From Garden to Table

By this time of year we usually have our garden planted and are busy watching baby plants rise from the ground anxious for the first harvest. A late spring, absence of sunshine and warmth, meant postponing outdoor planting. The laundry room is filled with small pots, seedlings are sprouting and we hope they can soon be transplanted to the raised beds. About a week ago I did get the heirloom tomatoes done, however it is still rather cool so they are struggling a bit.

We humans also struggle when events or inclement weather unexpectedly arrives. Frankly, I was having a bit of a pity-party about our cold weather and my inability to move vegetable plants outside. When I leaned of the enormous damage from tornadoes in MO, I realized my suffering is nothing compared to what those folks experienced. When it is hard to recognize how blessed we are, it is good to look around at those who are worse off. I find myself pausing, complaints dying unborn, and I realize things could always be worse.

Having said that, and I do hope you will take it to heart, now is the time to begin growing at least some of your own food. If you care about where your food comes from, how it was grown, whether it is free of chemicals, you'd do well to try at least a few plants. Even if you live in an apartment you can use pots on window sills, a patio, or even a fire escape. Once you eat something fresh and picked ripe from the plant, you'll wonder why you eat anything else.

As you grow a few vegetables and gain confidence in your ability, look around for heirloom seeds. Hybrid seeds, sold by most grocers and nurseries, have to be replaced each year. Heirloom seeds will produce new seeds you can dry and save for future planting. Once you purchase a package or heirloom seeds and harvest seeds from the plant, you never have to buy those again. That's an easy way to save money as well as assure your seeds have no genetic modified organisms in them. One place you can order just about any kind of seed imaginable, even fennel and golden beets, is Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Go to www.RareSeeds.com and check them out.

As soon as you have some baby lettuce and spinach leaves sticking up, pick enough for a salad along with any other small greens sprouting up from the ground. Wash carefully and drain in a colander.

Spring Salad

Lettuce and spinach leaves
1 small red onion, diced
1/2 cup candied walnuts, broken in small pieces


Dressing

1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2tablespoons sesame or walnut oil
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt or vegetable seasoning like Mrs. Dash
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Place all dressing ingredients in a glass jar and cap. Shake well until all ingredients are mixed. You can use a blender if you prefer. In a medium size bowl, toss baby lettuce leaves and spinach, candied walnuts and minced red onion. Drizzle half the dressing over mixture and toss with salad fork to mix well. For a special treat, add about one-half a cleaned and sliced jicama. Jicama is crunchy and adds an extra texture to any salad.

I use glass canning jars with regular lids for dressings like Thousand Island, Blue Cheese, or Ranch. For oil and vinegar dressings I use glass containers from organic salad dressings I purchased. Just be sure to thoroughly wash the containers and lids, then allow them to air dry.

Enjoy your garden and savor those fresh picked vegetables.

The Blessings of Water

We often forget that much of our body is made up of water. Water is a requirement for good health and well being. Other liquids are not a substitute for water. It is not necessary to spend money on bottled water from the store. If your tap water has an odd color from minerals or additives, you can use a filtering system that sits on the kitchen counter to create palatable water. Alternatively you can purchase an expensive whole-house filtration system so that even your shower water has not odor or taste. Do you know how much water you should drink every day? Drinking water every day has been neglected by most for far too long. Water helps clean the body, prevents dehydration, and is a diet and stress aid.

You can figure your own water needs with a simple formula. Take your weight, say 130 pounds. Divide that in half. The result is 65 pounds. Translate pounds into ounces. If you weigh 130 pounds, your body requires 65 ounces of water daily for optimum health. With very little physical exercise, you can divide your weight by three, translate that into ounces and drink that amount. Although you actually need the larger amount, you can be relatively healthy with smaller intake. To assure pure water, I purchased a Britta filter. We keep it filled with filtered water in the refrigerator. The cost is very small when compared to buying bottled water. If you do not like the taste of water, add a few drops of lemon juice to a 12 ounce container. NOTE: Other liquids, such as coffee, tea, soda pop or alcohol do not replace water use. Your body needs water, just water, to remain healthy. During periods of low humidity, especially if you are working outdoors, you may need to increase your daily intake of water even more.

In addition to the physical benefits of water, that wonderful liquid is also a terrific stress reducer. If you have ever sat beside a stream or river, walked along the ocean, or visited a place with a flowing fountain, you are already aware of how soothing the sound of running water is to humans. You can create your own small, indoor fountain by purchasing a small pump, digging through all that stuff in the garage or attic and making your own. Small indoor fountains are also readily available at most department and big box stores at a low cost. Turning a small fountain on, especially while soaking feet in a basin or body in bathtub, is one of the most soothing things you can do to relieve stress.

When all else fails, try soaking in a bathtub full of warm water for thirty minutes with the lights off, a lit candle in the bathroom, and the telephone bell muted. I like to add a few drops of organic vanilla extract to the bathwater and relax while my body and spirit are soothed. While I prefer silence for this activity, several friends say they put a couple of classical CDs on the stereo with the sound high enough to hear as background music. The point is not to think you must experience the tension release from a nice soak the same way someone else does. Try several methods until you find the one that works best for you. And remember, you might want to change your method at some time so the activity doesn't become routine.

With cold weather still here and busy schedules for most of us, a nice easy dinner in the oven is a great way to bring everyone together for an evening meal without spending hours in the kitchen. This recipe is easy enough that older children can put it together or younger ones can assist with preparation.

Chicken Enchilada Crescent Bake

2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 (10 ounce) can red enchilada sauce
2 (8 ounce) cans organic refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1-1/4 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

In 2-quart saucepan, mix chicken and 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
Separate or cut dough into 8 long rectangles (if using crescent rolls, press perforations to seal). Spoon chicken mixture and 1 tablespoon of the cheese onto 1 long side of each rectangle. Roll up; pinch edges to seal. Place seam side down in 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas, and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake at 375 degrees 15 to 20 minutes

Serve with a green salad and vinaigrette dressing.