Raised Garden Beds.

2014 Garden

Last year I started my own garden. I approached my husband with the idea and he made me promise that I would do it from start to finish. (lets just say I  may or may not finish all of my projects. :))

So I goggled everything that I thought I needed to know. 90 % of it was crap. Best advice I can give that is to find out what region/zone you're  in and plant accordingly.

2013 Garden

So when I got the time I went to home depot and started looking for wood to build my raised beds. Whoa, the stuff I wanted ranged from $13-$23 a 8 foot piece. Uh NO! I'm not made of money.

So I went to find someone who worker lumber, and low and behold, I ran across the discounted wood section! JACKPOT!! TWO 4X8 pieces for $2.15.
Granted some where slightly broken, bent, etc. But for what I was using them for, I really didn't care. And honestly they worked perfect. And in case you didn't know, Home depot will cut the wood for you.
Dirt: A lot of local folks recommended a brand called "Black Cow.(yellow bag)" And then just plain top soil to mix in. The black cow is $5 a bag, and store brand top soil is $1.50 a bag. 2013 total, $55, wood, dirt and seeds. Which was  well worth it, because I got my moneys worth. Oh and I just used wood screws to secure everything.

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Here's my first photo for 2013, I was so proud of myself. Besides a few cuts from the hubby I did it.


In the end I learn a lot! I actually had an amazing garden.
Cherry tomatoes, regular tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, green beans, banana peppers, jalapenos, snap peas, Japanese eggplant, squash, and strawberries. And I only had 3 beds. I quickly figured out I needed more room, but, I was so far in, I had to do with what I had.

2013

2013

Onward to 2014 I decided to buy seedlings this year. We had a very strong winter, I wasn't able to let seeds grow in the sun much.
So I did spend a little more money this year compared to last year.
6 bags of black cow($30), 6 bags of top soil($9).
Wood was $10, I built 5 more beds onto what I had already.
Plants/seedlings $25.
Yes I spent a little more this year this year; one I didn't sow my own seeds, two I have more to fill!

2014 total $74.

3 different tomatoes, 2 snap peas, 4 edamame, 2 squash, 2 zucinnhi, 4 spinach, bell pepper, jalapeño, banana pepper, cucumbers, chives, small onions,  and strawberries! 

It's a great investment! And I have neighbors who are excited also because I always had enough other families too!!
So wrote this to encourage others to do it!!
It was really awesome to let my kiddos pick their dinner!!

If anyone has any questions, please ask!

2014

2014

Avocado and Goat Cheese Grill Cheese

Avocado and Goat Cheese Grill Cheese

Ingredients
8oz Goat cheese or feta cheese (It's the same, label my say different though)
I bought a 4 pack variety(flavors) from my local farmers market.
8 pieces of bread, your choice.
Soften butter, enough for each side of bread.
1 avocado, sliced and peeled
Salt pepper to taste

I literally grilled these, and OMG, Really amazing!!

Place avocado on grill, I used top rack.
Butter bread on both sides, grill one side , flip.
Add goat/feta cheese. I let the cheese soften a bit, then I spread it around.
Add avocado, place pieces together, and let sit on low until cheese is nice and warm.

Crab Legs, Shrimp, Corn and Potatoes

Crab Legs, Shrimp, Corn and Potatoes

Oh my goodness!! Dinner was amazing and easy.

3 lbs of crab legs
2 lbs of shrimp (I bought 26-30, with skin on, you can use whatever you like.)
2-3 potatoes- cubed (2-3inches)
2-3 ears of corn
Old Bay Seasoning
Salt
Olive oil

Crab Legs- In a large pot bring water to boil add about 2 tb of old bay seasoning and crab legs. Boil for about15-

20 mins. (Most crab legs you but are pre-cooked, here you're only heating them up to eat.)

Potatoes and corn- In a large pot bring water to boil add about 2 tb of old bay seasoning add potatoes and corn. Cook until potatoes are tender.

Shrimp- In a Large pot bring water to boil, season with salt and olive oil, add shrimp, cook for about 5 mins.
(I personally don't like my shrimp seasoned, but you can if you wish.)

Dying Easter Eggs with Kool-Aid

Dying Easter Eggs with Kool-Aid

Super easy, fun, cheap for the kiddos!!
And since I don't care for the smell of vinegar, great alternative!
Conventional egg dying requires vinegar, but since Kool-aid has citric acid, it works just as well.
Step 1: Pick your colors of Kool-aid.
*notes, dark colors work extremely better and even though the package shows blue it may not really be blue. And Grape comes out close to a black color.
Step 2: pour Kool-Aid packets into a cup of sorts.
Step 3: Add water. I added enough so the cup wouldn't over fill when I placed the egg.
Step 4: Place a spoon in each cup, stir a little. And allows for easy moving of the egg.
Step 5: Place eggs in the colored water, leave for as long as you like for the color you want!!

