Thinking Spring

I've been getting my garden supply catalogs and it is really making me itching for spring to start. My visit to my friends mother's garden really got me thinking about how I would like to expand my own veggie garden. She had the set-up that I dream of having some day. But until I get a couple of acres to work with, I will have to keep thinking on a smaller scale.

This year I would really like to try growing some good pesto basil (sweet and spicy with no anise flavor), Romaine lettuce, kale, French green beans (non-fuzzy, stringless, sweet and crisp), leeks, garlic (some hot some not), and maybe even some sweet onions. I already have some idea of the varieties that I would like to try: "Genovese", "Parris Island", "Blue Curled Vates", "Fortex", "Lancelot", "Inchelium Red" & "Silver Rose", and "Walla Walla". Please let me know about your variety recommendations, especially if you are a northern gardener (and, let me know where I can get it!).

Of course, this means that I will have to build new veggie beds. I currently have one 4' x 16' raised bed that my husband and I made with 3 x 4 landscape timbers, a hammer drill, and rebar. All the materials, dirt included, ran less than $100. When I get some more time, I will post the plans for this very easy raised bed. It is 7 years old and still looks perfect.

I GOT A GNOME!!!

February 15th was SSB and my anniversary. We have been together 16 years. The flowers behind the gnome were from SSB. He has very good taste.

The gnome and the garden statuary in front of him I got at Target, of all places. I'm so excited! I always wanted a gnome!

What a wonderful anniversary!

Turkey Meatballs

These meatballs I made on the spur of the moment. We needed something to eat and I was sick of boxed meals.

I thawed out a pound of ground turkey.
My husband ground some dried rosemary in the mortar and pestle (about 2 tsp).
I minced 1/3 of a sweet onion and 2 cloves of garlic.

In a bowl I mixed the ground turkey, 1 egg, 1 sleeve of crackers - crushed, the onion, garlic, rosemary, 1 TBS oregano, 1 TBS basil, salt and pepper, and 2 TBS olive oil.

I formed the mix into bite-sized balls and place them on a cookie sheet.

They were baked in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for about 20-30 mins.




These came out slightly crispy on the outside which was fantastic. I served them with spaghetti and marinara sauce. The meatballs were YUMMMY! I will definitely make these again, but I would serve them with a sweeter sauce next time.