Thursday, July 15, 2010

First Harvest



It was a beautiful evening last night as we picked from our vegetable garden for the first time. It's been really quite wonderful to watch the garden grow and then to feast on its delectable wonders.


I made fresh pesto with the first basil clippings - go here for the recipe.


We also picked that first fresh tomato from the vine. She was warm from the sun and tasted as sweet as summer.

58 comments :

  1. There is nothing better than that first warm tomato fresh from you very own garden.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree; there's nothing better than a warm tomato right off the vine...I guess even if you have to share! I wish I had more land to grow veggies.

    ReplyDelete
  3. mmmmm sounds delicious! I agree with Sherri B., eating the first tomato from the vine is something special and wonderful!

    XO,
    Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  4. Our pesto recipe is similar, except we use pine nuts - yum! We get all you can eat basil from our CSA. It must be my favorite herb, but I have to admit, Big Man and I are getting a little sick of pesto...any other innovative ideas for basil?

    ReplyDelete
  5. We have been using the tomatoes, peppers and herbs out of our small garden this year. We mostly have herbs, but planted a few veggies this year. I hope to have a larger vegetable garden next year. Enjoy! There is nothing like fresh produce out of your very own garden.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Building House and Home,
    I thought of that when I realized how many basil plants we planted! I'll make extra batches of pesto and freeze them for winter so we don't get burned out.
    You could use the basil leaves tossed in a pasta dish or on pizza or serve with brushetta. That's all I can think of, perhaps others will have more ideas.
    ; ) Trina

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi There!
    I stumbled across your blog a few weeks ago, and I have been meaning to leave a comment. I just love your house and what you and your hubby have done with it! Congrats on having twins! Do you know what gender they are? Anyways I just wanted to tell you that I check this blog everyday to see if there is a new post, your blog really inspires me and really brightens my day. Thank you for posting so regularly.
    Thanks again, and much love.
    -Addison

    ReplyDelete
  8. hi trina,

    nothing says summer quite like vine-ripened tomatoes and sweet basil.

    wishing you a fantastic day!

    ~janet

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello,

    Salad Caprese (mozarella, basil and tomato with olive oil drizzled over) is one of my favorite things in summer. I also make a penne pasta dish with grape tomatoes, zucchini, feta and basil. Yum, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ho wonderful. There is something so peaceful about growing, harvesting and cooking from your own garden. Pesto sounds wonderful. I must not forget to plant some next spring.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Well my cherry pitter arrived (remember our bit of back and forward about it last week?) but so did summer. Grrrr won't be turning on my oven on in this 99 degree heat. Guess I'll just have to pit away and pop them in the freezer for now. Or go pick some basil and make some pesto.... :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Trina--

    Hello! I just LOOOVE fresh herbs from the garden, too. I made some scrambled eggs yesterday and added tomato pesto and fresh basil from my garden. Talk about delish!

    I'm going to have to make that pesto pizza recipe on your older post. I love Italian food and I've never tried using pesto for sauce. Cool idea!

    Have a wonderful day...hope you are feeling rested and well. How far along are you now?

    -Gail

    ReplyDelete
  13. Isn't it the most exciting thing to do! I love nothing better than wandering around with a basket looking for delicious things to pick - makes all the hard work worthwhile. Leigh

    ReplyDelete
  14. Tomatoes and basil, two of my most favorite things to eat. Once your tomatoes become more prolific, here is one of my favorite recipes http://nineandsixteen.blogspot.com/2010/06/scalloped-tomatoes.html. (PS. I ate tons during both my pregnancies and I think each of my children could eat them everyday!):)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I just adore your blog and didn't realize until I scanned some previous posts that you are a fellow Northwest Girl! Your home renovation is inspirational and as someone who dealt with the pain of infertility, I felt an instant kinship! Thank you for your beautiful posts which feel like a moment of calm in the midst of my crazy days! Vanessa at
    http://southerninmyheart.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. There is nothing like that first warm tomato from the garden! And when more tomatoes are
    ripe a caprese salad. During the really hot days of summer a cool caprese salad is perfect. Your twins will be thanking you for all the yummy garden delights!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Trina - I stumbled on your blog recently and have LOVED looking through your posts! Congratulations on your pregnancy!
    Lindsey

