Showing posts with label in and out of the garden by Sara Midda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label in and out of the garden by Sara Midda. Show all posts

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Foodie Friday: In and Out of the Garden with the Novel Bakers

Welcome to Foodie Friday!
I'm celebrating Garden Week (May 27 - June 1) with the Novel Bakers:




 Thursday and Friday, we're reviewing In and Out of the Garden by Sara Midda.
This morning, I posted a tablescape, along with a recipe for comforting vegetable soup.
You can find the recipe HERE.

In and Out of the Garden was published in 1981. 
Thirty-three years later, I had the pleasure of discovering it, thanks to the Novel Bakers' organizer, Jain, author of the beautiful blog, a quiet life
 This small book is very wide and deep, filled with enchanting illustrations and tips that would delight anyone who loves to dream about gardens. 





The book was an especial delight, because we'd already planted a large, wild potager. In the past, we'd had no luck raising anything in the hard, Tennessee clay; but raised beds saved elbow grease and allowed us to amend the soil.













It's a secret world.
  

 A place of wonder.
Look: a baby bell pepper.

A pepper-to-be.


 The seeds will eventually end up inside the pepper, which is pretty amazing--seeing nature work its way inside-out and outside-in.

A tomato-to-be.




  




Since our garden is in its infancy, 
I bought tomatoes at the market and made a Cheese-Ham-and Cherry Tomato Tart.


I saw a divine version on Pinterest at Taste.com. The tart is delicious and portable, just the thing for a picnic or potluck. You can find the recipe by clicking on the link (above). 

As a side item, I made a garden salad. Bandwidth's lettuce is huge (but not bitter).




 Won't you join me for lunch at the edge of the shade garden?


 I added bacon, homemade croutons, and seasoned pecans.  



















Don't Miss a Single Day with the Novel Bakers
Come along with me and visit Jain and Mary. 

Tuesday

An Invitation to the Garden with tablescapes for every season with  Jain ... a quiet life



Thursday

In and Out of the Garden- ..a quiet life

In and Out of the Garden- Home Is Where the Boat Is

In and Out of the Garden- Rattlebridge Farm


Friday

In and Out of the Garden with Jain- ..a quiet life

In and Out of the Garden with Mary-Home Is Where the Boat Is


In and Out of the Garden- Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge.


Saturday and Sunday, the Novel Bakers will take you on a tour of Private Edens.



 ***



Are you familiar with the MYSTERY INGREDIENT CLUB?
Here's how it works: A secret ingredient is assigned to members, and they incorporate it into a recipe (sweet or savory). 

The next club meeting will be held Monday, June 2, 2014. Email me by Saturday at midnight if you'd like to cook with us; or stop at any participating blog to see the mystery ingredient.
 
**This isn't a weekly meme. The MIC meetings happen mysteriously!


***


Are you contributing a recipe to this week's Foodie Friday?
 If so, locate the blue Inlinkz icon in the lower, left-hand portion of this post. Click on the icon and follow the directions. After you complete the process, you will see a red "x" beside your name. This allows you to delete your link if you made an error; the red "x" is visible to you only.
You can read a complete guide to this linky party HERE.
If you'd like to share your food photos--or photos of other FF participants on Pinterest, join the Pinterest foodie board, Consuming Passions. Leave a message on the most recent "pin" if you'd like your name added to the list.

Every Friday, we are joined at this big, virtual table--thank you for stopping by today. I'm grateful to all of you who spend your days cooking. I'm grateful to old and new friends who contribute recipes every week. I'm grateful to friends who leave a comment. I'm grateful for the silent folks, because you are brought here by your love of all things culinary.

We are food people. And that's a marvelous thing.

The Foodie Friday Link-Up

Have a fun, food-filled weekend!


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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

In and Out of the Garden

 The Novel Bakers present Day 3 of
Garden Week.

Today, we're reviewing Sara Midda's charming book
In and Out of the Garden.

It's small and portable, filled with illustrations, recipes, and tips. Due to a few misadventures--mostly in the garden!-- part II of my review will be posted later today at the Foodie Friday Linky Party.


 We've had rain and cloudy days, so I made a comforting vegetable soup,
 adapted from a recipe in the book. 



Comforting Vegetable Soup

Vegetable stock
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup celery
1 cup sliced carrots
minced garlic (I like a heaping teaspoon)
1 potato, peeled and cubed (place in ice water until you're ready to add it to the pot)
3 zucchini, sliced
1 can mixed beans, drained
1 can tomato bits
2 tablespoon sun dried tomato paste
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
salt and pepper to taste
chili powder (to taste)
1 heaping tablespoon Hungarian paprika
Tabasco (as much as you dare)
pasta (boiled in a separate pot and drained)
lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon

Sautee onions and celery. Add garlic and sautee another minute. Add tomato paste and blend. Add Hungarian paprika, sugar, salt, pepper, Tabasco, and chili powder, stirring well. Add carrots, tomato bits, and stock and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. When carrots are fork-tender, add potatoes, beans, lemon juice, and zucchini. Reduce to a simmer. Stir frequently. Add more stock, if necessary. When you're ready to serve, add pasta. Garnish with basil. 
Serve with cheese bread and ice cold lemonade.




Update: The tureen is made by Fitz and Floyd. The pattern is Toulouse.
 










You can read about my misadventures HERE. 

You'll find the Novel Bakers' charming reviews at:
Tuesday, May 27th
Come pin with us at the Novel Bakers' Garden Week Board on Pinterest.

Thursday, May 29th
..a quiet life

Home Is Where the Boat Is

Rattlebridge Farm

Friday, May 30th

..a quiet life

Home Is Where the Boat Is

Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm

Saturday and Sunday, the Novel Bakers will take you on a tour of Private Edens

We'll see you this Monday, June 2nd, at the Mystery Ingredient Club.

Tablescape Thursday contribution.


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