Wordless Wednesday--Do you know what this is?

This is the first harvest of swiss chard from our garden (althought it's been ready to pick for weeks now).  I just don't get out to the garden as often as I should.  But these greens are easy to grow, and easy to cook.  Just wash, dry, chop roughly (including the stems), and steam with a little bit of water in a big, covered skillet or pot.  When the stems are tender (but not mushy), it's done.  Season with salt and pepper, and serve in shallow bowls with a drizzle of apple cider vinegar. 

Swiss chard is also a very nutritious green...high in vitamins A, C, and K, and iron.  David planted some for us to eat this winter because it's especially good for me right now.  My iron count is a tad low this pregnancy, so eating swiss chard should be beneficial for me, and the baby. ;-)

So here's what we ate for dinner last night, Oven Baked Catfish, and Braised Swiss Chard.  I admit, out of all the kids, only Rebecca will eat the swiss chard, but that's fine...more for David and I. ;-)

I hope to post again very soon, I miss blogging and sharing recipes with y'all!  I just haven't had the energy to post recipes, although I am still cooking nearly every night for the fam.

I guess this was not such a wordless post after all, but I hope you get yourself some swiss chard and get cookin.'  Your momma would be proud of you for eating your greens!

Wordless Wednesday-- Homemade Wheat Bread

Wordless Wednesday: 4 Kinds of Tomatoes

Don't ask me why, but David decided to grow 4 different varieties of tomatoes this year.   One is a slicer/beefsteak tomato.  I've only picked one so far, but can't wait to try it. 

The littlest ones are cherries.  This particular type doesn't get deep red, so they are picked when they are red-orange. 

The last one is a type of grape tomato.  They are like minature roma tomatoes and very sweet.  Rebecca has been eating them right off the vine. 

 Lasty, there are the romas.  We've had a steady crop of 'em for the past 2 weeks.  I roasted a whole bunch last night in the oven, and tossed them with sauteed bacon and leeks, and a pound of penne pasta.  It tasted like summer...YUM!

The green beans, cilantro, and lettuce are done for the season, but the swiss chard, zucchini, cucumbers, and of course the tomatoes, are going strong. 

Tell me how your garden is growning, and God bless your table tonight!

A Taste of Blackberries

Wordless Wednesday: The Chicken and the Egg

I was watching Good Eats on Food Network the other night.  My hubby actually watches the show...he likes the science behind all of Alton's recipes.  Anyway, the topic of discussion was Chicken and Dumplings.  I was intrigued enough to try and making some for dinner, with "dropped," dumplings instead of the "slick," noodle-like dumplings.  Alton had nothing in his broth except the meat and the dumplings.  I added some fresh thyme (because I like thyme with chicken), plus leeks, carrots, and celery per David's suggestion ("That's how my mother made them."). 

What can I say? Where has this dish been all my life?  Simple comfort food...and the hubby liked it too.  Excuse me while I go sneak another bite out of the pot!

As for the egg--I love the smoked paprika I get from Penzey's.  Whenever I make deviled eggs, I always sprinkle a little regular paprika on top for a pretty garnish.  I figured smoked paprika would be good, if not better.  Just for the heck of it, I googled, "smoky deviled eggs, " and this recipe popped up.  So of course I made 'em. ;-)

Let me tell you...these were easy, and they were GOOD.  I took them to our playgroup today...we had a potluck and Easter egg hunt for the kids.  I made a dozen, (24 halves), and they were gone in an instant...I was barely able to save the last one for David to sample tonight when he gets home from work (and he liked them as well). 

I guess this is not a "wordless" post after all, but I probably won't post anything for Friday as it is a day of fast and abstinance for us.  Christina is hoping for grilled cheese...which is starting to sound good.  I'll try and get up a post for Easter; mostly things I have made before, but one new dessert recipe will be up for show.  It's from the Pioneer Woman...so you know it's going to be good!

God bless your table tonight!

Wordless Wednesday

Okay...with as few words as possible, here's what we had for dinner tonight (with homemade mashed potatoes of course. ;-)

The Pioneer Woman's Chicken Fried Steak

And yes, it was good.  I mean really, really good.  But I can't give you the recipe... and it's not on her website.  Just go buy her cookbook and make it yourself.  Your husband will kiss you for it!