Monday, December 23, 2013

Harvest Monday, December 23rd, 2013

Well I've got nothing. At least no harvests. But I have been using up my preserved harvests, so I'll talk about that instead. For some reason I bought a few avocados this last week. I was really craving them. So for two lunches I had Black Bean Guacamole for lunch. I used my black beans, onions, and garlic. I do still have a bit of cilantro frozen, but I bought fresh. I wish I'd frozen more. I'll use up what I have quickly enough, but whenever I see some really good looking cilantro at the store I'll snap it up. If only I had a green house like my mother, I could grow it all year long. It has to be my favorite herb. I am over wintering some, so I ought to have some next spring. At least that is the hope. It doesn't always live, but it is always worth trying as it grows so well in the springtime.

Another use for those avocados and the cilantro was some avocado egg salad. No recipe. But very salsa like. Again it used my onions and garlic. And on the side I had some homegrown carrots. I picked two huge containers of carrots. We've eaten one of the containers already and we are making inroads on the second. They will not last the year for sure.

The bok choy lasted quite a while, but the last was used in some wonton soup. Also from the garden were the carrots. And the wontons were made from Chinese cabbage and garlic from the garden.

I love Chicken Marsala. My favorite way to make it is to have my husband eat most of the chicken and I eat the mushrooms. Mark was talking about how people ate and about omnivores and vegetarians as he strives to cut them meat down a little in his diet. I'm very much an omnivore, but as this dish shows (and most of the above dishes) I don't eat mainly meat centric meals. When I make my husband a hamburger I usually eat my homemade bean burgers. We went out for Chinese food the other day and had Cashew Chicken. He picked out the chicken and I ate the veggies and cashews, with a little chicken added. I don't think I could cook vegetarian because my husband won't eat vegetables. How would he eat? And with my food sensitivities I'd never get to eat out again (except white pizza). Most vegetarian options include tomatoes, eggplants, or peppers. But the vegetarian option is a lot healthier which is my main reason for cutting down on meat. Like vegetable gardening my main reason for doing it isn't to save the world. But I do appreciate that side effect.

Next week will be the last Harvest Monday of the year and will be an overview of the tally and harvests. What went right and what went wrong.

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.

13 comments:

  1. I hope you find something that everone will eat for Christmas Dinner! He can eat the turkey and you can eat the Brussels Sprouts....
    Best Wishes for a happy holiday.

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  2. I could never eliminate meat from my diet completely but don't have a problem eating less especially when there are so many vegetables available in season. Over the years I have moved away from considering meat the center of the plate and vegetables the sides. Now vegetables take center stage especially when freshly harvested. Your Chicken Marsala looks wonderful. I haven't had it in a while and now I am craving it :)

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  3. You are truly an urban gardener, growing an amazing amount of you own food. I too am an omnivore and though I prefer vegetables to most meat but could never give up the occasional pork tenderloin, broiled salmon or beef stew.

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  4. What a sad day, no harvests to report for you. But all your hard work preserving is now paying off. I've got a pretty small harvest to report, but I'm grateful to be able to still eat something fresh from the garden.

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  5. Delicious meals you have there, we've been cutting back on meat as well but can't do all vegetarian meals. I haven't been out to the garden to check on the veggies for a while, no harvest for me this week.

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  6. It all looks delicious! About the Cilantro. I never even thought of freezing it. Yet I rarely use fresh herbs. I dry all of my herbs for use. Unless I am making dishes during the growing season (all year here) and need some. But because I am used to not being able to grow them all year I just dry them and store in the cupboard for use during winter out of habit..lol I love looking at your food that you cook!

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  7. What you had saved more than made up for the lack of harvests! Still, it's a sad day when you come to the last fresh greens... Happy holiday!

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  8. No post and no harvest today from me! Your use of your produce sure do look delicious! Did you grow up helping your Mother garden? Have a wonderful Christmas! Nancy

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    1. Not really. She did make me weed occasionally (which I hated). And occasionally I got to pick some strawberries. I didn't really learn to garden from her.

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  9. Yep. I'm a vegetarian who is violently allergic to nightshade plants. i eat out with great care. It's such a bummer. Thank goodness my partner is a skilled and adventurous cook.

    And may I thank you for hosting this vibrant community of garden bloggers? It has been so much fun tagging along with everyone here.

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    1. That would be my nightmare. I always figured if I went vegetarian it would be how my MIL kept kosher years ago. She did it at home, but anything outside the house was fair game. I love eating out too much.

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  10. Healthy meal.
    Will keep you energetic through the winter.

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  11. Hi! Just discovered your blog. We recently moved to Arlington and are excitedly planning our garden. I look forward to learning about what you grow.

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