How does your garden grow?

I have a confession to make. I'm not much of a gardener. I'd like to think I am, but I'm not. Maybe it's the fact that every time I walk to my garden, I'm surprised by a snake. I try to be cool about it, one with nature and all, but I get freaky when I see him...

So, I have a modest garden that I can tend to while wearing boots! And since I love to cook and want to grow fresh herbs, I roll with it!

And I'd like to think I look pretty cute while I'm doing so!

My gardens are small but really functional. On the porch are some herbs that I use ALL THE TIME! And the rosemary I planted last May was still usable until the first good snow storm  (not bad for a $4 investment!) This year we have basil, rosemary and parsley up on the porch. The plant at the top is a cuke :)

 
About five years ago I got ambitious and laid out some raised beds (that I wish were higher!) where we grow zinnias for cutting and various herbs for cooking. And that thing in the top of the picture that looks like an old boat IS an old boat that I grow flowers in. I bought it from some guy for $10 who probably thought I was crazy....what can I say? I have a thing for boats! And I'm definitely a little crazy :)

Here's a nice close up of my mint and oregano. If anyone EVER needs mint or oregano, come on over!

Question: Which herbs do you grow for use in the kitchen? Anyone trying anything new this year?

A simple, cheap way to store your spices!

I'm a sucker for an organized spice drawer (I know, I know, the old alphabetized spice drawer joke...), but I'm serious. I cook a lot and need fresh spices in easy reach. Not that there is anything wrong with keeping spices in a spice rack on a counter top, I prefer a more minimal look in my kitchen, so I keep them in a drawer in my island.

Anyone who's on (addicted) to Pinterest will tell you they see lots of cool ideas on the site. I found this idea for painting the tops of baby food jars black and labeling spices. The next day I bought about ten small jars of baby food (because I'm a weirdo, I threw the pureed fruit in my smoothie :) and went to town!

Part of what I like is that the jars are small, so I can make sure there's a lot of turnaround with the spices and they don't sit for over a year.

The original Pinterest picture that got this organizing ball rolling was from the site: frugaldecormom.blogspot.com

Friends: If you need an invite to Pinterest, I can "invite" you!

Sexy Vegetarians!

I got your attention, right?

Every once in a while I like to post these videos I find on youtube that feature vegetarians we all know and love.

So there you go, beautiful people! Welcome to the club!

On a side note, I love how the person who put this together refers to all the actors as "sexy" but Bryan Adams is "popular musician from the 90's" as if that's a million years ago.

What I Ate Wednesday

Welcome back to What I Ate Wednesday, everyone's favorite peak into what I'm up to in the kitchen. Noticing any patterns?  I like my meals quick, well-rounded and filling.

Breakfast was the usual, Rip's Big Bowl with grapes. As for the addition of grapes to cereal, don't knock it until you've tried it! I love red grapes, but they need to be really fresh and snappy. These did the trick!
I also tossed in some banana for good measure.

Lunch was typical me: an assortment of leftovers in the fridge!

Simple plain chopped kale/romaine salad, lentil sweet potato stew and wheatberry salad. All filling and really full of flavor.


Tied me over until smoothie hour:

I realize the smoothie looks a little odd, but it rocked. Frozen banana, about 5 ice cubes, 1/4 cup almond milk (unsweetened) and a whole bunch of fresh spinach, blended into a thick frappe. Topped with crushed walnuts and raisins. I'm a sucker for anything with walnuts and raisins!

Dinner was a peanuty-Asian noodle dish.

I started with some brown rice pasta (my new favorite!)

Some of the ingredients I typically use to make Asian sauce:

Add some fresh and some frozen vegetables

And the finished meal was just right on a cold (!?!?) June night!

The Whole Foods Wellness Club

I wish so badly I lived closer to the Dedham, MA Whole Foods, where they have a beautiful wellness club/education center smack in the middle of the store.

Many of us have been to the store in Dedham, but have any of you attended a class or a film screening? A store tour?

Origins Review and a GIVEAWAY!

I love Origins products and have been waiting until late Spring to write this review because I find this sort of product really refreshing after being out in the heat all day. Modern Friction is a wonderful exfoliating facial wash that helps get your face feeling extra smooth and clean. I've given it as gifts because it's the sort of product that everyone loves (including men!) and doesn't necessarily buy. I use this once a week and need so little, the 4.2 oz. size will last a very long time.

So when I recently bought myself something from Origins and they added a tiny sample of Modern Friction, I thought it would be fun to announce the first ever Veganmama giveaway! I swear my giveaways will be bigger in the future, but for now, who wants to try it?

Giveaway time!

Please add a comment telling me one of the recipes I've posted that you've tried and love! You have until 10PM on Friday June 8th to be entered in the contest. And everyone who "likes" veganmama on Facebook gets a bonus entry.

Have fun! And in the meantime, I'll have to come up with a really cool giveaway for the month of July.

Veganmama On The Road, Cooking Class

*This class will fill up very quickly, so don't delay if you're interested in attending!*

I recently attended a cooking class hosted by Whole Foods and held at the Congregational Church of Mansfield.  The class is part of a fundraiser that will raise funds to bring Brigham and Women's to Mansfield to conduct a women's health fair. The health fair will be amazing and held in the late summer. I will be part of the fair and will be giving away all sorts of healthy food samples. So by supporting the cooking class, you're also supporting veganmama! :)

In the meantime, lets talk about WEDNESDAY JUNE 6th. I (and my favorite people at Whole Foods) will be hosting a class from 6:30-8:30. For just $25 (a bargain!) you'll help me cook up some of my favorite plant strong Mexican food (summertime, baby!) and then we'll eat as one big happy family. How can you resist?

Here are some of the pictures I took of one of the other classes held:

We gathered around the table, beautifully set by my amazing friend Laurie.

Whole Foods' giveaways are always super cool. I won't tell you what was inside, you'll have to come to the class ;)

Simple but beautiful fresh flowers for each guest.

Loved the presentation here. I wouldn't have ever thought to line a bowl with big lettuce leaves. It was great looking!

We really did cook our own dinner, each person having a small job.

A basket of great ingredients.

Write to me at partridgeathome@yahoo.com right away to check if there are still spots left for the class I'm teaching Wed. June 6th. I'd love to have some blog fans in the house!! :)