How to Start an Herb Garden
Just over a year ago on Christmas day, I gave birth to my baby boy. From then until early March, I was pretty much house ridden. Breastfeeding a newborn coupled with a terrible Michigan winter basically relegated me to the house. But between the endless feedings and loads of laundry, I dreamt of spring. The sun would shine again, the baby and I would take walks around the neighborhood, and I would start a vegetable garden in my new yard. But by the time spring arrived, I was headed back to work, and reality kicked in. I didn’t have time for leisurely midday walksor a vegetable garden. Adjusting to being a working mom with a new baby was a new type of job, one that left time for little else.
But with time I got back into the swing of my old habits. I began visiting my favorite open-air market on the weekends as I had pre-baby, only now with a 15 pound, sometimes screaming, little boy strapped to my chest. On one of these visits, I passed a merchant selling potted herbs and small plants for two dollars apiece, and wandered over. With only a little convincing, I decided to buy one of each of the potted herbs, take them home, and create my first herb garden. My plans for a spectacular vegetable garden morphed a bit, just as the rest of my life had.
And to be totally honest, I had no idea how to start an herb garden. I just knew that hey, this guy was selling these plants for a bargain, I have a window box on the side of my garage, and it would be really cool to have my own sustainable source of herbs in lieu of continually buying them from the grocery store. After some heavy Internet browsing, I planted a garden that lasted well into fall, and yielded an unexpected amount of herbs. I’m excited to share my experiences, and maybe convince you to do the same!
Simple 30 Minute Pasta
We’ve added another baby boy to our family. His name is George, and he’s a five-month-old, sixty-pound Bordeaux mastiff. He’s big, he’s playful, and he’s sweet. Also, he’s nearly impossible to control, so we’ve signed up for puppy training classes. The class is once a week at seven in the evening, which is a pretty annoying commitment given the time of day. It’s around the time we typically eat dinner, which is an issue in itself. If boyfriend doesn’t eat around the same time every day, he turns into a diva. Demanding, aggressive, on edge. His hunger really gets the best of him.
So one evening, about an hour before puppy class, I notice the diva emerging. He’s walking around the kitchen restlessly, snapping at the dogs, opening and closing cabinets. My first mind tells me “don’t cook anything, he’ll be fine until after class”. But I see him angrily chewing on a handful of dry cereal, and come to my senses. I roll my eyes, put on a pot of boiling water, chop some veggies, and in about thirty minutes we have a big, steaming bowl of pasta. Twenty minutes later, we’re in the car on the way to puppy class. The diva has disappeared, and my loving boyfriend is back. Further annoyance diverted.
Easy Homemade Chicken Stock
Sometime last year, I became really uncomfortable with canned goods. I’d been in the process of “healthy-fying” the contents of my refrigerator and pantry, replacing my standard eggs with cage free ones, dumping the standard milk for organic, etc. I finally reached the cabinet stacked with cans upon cans of beans, tomato paste, and chicken broth and thought to myself, “Hey self. How can you make this stuff better?”
I’m not neurotic about grass fed beef and organic produce. I’m just interested in feeding my family things that aren’t ridden with unnecessary pesticides and preservatives. Forget convenience. I started making beans in bulk and freezing them, and stopped buying them in cans. I switched to organic tomato sauce and paste. And I started making my own chicken and beef stock.
Glam Powder Room Dreams
Powder rooms are the most neglected rooms in the average home. They’re really lovely conceptually- essentially just little handy bathrooms for guests to use so they don’t need to use your private one, and have a chance to go through your medicine cabinets. But because they’re so small, and rarely used by the people that actually live in the home, they don’t get nearly as much love as they should. I too, am guilty of powder room negligence. But those days are over. I’m on a mission to take my teeny half bath from a boring practicality to a glamorous sanctuary. You’re welcome, random visitors!
Easter Brunch Success- and a few extra tips!
My simple Easter brunch was a delicious success. Family gathered, champagne flowed, and the food was delightful. Below is the menu we used, and a few extra brunch hosting tips that complement my Hosting a Special Occasion Brunch post perfectly!
The Menu:
Belgian Waffles (with berries and lots of homemade whipped cream)
Broccolini, Spinach, and Cherry Tomato Quiche
Homestyle Grits
Breakfast Potatoes
Bacon & Sausage
My mom’s infamous Strawberry Cake
The haute in domestic
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