, the unit automatically cooks any type of rice to light, fluffy, restaurant-quality perfection. In pressure-cooker mode, the appliance offers high (9 psi) and low (5 psi) pressure settings for cooking healthy meals in no time. The higher the pressure the faster the results. For peace of mind, the unit's self-locking lid comes with an automatic pressure-release setting, which means the lid won't open until all the pressure inside gets safely released. In slow-cooker mode, the appliance can be used to make delicious pot roasts, soups, and stews. Simply add the ingredients in the morning, set the timer, and dinner will be ready and waiting after a long day at the office. Best of all, the multi-cooker automatically shifts to "keep warm" at the end of any cooking program, keeping food hot and ready to serve without overcooking. Other highlights include a "brown" function for true one-pot cooking, an LED screen with soft-touch control buttons, a programmable eight-hour delay timer, stay-cool handles, overheat protection, and two independent pressure-control valves for added security. When finished, the nonstick cooking pot can be removed for quick cleanup by hand or in the dishwasher. A user manual with 40 delicious recipes comes included."

 

 

Rumor has it that it cooks brown rice to fluffy perfection in less than 10 minutes!  Doesn't that make your mouth water?!  (I bet you also just added this amazing contraption to your Christmas list as well, didn't you?!) 

  

 

I've left gentle reminders to my family that this is ALL that I want.  Nothing else....Nada, Nunca, NADIA!

 

You think they would get the hint after I used duct tape to hide the 80s green ivy on my tired, weary, OVERUSED crockpot...(hint, hint all family memebers reading this post!)

 

 

 

So the Fagor multi-cooker is indeed ALL that I want!

 

 

Well....I did see this cute little gadget just this morning....

 

 



And this....

And this...

And this...

 

 (Just kidding!)

Oh yeah, and one more....Have you seen these?....guuurrrrllll!  I really need these if I'm gonna get that bow! 



Commercialism has already reared it's ugly head in our household!!  It seems that everyone is getting caught up!



 

Darn Target catalog!!!

The Ultimate Veggie Omelet

Yikes! This summer I have gained about 10 pounds!  I am thinking my man's famous cinnamon-vanilla milkshakes have something to do with it! 

So to combat my expanding waistline, I am going to post some simple, healthy, high protein, and low fat recipes.  Let's start with one of my family's favorite.....The Ultimate Veggie Omelet!



The Ultimate Veggie Omelet!

First, you must have some farm fresh eggs!  (If you don't the store bought ones will suffice!)

Mix two eggs or 4 egg whites with a little milk, fresh or dried herbs, and salt and pepper to taste.

Add egg mixture to preheated, well seasoned, and greased skillet.

Cover with a lid to get the convection action going and cook until eggs set up and all of the liquid is gone. (About 2 minutes)

Meanwhile, saute veggies in a separate pan.  We love mushrooms, spinach, black beans, garlic, and green onions.

Round you up some delicious, fresh salsa.  I used leftovers from my man's Fantasy Football draft.  I make this by the blender-full and store it in the fridge.  (Recipe coming soon!)

Add sauteed veggies and fresh salsa to one side of the cooked omelet.

 



 

Add cheese and/or sour cream or plain or Greek Yogurt.

 

Because of my "Gettin' Skinny" quest, I've been holding on the cheese and adding Greek Yogurt to mine instead.  My family loves to add both!

Now for the fun part....this does require practice....flip the "vacant" side of the omelet on top of the veggies and cheese.  Cover and remove from heat.  Let sit for a minute or two, while the flavors mesh together.  Is your mouth watering yet?

 

Slide omelet out of pan onto a pretty plate and top with your favorite toppings!  Greek yogurt, fresh salsa, green onions, and cilantro add an amazing addition!

 

Voila!  The Ultimate Veggie Omelet!!!

Who needs a cinnamon-vanilla milkshake anyway??!!