Matt and I had fun coming up with alternative blog titles : )
“Out Of The Oven”
“Fully Baked”
“Oven Baked”
“Happy Labor… Day Eve”
“In Labor… Day Spirit”
“It’s Time!!!….For Dinner”
But really, no news. I kind of have a feeling things are changing – just lots of pressure down there – but I could also be totally wrong and days away! Who knows!
The tomato plants have been totally removed and new seeds have been planted! Matt reported that he really has no secrets to gardening success – we’ve been lucky this year. We did get really good soil and have been lucky with animals staying away since our yard is fenced. Matt just put in two kinds of carrots, snap peas and green beans to climb up the trellis. He said he just read the package and put the seeds in the ground 1/4 in” down – so we hope they work! The only plant we didn’t have success with this year was a zucchini plant that wouldn’t flower and then fell over in a storm. There’s a new one in its place – in the second bed down there.
MY OTHER RECIPES
The last of the tomato crop!! (I gave Faith a bunch yesterday too – we had another HUGE bowl!)
We put the green ones to good use tonight along with some of our garden’s eggplant (labor inducing eggplant!?)
Following my Better Than Fried Okra recipe as a model, we made some breadcrumbs from some fresh Cville Crunch bread to make the tomatoes even more bready. [For some amazing looking fried green tomatoes, check out Jessica’s recent post – they had me totally drooling!]
Ours were not nearly as pretty : )
But they tasted incredible!
Inspired by Jessica’s stacks, we put on the last ball of mozzarella from last night’s caprese salad on top.
The tomatoes were incredible – tangy inside, crunchy outside and cheesy top.
We did the same method on the eggplant, which also turned out great – soft and tangy on the inside, crunchy on the outside.
And lastly – to tofu for the protein component of dinner. These were really good too, but could have used a sauce for dipping or drizzled on top. I was too lazy to get up and get one! Tofu was just a little too plain.
Lastly, a big chunk of Cheddar Garlic rounded out the meal. So cheesy + doughy!
Sadly we didn’t eat until 8pm, so my photography lighting was terrible – wish it looked as good as it tasted.
Matt and I spent the afternoon watching the first 2 episodes of Mad Men. So far, so good!! We love the historical context (shocking as it is!) and the show has already brought on some good discussions. Going to watch episode #3 now!
I think the baby is just waiting to come on my half birthday…so you’ve got 6 more days!
That’s funny, our raised beds look just like yours, but our crops have been so different. A vole ate most of our eggplant. Our tomatoes won’t get ripe. But we have thousands of zucchini and cucumbers. A ton of kale and collars. Many many kabocha squash. And so much basil I had to buy a case of little jars to make pesto.
So, fortunately, we have TONS of green tomatoes. “Better than fried” green tomatoes on the menu soon!
Good luck with the waiting.
Are your tomatoes getting enough sun? Ours did way better on the sunnier side
Mmm, they’re probably not. We are on a hill/mountain, but it doesn’t quite get full sun. Our upper hill neighbors got great tomatoes but no zucchini or cucumbers. Very strange. And my husband usually grows great heirloom tomatoes! I’m very sad. Mind you, I also like pickled green tomatoes!
You are so patient! I, too, just started watching Mad Men starting at Season 1. I think it is definitely fascinating…and can get really addicting! I am only on Episode 5 of Season 1…but I think the whole mental illness stigma with Don’s wife is really interesting!
I think it would be fitting for you to go into labor on Labor Day, don’t you?
Fried green tomatoes are so, so good! I recently sampled a yellow tomato and really enjoyed it.. far less “seedy.”
When you go into labor, your title should be ” the timer has gone off.”
Good luck and hope it is soon, I keep checking your blog all the way from Australia.
Come on eggplant!!! Seriously – pressure = good!!! You can do this!
Garlic Cheddar is my favorite GH bread! I love the blog titles!! Too funny!
Oh my goodness, Mad Men is SO good!!! I watched all four seasons over the summer; it was a serious distraction during my summer anatomy class 😉 . I hope y’all enjoy it – it’s a really cool show.
Fingers crossed tomorrow’s post is titled “Labor Day – no, for REAL!”
Your tomatoes are awesome looking and wow, you have more than a couple extra tomatoes on your countertop 🙂
Here’s to hoping things ARE changing per your opening paragraph!
No pressure but I did receive twin nephews in labor day 4 years ago. 🙂
Mad Men is an awesome show! I only have gotten into the second season. I should put that on my to-do list to catch up!
I have grown and eaten many, many, many tomatoes in my life but I have never had a fried green tomato. This obviously must change ASAP. 🙂
That eggplant looks perfect! The eggplant that I have bought in the past has not looked that good. We love breaded eggplant!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
I love Madmen! I rented all of the seasons and then started watching it on AMC this past season. I can assure you that the quality of the programming doesn’t let up!
I’m from Alberta, Canada so our growing season is very short. How long are you able to grow vegetables in CVille?
