We have our first harvest:
Clockwise from the top: Cilantro, sweet basil, 2 zucchinis, 2 Ichiban eggplants, cucumber, Royal Purple Bush beans, lemon basil, and sweet basil (my own grown from seed). In the middle: purple bell pepper, purple basil, and cinammon basil.
Think VPH is making himself some pesto? Actually much of the basil went into the compost bin, but he will be making some pesto. Have I mentioned that more than a touch of garlic makes me really ill? Like chained to the toliet ill (not to be indelicate). So pesto isn't on my list of favorite foods. But for the sweet basil I grew myself from seed (not like that's really difficult, but I am proud) -- the first harvest couldn't land in the compost.
The cucumber in the leftovers container was getting lost in the basil:
Much better:
While we were out harvesting I spotted this bee buzzing around the eggplant blossoms:
And then he came in for a landing. Pollination is fun!
Faced with the bounty of the garden VPH came up with a dinner menu. He hollowed out zucchini cups and filled them with chopped up zucchini, red pepper, a touch of garlic, green onions, a jalapeno pepper, and cilantro to make Mexicali stuffed zucchini. Here they are all ready for the oven:
After 20 minutes at 350 degrees he pulled them out, topped them with shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and threw them back in the oven for 2 minutes. We had some leftover potato salad (mustard and oil dressing, not mayo) so VPH boiled up the beans and tossed them into the salad. He also put together a cucumber raita by combining plain yogurt with finely chopped cucumber, cilantro, and a little salt. A vegetarian meal fit for this princess:
It was delicious, but I have to admit I was craving a protein. I decided that salmon would go really nicely with the cucumber raita in particular. And it was so nice to have a real meal from our own garden for the first time this season. Now what will we do with those eggplants and the purple bell pepper?
UPDATE: We grabbed a bunch of ripe Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes off the plant and one Husky cherry tomato. While both were fantastic -- hurray for tomatoes from my own garden! -- I vastly preferred the Husky cherry tomato.
VPH is spoiling you! That looks yummy! I am waiting for green beans but have been picking yellow and green squash and cucumbers. Swiss chard needs cutting and I did pick a couple small tomatoes but the rest show no signs of color! They do love the heat but it is very dry! What's for dinner tomorrow?
Posted by: Layanee | July 17, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Heather - everything looks delish and I'm very jealous. Can I borrow some bees?
Posted by: gina | July 17, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Layanee -- VPH always spoils me. In this increasing heat and humidity it's tough to get motivated for much of a meal. We're supposed to get into the 90s here this weekend and we hardly ever do that on the shoreline.
Gina -- I've already resorted to hand pollinating a little already this year. If I'm going to get my fill of zucchini before these plants die I can't just let mother nature take her course unaided. If the cucumbers don't start producing a lot more fruit they may get the same treatment.
Posted by: Heather's Garden | July 18, 2008 at 10:36 AM
I am DROOLING! The tableful of harvest got me started, but then seeing those zucchini cups really kicked my salivation into high gear. YUM!
Posted by: Kim | July 18, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Kim -- I would send you the recipe, but VPH kind of made it up as he went. They were really yummy (and spicy), but the carnivore in me was not satisified with them as the main dish for supper. Lunch yes, side yes, but not main dish for supper.
Posted by: Heather's Garden | July 18, 2008 at 06:54 PM
Those zuke cups look so tasty! That's an awesome harvest...congrats on all those amazing veggies and herbs!
Posted by: Genie | July 21, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Genie -- What a compliment coming from you since every post you write about food makes me salivate!
Posted by: Heather's Garden | July 21, 2008 at 09:50 PM