G’evenin’! We just wrapped up a wonderful dinner and are going to watch a movie (we think – if we can agree on one!) I try to stay out of the basement as much as possible these days, but I’m in the mood to get cozy and relax tonight.
This afternoon I did some writing on the porch with this snack –
I nibbled on trail mix, almonds, choco-sunflower seeds and cherries
VIDEOS
Around 6, we decided to forage for dinner. Matt is obsessed with eating our greens. He has big tupperwares that he takes to work every day for lunch and our meals pretty much revolve around salads these days. No complaints here because it’s freeeee!
Soon enough we will be eating zucchini
And tomatoes!
We have barely made a dent in the lettuce
Karen, here’s the update on your flowers you requested!
And while we’re talking plants, I’m thrilled that this palm – which we were given the week of Christmas and neglected the entire winter + spring – has revived outside!
Dinner was an incredible salad –
As much as I love Twin Oaks Tofu, sometimes I crave the wiggly, soft kind (even though this was marketed as firm – Whole Foods brand). Matt loves to sear this kind on all sides in a big skillet so that the outsides barely crunch.
I have to say this was equally as good as my scallops of similar texture and technique from last night! Scallops = $20/pound; Tofu = $1.50 per block.
Under the tofu was a base of garden buttercrunch lettuce and snipped basil, plus leftover coconut rice, thawed frozen green peas and cheddar cheese, all dressed in a simple drizzle of soy sauce.
While I was trying to photograph dinner, Matt was walking across the porch and making all the cubes jiggle! Hence, the title : )
Popsicle for dessert!
Man we need to grow lettuce! Not sure why we don’t. I think we had one plant and a bunny ate it all. You’re lucky Pumpkin doesn’t eat your produce.
jealous of your garden – i spent a whole summer growing one…that was mediocre…black thumb!
Love the garden pics! Makes me want one… need a big backyard though!
I love squishy tofu 🙂
That tofu looks perfectly cooked. I love the idea of searing it – I’ve only ever baked it but I bet cooking it in the pan is perfect!
Mmm those peas on that salad look delicious right now!! Gotta have some peas every once in a while!
Your garden looks great! I’m so jealous because we aren’t able to have one this year since we are in the midst of moving, but I have some grand plans for next year. 🙂
Do you have any recommendations for cooking tofu? I’m trying to learn to like it, but don’t think I have a good cooking technique down.
Baking it is the best way to get it crunchy…400 for 30 mins or so
Thanks so much! I’ve tried it on the stove top and wasn’t a huge fan so I’ll have to give this a try.
I am SO jealous of your garden!!
I love Twin Oaks- especially the Italian Herb, but I got kind of burnt out on it because I ate it SO much last fall. I’ve been getting the “jiggly kind” more often because it just has the best texture when it bakes. I actually like the Twin Oaks raw, and can just eat it as is (is that weird?!) or mixed with a little dijon mustard and/or mayo. Gosh, now that I’m talking about it, I think it’s time to pick some up again!
Jealous of your garden, my little plants are just starting to come up, we have such a short growing season up north. But I love it come end of July when we just walk out back for fresh veggies!
I can’t wait for our garden to be producing all our meals! We still have a ways to go to get to your level. Looks delicious!
WOW, your garden is looking awesome…it’s like a mini produce farm! Is it hard work to maintain all of it, or is it easier than expected?
The hard part is building the beds…and choosing the right produce that will grow. Matt planted all of the greens from seeds and let the sun and some water do their magic. Our eggplant doesn’t look as good, and the tomatoes took some setting up with the wires and things, but for the most part it’s pretty magical. Our herb garden is not in a good spot though, so they aren’t doing very well. We need to move them…
ahh, for the love of greens, I wish we could grow lettuce like that down here in FL.. but i’m afraid we’ll have to wait till fall… the heat and bugs have been terrible. I’ve never tried baked tofu, but that sounds like just the trick to get it extra crunchy! Thanks for the tip!
I love tofu in salads! Your dinner combo looks yummy – I always manage to forget about frozen peas even though I love them!
Gorgeous pics in this post, Kath! I like my tofu uber firm. No jiggle and I like it really well-seared. Sounds like Matt and I would get along in that regard.
Foraging for dinner. I love it. And yes, you are going to have tons of produce to harvest soon!
