Backyard Experiment

Seed potatoes in an old garbage can

I hadn't even entertained the thought of adding potatoes to our backyard container garden. But after seeing this excellent tutorial by Laura at Heavenly Homemakers for planting potatoes in a container, I knew I had to give it a try! From what I've read, potatoes are usually planted in March around here. Of course it is now May. So we'll have to see how our little experiment in potato growing goes!

One of Those Days...

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

When you flee the office midday with Red Hot Chili Peppers blaring on the radio. You find your way to the nearest health food store, grab up a box of organic mini chocolate chip cookies (and a kombucha) and indulge in a bit of chocolate therapy in the car. A sad but true account of my day at work LOL!

But it's good to know, that even when I feel like I'm at my breaking point, I have the blessed assurance that I haven't been given anymore than what I can bear.

Simple & Nourishing - Feta & Vegetable Pasta Salad

Feta & Vegetable Pasta Salad

This simple dish is adapted from a Kraft recipe. It makes a hearty dinner pasta salad and also works well as a side. We're enjoying this dish quite a bit right now as it makes good use of the tomatoes and cucumbers from our local farmer's market.

Ingredients:

Organic whole wheat pasta

1 -2 tomatoes (local, organically grown), diced

1 - 2 cucumbers (local, organically grown), sliced

1/2 - 1 c diced red onion

Homemade Italian dressing (I used the recipe from Passionate Homemaking)

Feta cheese, crumbled

Cook pasta according to package directions. Dice tomatoes and red onion; peel and slice cucumbers. After the pasta is done, drain and rinse. Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 1 hour.

This post is apart of the Nourishing Gourmet's Simple & Nourishing Carnival

From Dinner to Breakfast - Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potato Muffins

One of my favorite buys at our local farmer's market are good ole' NC sweet potatoes! They're inexpensive, can be prepared in a variety of ways and are quite nutritious.

Here's how I get the most out of our sweet potatoes. From a side at dinner time, to a delicious, moist muffin for breakfast!

For dinner you'll need:

Sweet potatoes - 2 to 4 depending on potato and family size

1 -2 tbsp butter (I use Kerrygold)

cinnamon, to taste

Place peeled and sliced sweet potatoes in a pan, and fill with enough water to just about cover the potatoes. Top with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cook on medium until potatoes are tender, adding more water as needed. Serve potatoes as a side with dinner, reserving 1 to 1-1/2 c mashed sweet potato for next morning.

Morning Prep:

The night before, mix 1-1/2c whole wheat flour and 1-1/2 c water in a bowl and add 1 tbsp of lemon juice. Allow to soak overnight.

For Breakfast:

To the soaked flour and water add

3 tbsp Kerrygold butter, melted

1/4 c organic sucanat

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg (local & pastured)

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

1 - 1-1/2 c mashed sweet potato

additional cinnamon, to taste

Combine ingredients in a bowl and fill greased muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes. Enjoy!

Did you know - the sweet potato is the Official State Vegetable of North Carolina :)

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam - Tasty Tuesday

Found Treasure

My hubby has made hobby out of "curbside treasure hunting". He's been doing it since college. In fact when we met, his entire dorm room was almost exclusively decorated with found items and freebies given to him by friends. I've since grown to accept my husband's passion for finding gems amongst discarded items. I've also come to see his efforts as helping the environment in a way. Rescuing items that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.

One of Dave's recent finds was this cute black, upright dresser. We placed it in the dining room for storage of the kid's art and crafting supplies (which were previously spilling forth out of the bottom of the china cabinet). In a pinch, the top could also be used as a small buffet.

Aside from the black, which I think will go well with the color I have in mind for the dining room (I'm thinking along the lines of the Nester's beloved Tobacco Road or Meredith's cheery yellow), I love the detailing on the top and bottom of the dresser.

Maybe when the mood hits me, I'll give it another coat of black paint. But for now, I'm enjoying this newly found treasure!

Southern Hospitality - Thrifty Treasures

Back from the Market

This week's haul of pastured eggs, Red Russian kale (a first for me!), asparagus, sweet potatoes, grass fed Angus beef, salad mix and strawberries

The kids are so excited to get outside this morning, they've forgotten all about breakfast and have their anxious little faces pressed tightly against the sun room glass doors. Off to enjoy the warm weather and adventures in the backyard :)

May Day

Let all thy joys be as the month of May

~ Francis Quarles