Friday, March 5, 2010

Garden soil and other stuff

It has taken me a while to find the soil I wanted for my new garden. Today I found it. And I ordered it. In budget. Whohoo!

I have more than half my budget left for the wood (non-treated 2X12s are my choice, but I will bend if I find salvage, or a good price), and the seeds (working on my seed list right now). Sigh...

Starting over is hard work. But there is some serious satisfaction in creating a garden from scratch. I honestly can't wait to get my hands in all that wonderfully fertile soil!

And with that... let me leave you with a mouth watering recipe for this chilly March day:

Crock Pot "get over your cold quick" Soup

  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 large onions, diced
  • 3 celery ribs, diced
  • 2 - 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 bunch kale, veined and diced
  • 2 cans White Kidney Beans, rinsed
  • 1 Tbs fresh parsley
  • 1 Tbs fresh thyme
  • 1 Tbs dried oregano (Crush it in your hand to let the flavors out a bit)
  • 1 tea dried tarragon (same)
  • 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tea sea salt

Put in crock pot on high for 4 - 6 hours. Add salt and pepper to taste and top with parm cheese. Serve with toasted bread and/or a big fat salad.

I have also imagined this soup with a wonderful chicken sausage in it for a bit of added protien, but currently I can't find one that would work well for us.

My kids wanted to help, so while the dinner was in the crock pot yesterday, they made a vanilla bean cake with strawberry sorbet for dessert. All on their own. The cake was from an organic Trader Joe's mix... the sorbet though, was from scratch! From the organic strawberries I had put back way back in June. They read the recipe in the book, got everything together, and did it all by themselves. It feels good (and tastes good) to raise little cooks. :)

Happy Friday!

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6 comments

Luisa said...

That sounds yummy. I'm collecting recipes so I know what to do when I get kale from my csa.
Love the dessert.

Frannie said...

Val, I hear ya on the garden from scratch. I'm currently working on my first big garden. It's so overwhelming yet so exciting. I just can't seem to balance time with it and time keeping the house clean though:)

can you share the sorbet recipe?

I also have a great recipe for Kale chips you want to share it http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2009/02/tuscan_kale_chips

they're yummy

ColorSlut said...

Oh Val. Looks yummy! I'm going to have to make it.

erika~ the inspired mama said...

so what did you choose for soil? i am currently in the same boat, looking for dirt to fill our 2 new garden beds :)

xo,
erika

Val in the Rose Garden said...

I buy 2/3 mushroom compost and 1/3 topsoil for my gardens. There is a local place who will deliver 10 yards with no delivery fee. So I got that. Saved me $45 from the 8 yards I 'needed' (due to delivery fee) and I get enough for my grass and flower beds too. :) *glee*

Love Val

PS: It is not organic. They sell an organic mix too, but it isn't as good for growing veggies. Just better for grass etc. Not sure where the line is there.

Shirley said...

YAY for the dirt! The soup and dessert look delish!

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