Are you still reading Fifty Shades of Grey? Or gave up on it? 🙂
I finished it! Been meaning to write about it…. It turned out better then it started
I read it too while I was in the Outer Banks of NC 🙂 I finished the first and am a little more than half way through the second. I love the complexity of their relationship and the depth of his character (and yeah, the sex can be hot too LOL).
Man I am jealous of your garden! I would love all that lettuce!
Your garden looks fantastic!
Do you have any problems with insects eating anything and if so, how do you keep them away?
So far, no. We had deer eating our squash at our house in Charlotte, but no trouble since
I’m super impressed at your veggies! Those seemed to have come up ultra quick! That’s awesome – I tried my hand at growing bell peppers and rosemary (ROSEMARY!) and failed miserably both times. I know, who kills rosemary twice?!
Why do you try to stay out of basement?
Because it’s dark and sunny upstairs. It’s a winter basement
All your food always looks so good!
Garden looks fantastic! Can’t believe how far ahead you are in your growing season…we are all just still planting here in Southern Canada!
What a gorgeous and healthy meal! I want my own garden now! Instead I have a two potted plants, basil and okra. I’ve never grown okra before though…does it need to be outside? I had it outside for a few hours one day and bugs nibbled on the leaves! Any tips?
Hi Kath! Would you recomend the beach house you vacationed in last week? Can you share a link to the site you found it on? (Sorry if you have already posted this, I must have missed it). Thank you.
We used http://www.victorybeachvacations.com and they were a pleasure to work with!
Tofu is most definitely happening for breakfast tomorrow. Jiggling optional 😉
Hello there Kath! That’s a very lovely garden, you have. How I wish I also have one in our place. The good thing with a garden in your home is that you can just pick up some veggies or spices from it and cook. Healthy food for less penny from your pocket.
Your garden is coming along so nicely! It must be great to have free produce at your finger tips 🙂
Perfect dinner!!
Ahh I can’t wait to have my own garden so I can grow all of my own lettuce!
Have you done a post on what you grow in your garden or like a how to?
No, not yet
I’ve been craving a good tofu stir fry lately too – other people think it’s so weird to crave tofu, but not in the healthy living blogosphere 🙂
Your veggies grow so fast. I live in a more temperate climate and it takes much longer. My tomato plants haven’t even flowered yet! Like you, we eat masses of green leaves, sometimes 3 times a day and they keep on growing. Plant some Chard and you will have loads of leaves for next spring.
There is a bunch of lettuce in your garden! Too bad you cannot freeze lettuce so none gets wasted.
I love those purple flowers!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Kath can you please tell me what greens you planted? They are sooo pretty!
One third is Buttercrunch lettuce. I love this plant – even when the plant starts to bolt, the leaves still stay really tender. It has more texture than “spring mix” but it’s not as crunchy as Romaine.
In the middle is rainbow chard.
On the other end is a salad mix. I think it’s 5 varieties of different lettuces, all of them with a really soft texture like “spring mix” in the store. You can find seed packets labelled “salad/lettuce/spring mix” in the store.
All are super easy to grow and crazy prolific. I wasn’t sure how much time I’d have for gardening this year so I just planted a whole bunch of a few varieties. But I think next year (or in the fall) I’ll plant some collards, kale, and arugula.
Thank you so much Matt!
I haven’t seared my tofu in a pan before–that is definitely something I will have to try–a little crunch sounds delicious!
Hi Kath,
Does Matt sear the tofu in anything to get it crispy on all sides? Thank you!
He actually used leftover bacon grease!! Not what I would have used, but it tasted good 🙂 I’d use a high heat oil like safflower or canola
I wish my husband could cook! He tried on valentine’s day and ended up in the ER with a chunk cut out of his finger…
I’m so jealous of your garden lettuce!! You should fry up some of those green tomatoes!!!! 🙂
Wow, that salad looks great! I love eating lettuce right out of the garden. I will have to get me some tofu and put this salad together. Are you growing peas? When fresh peas are ready, that would be a great addition.
I love your garden….everything looks delicious.
This post title made me LOL. I have been so anti-tofu because of the amount of processing, but I found the most amazing man at a local farmer’s market who hand makes his own tofu using all organic ingredients. Will have to give this delicious looking recipe a try- too bad my garden is limited to my balcony! Thanks for sharing 🙂