Healthy Eating

There is nothing you can plant that will not be healthy...well,
LEGAL
that you plant, anyway!



Take this Consumer Report Healthy Eating Quiz to see what your perception of "healthy" is...

Blessings from the Garden
ML

Soup!

I love to find new recipes for soups that taste high cal/high fat, but are actually healthy and full of good nutrition. I found this recipe in Fitness Rx February 2011 issue to help stay on track.

I adapted a bit by adding the hot pepper flakes and a bit of salt. This is a low-sodium recipe, but I needed some salt! Top with a bit of Parmesan and you'll be glad you made this!

Even my kids enjoyed it! With the upcoming "storm" you may want to hit the store for the ingredients...


Broccoli Cauliflower Soup with Roasted Almond Puree
1T extra virgin olive oil
2 leek bulbs thinly sliced with part of green portion
3 cups broccoli florets fresh
3 cups cauliflower florets fresh
6 cups vegetable stock
3/4 cups of ground roasted raw almonds
1T fresh thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp Pimenton (Spanish smoked paprika in Spanish spice section)
1/4 tsp lemon zest
sprinkle of red pepper flakes
garnish with dusting of Parmesan cheese


Place about a cup of whole, raw almonds on baking sheet
in 350 oven for about 12 minutes,
take out and let cool. Chop
with food processor or blender.



In a large pot, saute the leeks in the olive oil until translucent.
Add cauliflower and broccoli sauteing a couple minutes more.
Pour in the veggie stock and bring to a boil, add the almonds, thyme,
bay leaf, and paprika. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.




Remove the bay leaf and puree the soup with an immersion blender or blend in batches with processor.



Enjoy
Blessings from the Garden.
ML

January To Do's

Yes, it's cold (or is it? today?), but there are plenty of things to do in the
garden and in preparation for the upcoming growing season...









Here are a few things to keep you busy:

• feed the birds!
  
• dream. dream of what you'll be doing in the garden Feb/Mar.
• make a list of veggies, herbs and flowers you did not plant in 2010.
• prepare your garden beds now to be ready for planting in late Feb/March
  
• start a garden diary or blog. Make a sketch of your garden spot now, and add in what you'd like to plant this spring.
• plant fruit trees when available.
• buy seeds: beets, carrots, lettuce, english peas, radishes, spinach for planting late this month, early Feb. Get seed trays ready for tomatoes, peppers and eggplant to be started indoors.
  
• keep your pansies, snaps, and ornamental kale watered!
• don't massacre your shrubs yet unless you want to look at it until warm weather arrives!
• send me some of your garden goals for 2011.
• join us for "TheDirt" video chat on Thursday, January 20th at noon.

Blessings from the Garden.
ML

Garden Goals

It's time for goals and resolutions!

I just directed Robert and the kids to formulate 5 goals each for 2011 then email them back to me. Having resolutions, goals, and lists to review intermittently helps keep me focused rather than aimlessly spinning through life!

The focus for my 2011 goals (both gardening and personal) will be on purpose.

I will focus my energy on accomplishments with meaning and mission.

Garden goals from 2010 included sharing my passion for gardening with children, growing more food, joining a Community Supported Agriculture, designing 2 lasagna beds, and preparing for the 2010 Sacred Heart Garden Tour. I look back at these goals satisfied that I completed 3 of them and worked toward the other two.

Here are my garden goals for the New Year 2011:

• Re-work herb bed to include statue or fountain as focal point

• Start fresh cooking herbs from seed: basil, rosemary, chives, garlic, dill, cilantro and lovage


• Draw new sketch of garden plan for 2011 to share with garden clubs & readers. Review progress every other week.
  


• Plant 3 evergreens to hide unpleasant view!


• Continue to involve family in garden activities via Master's Table Soup Kitchen, home garden and farm garden.
  

Share your goals by commenting in the comment section below.
Blessings from the Garden.
Happy New Year!
ML