It’s JEANS weather!!!
Which can only mean…it’s also harvest time!
Wish I could claim this as my garden, but it’s all Matt’s handiwork
Matt proclaimed the chard edible:
We snipped a handful of leaves from a variety of plants
We put the leaves to good use in a salad. Meanwhile, I created a new bean dip!
It crunches!!
Bright Basil Bean Dip
Ingredients
- 1 can navy beans drained
- 1/3 cup ricotta cheese
- Zest of half a lemon
- Juice of half a lemon
- Handful of basil
- 1 tablespoon of nut butter or tahini
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- Grinds of black pepper
- A quarter cup of almonds and a few tbsp salted sunflower seeds.
Instructions
- Add everything but nuts and blend.
- Add nuts and seeds and pulse to combine.
- Serve with a drizzle of honey.
Made with navy beans, lemon, basil, and this grass-fed ricotta that is just AMAZING! I don’t really like ricotta cheese, but this stuff (which happens to be part-skim) tastes like cream and has none of that gritty tang you often find in the stuff.
Also, the lemon zester makes a fabulous seed strainer! Genius kitchen discovery of the year (I am always fishing out seeds because I refuse to dirty a separate bowl!)
Lunch involved spreading the dip onto Apple Crunch bread with a drizzle of honey. Amazing!
Why-oh-why do we never grill veggies anymore!!? Grilled carrots are my favorite!
Salads with chard leaves, lemon/olive oil/salt, plus grilled carrot, zucchini, pepper and raisins
Lunch was awesome. Work is chugging along slowly but surely today. Probably because I took a nice mid-morning break to watch the new Gossip Girl. I’ve only been impressed!!
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
Wow congrats on the garden!! Even if it’s Matt’s I’m sure you gave a helping hand. So great to be able to pick fresh veggies from your back yard!!
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
You guys have such an impressive garden! I still have yet to watch last night’s GG- hope it’s good!
Rachel (Two Healthy Plates) says
I loooooove bean dip, that recipe sounds fantastic!
The garden looks great, wish I had a green thumb!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
That dip sounds so good – I would love the crunch!
Freya (Brit Chick Runs) says
Oohh that dip looks so scrummy! I like the almonds in it 😀
Gorgeous garden!
Christine says
Sunflower seeds are great in dips! Yum!
Not to mention it is totally awesome that you get to eat what you grow.
I thought you were going to announce a [B] part to this with a bakery update!
[email protected] says
Congrats on the garden bounty! That’s awesome! I always love seeing your dips/spreads! The flavors combos sound amazing and then came the honey drizzle! Drooling 🙂
Samantha @ Bikini Birthday says
Grilled eggplant is my favourite by far. LOVE grilled veggies!
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
All those veggies look amazing 🙂
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Holy smokes that garden could pass for a farm!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) says
That chard looks like it turned out beautifully! I love the looks of your colorful and nutritious lunch. Very smart mix of nuts in that yummy bean dip.
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
so amazing that you can eat out of your garden! i have actually never grilled carrots, just other veggies!
Lindsay says
Love that you have your own greens from your own garden! I would love to have a garden someday – hard to make it work in a 500 sq. foot city condo without even a balcony 🙂
Maria says
That’s funny, I have the same scissors but I use them for crafting. Great garden, btw!
Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat says
Looks delicious! I’m really wishing (from reading your blog) that I lived in a house so that I could grow veggies in a garden!
Kaleigh says
Oh great idea with the microplane! I’m always afraid lemon seeds are going to land right in someone’s mouth. No fear now!
Holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
Bean dip is so lovely — I like the idea of putting it on sweet bread with honey on top — very interesting!
Matt you have a beautiful garden!
Catherine @ Life 2.0 says
Kath! Your garden and lunch both look ah-mazing!
Joanne says
When I discovered how much I liked hummus, it opened up a whole new world of bean dips for me. They can be so flavorful and filling.
What a green thumb Matt has. You’re so lucky. Ted used to maintain a big garden for us but since I was absolutely no help (in fact, the plants would wilt upon me entering the garden), he proclaimed his love of golf and grass seeded over the garden. Bummer 🙁
Lunch looks delish. Everyone needs to take a break from work once in while just to be more productive.
grocery goddess jen says
I love putting lemon/oil/salt on salads – it’s the best! Your (Matt’s) garden looks amazing. I need someone to plant and tend a garden for me, too!
Sarah (OC2Seattle) says
Yum! You’re inspriring me to grow my own veggies, except I think I would only be growing them for the racoons 😉
Chelsea at Striking Balance says
Fresh veggies from the garden are so satisfying, probably because you know the hard work that went into them! Looks like a great lunch, and a good new recipe.
Stormy says
Jeans weather? Forecast highs for the rest of the week are in the low 90s! Love the garden though. Need to get ours prepped for next season soon!
