Enjoying Fresh Produce

I love this time of the year when I can finally  eat fresh produce from my garden.  I have white strawberries in my garden which I started  with only one plant but now I have a plot full of it.  This white strwberries are also  called white Alpine strawberries or some call them wild strawberries.  This alpine strawberries have an exquisite taste and aroma.  I like this  in the garden more than the  scarlet or red strawberies because  the birds don't pay much attention to this white ones, thatis probably because they are smaller compared to the red ones which are so visible to the birds when ripen.  Another thing that I love  about this ktype of strawberry is that, they bear fruit until  Fall so you get more fruit  even though they are smaller.  I kjustlove picking them and eating it as a snack when we are sitting in the back porch or rocking back and forth in the  swing.

 We started eating kale last year so I decided to  plant some in my garden this year.  They are growing like weeds now so I started  harvesting them and incorporating it my dishes especially in pasta.  I love kale because it is very nutritioius and when you cook it, it doesn't get  saggy like other greens, they stay firm.

 I have incorporated to  the  Chicken bacon ranch dish that I made yesterday.  The kale gave it a nice twist.

I am not very fond of  radish because  it tastes  so strong and sometimes bitter.  However, I l[anted some last year because our  bunny (he just recently passed) love munching on it.  A lot came back this year from the seeds that was scattered from last year so I have been pulling it out from the garden and making   salad out of it.  

 I have  acquired the taste  for it so I can tolerate it now.  I just have to season it the way I want.  I just simply  add  some miring, a little honey, alsamic vinegar, basil, salt and pepper and chill it for the about 30 minutes in the refigerator.

 According to fullcircle.com, it is beneficial to eat radishes because:

• It is a naturally cooling food which help decrease your body's heat during warmer months. 
• They can sooth sore throats and sinus infections, it's pungent flavor  help eliminate excess mucus.  
• It  also  acts as a natural  cleansing agent for the digestive system.  
• It is high in Vitamin C so it can  prevent viral infection.
• It iliminate toxins and cancer-causing free radicals in the body.
• It contain phytonutrients, fiber, vitamins and minerals that are cancer protecting.
• It relieves indigestion.
• It is low in calories but high in nutrients
• It keeps you hydrated.

So yeah, even if I don't like eating radish that much, I eat it anyway just because  it's healthy for me.  My kids won't touch them though lol.  My husband is not really crazy about it either. So what I always do is incorporate it in a dish that they like (sauteed sardines and  gourd) and let the flavor soaked in a dish that way, even though they don't eat the actuall vegetable, they would have the nurtients in the food.  It's a healthy  food so I wouldn't mind eating it once in a while.

Green Beans

My son picked the beans last week and cooked it adobo style with pork.  My kids and husband love this dish  so whenever we have beans, that's what they want.  My  daughter can eat bowls and bowls of  steamed green beans  sprinkled with black pepper.  I am planning to  plant more beans next year rather than  brocolli which took a big part of our garden.

I forgot to take a photo of the  dish, I will do that next time though so you'd see hehehe.

Cheery Tomatoes - P365 # 236

I did not buy any tomato seedling to plant in my garden. I just grew the seeds I have dried and collected from last year. As it turned out, they are all cherry tomatoes lol.  So if you want to make a salad and need some cherry tomatoes, you are welcome in my garden and pick some.

August 25, 2011:

• I have to pick up my daughter at 12 noon today.
• I just got done tutoring my son, it's our fourth day of lessons at home and he is doing  great. He can actually right his name alone.  If he master to right his whole name, I would start  making him spell it.  Right now, he  learned to recognize  most of the alphabet letters and  number 1-10.  I'll advance him after a month of teaching so that when starts to go to kindergarten, he will be alright.
• I haven't figure out yet what to cook for lunch.  I made omelet for breakfast.  That's what daughter had  for her cold lunch too, that and a rice.
• Time to get ready folks, thanks for dopping by.

Heart in the Kitchen - Project 365 #24

Sometimes, when I am in the mood to cook and I have plenty of time, I tend to play with my ingredients a little bit and take picture of it before cooking it.  Since  Valentine's day is fast approaching, I turned my  diced bell pepper into  a heart.  

January 24, 2011:

• I walked my daughter to school.  They have a 2-hour delay so hubby wasn't able to drive her there before going to his school.
• Will prepare some beef steak today.
• Will fetch  Ms. Burrito from school at 2 pm.
• Will have Bumble Bee at 3 pm.
• Will try to finish online tasks before   Bumble arrives (I hope I could finish it hehehe.)
• Doing four loads of laundry now done with one, folded it and still have three to finish.

Feature FAlways remember....

that a little bit of this

and a little dash of that

makes a sumptuous life..

so Spice Up Your Life

Hot & Sweet Peppers

A couple of years ago, our neighbor gave us some hot peppers. I saved the seeds and planted them this year. I thought I won't get any fruit because I planted them a little late but now, I have lots of them. I am worried that some of them may not mature and get caught by the cold season.

I freeze most of the ripe ones I got from the garden, so I would have enough to use during freezing months. I think I would do this every year so I won't have to buy plants from the store for my garden.

Our neighbor just gave me some sweet peppers and cherry tomatoes as well as big ones the other day. If you need some peppers and tomatoes, come at our home and I'll give you some hehehe.

Just remember....

that a little bit of this

and a little dash of that

makes a sumptuous life...

so Spice Up Your Life.

Birthday Foodies

I wasn't able to shop at the oriental store last month so I did not cook Asian food for Rylie's birthday. I only made spaghetti, some fruits and veggies, and we bought fried chicken, joe-joe potatoes and some rolls at Quick King. Thanks Jen for picking it up for us, mwah!

We bought her cake at Krogers.

My friend Raquel made some pasta salad and maja blanca.

It was hot that day so the watermelon was the perfect fruit for the occasion.

This is the veggie plate I've prepared.

Tomorrow will be our princess actual birthday. She will turn five already and I can't believe how time flies so fast. She slowly starting to slip on my hands lol.

Just remember....

that a little bit of this

and a little dash of that

makes a sumptuous life...

so Spice Up Your Life.