Fresh Herb and Butter Croutons- Website Recipe Update

There are certain things a salad needs to make my husband and kids want to eat it. 🙂 Of course there’s ranch dressing- but it seems to them (especially my son and husband) a salad wouldn’t really be a salad without the croutons! So- with all of the fresh lettuce, cilantro, radishes, spinach, basil, and sage growing in my garden to make nightly salads with- I had to come up with some way to keep croutons available at the house without having to buy them every week. Here’s a simple recipe for those of you who have fresh herbs from gorgeous garden growth like I do and some few day old bread (homemade, storebought, whatever your fancy or whatever you have available).

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1/8 tsp finely chopped fresh sage leaves
• 1/8 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1/4 tsp finely chopped fresh basil leaves
• 2 medium slices of few day old bread (cut into small squares)
• 1 tablespoon of dried minced onions
• 1 tablespoon of garlic salt

Other Possible Additions for Different Flavors:

• Cilantro
• Minced Garlic
• Shredded Parmesan cheese
• Oregano

Directions:

1. Melt butter in microwave in a microwave safe bowl until only liquid. Add minced onions and stir together.

2. Mix together finely chopped sage, thyme, and basil with the garlic salt in another bowl.

3. Dip pieces of bread one at a time into the butter then roll in herb and salt mixture. Place onto a small aluminum foil covered pan to fit into a toaster oven.

4. Once all pieces of bread are coated and placed on pan- top with any other “additions” you have come up with (garlic, cheese, etc).

5. Toast in toaster oven at 420 degrees for about 3 minutes or until browned (not burned).

6. Munch on a couple for a taste test then top your salad! 🙂

 

 

Frogs, Flowers, Fresh Food, and Dirty Fingernails- Loving My Garden Time

There really is such a peaceful serenity when one is involved in the gardening process. The sounds, sights, tastes, and feelings you experience all amount to such a wonder- that one can be curious as to why someone wouldn’t want to have their own garden. The photo of the small frog above is an enhancer to my point of the peaceful sounds in a garden.  As the evening creeps in after a long day of succumbing to the calling of a day job, of a husband, of children, and of farm animals- it is nice to sit in the area of growing produce and just listen to the near silence of frogs croaking. Doing the early evening gardening chores and listening to the simple sounds of nature is actually quite the break from hearing customers on the phone, hearing my husband say “Hey babe, can you…”, hearing my children bicker and argue, and hearing the goats and pig bray or grunt for attention. The silent sounds in a garden are a positive shelter for the ears.

Having some experience in gardening times past, I know that patience is well rewarded when blooms begin to burst. This was my first year planting some bulbed flowers in the spring however, and I was very unsure of the turnout. As these Gladiolas got taller though, my anxiousness got settled. Soon some lovely wedding like white flowers began to poke through the long stems and my joy was so overflowing that I’ve been bringing these lovely petals up in coversation everywhere. Whats even nicer, is that not all of my floral plants bloom at once so I get to keep experiencing the joy of each one opening up to the birds and bees of the world around. Another simple joy from gardening: the wonderful visual blooms of God’s great aesthetic design on plants.

And while you’re at it- why not grow food that is both pleasing to the eye and to the pallet!?! There’s nothing like the taste of your own lettuces, spinach leaves, radishes, onions, and herbs all diced up together into a salad. I know they don’t just taste better because their so fresh and organically grown – it’s also because you put your time, love, and energy into making sure they turned out the best they could. Even the children and husband eat a few greens when grown by ourselves. Gardening makes for a great money saver at the grocery store as well! Thinking back- I spent maybe $1.00 on the packet of lettuce seeds- and how many salads can I make out of it? Enough for a daily dishes through the summer and some to share with neighbors too! Another garden pleasantry- food for the stomach and the soul!

I’ll have to admit- having little scratches from thorns or getting dirty fingernails can be frustrating- but weeding through, thinning, and replanting items in the garden area can be so therapeutic. Such a “mindless” activity in a sense that it leaves room in the brain to consider other feelings of the day. The ‘work’ in a garden allows for one to just take a breather- a combination of being alone and working physically with one’s hands helps to remind ones self that some of the little things bothering the heart and traveling through the body are so miniscule in the scheme of life. Although I love the help of my family while we build a garden together- sometimes I enjoy the “me time” that comes from it too.

As you can see, I love my garden time. Do you? What frustrations do you have? What are your positive wonders? I’d love for you to share!