Having a BLAST today!!
My house seems so serene. Perhaps it’s the AC!? Ha!
You’d think being a food blogger and all that I would spend lots of time in the kitchen. But the fact is, I don’t. I consider my niche to be quick, easy, creative healthy meals. I don’t really bake or experiment more than combining ingredients in new ways or trying a new method of something I already love (like dough boy smoothies!) I sometimes envy my co-bloggers who don’t blog their breakfast but spend all morning in the kitchen coming up with some gorgeous recipe. I think doing both is a bit too much (at least for me). So that is my circular way of saying: when I DO spend a morning in the kitchen, it’s special!
My vacation day began with a field trip to my friend and neighbor’s garden! [HI JENN!] She is on vacation and told me to raid it. Raid I did! I hope I didn’t take too much!
Tamaters, corn, cucs and baby tomatoes
Most excited about these –>
I turned the big stuff into a quick batch of gazpacho! So easy to just blend it all together and refrigerate for a quick lunch or dinner.
The rest I turned into tonight’s dinner. I absolutely LOVE cooking dinner in the morning and basically closing down the kitchen after lunch!
I also made mint lavender tea using 1 tbsp dried lavender buds from our front yard and about 1/3 cup loose mint tea. I made it in our brand new French press! This guy is big and bad and recommended for making cold brew coffee. It comes with a special low lid for fitting on fridge shelves. Remember when I crushed our old press with my bare hands? I knew I’d get another eventually. Cold brewed coffee was the reason!
I also roasted chicken, made milllet, roasted a sweet potato and finished dinner. The kitchen is closed for the WEEK!! (We have a lot of social events for the rest of the week)
For lunch I juiced up some veggies that were getting floppy: carrots (3), cucumber (1), celery (8), lemon (1/2), watermelon (1 cup!)
This was the best juice I’ve made in ages!
On the side: leftover corn salad from last night mixed with some Whole Foods giant beans!
I love these beans and compulsively bought a few at my trip on Sunday to mix with a lunch salad.
I also love those Caar’s crackers!
Just finished up some laundry. I’ve got a 3PM call, then I’m headed in for my dance class (modern + lyrical exercise taught by Faith!) and then I have a surprise ending to my daytime before dinner!
{ 81 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a fun day Kath!
What beautiful, fresh colors in this post! Everything looks delicious.
Those Carr crackers are a favorite of mine too!
Growing up my mom made dinner before heading to work in the morning. I hope to follow in her footsteps some day…but I make batch food on Sundays so I can just assemble my meals on weeknights.
You are creative with food pairing and I get a lot of good ideas from you. Thanks Kath.
Ooh freshly picked tomatoes are the BEST! My gran grows little yellow ones, and they’re amazing
Have a good afternoon!
I have looked and looked for those Carr’s crackers because every time you feature them I’m so jealous. I might just have to see if Amazon sells them at this point!
I love having prep days where I can just make a bunch of things that will be quick and easy to eat. My tired body always thanks me for it when I roll through the door exhausted at 7pm. Unfortunately I’ve traveled the last two weekends and haven’t been able to – but can’t wait to do so this weekend!
I’m excited for the surprise now!!
“I absolutely LOVE cooking dinner in the morning and basically closing down the kitchen after lunch!” Funny you say that… I just did that very thing. It’s so nice to be able to pull out the prepared dinner from the mornings cooking adventures in the evening.
That’s a great friend letting you raid her garden! Jealous!
Those big beans look so good. Enjoy your day!
Those beans look HUGE! Hahaha
There is nothing better than veggies fresh from the garden!!!
Ditto about the beans! They really do look big! Or is the camera deceptive?
my whole foods calls them “gigantica beans”, they are delish!
don’t you love when you have time to just be in the kitchen? i have been off work for 2 weeks (have to go back on thursday ;( ) and i have been loving the extra time to try new recipes and such. such a welcome change from rush rush rush. enjoy you dance class!
I love that you do quick and creative meals! It gives me lots of great ideas. I just bought millet for the first time and have been kind of afraid to make it but this reminds me that I really need to go ahead and try it!