    ReplyDelete
  18. oh there is nothing better!! fresh basil and tomoato in summer straight from the garden has to be one of the greatest pleasures in life!! Especially if there is a nice crispo white in the fridge as well : )

    but not so much for you right now i guess trina! :)

    jxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  19. Congratulations on your first harvest! There's nothing like harvesting your own vegetables and making something delicious with them...it's a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. I've never had pesto and my basil is ready and I have tomatoes out of the garden so I think I'll try yours...thanks for the inspiration! :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. just beautiful! i will have to try your pesto recipe. absolutely NOTHING compares to eating fresh garden veggies. they taste sweeter and jucier and are well worth the work. i hope you enjoy many this season:).

    xoxo,
    blair

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations you two (and Lucy of course, I know she helped)! The minute I saw that basil I thought of your pesto!
    Barefoot Contessa (first book) has a fabulous & super simple Corn Salad recipe that uses fresh basil...it's so good & always a hit. I love using fresh basil to top my Sole Meuniere...just chiffonade or chop it last minute and sprinkle it on top (that's how it's used in the corn salad too). Actually, just last night I topped a salmon fillet with pesto and baked it at 375* for about 25 minutes, easy peasy...just remembered that!

    Your cute tomato must have just been a thrill to eat...and I'm sure "she" was so happy to find out that it was *you* who was going to be eating her! ;)

    I think I see a farmers market in your future....xxoo J~

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yummy! Pesto is a favorite summer treat of mine! Carla

    ReplyDelete
  23. It is so much fun indeed! I need to try your pesto recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Came across you blog via the Lisa Porter Collection - fabulous blog you have, here and the photos are gorgeous! Your entry on infertility also struck a chord with me. I went through something similar a few years ago, but now I'm the proud mama of a 5-year-old and 3-year-old. Good luck with your renovation and congrats on the arrival of your twins!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hrvest = LOVE from the garden! Beautiful images. Yummy!
    I have a wonderful pesto recipe posted at StoneGable. I make it and freeze it in ice cube trays and pop it into an air tight container and have garden love all winter!
    Yummy visit!
    Yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  26. Mmmmm....I can almost
    taste these : )
    Can you say pizza margherita
    on the grill???
    Delicious!
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    xx Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  27. i love planting things and then picking them up, i also planted tomatoes in my yard and what fun and pride it was to pick home grown vegetable and cook it. wow

    ReplyDelete
  28. What perfect images of summer. While are tomatoes are plentiful, they are still green. Hurry, hurry.

    Enjoy your weekend.

    -Rene

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sounds so wonderful!Have a sweet day!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love your blog absolutely beautiful. I long for a great garden. It's impossible to keep ours alive in the extreme heat in Oklahoma.
    Thanks for all the great entries.

    Valerie
    www.thecutecouponer.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Good for you guys!

    We have just begun to "reap" from what we have sewn also. I have starting getting okra, a couple of tomatoes, a bell pepper, a few jalepenos, squash and zuchinni. Can't wait for a whole lot more to come in so I can start canning.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Ooh.....I love fresh herbs and veggies!! It's so rewarding when you've actually grown them yourself:)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Yum! that tomatoe looks like heaven.

    ReplyDelete
  34. There is NOTHING like the smell of fresh basil when you touch it! I swear if there was a perfume called basil I would wear it. I made pesto with some of my basil and dried the rest in my over sat at 200 for about an hour. Also, I found out that when your basil starts blooming to cut it back to about 4 inches, yes the whole plant, 4 inches. I did that about a week ago and my plant is already about 12" tall! I only did it to one of my basil plants because I was afraid but now am getting ready to chop them all off! Hope this helps with your basil.
    xoxo
    Diane

    ReplyDelete
  35. The smell of the basil - must be so overwhelming when you brush against it.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Lucky you! So far I've only been able to pick peas and carrots. I do have some purple bush beans that are almost ready to pick.... I'm a long way off from getting any tomatoes though.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Salads always taste better when they come from your garden. This is my first visit to your blog so I had to spend some time browsing through your earlier posts to catch up. You are creating a lovely home. I'll be back often to see your progress. I hope the day treats you well.Blessings...Mary

    ReplyDelete
  38. Such a refreshing post! We'd love to try that pesto- yum!

