Recipe
>> Prep to Preserve If you have a decent size garden, you may end up with overabundance regardless of how coordinated you are. Be prepared to dry, freeze or can excess produce, and enjoy the fruit of your labor throughout the winter months. The best source for these preservation processes and recipes is the USDA’s National Center for Home Food Preservation (nchfp.uga. edu). N GARDEN HERB RANCH DIP OR DRESSING (makes 6 ounces) » 1/3 cup Follow Your Heart Vegenaise* or mayonnaise » 1/3 cup sour cream » ½ Tb lemon juice » 1 ½ tsp fresh mix of oregano, thyme, basil, and parsley, finely chopped » 1 medium garlic clove, minced » ½ tsp onion powder » ¼ tsp sea salt » 1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper » 1 Tb milk, buttermilk, or water (optional to thin for dressing) Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Refrig - erate for at least half an hour to let the flavors meld. Serve with salad, as a dip, or spread on a sandwich. *This is not a Follow Your Heart ad, but I prefer the flavor of this egg-free mayo. Give it a try! Scan code for the online recipe.
Garden to table takes a bit of planning but the effort is well worth it.
Consider your go-to meals and snacks. Your tried-and-true recipes. The dishes you make once a week or every month. Make a list of the veggies, fruits and herbs from those recipes and which ones you use more than others. Now, go find those seeds in the catalogs. Typically, they note a vegetable’s compatible growing zone, but your local Master Gardener can also provide you with a list of what grows best in your area. Once you know what you’re able to grow, you can plan out your garden space. >> A Pile of Recipes Once you have a produce list and
garden layout, it’s time to gather your recipes once again and apply a little organization. Perhaps you make a recipe box or start a recipe journal. Either way, I encourage you to organize your recipes – at least the names or descriptions – by veggie instead of meal. Start with core recipes, like five or six. Then add new ones when you find them. Some recipes may have more than one ingredient from your garden. Put those under multiple veggie tabs! Then, when you have an overabundance of summer squash or tomatoes, you already have a variety of recipes to keep your plate interesting.
Scan code to read this article online and see more photos of garden to table ideas.
HOME + GARDEN 2023 37
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease