Garden August 15

I've been freezing beans and broccoli. Spending time in the garden, enjoying watching everything grow.

August 6

When your day is getting hectic and the kids are acting up or totally losing it. Stop. Take a moment to think about your day. Sometimes we get so busy and caught up in getting everything done, that we miss the most simple problems. Then these lead to big problems. Your kids might need to eat, or maybe they are tired. Possibly you have had them out shopping for two long and they need to go home. They may need some attention, sit down and color with them for a bit, or read a book. This might be enough to change the mood and make everyone feel better.

August 4

MOTHER AND BABE

"I see the sleeping babe nestling the breast of its mother,
The sleeping mother and babe--hush'd, I study them long and long."

Walt Whitman


Get comfortable, gather your children in your lap, get a book and enjoy some closeness. You will be giving your child a gift of your time and presence. This can provide a much needed rest time for both you and your children.

August 1st

The garden is just great this year, I'm that person with too much zucchini trying to give it away to everyone. It's nice having enough to share. I have lettuce, spinach, various greens, basil, parsley, onion, zucchini, broccoli, peppers, blueberries and plums ready. In a few days I will have beans, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower and tomatoes. Just had to share that.

Here are just a couple of ideas for a quick dinner using lots of the summers bounty.

Mixed green salad

Start with a mixture of greens, leaf and romaine lettuce, spinach, radicchio what ever you like.
Add diced zucchini, red peppers, diced roasted sweet potatoes or mushrooms.
Add some fresh basil or parsley.
I like to add black beans or leftover quinoa for protein, you could add hard cooked eggs, walnuts, cheese, leftover rice or barley.
Then toss with vinegar and olive oil.

Of course there are tons of variations you can make on a salad, try different combinations. If your children don't care for some of these veggies you can try adding raspberries, pears, apples or strawberries. Then leave out the disliked veggies, add nuts, cheese and maybe a raspberry vinaigrette .

Serve this with a whole wheat, or whole grain bread and you have a wholesome, complete meal.


Garden fresh stir fry

Four servings

First put on some brown rice to serve with your stir fry. Cooks for about 45 minutes.


1/2 head broccoli florets
1 onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 carrots, cut matchstick style
1 zucchini, sliced
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
16 oz package, firm tofu ( you can marinate the tofu first if you like, in some soy sauce, garlic, dijon type mustard, sesame oil, fresh ginger. Just mix these together, cube tofu and coat with marinate) Or you can use prepared stir fry sauce.
olive oil
soy sauce

Using a wok or saute pan over medium heat.
Saute the onion, garlic and carrot in 2 tablespoons olive oil for three minutes.
Add the broccoli, mushrooms and zucchini and saute for two more minutes.
Stir in 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1/4 cup water.
Add the tofu and stir fry sauce if using; cover and steam on low for about 6 minutes.

Serve over brown rice.