    Eddie & Jaithan

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love fresh herbs and basil is one of my favourite!!!
    Hugs, Yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wonderful. Fresh picked and homegrown make the best combination!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Congratulations! That first harvest is always the best :D
    thecitygirlsgarden.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I just found your blog, and you have such a beautiful home! It's truly full of design inspiration. So lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Karen @ Garden, Home and Party said...
    Yummy! I love fresh basil and home grown tomatoes. They are the essence of summer. Your basil looks perfect, mine sometimes is shared with a bug that eats some of it. :( Does that ever happen to you? Then what?

    ReplyDelete
  44. I just read your entry on being pregnant with twins. It brought tears to my eyes. I have twins and they are such a blessing. I wish my singleton was a twin. I am so excited for you!!!! God is so good!

    ReplyDelete
  45. looks exactly lile what's going on at this old farmhouse ...
    gotta love it ... the toe-maters' come faster than we can eat them.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Looks SO yummy... there is just nothing like fresh from the garden in the summer.

    I just discovered your blog today, and I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you and your husband about your little babies headed your way! Congratulations on such a long awaited blessing. xo Heather

    ReplyDelete
  47. What a beautiful bunch of basil and that tomato- divine!

    ReplyDelete
  48. How lovely Trina!! Yummy summer images :-) I am hosting a CSN Giveaway so do stop by, and if you can please spread the word. Thanks a ton Anu

    ReplyDelete
  49. What a great blog! I can almost smell that basil from here!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hi Trina,

    I found your blog many months ago and immediately saved it to my favorites. I was in the lookout for pics of porches and stumbled across one on google - it happened to be yours. I have popped in every now and then since, thinking that, some day, I will sit down and read your lovely blog from the very beginning. I like to know how "it all began" sort of.

    Today I finally sat down, (call me crazy if you will;)) but I have read every blogpost you´ve ever made!! What a great reading :)

    ...and I am in love! Your house and home are so beautiful and stylish renovated. You have made an amazing job! I just love everything about it. Oh and the location.. wow, what a sight!

    Then I read about your struggle getting pregnant and was so thrilled with the announcement you then made - it brought tears to my eyes. Congratulations! Although I don´t personally know you, I am so happy for you!

    Many hugs and wishes,
    Sanna

    ReplyDelete
  51. I think a sun warmed tomato off the vine might be one of my very favorite things! Mmmm!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Just picked the first heritage tomatoes. Yum.
    Haven't read you for a while (summer sports etc). Re the babies: Best wishes!! Thank goodness for science. Long story short...my daughter had cancer/operation/ivf/surrogate was best friend/boys born 12/26. Now 8 and the loves of our lives. Be prepared till they're 2 (it takes 1.5 adults per kid), after that twins are much better than singletons at self entertainment. Time flies so enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I am screaming with envy. I have planred basil and tomatoes and my green thumb is dead.
    Lucky you.. yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  54. Fresh garden produce are the BEST! Neat blog, check out our blog at thechickenkeepers.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  55. I love summer vegetables! Lovely garden :)

    ReplyDelete
  56. Trina, I just wanted to let you know that I made the Pesto Pizza and my husband and I were both SOOO delighted! My husband said, "we have to make this a weekly thing...it is sooo good!" We're enjoying the left-overs this week and I'll definitely be making it several more times this summer as my basil plants allow. ;0) Thank you!!!
    I want to try your asparagus pizza now...YUM!

    -Gail

    ReplyDelete
  57. Hi Trina! hoy encontré tu blog, me encantó tu huerta, la frescura que se ven de esos frutos, a mí me encanta la albahaca, y tengo otras aromáticas que perfuman mi cocina y mis comidas. Te invito a pasar por mi blog, te espero... en www.angelesypalomas.blogspot.com, chau, besos

    ReplyDelete
  58. I love your blog-it's so inspirational!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for leaving your thoughts. Kind regards, Catherine

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...