Though more seeds were planted indoors, the outside harvests will have to wait even longer. We got about a foot of snow last week. It is melting fast, but the beds are still covered with it. I have been using up my stores.
Yesterday I made a big batch of Boston Baked Beans. I used the Yellow Eye Beans which are a Maine heirloom. I didn't think they came out quite as good as last time. Not sure why.
Spinach is always one of my favorite vegetables in storage. Especially when it is paired with a comfort food. I love macaroni and cheese. I don't make it very often as my husband isn't a fan. He likes the neon orange boxed variety which I don't eat. I used a recipe that has more flavor than your typical mac and cheese. Though I used whole wheat noodles. The recipe makes so much, so I've been eating it everyday for lunch. It had both garlic and onions from the garden. I now have just one onion left. I've put them on my shopping list. It is always sad when I run out.
Harvest Monday is a day to show off your harvests, how you are saving your harvest, or how you are using your harvest. If you have a harvest you want to show off, add your name and link to Mr Linky below.
What kind of onions do you grow? I know there are some that are better for storage than others. I believe I read that most storage onions don't grow as well in Dallas, but maybe I am mistaken.
ReplyDeleteI grow several kinds, two of which are very good storage onions - Redwing and Copra (storage onions grow quite well here in Boston).
DeleteYour yellow eye beans are so pretty. Can you eat the young pods like green beans? Would your macaroni and cheese freeze well?
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I've never tried eating the green beans. And yes mac and cheese freezes quite well. It gets mushier, but that isn't really an issue. I was going to freeze some, but never got around to it.
DeleteLove the picture of the beans soaking. Where they mealy, crunchy? Just different? Spinach is versitle even fromt he freezer. Can't really say that about a lot of other veggies. LOL.
ReplyDeleteWell after you cook beans for 6-8 hours (which you do for Boston Baked Beans) they are always mushy. Not sure what they are like with normal cooking as I used them all in my beans.
DeleteThe mac and cheese looks delicious. Homemade mac and cheese should have a different name than the boxed kind. Generally I prefer homemade, but sometimes I want the synthetic boxed gooey-ness. They must put something in it to make it "addictive" in some ways:)
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of spinach too but I did not manage to get much put by of it this past year. We enjoyed alot fresh though. Soon it will be time to plant the spring crop and I can enjoy it once again. Your meals sound delicious as always!
ReplyDeletespinach is one of my favorite vege
ReplyDeleteI love fresh spinach, but don't ever freeze it, and I grow tons of it. MIght try this year.
ReplyDeleteOpened some of the peach salsa I made last year, and OMG--is it good!! Paired with boneless pork chops and I will definietely make more of it this year..
I hope you thaw out soon. We've had lots of rain and finally got some nice weather here this past weekend. It's great that you have plenty of veggies in storage. I've never attempted to freeze spinach, but it does go well with cheesy and starchy meals like mac and cheese. I have the same problem that J likes the stuff out of the box and isn't fond of my healthy versions. I'm not sure which is worse for you: the southern style mac n chz with heavy cream and tons of cheese or the stuff out of the box!
ReplyDeleteI love spinach too, fresh or frozen, but of course I would have to get around to planting it if I want it from the garden and that didn't happen last year. I'm trying to get some going now for a spring harvest this year.
ReplyDeleteI hope your garden thaws out soon!
Count me as a spinach fan too. It's so useful to have in the freezer, either for a side dish or for adding to egg dishes, pasta, etc. I'm hoping the overwintered bed will be giving us fresh spinach soon.
ReplyDeleteI am drooling over that mac and cheese. I'm going dairy free for a month, and of course I'm craving what I can't have!
I used soy milk for mine since I'm lactose intolerant. Didn't skimp on the cheese though and that is so not dairy free. I don't think I could live without cheese. It is my goto lunch. I might eat a salad for lunch, but I'd add cheese.
DeleteI have a spring veggie/grown-up mac and cheese entree featured on my blog this week. Maybe comfort food during the rainy weather we had. Hear you've had snow (again).
ReplyDeleteOur snow has mostly melted now but I imagine we will get a little more yet. Your mac and cheese does look good. Do you put any seasoning on your spinach or a vinegar? You will soon be outdoors planting once again! Nancy
ReplyDeleteYes I add balsamic vinegar.
DeleteAlways love more original mac and cheese versions...thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDeleteWhat spectacularly beautiful beans!
ReplyDeleteThose beans look really nice! I didn't grow any dry beans last year so their levels are getting a little low. I'll have to put some in this year.
ReplyDeleteI too am a huge fan of Macaroni cheese, I have been ever since I was really young. Weirdly my kids aren't fans so I don't get to cook it that often but its still the thing i turn to if I feel in need of something restorative.
ReplyDeleteHaven't had mac and cheese in N years, I couldn't get spinach to go in the past 2 years, I'll have to plant it in fall, overwinter it and harvest by end of February, it starts to bolt in March.
ReplyDeleteOff topic, but thanks Daphne for recommending "Ender's Game" in your profile! I'd filed it away and when I finally read it this weekend, couldn't put it down. Looking forward to the movie now...
ReplyDeleteI tried to comment from my phone while at work, but the robot checker thing wouldn't let me get a picture to copy. What kind of cheese do you use in your mac and cheese? My mother in law makes some that everyone loves, but it calls for a lot of butter, and can be pretty greasy! I wish I was "grown up" enough to try spinach again. I loved it cooked as a kid, but somewhere along the lines decided I didn't. I love it in salads, and in quiches, omelets, pizza that type of thing... but haven't been able to dive in for just spinach as a side.
ReplyDeleteI use a very sharp cheddar (specifically the sharp Cabot cheddar that Costco sells). And that is why I like this recipe. It isn't as bad for you as the normal mac and cheese recipes, but it still tastes good. No added butter.
DeleteI like your gardening harvest photos but this time I am loving topics on using up storage produce and recipes. Thanks for sharing. I have last years berries in freezer, good reminder to use it all up :)
ReplyDeleteMy grandma heard we liked Mac n Cheese so she whipped up a homemade, baked from scratch dish. We hated it. We only liked the Box. I can't remember what hers tasted like, but I am obsessed with Mac n Cheese in all of its forms -including the box as a comfort food.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me to start looking into growing beans this year. We dabbled last year, but the gopher seemed to appreciate them even more than we did, and sooner! We will be better armed this year.