Oh…my mouth is watering just looking at these. I can even see some of the blossoms filled with an herb and marscapone and goat cheese mixture, and deep fried. mmmm….
And hopefully….by the middle of the summer…my “After” pics will look something like this…
My gardener is coming this week to add a 6×12 raised garden bed in the back yard. (I wanted TWO 6×12 beds, but hubby said to start slow) Me? Start slow? :- /
I have been watching the back yard for the past three days to figure out the sun’s pattern so I know the best place to put the bed.
The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. ~George Bernard Shaw
I want to share one of my favorite tomato recipes with you.
It’s a Tomato Mint Salad. I found this version on Better Homes and Garden. My version calls for julienne red and yellow pepper strips and a few teaspoons of champagne vinegar, but this one sounds just as yummy.
Ingredients:
2 lbs. assorted tomatoes: heirlooms, cherry, roma, etc.
1 cup shredded mint leaves
2 Tbs olive oil
2 Tbs red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced fine
1 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp fresh cracked pepper
8 oz. marinated feta cheese (plain works, too)
In a small bowl, combine tomatoes and mint. Toss to mix well. Set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper. Pour over tomato and mint.
Top with undrained marinated feta cheese, and sprinkle with a bit more salt and pepper.
Oh yea…I almost forgot. Since this is a Before and After themed event, I could not leave without showing you my “After” pic….
Wow! My garden looks like…..well…..”a good thing!”
Please make sure you stop by Susan’s blog at Between Naps on the Porch to see all Met Monday participants. Susan is revealing her Master Bedroom today – we are all very excited!
May You Be Able to Also Get Your Hands Dirty…Barb
Chari says
Hi Barb…
Ohhhh yea…tomatoes! There’s just nothing better than garden fresh tomatoes, I remember picking them right off of the vine in my Dad’s garden and taking a big ol’ juicy bite right there! Sweet memories!!!
Well my friend, I wish you the best in your gardening endeavours! You look perfectly at home right there in the middle of your garden with a basket of home-grown goodies!!! Hehe!
Have a super Sunday!
View CommentChari
PS…hope that Mr. Grits is doing better and better…still praying for ya’ll!
Kathysue says
Hi Barb, I think if we had all the worker bees that Martha has we might be able to pull off one of those gardens. My mom always plants tomatoes,she eats them like apples. I have been wanting to plant a pot of lettuce’s for salads have you ever done that? I could use your exertise. I always love the humor in your post. You look so much better than Martha,Now that is a GOOD thing,hehe, Kathysue
View CommentSusan says
Have the gardener build 2 raised beds. You will fill both of them very quickly! You won’t regret it!
View CommentDiane @ Four Paws and Co says
Hi Barb, This is wonderful! The recipe looks so yummy & I loved your movie! I can hardly wait for more! ♥ Diane
View CommentGlenda/MidSouth says
All that fresh produce looks so good. Keep us posted on how your garden grows.:) Hoping Mr. Grits is still recovering.
View CommentGlenda
Linda says
Barb, you are so funny. Love the pic with your head on Martha’s body! Too cute! I used to always have a garden and if you plant yellow squash or zucchini (sp?), just stand back or the vine will grow on you. You’ll have enough for the neighborhood! Hope Mr. Grits is improving daily. Linda
View CommentRobin says
Ohhhhhh, I can’t wait to see your “after’!! Hubby decided to get adventurous this year and plant a garden also. We have already “started” our seeds (indoors), and are getting ready to plant them outdoors in the next few weeks!
I HOPE we actually have some food by summer!
I hope Mr. Grits is doing well at home!!
{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}
Robin :o)
View CommentShelia says
Hi Barb! First I must say, you and your garden look mahvelous dahling! 🙂
View CommentWe love those tomatoes too! I think it would have been fun to live on a farm. When your tomatoes ripen you’ll have to give all one!
be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
KBeau says
Love the after picture. Best of luck on your garden.
I have a good friend here who was raised on a tobacco farm in North Carolina also. She is from Caswell County (I think that’s the way you spell it). Anyway, she has just completed building a cabin on the part of the farm that she inherited. It was built from logs salvaged from tobacco barns.
