This delicious recipe for creamy broccoli and cheddar casserole is a side dish that I serve often at Thanksgiving. It combines broccoli, cauliflower, and cheddar cheese with eggs for a rich and creamy taste that my family can’t resist. Broccoli is the perfect vegetable to use in this dish. It has a mild flavor on …
I recently wrote an article which talked about a long list of weird things that you can compost which you might not have thought about. Today, I am doing to discuss those things you should never compost. Vegetable gardening is greatly enhanced with adding organic matter formed by composting. If you enjoy growing vegetables, you will …
Don’t throw away those plain brown luncheon bags, or fast good restaurant bags after use. Save them for on the spot composting! If you don’t want the chore of composting with a large compost pile, you can still compost. Just use recycled brown lunch bags. They work great in any flower or vegetable garden. Keep …
Hate junk mail? Turn this unwanted mail into garden mulch with this easy gardening life hack. All you have to do is look into your mail box and you will see how much junk mail you get on a daily basis. Junk mail is unwanted, wastes paper and other materials and ends up on our …
Composting allows me to add some organic matter to my garden, but the material often needs sifting. Instead of buying a compost sifter, I made my own DIY Compost Screen by using common plastic garden trays. These trays are readily available at most garden centers when you purchase a flat of seedlings. The come with …
A rolling compost pile is much easier to manage that a normal pile in a compost bin. It is an easy way to avoid a common gardening mistake – forgetting to add compost to soil. I am committed to organic gardening. My vegetable garden is treated for insects with home made remedies and I control …
Butternut pumpkin (also known as butternut squash) is one of my favorite fall vegetables. Cooking this vegetable in the oven brings out the sweetness in it. It looks as though it will be the star of my vegetable garden this year! Butternut pumpkins can be cooked so many ways. I love to roast them, and …
All gardeners know the task of keeping tall flower stalks from flopping over. There are lots of retail supports that you can purchase, but they can be pricey and also sometimes are not the right lengths. A great creative gardening hack is to use expandable curtain rods as plant supports. The answer is easy. Collect …
Homemade Garlic bread is a must have accompaniment to many main course dishes. This recipe combines butter with basil and parsley for a great taste sensation. There are so many ways to use this homemade garlic bread recipe. Serve it with home style soups or stews to get that last drop of broth. And what …
These roasted potatoes with lemon are cooked in the oven, not deep fried, to make them tasty and healthier at the same time. Roasting any vegetable brings out their natural sweetness. I love roasted potatoes, especially when combined with spices. There is nothing like biting into a crispy outer skin and then having a creamy …
This recipe for sugar snap peas, mushrooms and tomatoes is easy to make and just full of flavor. It would make a fast side dish for any weeknight when time is limited. Best of all, the ingredients are fresh from the garden! What could be better? Nothing tastes quite like a vegetable dish made from …
Food carving and creative food art is something that requires a great deal of patience to end up with just the perfect result. I love seeing what creative people can do with food to make it into an art form. Food is soft and this makes it the perfect medium for carving into life-like objects. …
I recently tried this roasted rutabaga recipe and it is just delicious and makes a wonderful fall side dish. I have always used rutabagas in casseroles and stews. I like using lots of root vegetables in recipes like this type of recipe. Roasting rutabagas concentrate the natural sweetness of the vegetable. This is the same …
This creamy garlic pasta is an adaptation of the higher fat recipe that contains full cream and butter. I have made some substitutions so that the fat content is reduced but the flavor is still great. I’ve added broccoli to the recipe because I love pasta dishes with broccoli. Any veggie you like could be …
Fresh rosemary is one of my favorite spices. I use it all the time in Italian cooking and also in many of my chicken recipes. This herb easy to grow and is a great one to start with for those who are new at growing herbs. The favor of this fresh herb is robust and …
I have long dreamed of having a test garden. I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with various types of plants. Some turn out well and others don’t last the season, but I enjoy it all. Since I write about how to grow plants for my blog posts, I wanted a dedicated place where I can test growing …
This ground beef Manicotti adds a nice mix to the normal manicotti recipe with just beef and ricotta cheese. It is a great way to get kids to eat their vegetables and not complain. The whole dish is topped with store bought Italian sauce to save on time and then sprinkled with your favorite cheese. …
This easy Lemon Garlic Broccoli is a great go to recipe to make on those busy week nights when you are strapped for time. Looking for an easy side dish that will compliment any protein choice? This tasty recipe is perfect for the job. My family loves vegetables and it’s nice to try new ways …
If you are a fan of Indian cooking, you will love this tikka masala curry. It is not too spicy and just full of flavor. My husband and I love Indian curry and we love to eat this when we go out to our favorite Indian restaurants. Here in Raleigh, Indian restaurants seem to be …
Looking for a delicious and healthy vegetarian penne pasta recipe? Look no further than this creamy veggie penne dish! It’s made with whole wheat pasta, juicy tomatoes, and reduced-fat cheese plus some crunchy pecans for added texture. It’s a satisfying meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekend dinners, and it’s sure to become …
This vegan tropical salad combines a mix of fresh greens, and veggies with pineapple and a tangy cilantro lime vinaigrette dressing. Since I am following a vegan diet, I used Gardein chicken strips, but normal chicken breasts would work just fine if you are a meat eater. These chicken strips are very tasty, meat-free, and …
This Thai peanut stir fry has a boatload of veggies to add lots of flavor and nutrition to your dinner meal. Team this vegan stir fry with brown rice, flavored with cumin, spring onions and raisins and you will tempt even the most meat loving family member. Be sure to make extra rice. The left …
Your child will nave no problem getting their fruit intake when you present them with these easy banana fruit carving creations! I love bananas as much as the next guy. But my main use of them is in my cereal in the morning to get my daily dose of potassium. That is not the case …
One of my family’s favorite side dishes is vegetarian twice baked potatoes. But the normal version is full of fat, cream, butter and calories. This healthy recipe uses a Vegan spread and vegetable cheese but is still full of flavor. You can customize your flavorings to suit your family’s tastes. The twice baked potatoes take …
This recipe for vegetarian stuffed portobello mushrooms has been adjusted for a meatless diet without sacrificing any of the delicious taste. I love portobello mushrooms in just about any dish. They are hearty and filling and just delicious. The next time you want something different for dinner, instead of using ground beef, try stuffing your …
Welcome! Many people think about gardening on the weekends and cooking during the week. For me, gardening and cooking are both week long projects. I could dig in the dirt all day long every day if I had the opportunity. I especially love to use vegetables that I grow in my own vegetable garden in …