I was looking for a gazpacho recipe today!
I love mine! If you search for “Summer 2011 Gazpacho” you can see the full recipe
I’m glad you got all of that food prep done! For weeks I have been telling myself to buy and roast a chicken on Sundays so that I can use the meat in lunches all week. I need to just plan a day and do it!
Those beans are HUGE!
Yay for the Bodum maker! I need to make some for tomorrow…
Everything looks yummy to me!
Your juice looks lovely and glad you got a new french press. I underuse mine b/c I hate cleaning the grounds out of it that just seem to multiply in my sink when I am trying to wash it! ha!
“I sometimes envy my co-bloggers who don’t blog their breakfast but spend all morning in the kitchen coming up with some gorgeous recipe.”-
I have stopped photography daily eats for the most part (never really did tons of it)…I either show something super basic like a beautiful piece of fruit I saw/had OR I recipe create and develop. But then I post one or two recipes like that per week. Coming up with it all AND making it (and not everythng turns out and is blog-able material) AND photographing it, editing it, submitting it to the foodie sites:) yeah…it’s a tiny bit of work
Looks like an extremely tasty day off! Those beans are gigantic! Wow! Enjoy the rest of your day…dance sounds like fun! Enjoy it!
What a great day you’ve had so far.
Can’t wait to see hear about the surprise ending.
I’ve never had veggie juice like that. Does it give you a feeling of being energized after you drink it? Has it ever upset your stomach? I really wish I could sample it before investing in a juicer. My stomach is so sensitive and I’m not sure how it will react to that.
It doesn’t really do much – except make me feel more full!
Those tomatoes look amazing! Definitely one of my favourite summer veggies!
Have fun at dance!
Wow you were BUSY today!
Wow you were BUSY today! Have fun at that dance class!
I have the same Bodum French Press for my cold-brewed iced coffee (in red!). I LOVE it. 51 ounces of LOVE. (I have an entire family of Bodum French Presses… in various sizes!).
Mmm, Gigantes! Makes me think of Greece!
~
I’ve never made my own gazpacho, but seeing your beautiful pictures makes me think I might need to give it a whirl!
The whole meal, from start to finish – looked so refreshing and delicious! I’d love to try the lavender mint tea, and the gazpacho looked divine!
I’m jealous of those tomatoes. I didn’t plant any tomato plants this year and I miss the taste of home grown ones, I bet those tasted amazing.
Whoa– those beans ARE giant!!! Mornings spent in the kitchen are always nice
Mmm…those tomatoes look amazing — I am so jealous you have such a generous neighbor!
Yum good eats! Very summery
This is one veggified post!! Love it!
Nomnomnom!
Oo, I must admit, I am jealous of your dance class! I have been wanting to get back into dance for ages but haven’t managed to. Maybe this will be the motivation I need.
I’m a huge juicing fan myself! Love that salad at the end. It looked quite yummy!
ummmm can I come raid that garden too?!
Kath–are you “juicing” in your Vitamix or in a juicer? I just gave in to my YEARNING for a Vitamix (Happy Birthday to me from me!) and I am wholly obsessed with the thing. I love the idea of making juice in the Vitamix because all the good stuff is not left behind….and the clean up is a zillion times easier. And soups…and nut butters…and sorbets…and hummus…and frozen margaritas.
Great deal on Vitamix 5200 at Costco btw.
I use a Breville Juicer. There would be way too much fiber in all those veggies to blend and drink. Love the Vita-mix though!
Hey Kath,
Is that Bodum only for chilled brewing? My boyfriend has been wanting a french press, he drinks his coffee hot. Being a non-coffee drinker, I don’t know anything about french presses. I’ve just heard good things about Bodum, but they make too many to pick just one! Have you had any recs for a making a hot brew??
Hot or cold! I did hot tea in it in the photos
what a wonderfully bright and colourful meal. Oh and I bet it was delicious too!
I am curious as to how you are able to take a vacation so soon after opening your bakery?
Why wouldn’t I be able to? Our crew is doing great, and Matt was there to manage and work. Tomorrow we’ll switch places. There’s no need for us both to be there all day, everyday.
