I'd like to say that I garden for many reasons, environmental sustainability, to reduce my carbon footprint, to improve my community, but to be honest, I do it because the food I grow tastes better. I'm not saying the other stuff doesn't happen, and if it does, I am glad, but really, the food tastes better. Not just a little bit better, or I wouldn't put in the work, but really a ton better. I think that in a blind taste test of store produce versus garden produce, it would be hard to even identify some items as the same type of food.
Having said that, I am now going to encourage you all to grow something this spring/summer/fall. Yes, I know some of you live in apartments, so did I the first couple years I gardened. I made a dirt box and started with herbs, lettuce, and a few items that didn't work out (onions that I really willed to grow, but didn't have the space, and some peas that grew, but a few sprouts don't yield enough to really count). In an apartment, you can buy some dirt and some containers (or use old ice cream or yogurt containers) and do herbs easily. It will make a huge difference to the taste of your food, and you can freeze herbs so that they work for you into the winter. I start from seeds (cheaper), but if you really feel that you have no growing abilities, just buy small plants and let them get larger. Here is a link with a list of greenhouses around Northern Alberta. Chives, dill, thyme and basil have been the easiest for me, and parsley grows well once it has a chance to start. Another thing that is very easy, even with limited space, is greens. You could literally take a bunch of empty large yogurt containers, throw some lettuce and spinach seeds in with some dirt, and have fresh greens through the summer. For singles, this is especially good given that heads of lettuce and bunches of spinach are generally too big to go through before they get wilty.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to get a plot of land in a community garden. We do have them in Edmonton; here is a site that will list them by area of the city (including one in St. Albert).
If you have a yard, maybe you can think a little bigger. The first thing I would encourage you to do is consider getting a rain barrel ("be green")! We have had some serious downpours this past summer, and having a rain barrel holds a bit of the water that would otherwise be flooding your streets, and then when dry spells come on, you have a nice store of water. Just make sure that the barrel is in a place where if it overflows a bit, the water flows away from your house. If you live in Edmonton, check out this link, and if you are in St. Albert, try this one.
If you are very intimidated about starting, and you want to be really serious about it, you may want to get in touch with the Urban Farmer a guy that is really serious about organic gardening in Edmonton.
I would say that if you have some space, feel free to experiment. Think about your favorite fruits and veggies, and look on the internet to see if and how you can grow them here (or email, and if I have tips to help I will share). As above, herbs and greens are easy to start with. Carrots are pretty simple, as are zucchini plants (but they get HUGE). This year I will be doing cherry tomatoes and peppers in upside down baskets. I know this sounds crazy, and I will take pictures, but I did it last year, and my yields were a lot higher. Asparagus is a big commitment, because you won't get real yields until three years down the road, which I am finally at!
So, with all that being said, here is my big plan this year (and you will see photos as the year goes on). I am lucky in that my in-laws have an acreage, so a few of the items will be grown out there due to space constraints.
My Garden this year:
- potatoes (various colors) - Acreage
- carrots (colors)
- onion
- zucchini
- squash
- spinach
- asparagus
- beans - Acreage
- peas - Acreage
In baskets:
- tomatoes
- peppers
Pots:
- chives
- parsley
- dill
- thyme
- rosemary
- oregano
Window Box:
- strawberries
Wild:
- raspberries (along my chain link fence)
- blueberries (a couple of random scraggly bushes in my front yard)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Gardening: Because Tomorrow is May!!!
I'd like to say that I garden for many reasons, environmental sustainability, to reduce my carbon footprint, to improve my community, but to be honest, I do it because the food I grow tastes better. I'm not saying the other stuff doesn't happen, and if it does, I am glad, but really, the food tastes better. Not just a little bit better, or I wouldn't put in the work, but really a ton better. I think that in a blind taste test of store produce versus garden produce, it would be hard to even identify some items as the same type of food.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Earl's Grilled Chicken and Baked Brie on Ciabatta
This is one of those topics that some might be embarassed to post on their food blogs: guilty pleasures. I have many, but as I slowly move from the land of the non-eating into the land of cravings, this topic has begun to take up a lot more of my brain space. Now, I don't generally advocate hitting up chain restaurant establishments, but it is an inevitable part of most people's culinary lives. For example, both Earl's and Joey's are frequent stops for most Edmonton diners. A good while back the Western Canada Chowhound board had a good thread about what is worth eating at each of these establishments. It seems that I am not alone in my love (yes LOVE) of the grilled chicken breast, melted brie, roasted apples and spinach with sweet fig jam and garlic mayonnaise on toasted ciabatta (I have a fav. at Joey's too, but that will wait for another day). The gooey brie! The Sweet roasted apple and fig jam! The savory garlic mayonnaise! Together this sandwich combines to create a symphony in my mouth. I kid you not, it is one of my favorite foods ever. Give it a try the next time you find yourself at Earl's for yet another round of after work drinks or dinner with friends.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Col. Mustard's for Lunch
On a quick belated note, yesterday was our six month blogiversary! I know compared to most, that is not very long, but for me it has just flown by. I just wanted to give a shout out to all of our fellow food bloggers that we have got to know over that time. I have to say the sense of community gained through blogging has probably been my favorite part of the experience to date.
