Gardening: Taking the Food Junkie to New Heights

Gardening.  Never thought I'd be one to take up the practice.  I use "practice" instead of "habit" because I could still screw this up.

When I was little, my family had a small vegetable garden in our huge backyard.  It was neat, for me, to see things growing back there. I got excited when it came time to harvest.  I think my parents got bored with it though, because I don't remember having it for very long.  I do remember Mom had said she could kill any plant that was given to her. I, apparently, have that gene as well. Up until about three years ago, I too could kill any plant you gave to me.  

Three years ago, my husband's family lost an elder - his grandfather - and we were given one of the arrangements to take home and cultivate in his memory.  The beautiful container held four different types of houseplants.  I killed one within days.  The second went within two weeks and the other two were hanging on by a thread. I was devastated. I knew that i had a predisposition to killing plants, but I really wanted them to survive.  They were supposed to live on in his memory.  I am happy to report that both have survived (in case you hadn't already guessed).

My husband decided that he wanted to start an herb garden and picked up some sweet basil. I use a lot of basil in my sauces and recently found some interesting recipes with the ingredient so this was an attractive idea.  This beautiful herb has come in beautifully, and I now have two large pots full of basil, ready for harvesting. Perfect timing because I'll be making my next round of spaghetti sauce in a couple of weeks. I'm thinking maybe Margherita Pizza for dinner one night very soon. Nom!

Anyway, add the above success to the survival of two houseplants and inspiration by way of Pinterest, and you get a food junkie that wants to try her hand at gardening.  I know, but hang in there with me.

Two or three months ago, I had seen someone post about gardening in a soda bottle.  I remember the basics of it, but I hadn't bothered to re-pin the idea, because I couldn't imagine ever doing anything like that.

Re-purposing at it's best.

The joke is on me!

ALERT:  Crazy Food Junkie has a new high!  Seed cultivation.

We had a weekend birthday bash for my husband's fortieth last month and saved every seed from every pepper we'd used.  I planted them in the soda bottles and hoped for the best.

Long story made short, it worked! I have red, yellow, and orange bell pepper seedlings. I also have jalapeno seedlings! Neither the green bell peppers nor the yellow chile peppers did well, but I will try those again. 

I transplanted the yellow bell peppers into my newly built raised garden just this morning.  Hopefully they thrive.  If they don't like it in their new home and decide to vacate the premises, I know how to plant more.

Once the husband figured out we were doing pretty good at this gardening thing, he wanted to plant summer squash. Then, a few weeks ago, we picked up some crazy melon that had the skin of a cantaloupe, but the inside looked like a honeydew melon.  It tasted like a mix of both.  I just found out this morning that it's called a Galia melon.  (Got to love Google search!)  

Hopefully this gardening thing works out. It's all on me to keep it going since I am the one at home with these things. I have a lot of reading to do and the Arizona heat to consider. Keep the faith, Food Junkie!

SIDE NOTE:  I was inspired to make garden sticks out of used plastic knives. Another re-purpose idea, but it came from my brain for a change.  Woohoo!

Time to pin it!

The Hootenanny

You're probably thinking, what is a Hootenanny?  Is that a redneck thing?

The latter is what my husband's uncle would ask.  I, on the other hand, had never heard of such a thing.  When it came across as a breakfast food item on Pinterest, I was intrigued.

Admittedly, my husband and I are not big breakfast eaters, but I'm willing to try anything once and it seemed super simple.  I played with the recipe a little. 

Hootenanny

(Oven-Pancake)

Original Ingredients:                                     Food Junkie Ingredients:

1 cup of white flour                                            1 cup all-purpose white flour

1 cup milk                                                          1 cup 2% milk

6 large eggs                                                        4 jumbo eggs

1/4 tsp salt                                                         A handfull of blueberries

1/2 c melted butter

Mix flour, milk and eggs well (if you are using the salt, mix that in also).  Pour batter into a greased 13x9 pan (I used a glass pan).  Pour melted butter over batter (or sprinkle blueberries); do NOT mix.  

Bake in oven preheated to 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Time varies slightly depending on oven size and altitude.

Cut into pieces, drizzle with maple syrup--or a syrup of your choice--and serve!

Their Result

Food Junkie's Result

Conclusion:

Hubby liked it.  He worried me at first, because he said, "Wow, that's interesting."  That's usually a bad thing, but he took another bite.  "That's like French toast, an omelet and pancakes all mixed up."  I asked if that was good or bad, and he said it was a good thing.  I left him alone and knew that I would find out in a few minutes whether or not he actually liked it.

Sure enough, he finished the serving I had given him and then went back for more. Whew!

He and I discussed it and I will pour the butter over the batter next time, but maybe not as much.  We think it would be good to add a 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon to enhance the flavor a little.  For a sweeter taste, I may add a little brown sugar as well.

All in all, I would consider it a success!  Go make yourself a Hootenanny!