This year has been a wonderful time for raising vegetables and herbs in our backyard garden although there have been some challenges (when are there not any) such as the deluges, drought periods, and excessive heat waves. However, that being said many of my raised beds were successful with bountiful production. In this post, I will tell you how I grew and used the produce in the hopes that you will be inspired to grow and cook more of your own food from your garden. Do this and you will unlock a secret to good health and living.
This season I grew Kale, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Peas, Fingerling Potatoes, Green Beans, Yellow Squash, Zucchini, Butternut Squash, Arugula, Baby Bok Choy, Lettuce, and of course herbs of many kinds. In my 4th year of growing in our backyard, I am always trying to improve my techniques for planting, raising, and cooking with the produce. Here are are few tips and new things this year:
This year I grew fingerling potatoes for the first time. I was pleased with our harvest from 19 seed potatoes to more than 20 lbs of potatoes. I love them sliced and sauteed in bacon fat with rosemary and onions as a side dish for roasted chicken or grilled steak. Simple yet ever so satisfying.
Kale is an extremely nutritious vegetable. However many people do not care for it since it has a strong taste and can be somewhat fibrous. Here are three ways to use it from top to bottom. Chop it and use it in soups, I use it in lamb, and vegetable soup with tortellini and serve it with a good dose of shredded Parmesan cheese. It can also be used in mashed potatoes, this is a classic Irish-style way of serving potatoes called Colcannon potatoes. I served it as a side with a pork ribeye medallion wrapped in bacon with a whole-grain mustard and cornmeal crust. Lastly, I like to serve kale chopped fine and sauteed with corn and peppers.
As I become better at growing my own vegetables I strive to grow more unique heirloom vegetables from seeds versus purchasing young plants from big box stores. This season I found many seeds at the Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds company. To see their entire catalog go to http://www.rareseeds.com.
Other gardening procedures that you might find useful are: I collect my own rainwater through 2 rain barrels. It is better for the plants and saves money on watering. I also use two Tumbler composters where I make my own compost by mixing 50%/50% kitchen scraps with brown leaves and or brown paper. Also, this year have been using cardboard boxes (without any ink on them) as a weed guard in between my plants which I then cover with hardwood mulch.
One last thing I did was to succession plant in order to get more production. In most of my beds, I was able to get two harvests. When the lettuce, potatoes, and peas were done I transplanted seedlings that I had started in small seed pots in their place with tomatoes, green beans, squash, and other vegetables. At this time late in the season, I expect to see the green beans and squash start to produce.
Hope you can use some of these ideas in your gardening and cooking. Until next time keep on cooking…
Often the best food is the freshest, simplest, and homegrown…
chefpliska 
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