Here’s to a great labor day 😉
3 seasons… Early spring through late fall
My mom gave birth to me on Labor Day (my birthday is actually on Tuesday). The story goes that she went into labor sometime late on Sunday night and had me very early the next morning! So the family says that my mom took the holiday a little to literally! haha! Having a birthday at the beginning of September is the best! We have always celebrated on Labor Day weekend, which means cookouts and lots of fun! And every few years you are either out of school and off work on your birthday…sweet!
I’m hoping for it! Happy birthday!
@Carie, I was going to say the same thing! My Mom had me on Labor Day almost 25 years ago. I wish it were 26, Kath! 😉 Quick 2ish hour birth right around dinnertime. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! I was also over a week past my due date. We Virgos pick and stick to our own schedules 🙂
I will wish for a quick 2 hour birth too!! 🙂 Happy B-day!
I had a 2 hour labor with my 1st, I ended up going to the hospital in an ambulance and she was born 5 mins after we got there but I was 17 so maybe that is why it was so fast. It was the day before her due date 10/31 she was due 11/01, my nurse was dressed as a cat I will never forget that part! My 2nd born, I was 30 and my labor was between 4-6 hours but once she was ready there was no time for an epidural! She was induced because of high BP , they thought it would take a lot longer that is why they waited for the epidural. Good luck!
I was born on Labor Day as well, so my birthday is Tuesday. My mom had a loooonnnng labor and started on Sunday, the day before! Unfortunately this year is all about prepping for my students in 3rd grade to come back for their first day, on my birthday. But often it is a day off, and Sept. is my favorite season here in the midwest.
Happy Birthday!
I’m kinda hoping you deliver ON labor day. Hahah 🙂
Yay for Mad Men! 😀
I love eggplant, I had no idea it is labor inducing!
Love that show- and it just gets better and better!
Oh my god, “labor inducing eggplant”? Good god Kath, hurry up and have this baby so you can stop teasing us with all these titles and crazy correlations in every single post! :p
Cliche but here’s hoping labor day actually is labor day for you :)!
Wow, so impressed by your tomatoes. We have had such a cold summer in England I have very few. You are lucky you can fit in so many growing seasons too. I have watched all the Mad Men – so cool but also so shocking how much they all smoke and drink and sleep around!
Try acupuncture! My OB recommended it to help jump-start labor after your due date. And it worked for me!
Does anyone know if madmen is available on Hulu plus and/or Netflix streaming?
It’s on Netflix streaming
i was hoping for you to make homemade salsa from your garden so i could get the recipe
We might today
I’m a HUGE Mad Men fan…it gets better and more intriguing w/ each of the first four seasons – esp. w/regard to Don’s mysterious past. However, after a super long hiatus, when season five finally aired this spring, it was a bit of a let down for me – It was my least favorite. I particularly love the authenticity to detail of the 1960’s culture, esp. in the ad/creative industries; the production just doesn’t miss a beat. I love the woman’s roles too – getting progressive stronger and more assertive through the years – Peggy is my favorite character, for sure. Enjoy!
Did you spit that cupcake the other day? Maybe you were supposed to eat the whole thing.
I did eat it all
I think it looks delicious, regardless of the lighting!
Oh well! I admire your positive attitude about the whole thing. I hated the waiting and general uncertainty.
You are going to love Mad Men! A lot of my friends watched a lot of TV while nursing (or read) so I’m sure you’ll get through it very quickly. It’s definitely one of those shows where you somehow manage to watch one more episode when you probably shouldn’t because it’s that addicting.
LOVE Mad Men! Wait til you see the episode where Betty gives birth…talk about shocking historical context! I think it’s not until Season 2 or 3…so it will be fun to compare your birth experience by then!
Spoiled!!!
Eeek!! Guess I should’ve left out character name. In my defense, that originally aired about 4 years ago!
It’s ok 🙂
Oh I love Mad Men! Seriously addicting…you’ll soon be hooked! The history is kind of fascinating…the 60’s weren’t really all that long ago, but life was SO different! Crazy.
I think it’s funny when they show a desk and I’m thinking “Where’s the computer!?” And life without cell phones!
I know you guys watch seasons of television and I’ve always wanted to recommend you watch Mad Men but I didn’t know if you would like it. I’m super excited to hear what you guys think once you get into it. My sister is a huge fan and when it came to me naming my new puppy, she suggested I name him Draper, so I did! Enjoy!
Oooh I have a block of tofu just waiting to be turned into this!
Seriously, enough with the pictures of bread. I can’t take it, I am drooling!
I’m really jealous of that garden! I would love to have a garden of my own, but living in a city apartment (without even a balcony) sorta gets in the way lol. Those tomatoes look awesome though! What a great dinner 🙂
Thanks for the post! With gardening season fast approaching, I was hoping that you and/or Matt could provide a post on your strategy for laying out your garden boxes and the produce that you choose/why. I am looking to start my own but want to do it right and think that your guys’ success is very impressive! Any tips/input would be great!