Herbs

I don't have a large yard with much room for a garden so I mixed my herbs in with my Salsa Garden Box.  Everything is growing just as it should and I just found out the herbs keep the bugs out of the vegetables.  What a delightful discovery!  Here are some herbs I am growing this year and some recipes to use with each one.  I hope you try at least one!

Lemon Thyme is one of my favorite herbs.  I think it would be perfect as a border in a flower bed.  It's soft, little purple blossoms are so delicate and dainty.  It is easily dried and crushed for sprinkling on any chicken or pork recipe.

I did not know until I researched thyme that it is an antiseptic and is the main active ingredient in mouthwashes and hand sanitizers. 

Originating in Mexico, PINEAPPLE SAGE has soft fuzzy leaves with a beautiful red blossoms.  To dry and harvest this herb you will want to do so before it flowers.  The flavor intensifies as it dries.  You can use these leaves to flavor teas, chicken, pork, cream cheese, jams and jellies.  Lets try some Pineapple Sage Tea-
1/2 cup packed pineapple sage leaves
3 T honey
lemon or lime juice
Pour boiling water over leaves and let soak 20 minutes.  Remove leaves and add honey, lemon or lime.  :)

Variegated Oregano is a low growing mound that has beautiful two toned leaves.  It's flavorful leaves add pleasure to fresh garden salads, fruit dishes, and fresh salsas.  Here is an easy and fast summer side dish recipe- 
Orange Oregano Salad
Canned Mandarin Oranges
black pepper
fresh chopped oregano
Sounds fun and fresh to me!

Cinnamon Basil also known as Mexican Spice Basil can be planted next to tomato plants to discourage bugs from damaging them.  It will also enhance the flavor of tomatoes if planted close by.  You can grow Cinnamon Basil in pots on your patio to repel mosquitos and white flies.  I found an interesting recipe that I have not tried yet.  I hope you will!
CINNAMON INFUSED WHIPPED CREAM
24 cinnamon basil leaves
2 cups heavy cream
cinnamon stick
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Damage leaves in a bowl to bruise them slightly.  Heat cream over med-high heat until it boils. Stir constantly.  Add leaves and cinnamon stick. Turn heat off and let sit for half an hour.  Strain, refrigerate until very cold, then add sugar and vanilla to mixer until whipped cream is formed.  I think this sounds like a fall recipe.  Maybe on top of pumpkin pie or spice cake?

3 LAYERED CAST IRON PLANTER

Yesterday I got bored and decided to re-arrange my outside furniture.  I decided to move this cast iron planter to the front porch where everyone in the neighborhood could enjoy it as much as I do!  

Rainbow

Wow! What a beautiful sight! This sure is a welcomed change of weather.  We haven't had any precipitation for months.  With wild fires burning all around us, this just seems like an answer to our prayers. 

Fresh Garden Salsa!

What a yummy treat I whipped up on this beautiful sunshiny Friday morning!  I love this time of year when you can just walk out to the garden, pick fresh fruits and vegetables, and make something tasty. Here's my recipe:
6 Large tomatoes
1 cup of green chiles - roasted & peeled
1/2 walla walla or red onion
4-5 stems of cilantro
jalapeños or any hot peppers
garlic salt
salt
pepper
Sometimes I will throw this all in the blender and pulse it until it's well blended but still a little chunky.  Today I chopped it up and made it chunky like Pico.  
(Mostly because my baby is scared of the blender.)
Good Luck with your batch of homemade salsa!

I don't have much room for a large garden in my small yard so I planted a "SALSA GARDEN BOX".  

I have enjoyed every minute of every day I have taken care of this little garden.  It's so gratifying to walk out and see such big plants in such a small area.  I am so grateful I found this garden box at my local greenhouse.  Here is a list of plants for a "SALSA GARDEN BOX":

TOMATOES
GREEN CHILES
ONIONS
CILANTRO
JALAPEÑOS

Simple as that!

Geraniums!

 Who knew there are 422 different types of Geraniums? They can be annuals, biennials, and perennials.  They grow from the mountains to the tropics. Geraniums will grow in any soil as long as it is not over watered. They are lovely in beds or pots.  

I have always loved this type of annual.  They add so much color to any space.  Geraniums remind me of my Mom.  Every time we go to the greenhouse she buys one whether she needs it or not. The last time we went they were all over grown and she said, "I can't let them stay here and not have a good home."  I just love her!  That's what keeps me planting them year after year :)