What a nice day… Wait till you become a mom! You’ll really cherish days like that
What a fun day and great garden haul!
Those beans totally look like a mind-trick!
most people who find out i food blog are surprised when they hear i don’t spend much time (at all) in the kitchen. i guess i’m more of an eater!!!
Those beans are on steroids!
That juice does sound good! How fortunate to have such a generous neighbor.
Those giant beans look tasty! Were they canned or did you cook them yourself?
From the whole foods salad bar
And dance you did!
I had a lot of fun! Wish it were even longer! Less warm up, more dancing
Oh wow, that *does* look special! Thanks Kath, because while smoothies are simply not great for me in this winter weather, a meal like this sounds wonderful
Kath, I have to say though you don’t spend much time in the kitchen, your meals are VERY inspiring for the busy gal or guy that wants to eat a delicious, healthy, varied, interesting, quick and creative meal! You leave room for improv and make preparing meals seem fun and effortless! Thank you!!!
Thanks!
your dinner looks amazing! it looks like, thus making me crave, my great aunt’s cornbread salad: tomatoes, cucumbers, and crumbled cornbread, topped with ranch and cheese.
What an interesting combination of vegetables and fruits juiced together!! I’m always amazed at what seems like would taste gross actually taste good blended together!!
Just made gazpacho yesterday and LOVE having it on hand for these hot summer days.
It must feel good to have all that food prep done so early in the day! I never really make my meals ahead of time… but I’m starting to think I should. It would be SO nice to get home from work and sit down with a book instead of making dinner!
Love this post! Food from your friends garden looks wonderful. You did a great job of using it!
Glad you had a day away from work at the bakery to catch up on other things. Everyone needs some “ME” time. BTW,,,, how are the bears…still at Grandmas?
They are well! I think Grammie is putting on an art camp this week! Finger (er, paw) painting and watercolors and what not
Hey Kath, random question about millet – maybe this is a Matt question. If I want to put it in bread like yummy GH loaves (I need to bake gluten-free), do I just throw it in raw? And in the main batter or add it after it rises? Would love to hear your thoughts. I’ve wasted way too much flour to start practicing without some millet guidance
Thanks in advance!
Yup – throw it in raw into the dough!
haha love how you “raided” her garden! I’ve never tried Gazpacho~would you say that it’s just like soup? Just cold? It may be a silly question but I have no idearrzzz!
Yeah, it’s kind of like tomato sauce in texture. It’s like a savory smoothie in a bowl
I need to try juicing all of the watermelon in my fridge. If you asked me why I haven’t, I don’t think I would be able to tell you. Danggggg girl, those are some huge beans!!!
I want to eat this whole post!!!
How did your first batch go in the new press? Have you gotten to try iced coffee in it yet? Just curious if you enjoyed it!
I have Great Harvest coffee right now, but I’ll give it a try after that! The tea went well!
I just bought dance-classes on groupon and can’t wait to try them out! Hope you enjoyed your class!
That salad looks so delicious! I’ve never seen beans that big!
I miss making more juice. Summer is the perfect time!
That looks delicious, and gorgeous!
That sounds like the best juice
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
I love days when I can make dinner before lunchtime. It makes the rest of the day go so smoothly. It’s the same way I feel when I can set up my crockpot and rice cooker in the morning before I leave for work and come home to a fully cooked meal at the end of the day. As a working mom, it really makes the evenings easier. Oops…that just reminded me that I forgot to put my lentil rice ingredients in the rice cooker this morning. Oh well, I guess we’ll just have to improvise tonight.
LOVE Carr’s crackers…they are like cookies!
I love a productive kitchen day!
Those beans are soooo delish! I always load up if I see them at an olive bar.
I want a neighbor with a garden like that. Scratch that, actually. I want a garden for myselffffffff like that! I think i need to move.
Lol! You can totally disregard my comment on your previous post! I hadn’t realized you already posted how to make the lavender mint tea here.
Whoa baby those are some GIANT beans! Goodness! Your salad pictures look absolutely yum!