Kath says
Don’t remind me!!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write says
I adore jeans weather!!! It must be so cool to get to eat the “fruits” of your own (or Matt’s) labor. 🙂
Camille says
Gorgeous veggies!
That Apple Crunch bread is the best! It’s what sold my boyfriend on GH!
Lindsey says
Your garden makes me want to start my own! Maybe you could write a post (or Matt could help write the post) about how to start a garden from scratch with some tips for us non-green thumbers 🙂
Kath says
I wish we could take ALL of the credit, but our landlords gave us a great start. I think we have done gardening posts in the past from our old house, but the animals there got all the veggies!
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
Congrats on the garden Matt!
A reminder to your readers (and you!) that every click on my blog through September 30 is a donation to the A to Z Literacy Project, which works to send books to kids in Zambia.
Tina says
Jealous of your jeans weather. If I tried to wear jeans today I would die of heat exhaustion. Its upper 90s here!
Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf says
Mmm. Bean dip. I’ve been going crazy over beans recently.
The garden looks wonderful! I may go crazy and buy another herb for our house. But first maybe I should water my basil…
Carolyn @ lovinlosing says
Your garden is looking fabulous! Maybe next year…
yummiee cupcake says
where do you get these ideas? the bean dips are wonderful! i accidentally made a bean dip once. i was trying to make bean burger but left in the blender for toooo long so it turned into bean dip!
Maria @ Kale and Cupcakes says
Love your garden! Living in Chicago and apartment living doesn’t allow the husband and I to do the same… for now! One day!
mary-kate says
your bean dip looks delicious! on the recipe page you mention the luscious spread but don’t mention how much was in the dip…. did you use it in the dip?
you always have the yummiest-sounding meals.
Kath says
Oops!! I fixed it!
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe says
Hi Kath! This is my first comment on your lovely blog. OMG, that microplane as strainer idea just made my day! Wish I had something more exciting to say for my first comment, but really, that’s an awesome idea.
Tina says
Yeah, its 84 in Cleveland today! Grrr.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
That dip sounds delicious!!
Stacey (The Habit of Healthy) says
Oh my, that lunch does look really good. Your garden looks lovely, I bet Matt is really proud of his handiwork.
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
oh my god look at your garden! that was quick!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i never would have thought of crunchy bean dip but OHMIGOSH it sounds amazing!
Emily Eats and Exercises says
Garden looks beautiful – good job Matt! I look forward to having my own someday, but my third floor apartment without balcony isn’t exactly the right location. Luckily I can enjoy the one at my parents’ house near by. I’ll have to try this bean dip!
Kelsey @ CleanTeenKelsey says
Your garden is beautiful! I absolutely love it. That salad looks awesome; I wish I had time to grill veggies. Have a great day 🙂
Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) says
I love all your fresh eats! Makes me want a garden… maybe next year! 🙂
Jessie says
I wish we had had a garden this year. We tried the container garden thing but everything died when we moved.
Alexa @ The Girl In Chucks says
Fab garden! Making this city girl jealous that she can’t even maintain a potted plant in her shoebox of an apartment.
Heather says
looks great! love the garden! ours sin’t doing so well.
Caitlyn (A Spoonful of LIfe) says
I’m jealous of your garden and your bean dip! Mmmm 🙂
And hurray to the arrival of fall weather and warmer clothes!!
Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary) says
Loving your havest! Also loving the change in the weather.. I think fall is one of my favorite times of year. I love jean weather!!
Jazz says
Wow, it looks so nice out there! Here it was -2 (C, I guess that’s under 30 F)last night and my poor tomatos are going to kick the bucket!
Stacey says
Nom nom nom. Your lunch leaves me craving GREENS! And tell Matt that he is welcome to come plant a garden at OUR house anytime he feels inclined to do so 😉
Alyssa says
I wish I didn’t kill everything I’ve tried to grow! Any tips for keeping your garden thriving?
RhodeyGirl says
Sneaky woman. I thought you had fabulous Great Harvest news!
That dip looks so good that if I had the energy I would go out and buy beans and ricotta (the only ingredients I don’t have on hand) to make it right now.
Wendy @ Seriously Sassy says
Totally digging the grater/seed strainer idea! Thanks! 😀
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
That bean dip looks good!!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
That bean dip looks amazing!
It’s definitely NOT jeans weather in Chicago today. What’s up with the 90 degree weather in September? Oh well, it’ll probably be 30 degrees tomorrow.
[email protected] says
I wish I had enough space for a garden. It’s so awesome you grow your own produce.
[email protected] says
The garden looks fabulous! I think Matt’s a keeper 🙂
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
I can’t wait til it’s jean weather here!! All the veggies look incredible 🙂
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
Wow – love your veggie garden! And what a great idea using riocotta in the dip!
