I Made Cheese!, Part Two: And It's Healthy!

Using the organic grass-fed milk available through Retail Relay (and in some stores here in Cville), I've made a fair bit of microwave cheese since my first post on the subject a few weeks ago. I've found it's great in enchiladas, lasagna, and on bread instead of butter, but an old friend of mine just posted some interesting info that has nothing to do with taste.

Pasta Valente: Vegetable Pasta

This was my second dinner based around Pasta Valente's all-natural tri-colored vegetable pasta (I would have reported on the first, had I not forgotten to take pictures). The first, over a week ago, was a play on pasta primavera with zucchini and carrots; this time: goat cheese-stuffed meatballs and organic marinara.

The Dos and D'ohs! of Gardening, Part Two: Forget Band-Aids, I Need Beer

So, with my dad's help, I finally got around to moving my garden to the other side of my backyard. About an hour into digging the 36 square-foot plot, he summed up our efforts pretty effectively: "You know, they used to make prisoners do this kinda stuff."

Dad's Strawberries

Here's just another example of home-grown produce proving itself superior to its commercially-available cousins: My dad dropped by late last week with a bowl full of just-picked strawberries from his front yard. They were grown without chemical sprays and pesticides; just sun, water, and the dirt on which I played as a kid...and they were frickin' good. 

If you'd like to learn more about strawberries, including how to grow them and the benefits of eating organic and/or home-grown berries, click on the links provided.

Oh, and thanks Dad. They were awesome.

Wade's Mill: Herb Beer Bread

As quick breads go, Wade's Mill's herb beer bread is far from the worst I've ever had, but unfortunately it's not anywhere close to the best. I will say, however, that it was probably the easiest to assemble. Besides the one pound bag I bought through Retail Relay, this mix required exactly one other ingredient: a bottle of beer.

The Dos and D'ohs! of Gardening, Part One: %#@$!

So I finally built my summer vegetable garden. A raised bed in my backyard using posts from my old fence, compost I've been making since the fall, and some organic soil from Lowe's. Thirty-six square feet of sweat, blisters, and potential.

It's just a shame I didn't consider the big trees all around it.