Presto Pesto

It's harvesting time!... What to do with all this basil? Of course, Presto Pesto!
I decided this year to freeze some of my Pesto in ice cube trays, to have later in the season. As for the rest, the pesto goes into everything! Yum-Yum

Plum Wine

Inspired by Aiko Keyes! I had the fortune of living very close to her for three wonderful months. She shared many of her great recipes, one being plum wine!

2 pounds of plums
2 cups of sugar
1.5 liters of vodka
wait 6-12 months before drinking!

Beef Lettuce Wraps

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup grated carrots
1/4 cup grated zucchini
2 Tlbs. fresh ginger
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 Tlbs. rice vinegar
1/4 tsp. sesame oil
pinch of crushed red pepper
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
2 Tlbs. chopped fresh mint
10 lettuce leaves
cucumber

1. Cook beef, carrots, zucchini, and ginger in skillet for 6-10minutes (until beef is browned). Drain if needed.

2. Stir in soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper

3. Remove beef mixture from heat and stir in green onions, cilantro, and mint.

4. Fill lettuce with mixture and slices of cucumber and enjoy!

* This recipe was modified from a Weight Watchers New 365 Day Menu Cookbook! It was SO delicious that I had to share it! Plus, 95% of the vegetables used to prepare this meal came from my own garden! This is a first for me, so I had to tell the world!

A NEW DIRECTION

I'm tired of using the excuse, "I don't have time to craft... to blog... to call someone I haven't talked to in a really long time. My priorities have been all out of whack, so I'm here to set them straight!

1) Family
2) Sustainability
3) Create

I think our garden is the place where these three priorities come together. We plant and harvest as a family, the food is used to feed us and our chickens, and we can create new dishes, beers, and wines.

I pay tribute to our garden... as a constant reminder of a new direction!