Hope you'll have as much fun as we did!!

Happy Easter!!

Homemade Alfredo

Thanks Kristy!!

Homemade Alfredo with Pasta Shells

Ingredients- (for pasta water)
2tb fresh garlic, minced
1 small bell pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in 1/2
1 tb sun dried tomatoes, chopped
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
2 tb of Italian seasoning
or
1tsp each of basil, thyme, oregano, sage
salt and pepper to taste.
1 package of pasta shells-add once water boils
Throw all ingredients in water together, bring to boil, add shells.
This gives your pasta an amazing flavor.

1 lb meat (1 lb of meatballs, chicken, sausage links, steak,  tofu, whatever you'd like. I personally use sweet Italian links, cut 3/4 inch pieces, it becomes 1/2 inch little meatballs once cooked.)
 Ingredients Sauce
2-  8oz packages of white cheeses, different kinds, shredded  (examples: parmesan, asiago, smoked gouda) I buy the wedges and shred in food processor.
1 stick of butter
16oz of whipping cream or plain half and half.
2 tb of Italian seasoning
or
1tsp each of basil, thyme, oregano, sage
salt and pepper to taste.

Sauce- cooked on med-med high temp.
 Melt stick of butter in large skillet.
Add cream.
Add seasoning.
Stir until blended well.
Add your cheese mix 1/3 at a time. Melt all the way before adding
 the next batch.
Continue to stir often.
Once your cheese has been blended and is melted, add your cooked meat.
Once your pasta is cooked, drain into colander, pasta and veggies.
Combine all together in a large bowl.

Spanakopita- Greek Spinach Pie

Spanakopita- Greek Spinach Pie

Don't let this recipe worry you, it's really good, and easy!
It's a little, not much, more prep work, but totally worth it!
If my 5 and 6 year old kiddos LOVE it, so will you!

Ingredients:

(Section 1)
3 tbl of olive oil
1 onion

1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped 
1 bunch green onion ( 3 tbl of dried chives works too)
2 garlic cloves minced (2 tbl of jarred minced garlic)

(Section 2)
10 oz of spinach, chopped and rinsed.
1/2 cup fresh parsley. (2 tbl of dried)

(Section 3)
2 eggs, lightly beaten.
3/4 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
12 sheets of phyllo dough (usually in the freezer section)
1/4 cup olive oil (used with the phyllo dough)
Salt and pepper to taste.

Pre heat oven @ 350, oil 8x8 or 9x9 pan.

Sautee section 1 in the olive oil, until onions are translucent.
Stir in spinach and parsley cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
Remove from heat, set aside.

In another bowl, mix eggs, ricotta, and feta. Stir in spinach mix. Add salt and pepper to taste!

In your pan that's oiled, lay a piece of phyllo dough, brush with olive oil, repeat until you have 6 layers of phyllo dough. Allow for over hang, just fold on top before adding the top 6 layers.
( if your phyllo dough breaks into strips, no worries, it still cooks and comes out fine.)
Once you have 6 layers, add you cheese/spinach mix.
Again add phyllo layer and brush with olive oil, repeat until 6 layers are on top. Brush top layer with olive oil.
Cook for about 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

*I once ran out of olive oil and I used Crisco cooking butter spray, worked out great!

Grilled Zucchini Rolls

Grilled Zucchini Rolls

4-5 Zucchini, sliced thin, but not too thin, (grilling them makes them thinner)
1/2 cup of shredded white cheese
1/4 ricotta chesse- season chesse with salt pepper, garlic to taste
1/4 olive oil
1/4 Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup 1/2 cherry tomatoes
salt, pepper garlic to taste

Baste Zucchini in olive oil while grilling.
Cook zucchini until done.
Place ricotta mix in a sandwich bag and cut the corner off,
makes it a little easier to handle.
Squeeze/spread ricotta mix on the slices of zucchini.
Sprinkle with cherry tomatoes.
Sprinkle shredded cheese.
Then roll zucchini slices up.
Place in oven @ 350 for about 10 minutes, just to warm things up and melt cheese.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Enjoy!

Fall off the bone Baby Back Ribs!! In the crockpot!

Fall off the bone Baby Back Ribs!! In the crockpot!

One rack of baby racks. Rinse ribs off well,
there's in a membrane on the underside of the ribs, peel it off.
Dry ribs, and apply a rib rub/seasoning. Try this one- Zabe's Rib Rub.
Let rub sit for at least an hour, best if over night.
Sear ribs on both sides, about 5 minutes on both.
Put in crockpot, cook on low.
I add a tablespoon of BBQ sauce on each set of ribs.
Cook on low for 8-12 hours.
So easy, so good, and fall off the bone!!! Enjoy!