So, I am back to eating, but still easing into cooking. Especially when it comes to stuff like meat, having it prepared and brought to me makes things a lot easier. Although it was pre-pregnancy nausea when I went to Colonel Mustard's for this particular lunch, it is a lunch spot that I really enjoy going to, and I didn't want to just not review it.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Perfect Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Those of you that follow our blog regularly may have noticed that my posting has been sporadic as of late, and often not even food focused. There is good reason for this: I am pregnant! Yay! Well, yay until I learn that I am one of those poor poor women that experiences terrible nausea through out the first trimester. I considered not sharing this, but as I am now on my way into what I hear is the blissful second trimester, I am feeling a bit desperate for empathy. I don't just want sympathy for the fact that food and beverages of all types tasted like metal to me, I want real understanding from people who love food and have been through a time when the greatest, simplest joy in life is taken away from you for months at a time. I feel like only other food bloggers will understand that I was driven to tears many times in sheer self pity over the fact that eating, my life passion, became a daily occurrence that was equivalent in joy to taking large disgusting tasting pills. Sob! It was the WORST! Okay, pity party over. I now have 10 pounds to make up ASAP for the sake of this baby, so bring on the carbs!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Egg & Toast Salad
I really did not feel like cooking dinner last night, but I also didn't feel like having plain eggs & toast... which is about all I had in the house that was quick. I decided to make this boring weekday dinner into a salad - all the while thinking it was going to be horrible. It happened to be a great variation, and a good way to make dinner a little more seasonal.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Grapefruit Yogurt Cake
Low fat and moist - how can it be? This was my first attempt to make a cake recipe, and was surprisingly successful. It was borne out of a desire to get rid of some 0% fat yogurt, and clearly the only way I'd be eating that is if it was inside a cake of some sort. I'd also just read The Duo Dishes' post on their Triple Citrus Cake. That, combined with the sunny spring weather over the weekend, put me in a citrus mood - and this turned out to be a tasty treat for Easter lunch.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tofu & Wakame Miso Soup
Miso soup, I feel your loving... If you're confused, check this out. But I really do love miso soup, although I don't love paying the crazy prices they charge for it at Japanese restaurants. Once you start making it at home, you realize how cheap and easy it is to make - and there are endless variations on it.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Hot Off the Presses!
Take it and Like it was fortunate to be mentioned in the April issue of Avenue magazine. Exciting! Those of you in Edmonton can grab a copy around the city where available, otherwise you can check it out online here.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Poached Beet Salad
I have been thinking about this salad for months now, since I tried a version of it in late January at Muse in Calgary. With the warmer weather here (hopefully to stay!), I am finally starting to crave salads rather than hearty winter fare. This salad kind of bridges the gap between the two; the beets give it a warm earthiness and the slight bitterness in the arugula somehow manages to keep it feeling light.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Pump up your mcmuffin
For weekday breakfast number three, I decided that eggs are not actually too much work for a weekday if you are just doing a quick fry up. Plus, while it is still cool out, I wanted to include a warm breakfast option because to me it seems really luxurious to get up in the morning and get to have a hot breakfast before work. I am lucky my office isn't in one of those that has a little cafe in the bottom that offers a breakfast special or I would be all over the eggs, bacon, sausage and hash browns every day (which is probably a bit excessive, especially in the breakfast meats category).
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Weekday Breakfast #2
It goes without saying that winter in Canada isn't exactly the greatest for local fresh fruit, and that is challenging when it comes to trying to pack lots of food groups into breakfast. Today I thought that I would throw together something simple and tasty that covered at least three food groups not involving any fruit.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Feel Good About Weekday Breakfast!
Weekday breakfasts can be tricky. It is difficult to come up with meals that take less than 5 minutes to make, but are still tasty and healthy. This weekend I did some thinking about what kind of breakfasts I could have this week to shake things up. None of these involve reinventing the wheel, just making sure that simple items are done up to taste good and look good so that your morning meal is a pick me up instead of bogging you down. Each of these contains food items from a minimum of three food groups too.
