Garden inspired recipes

By Sarah

Last weekend, I planted my very first garden (and by I, I mean my husband, but whatever.) I'm a little nervous about how many vegetables I'll actually cultivate, as I have somewhat of a black thumb. I've never successfully grown anything my entire life; houseplants with a death-wish come to my house to live, err, die.

That being said, I am very hopeful my first garden will flourish, as I strictly followed our very own Elizabeth's gardening guides (part one and part two). For my first time out of the gate, I planted tomatoes, peppers, corn, beets, carrots, green beans, Swiss chard, zucchini, and basil.

In the hopes Mother Nature should decide to shine down on my garden and make it grow, I've picked out a few recipes I plan to make with all my garden goodness:

Zucchini Bread
The recipe says chocolate chips are optional, but in my mind, they are required. By law.

Saucy Salmon (with Swiss chard)
I'm not normally a huge fan of Ellie Krieger (she's too healthy!), but I saw this recipe on her show about a year ago and have been making it ever since. It's a great recipe when you've got a huge bunch of greens you need to use.

Beet and Goat Cheese Arugula Salad
Beets and goat cheese salad is my absolute favorite. Arugula optional. Double the goat cheese.

Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad
If beets and goat cheese is my first favorite salad, then caprese definitely comes in second. Whole chunks of mozzarella? Yes please!

Are you planting a garden this year? What do you plan to make with all your fruits and veggies?

Comments

[Kate]

Basil tends to grow like crazy (just remember to pinch off the tops so it doesn't flower) and is pretty hard to kill so I suggest a good pesto recipe.

[kat]

we planted tomataoes, zucchini, bell peppers, cabbage, snap peas, green beans.

all of your recipes sounds exactly what we'll be making. mmm. i just hope our garden makes it!

[Leah]

Our tomatoes tend to go gangbusters, and all at once, so we have a killer tomato sauce recipe that uses a can of paste plus garden-fresh tomatoes and then anything else that's read to be picked--yellow squash, zucchini, basil, oregano, asparagus, onions, chilis, spinach, you name it.

[La Petite Chic]

I had the crazy idea to grow my own vegetables from seed this year. They are currently sprouting up in my little greenhouse but I fear they'll never make it outside. What was I thinking?! :)

[Emiliy Marino]

(BTW I'm only posting a comment because of your tweet yesterday saying your husband reads all the comments. So, Hi Sarah's Husband!)
When I lived in Orange County, we had lemon trees in the parking lot where I worked and at home I grew lavender. I would make home-made lavender lemon vanilla ice cream. It was amazing.

[Home Sweet Sarah]

Thanks for the advice about the basil, Kate!

Leah, that recipe sounds bomb dot com, thank you!

And Katie, I'm so right there with you! Our gardens have to grow! Right?