We’re experiencing a warmth wave this week, and I’m sure we aren’t alone. The midafternoons have been sweltering the previous few days to the purpose the place being exterior feels suffocating. Ah, summer time 😉
Due to this I’ve targeted on getting out within the mornings and evenings. The mornings for the chicks, the backyard, and Finley walks. The early evenings for bringing the neighborhood hen flock frozen watermelon and taking Finley on one other run (beside the golf cart as a result of I’ve reached my capability by that time). How are the temps the place you might be?
The excellent news about all this sunshine and summer time rain (to return tomorrow I consider) is that the backyard is flourishing. I principally have the squash bugs underneath management. What I’ve discovered is that whereas there could also be some deterrents, the one actual technique to preserve them from fully ruining the vegetation is to spend a couple of minutes within the morning and night (when they’re most lively) selecting them off, drowning them in dish detergent water, and crushing their eggs. Who knew gardening would make me into such a merciless particular person? It sounds violent, does it not? Nevertheless it’s efficient!
I say all of this as a longwinded intro to sharing that we’ve been consuming quite a lot of backyard produce! And I hope I at all times really feel the fun of exhilaration once I choose one thing from the backyard, and cook dinner it as much as eat. I’m unsure I can consider something that feels extra satisfying.
Proper now that’s principally cucumbers, squash, kale, parsley, thyme, and jalapenos, however I’ve gotten just a few bell peppers, too, and final evening we ate our first stunning Cherokee Purple slicer tomato with dinner and I nearly cried a tear of pleasure. Cue that audio that claims one minute you’re younger and funky and the following you’re taking footage of the greens in your backyard. Responsible as charged.
Latest Eats (June 2025)
Okay, right here’s a few of my favourite meals we’ve loved over the previous few weeks!
To start with, I’ve been on a dried bean kick. I’ve been selecting up Rancho Gordo beans from Swamp Rabbit Grocery, soaking them for the primary half of the day, then simmering them the second half. I exploit onion, garlic, vegetable broth, thyme from the backyard, and bay leaves. They go nice with rice, with taco bowls, or only a facet on their very own! They don’t hassle my abdomen the best way canned beans typically do and hooray for extra fiber.
Breakfast
Breakfast has been considered one of my favourite meals of late. It’s both been Siggi’s yogurt with chia seeds and fruit or what we’ve began calling “farm breakfast.”
Farm breakfast has many variations, nevertheless it principally contains yellow squash, kale, and parsley from the backyard with onion and hen sausages (frozen from Costco). Then an egg or two on high. Avocado if I’ve it. And these days, blueberries on the facet from blueberry bushes simply down the road.
Lunch
Lunches are far and wide. A pair occasions it’s been sandwiches on sourdough with dill pickle kraut on the facet. And as soon as my tomatoes begin rolling in with any consistency, it’s going to be BLTs! However normally it’s heated up leftovers or snack plates.
- Selfmade sourdough with turkey, cheddar, avocado, tomato, mayo, and dijon.
- Reheated baked potato with bitter cream and chives (from the backyard), broccoli, and pan-fried hen.
- Easy tuna salad with hemp hearts and radish microgreens on the facet
- Leftover hamburger, dill pickle kraut, and cucumber salad with reheated roasted candy potatoes and asparagus.
I’ve an extended checklist of eating places to attempt within the Greenville space and I really feel like we’re simply beginning to settle into life sufficient to plan occasions to attempt them out. Final week we went on a double date with mates to Topsoil in Traveler’s Relaxation. David and I went on a Christmas date evening there in December and liked it. Topsoil is farm-to-table expertise with a powerful deal with seasonality and regionally sourced elements. It’s in.cred.i.ble. particularly when you geek out over good meals and fancy drinks like I do.
They’ve plates for the desk, however then every particular person will get a 3 course expertise: one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert. David and I each opted for 2 appetizers every and skipped dessert so we might have the chance to attempt all the flamboyant issues like escargot, veal sweetbreads, tuna crudo, and extra. It was superb!
Okay, honest query: How lengthy till it will get outdated for me to notice “from the backyard” from something I choose and cook dinner from the backyard? As a result of my interior voice is telling me it’s annoying however my gleeful satisfaction is popping cartwheels whereas it sings, frommm theee garrrrrrdennnn!
On second thought, don’t reply that…
However I do hope you may have a superb day!
