Get Your Greens

This summer I’ve been much alternating between watermelon and cantaloupe, with the occasional exotic sweet melon thrown in for change. This bucket shows you the rind from the sweetest, ripest, most fragrant honeydew – the first one of the season. Nothing compares to its syrupy sweetness!

What you can see (clockwise left to right):

• Kale stems (just can’t wait for them to cook down)
• Honeydew rind
• Orange peels
• Lemon halves (6)
• Rose leaves
• Organic local apple core
• Vidalia onion skins

What you can’t see:

• Lots more honeydew rind
• Garlic skins
• Banana peels

What I made with all of that:

• Honeydew Orange Banana Smoothie
• Kale Sauteed with Onion & Garlic & Cider Vinegar
• Lemon Caper Chicken

Have a great Labor Day Weekend all!

 

Toss-It Tuesday: Vacation

I’ve been away exploring beaches and climbing mountains in the Pacific Northwest while back in the ATL, fruit has been rotting in my fridge. Guess my house sitter opted for frozen pizzas and bagels instead of the good stuff…

What you can see (clockwise left to right):

• onion skins
• rotting peaches
• a smattering of dried & fresh flower petals from my daughter’s fairy house construction (center)
• Watermelon (cut up for more efficient composting)
• black banana peel
• a wrinkled peach
• a rotting apricot
• teabag (minus string & tag)

Toss-It Tuesday Vacation

What you can’t see:

• half of a moldy cantaloupe
• more watermelon
• paper from two garlic cloves

What I made with that:

In a nod to my coastal adventure, I made a quick Linguine with White Clam Sauce using onion, garlic, canned clams, butter, olive oil and white wine.

 

 

 

 

Toss It Tuesday

True confession: There is ALWAYS something hiding in my refrigerator that is gross.  Not “moldy-leftovers-ready-for-bio-class” gross, but “I-bought-this-with-high-hopes-but-never-had-time-to-prep-it” gross.  Or even, “there’s-too-much-of-this-to-ever-use-up-so-now-it’s-rotting” gross.  Are you with me?  Do you have this stuff too?  Good, because I’m officially dubbing the second day of each week “Toss It Tuesday”.  If we clean out the fridge weekly we can avoid nasty “can-I-catch-a-disease-from-this” surprises.  That, and my trash comes on Tuesday, but whatever.  Here is this week’s toss:

SLIMY GREEN BEANS

Why did they go bad?  Good question; they are actually one of my go-to green sides.  We love them roasted with parmesan or steamed, then pan roasted with garlic.  My best guess is we were too busy.  It takes a LONG time to trim each end, wash, and cook.  Obviously more time than I wanted to spend this week.  Every time I looked at that bag of beans,  I looked away.

 As an aside, I’m actually nominating May as the busiest month of the year; even busier than December.  December might technically be more frantic, but you’re celebrating stuff.  In May, you’re just stressed.

But, back to the bucket.  There is more … (clockwise from top):

• sad, slimy, unappreciated green beans
• kale stems
• rose petals
• baked sweet potato skins

What you can’t see:

• honeydew rind
• banana peel
• eggshells

What I made with all of this … not much:

• Banana, Mango, Blueberry Smoothie
• Soft boiled eggs with toast
• Honeydew chunks for lunchbox & snacking
• Baked Sweet Potatoes with sauteed kale

So, what is gross in your fridge?