Paige @Running Around Normal says
Love your garden! What a fabulous looking lunch. A mid morning Gossip Girl break sounds lovely.
Simply Life says
oh that salad looks so great and fresh!
rebecca lustig says
ahh send me some chard, pleasee!
looks so fresh and crips, yum 🙂
kate says
thanks for reminding me that i need to watch gg!
Anne P says
1) That bean dip looks epic.
2) OMG I am ALWAYS fishing out lemon seeds! Genius idea. Or… I should just buy some cheesecloth, heh.
Laura says
Never mind the food…your HAIR is sooooo shiny and looks so healthy!!
(the food looks lovely too as ever!)
Kath says
Ha – thanks!! I think a need a HAIRCUT!
Natalia - a side of simple says
Yay for garden + bean dip success!
Ma Fea says
HI, Kath. Just wanted to tell you that, thanks to your post about PumKing Beer, I convinced my local co-op to order it. It will be in next week, and I’m SO EXCITED! Can’t wait for a taste.
Thanks!
Kath says
Mmmmmmmmm I need more already!
christina cadden says
It looks so fresh and good!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
It’s so fulfilling to eat foods grown from your own garden. I bet that salad was good!
Bee Goes Bananas says
Thanks for all the great recipes Kath! You put so much time and effort into your blog and it definately does not go unnoticed. You inspire me day after day to try new foods and make fun meals. 😀 I can’t wait to try this one!
Kath says
Thanks Bee 🙂
stacey-healthylife says
Love the salad and you are so right about roasted veggies.
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef says
that bean dip looks great! i wish it was jeans weather here–it was 98 degrees today!!
Laura (Starloz) says
your garden, how incredible is it. i’m uber impressed & your dip, holy yums!
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
Looks like Matt’s doing a great job on the garden. I’ve gotten into using our little George Foreman-type grill for veggies this summer. Much easier than getting our charcoal grill going for a relatively small batch of veggies, with pretty nice results. Slice veggies, toss with a bit of oil and salt, throw them on the grill, and you have a delicious and healthy meal without too much effort!
[email protected]yscholar says
Jeans weather is pretty much awesome.
Hannah says
Oh wow, that bean dip toast *almost* looks like a super rich grilled cheese. Looks and sounds amazing!!
Mom says
Why aren’t the Bears out helping you in the garden? Too busy with homework?
Kath says
They are afraid they are allergic to bees now
Jil @ Peace, Love & Munchies says
Impressive!! I wish I had a green thumb. haha That bean spread sounds delicious!!
Ally @ Girl in Her Kitchen says
Everything looks so good! I wish I had started a bumper crop of cooler veggies. Although, I am still getting a lot of tomatoes (I’m in Chicago so that is rare).
notyet100 says
platter looks so yum,..
[email protected] says
Love it all! Jeans, Fall weather and Gossip Girl! We don’t get any of these things in Hawaii! ( Not even Gossip Girl! ) boo!!
Can’t wait for my trip to the southeast this OCT!!!
Aloha!
Katherine says
I love gossip girl and I LOVE how they ended with the line, “I’m Chuck Bass”
Erika @ Food, Fitness, & Fun says
I love picking foods from the garden! What else to you grow?
Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama says
Ugh-I wish it was jeans weather here. Not yet. 🙁 I am envious of your garden AND that you can wear jeans already. I’m pumped about the lemon squeezing tip–I’m always picking the seeds out whenever I try to juice a lemon. Thanks!
Morgan @ Healthy Happy Place says
nice work on the garden! I’d love to grow all of my own food, but I have a black thumb, and kill everything I plant. Ughhhhh!!!
Lisa says
That meal looks so fresh and delicious! =)
Monika @ ForeverImprovingGirl says
I am so envious of that garden (in a good way, not a green-eyed way). We only have a balcony garden right now, and while I still adore it (what’s left of it – it’s been quite cold) it limits what we can grow.
I aspire to a giant vegetable garden!
Cathy B. @ Bright Bakes says
just curious…I grill veg. quite a lot, but wondered if you par cook your carrots at all before you grill ’em, or just stick them straight on, raw?
Thanks!
Cathy B.
Kath says
We just throw them on! They’re slightly crunchy, but still pretty soft.
melissa @ the delicate place says
maybe jeans weather for you but it’s like freaking 90 here today, where is fall!? i LOVE putting hot roasted veggies over raw greens and having them wilt. so tasty!
Diana @ frontyardfoodie says
Oh I’m jealous of the garden! My garden had a good start but since during the summer I was 8, 9, and 10 months pregnant I couldn’t do too much after June.
Sana says
I loveee jeans and light jacket weather 🙂
Monica says
I love the idea about the double use for the lemon zester! Sadly mine is in the shape of a knife so I think it might be a little too small to catch seeds.