From This to That

One of my wishes for starting a garden was a simple one. I want to grow the ingredients to make fresh salsa. Today my wish has come true. The satisfaction is almost as delicious as the salsa. I didn't measure or use a recipe. This is pretty much what I did. 

Garden Salsa

A bunch of cherry tomatoes

1/3 jalapeño

Slice of vidalia onion

Small handful of cilantro

A bit of vinegar

Salt and pepper

Small pinch of sugar

Chop up and enjoy. 

The only item not from my garden is the onion. 

Harvesting the Basil

We have been getting so much rain and our garden is reaping the benefits. Above, is my first harvest of basil. Since I didn't have all of the ingredients to make Pesto I decided to purée what I had and freeze it. My recipe calls for 2C basil and 1/2C olive oil. I purée, put in baggies, and freeze. I got 3 batches from my first giant bunch of basil. When I am ready to make pesto I will defrost and mix the remaining ingredients.  This recipe is so very easy and amazingly delicious. We like to serve it with fresh crusty bread and slices of Roma tomatoes. 

Pesto Recipe

2c basil

1/2C olive oil

1/4C Parmesan cheese

1 clove minced garlic

Salt

Mozzarella Stix

If you know me you know that I love cheese. Mozzarella is a favorite, especially when battered and fried. I thought I would try a recipe I found on Pinterest for baking Panko covered mozzarella. 

They recommend you cut moz Stix in half and freeze for 15 min to avoid cheese leakage. 

Next dip in egg, then Panko and put on baking sheet. I baked for about 5 minutes @ 350. 

They are tasty but flattened little blobs of cheese. Maybe i'll freeze longer next time??

The babies are multiplying and growing

I couldn't resist going out and buying another tray of 72 little seed pods. I started lettuce, African Daisys and another type of marigold. The lavender seeds never sprouted so I used those pods to grow more marigolds.

It looks like a miniature forest in my office.
I can hardly wait to plant these little babies.


This is the 4 x 4 raised bed garden where the seedlings will live, grow and hopefully not die!

I transplanted 2 basil and 2 tomato plants into small mason jars. I think they need a little more room to grow before they venture outside. You can see the raised bed in the background filled with dirt.

Maggie is helping watch over the plants and catch a little sun.

My Story in Art

I have just discovered the amazingly creative art journal. Where have I been? How could I have missed all of this awesome creativity? Well it's high time I catch up. I started with The End, the back of my journal. I bought my spiral bound Canson mixed media spiral and off I go..............
I decided to start with the back cover incase it stinks then I won't have to look at it as much. Well, I am happy so far. I used acrylics to begin a beautiful rainbow of colors. I'm sure I will add more but for now I am pleased.
* note to self, completely wash hands before you start to blog. I guess a little paint won't kill my keyboard ;-)

Salt Dough Fossils

1 C salt
2 C flour
1 C water/coffee
Mix all ingredients. Roll out dough and stamp fossils using Dino feet, shells, bark, leaves, seeds, nuts, pretty much whatever you want.
Bake 200 for 2 hours or let dry for a few days.

A Planting We Will Go

Every year I think to myself how nice it would be if I planned ahead and started just a few plants and flowers from seeds. A few years ago I tried but I really wasn't paying attention to the poor little things and they dried up. Was it their fault?  Goodness no. I just keep on trying. (I've been listening to Pete the Cat lately)
My seeds, my seeds, my growing little seeds. I am tryingn to grow lavender, basil (love to make pesto!! and last year I spend almost $4 for a little bushel.), marigolds, and 2 kinds of tomatos.

Here are all of my little pods, 72 to be exact. I gave them a little warm water and they plumped right up. ( I think  my first attemp a few years ago I just threw the seeds on top and squired them a bit.)  With much more care this time I gingerly poked my finger in the middle to make a bigger hole and then in went the seeds. I covered them up a little bit. Put the plastic lid on the little guys and turned on the grow light.
Warmth and lighting was another area that I ignored last time. Our house is pretty chilly and I know the little seeds need the light and warmth. I bought a 60 watt bulb and I point it at the seeds for about 8 hours a day.

Let's see what happens.
Day 3. Good Morning little marigolds.

Please don't die :-)
The marigolds are the first ones to show a little green.

So this is week 5 and everything but the lavender is doing well. Tomatoes, marigolds, and basil are doing fine. I think I will start new flowers soon to replace the lavender.