View Commentxinex says
Those tomatoes look so good and juicy. I can’t wait to see your vegatable garden. We have 2 raised veg. gardens ourselves and I just started planting lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants, spinach, all kinds of peppers and tomatoes. I hope they don’t freeze. I just could not wait anymore.Pretty picture!..Christine
View Commentmarty39 says
Oh Barb, what a kick! I love your movie, and I’m sure your garden will look just like that. I am with you, I love all the wonderful veggies that DH grows. Nothing like walking outside and picking what you want. I can’t wait to see how your garden turns out. Hugs, Marty
View CommentMomovthree says
LOL I love your “after” photo! So cute. Home grown veggies just can’t be beat! Have fun.
View Comment~Michelle
Melissa Miller says
Hi Barb,
What a wonderful idea for a MM post!
What a great life it sounds like you had on the farm.
It was so interesting to read about.
I have never tried to grow veggies but your tomatoes are going to be awesome I’m sure of it.
LOVE the cute pic you added of “you”. LOL!
Thank you so much for your kindness. I need it right now and I know you understand. I will email you soon and tell you more privately.
I sure hope Mr Grits is doing well with his recovery.
View Comment~Melissa 🙂
kate says
Barb,
View CommentYou are so funny, that was great, my daughter in chicago can talk about nothing else than planning her garden now, best of luck to you all!!
kate
Jeanette says
Barb, it is so good to have you back. We can always count on you to be funny and give us a yummy recipe. Please give us some tips on growing a few vegetables in containers on the patio. That’s much more my speed than a 6 x 12 bed which doesn’t sound like starting off small to me. Good luck with your garden this year. I know it will be fabulous.
View CommentChrissy says
Love this post…eat your heart out Martha!!
View Commentellen b says
Oh that was fun to see you at the end standing there as proud as Martha! I hope your garden grows lovely for you and with your experience and genes it should…
View CommentKnitty says
You look so much nicer than Martha. 🙂
View Commentsantamaker says
i share your dream. i would love to have a veggie garden, but if we have water restrictions again this summer, I’m out of luck…i guess i’ll be hanging out at the produce dept at Publix ! This was a great post!
View CommentSuzanne says
Barb: I wasn’t reading and just scrolling down and had to laugh at your “head” in the garden. I had to show Joerg. (It reminds me of dancing elves – jib-jab thing i did of you and me for Christmas. I still have your “head” saved in my photos here somewhere.) 🙂
thanks for posting. so glad you’re back.
View Comment~suzie
Cynthia says
You have a gardener? Lucky You. I love the pics and I can’t wait to see pics of your garden. I grew up on a farm too, the oldest of 8 and my Mom always had a humongous garden just to feed us all. I would like to try one this summer if I can figure out how to keep the deer away. You look so cute as Martha. Cindy
View CommentSusan (Between Naps on the Porch) says
Barb…love your after! LOL You want TWO raised beds…and next year, you’ll want four…trust me on this. Stuff spreads! I wish I had sun in my backyard for a veggie garden!
View Commentlaurie @ bargain hunting says
Barb, you’re lookin’ good in front of your vegetable garden! So cute! I love anything with fresh tomatoes, and your recipe sounds wonderful. laurie
View CommentChandy says
The after is more YOU! LOL! I hope your garden becomes as wonderful as you want it to be! Happy Met Monday!
View CommentCathy says
Barb,
View CommentCute post, this is my first visit to your site. I discovered “Everyday Decor” when I lived overseas a few years ago. I thought it was charming, and it gave me a touch of the USA when I was so far from home. You have a lovely touch! Cathy
Gollum says
Hello Dear Barb,
View CommentI know about those mean hens–I would have never guessed they were that way (and mean to each other). My husband can “charm” them; I don’t know how, but he never gets pecked.
Love your recipe.
Hope Mr. Grits is on the mend.
Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda says
Barb “Stewart”, you have a marvelous garden there! And that’s good thing! 🙂
Hope Mr. Grits is recuperating and mending well! ~Rhonda 🙂
View CommentOur really empty nest says
Barb, I loved this post. In Indiana it is not quite time to start planting, but it is time to start planning. We have 2 raised beds, I say go for it! I enjoy my garden so much. I grew up in a family that didnt know a garden from a well…hole in the ground, but since moving to the country, I have gotten the bug. I love seed catalogs, etc… Just too much fun, and it wont be long now!!
View Comment