Healthy Recipes

So your organic vegetable gardens are thriving, and you have a bountiful harvest…. now what? It's time to start working all that healthy fresh food into your daily cuisine. There's a lot you can do with a single raised bed of mixed fruit and vegetables, and it's not all about salads either. I'm going to share with you some of my famous recipes that I guarantee the entire family is going to love! From smoothies to roast chicken, iced tea to asian stir fry, there's something here for everybody. Growing fresh produce at home is a great way to save money on your weekly grocery bill, and you might just find what you grow on your own is fresher and tastier than what you find at the store. And with these restaurant-quality meals waiting right in your backyard, you'll be eating like royalty for a fraction of the price. Every one of these episodes is based on natural fresh ingredients I grew right here in my garden, and if I can do it, so can you! Bon Apetite!

How to Make a Healthy Smoothie with Pawpaws

First you’re asking what are Pawpaws? Believe it or not they are the largest fruit native to North America! They are a delicious fruit very common among Native Americans. The only reason you don’t see them in your local supermarket is that they don’t have a long shelf life making them unable to transport them. The disappointing thing about that is that Pawpaws are absolutely delicious and should be at the top of everyone’s grocery list!  Pawpaws are most abundant in September and they are mostly found in the wild. They are actually berries and you will see them in yellow, green or brown as you see here.  When pawpaws are brown it means that they are the ripest and most delicious!

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How to Make Stir Fry Beef

My Asian Greens are ready for harvest and tonight my family will have one of my favorite stir fry meals. It’s amazingly simple and tasty.

Watch.

My beef strips have been marinating overnight in Asian BBQ marinade which is easy to find in your grocery store.

In my wok, I have oil, chopped garlic and shallots and am sauteing them. Once the garlic and shallots start to brown, it’s time to add the meat. Because the slices of beef are thin, it’s important that the meat doesn’t cook for too long. In fact, you must be careful not to overcook. Once the meat is cooked, you simply add the chopped up Thai Cabbage, Bok Choy and scallions into the wok.  Stir them together so that the oil saturates the greens, wilting them, slightly.
Voila. Dinner is served.

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How to Make an Omelet

My Omelet d' Frommage is a quick and easy cheese omelet. I am sure you already know how to make an omelet, but what I am going to show you is how to make a spectacular omelet with garden fresh ingredients. Dazzle your next breakfast crowd.

I am using my ceramic Flameware skillet on the stove., While most clay pots cannot be used on stoves, my flameware skillet is made out of pottery clay that is then fired at a high temperature allowing it to be stove ready.

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How to Roast and Stuff a Chicken

This is as traditional a dinner as it can get, but your family will adore it. I am making baked chickens with two Rock Cornish hens that I raised myself. The key to this recipe is to make it with fresh ingredients. I am working with a very traditional stuffing of bread crumbs, sautéed onions and celery and a host of other fresh herbs from the garden. Although it is a simple mixture, the freshness is what will make the flavor burst in your mouth.

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How to Make Maple Syrup

Today I am visiting with Uncle Ted who has been making syrup all of his life, because his father did when he was growing up. Some traditions are hard to break.

When I arrive, Uncle Ted already has a maple tree tapped and the sap is already dripping slowly into the bucket. He says this tree has been tapped for about a week and it is still dripping sap. Uncle Ted lets me put in another spout and lets me use the crank to get the tap securely into the tree.

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How to make Gazpacho Soup fresh from the Garden

My tomatoes are ripe and it’s the perfect time for soup! But not just any old soup, Garden fresh Gazpacho…And, it’s cold.

Let’s take a trip through my garden and get all of the ingredients you need for this simply divine recipe.

The first thing I see is Arugula one of my favorite greens. Actually, Arugula is an herb, it’s a wild plant that grows well and gives your salads a unique look and an interesting flavorful taste. It will go perfectly with your Gazpacho.

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Tips for making stuffed Grape Leaves, Dolmades

Dolmades:  is an Arabic term meaning "something stuffed." Dolma (stuffed vegetables) became "Dolmades" in Greece.  Dolmades can be stuffed with a number of things to suit individual tastes. They are sort of like the Greek version of Burritos.

Cultivating grapes takes time…a long time; three to four years, in fact! But once you make the investment to grow grapes, the rewards are endless. Their leaves are an added bonus that Greeks have known about for centuries. My neighbors’ Greek grandparents come to visit every year and they always get their grape leaves from my farm to make Dolmades.

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Wasabi Vinaigrette Salad

I'm treating myself to lunch today. First, I'm starting by hand picking my fresh lettuce straight out of the garden. Wait until you see how much money you are saving by making this restaurant-style lunch right at home.

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How to Make Stuffed Squash Flowers

Did you know that in addition to the fabulous vegetables that squash, zucchini and cucumbers plants bear, they also bring flowers? And, the flowers are completely edible! I am in my French Kitchen Garden Raised Bed and I am admiring how plentiful my squash are this season. Because I don't believe in wasting anything, I am going to show you a recipe that utilizes these tasty squash flowers. Come inside and be prepared for a delicious snack or an elegant appetizer.

Squash flowers are a rare treat because the squash flower ony lasts one day.  They must be picked at dawn and placed in a bowl of cold water in the the refrigerator and use the same day.

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Fall is a Perfect time for an Asian Garden

Cold hearty lettuces and vegetables will extend your growing season and bring exotic Asian flavors to your dinner table:

Try these this Fall:

  • Four Season Lettuce (Merveille Des Quatre Saisons)
  • Romaine
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How to Make Thai Cabbage Salad

I have most of the makings of this awesome salad right here in my Asian Greens raised bed. To make this salad, I will harvest Thai Cabbage which is not your typical cabbage. Thai Cabbage does not grow as a "head," it is actually individual thick leaves that have a thick core in the middle that is easily removed. Watch how I do it.

For the salad, I will use about three leaves of cabbage, Thai basil and cilantro. 

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How to Make a Sage Martini With Apple

Herbs are good for more than just cooking. You can also use fresh herbs to flavor some delicious homemade cocktails. In this video, Iʼm going to share with you my recipe for a sage martini with apple.

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How to Make vodka Thyme Lemonade

Another way to put a garden-fresh twist on a classic cocktail recipe is by making thyme lemonade. This unique and refreshing drink is easy to make, and an instant hit.

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