I've always had some sort of garden no matter where we lived and here is no exception.
We did a couple boxes last year in prep for this year and also started a few things in pots and big barrels.
(Our house came with them)
Carson planted sunflower seeds and got some great sunflowers!
We planted zinnias in another barrel
In one of the beds, next to the compost, we planted tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.
Out front we have a couple of pots of strawberries and a pot of aloe from our old house.
Last year we had a small veggie garden in our box by our back door. This year we planted flower seeds and cantaloupe.
My favorite plant year round is the Jasmine bush we have, it smells awesome!
I am not one to follow recipes usually.
Well. I try to follow the recipe the first time I make something but then I add my own 'opinion' of what makes good food.
Yesterday, we visited the Asian grocery store at Mekong Plaza and picked up some veggies and made spring rolls!
pea sprouts, cilantro, and mint
They were wrapped in a spinach leaf and oh so good and fresh tasting!
I got the recipe from the weekly/monthly magazine from our Sunflower Market.
They were fairly easy to assemble once everything was sliced and it came with a great sauce recipe.
Start with a spinach leaf
Lay in matchstick carrot, cucumber, mango
top with sprouts, cilantro and mint (and cashews--not pictured)
Wrap with spinach stalk and.....
Wala! Dinner!
So, I did make some small changes. I forgot that I bought the green onions to tie up the rolls because once I started wrapping them, the stalk so easily went around them...next time.
I also bought the pea sprouts instead of mung bean sprouts because a little Asian dude at the store suggested it to me. They were worth it! Having the rest on salad tonight.
Recipe as follows:
1/2 large carrot
1/2 large cucumber
large mango
1/2C cashews
handful of fresh cilantro
handful of fresh mint
12 large spinach leaves
1 C mung bean sprouts (or other sprouts of your choice)
12-16 long chives or green onion stems, blanched
SAUCE:
1/3 C dark molasses
2 tsp lime juice
1 T maple syrup or agave nectar
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp olive oil
(I also put the leftover chopped cashews on the top of the sauce)
1. Combine all sauce ingredients in a blender and blend until emulsified. salt to taste and set aside.
2. Cut carrot, cuke and mango into matchsticks. chop cilantro, mint and cashews. Lay spinach leaves on flat surface, add all ingredients, roll and tie with blanched chive or green onion. Trim ends to shape (I did NOT do this...) Hold each roll upright and and put about 1tsp of sauce on each. (we just dipped...)
Serve!
So, I have always juiced or made smoothies but I have been juicing every morning for a quite a few months now.
That combined with HOT yoga and I feel the best I have in years.
Most of my juice combos contain carrot which I combine with other veggies and some fruit.
My favorite combo has got to be carrot, apple, ginger, cucumber.
Beet greens and carrot
An interesting look of carrot and spinach
Adding chard
I have found that ginger added to any juice changes the flavor in a positive way.
Kiwi is also a good add in. It adds a nice tropical sweetness.
What's your favorite drink, juice or smoothie combo?
So this weekend held new adventures for the Bartley children.
They had never been to LA before so they were itching to see it!
An opportunity to go presented itself in the form of a celebration of friends.
So, off they went!
There are never a shortage of beaches in CA...and we have to experience them all, My kids are really happiest in the sand next to an endless expanse of water.
They enjoyed swimming in the ocean as usual and walking the beach.
There were some really interesting things to them about this area as
opposed to San Diego area (Our preferred beach)
One of the great times for Leigh was experiencing the street performers. She loves participating if called to or just enjoying the action. We see a lot of them here at home when we are in downtown Tempe.
Also OB, our usual California haunt has loads of them too.
She got to participate in a cool thing called "Jumping"....I know when she first told me, I was like, "Er, jumping for an 8 year old? in LA? nice."
But it was actually a unique form of performance art that begged for audience participation.
She loved it!! Now she wants to organize a local 'jumping' event...
They also got to go to Hollywood while there and check out the stars at Mann's Chinese Theatre and beyond on the Walk of Fame. Kids were amazed that a dog got one!
The wax museum: Leigh wearing her new dog hat, present from one of the guys they were with.
And possibly Leigh's favorite place downtown...The Guinness World Record Museum She loves anything list related and records she is especially proud of.
So, although I missed them, I worked the entire time they were gone so it went quick. Glad they had the opportunity to go check it out!
Kids made some really fun stuff this year for Mother's Day.
I've been experimenting with different scrubs lately and the kids decided to make some for the meemaws.
They read the different concentrations and scents that we had recipes for and decided on a lemon scented one. We still had a couple stray lemons on the tree so we picked those and got started.
Grating the lemon rind for the zest was a favorite for both.
Anytime there's 'tools' of any kind involved...
They put the finished product in mason jars and off to the grandmas they went!
We also did some scented bath salts.
It was my sister in laws first Mother's Day so we also sent some to her and to Rev J from church.
Hope your Mother's Day was good.
