hump day nuggets: bits of the season in photos and words, about the last week
We’re home after many weeks away. My garden plot and laundry piles competing for attention. The garden wins.
The baskets make excellent forts anyway.
Garden Nuggets.
:: Largely neglected and loyally productive for the month of August, the garden is currently a labyrinth of edibles and weeds. I harvested 15 pounds of tomatillos from our four plants that are currently laying flat on the ground from the weight of approximately 157 pounds of fruit that outfoxed my staking system. I made the tomatillo salsa from Food in Jars.
:: Mama, we made a deal. Ruby will pick all the tomatoes and then I will eat them!
:: The golden plums are sweet as honey, weighing each burdened branch down to within reach. I barely add any sugar to my preserves (4 pounds plums, 1.5 C sugar) and the result is tart and fresh.
:: Mama, when you were a little kid did you love bugs SO much?
:: Why are these carrots so puny? Is it specific to the varietal? The other row of carrots (different variety) are huge. Hmm.
:: I love making dinner always but this time of year is my very favorite. I am not a prep-and-planner. I am a grab-and-maker. With temperatures dipping into the 40s, the Soup Siren is singing her song and we can’t resist the temptation. To read about our everyday soup method: Heirloom Kitchen 01: Make Soup.
:: We have been making more and more Indian food in our home. The layered scents and hearty, healthy ingredients use up garden plenty well. This soup came together in about 30 minutes and, while I made enough for leftovers, was entirely consumed. Mostly by the two children who have each grown two inches since May.
:: Tomato Lentil Soup
I should have measured the spices here but, alas. One could certainly use canned tomatoes or off-season tomatoes but much of the earthy sweet flavor comes from garden fresh maters. Made even sweeter by the earnest chopping of a six year old.
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
a bit o butter
1 1/2 cups red lentils
4 cups water
5 cups tomatoes, chopped
bay leaf
garam masala (I usually just add individual spices – coriander, cumin, cinnamon, clove, pepper, bay leaf – but you can purchase or make the blend like this recipe here)
plain yogurt
cilantro, chopped
Super easy: Melt butter. Add onion and garlic and cook until fragrant. Add spices (start with a few teaspoons; add more later if you want) and cook for one minute. Add tomatoes and lentils and stir to combine. Add water and bay leaf. Reduce heat and cook for about 15 minutes. Taste frequently so the lentils don’t become mush. Top with yogurt and cilantro. Eat and feel the warmth full your belly.
:: Mama, when you were a little kid did you ever lay in your sleeping bag in your tent and feel your heart beating in your whole entire body?
:: We’re having a shop sale right now! DIG + CO. Save 20% on everything with code BONBON. Through 9/8/16. I’m thrilled to share some new things with you, come October. xo
DIG + CO. from Nici Holt Cline on Vimeo.
School started. I turned the heat on this morning (don’t tell Andy). The beans, parsnips, carrots, beets, cabbage, kale, squash wait for my hands to find the time before the first frost which feels imminent and makes me sweaty at the thought of it but I know better. September and October always have some sneaky warm days up their sleeves.
16 Comments
Weck jars! Yes!!!
it’s been quite a while since i’ve visited your blog and i can’t get over how mature your daughters look! you have a beautiful life – mahalo nui loa, for sharing it with your readers.
I have been waiting for Hump Day Nuggets for a really long time! So glad to read your words, get a new soup recipe and glimpse your garden. And, 20% in your shop? Win-win-win-win. XO
I have been waiting for Hump Day Nuggets for a really long time! So glad to read your words, get a new soup recipe and glimpse your garden. And, 20% in your shop? Win-win-win-win. XO
Hump Day Nuggets has always been a favorite of mine. Haven’t found much time for blog reading lately, but had to come over from Facebook when I saw this post. Please bring it back weekly!
Your garden is over the top! I see a bit of work there….
It was so wonderful spending time with you all…love your home AND YOU!
xoxo
Juicy color; juicy family; juicy life!
Your garden is lovely, and seriously impressive– especially for Montana! Whereabouts in MT are you? I’m outside of Bozeman and toil/struggle for a harvest! Mega props 🙂
Missoula! 🙂
I love and have missed Nuggets. Glad to see them back! I can’t imagine turning on the heat in September – here in ATL we’re still sweating through our tank tops!
Always a pleasure to get a glimpse into your wonderful life!
Love these nuggets..my daughters are now 5 and 6, splitting out time between Iceland and Australia. Found your blog when the younger was born and barely slept for a year 😉 Yours is one of only 3 i read and I love the inspiration and yummy-ness reading it gives to me..thank you!
Awe thanks so much! I always appreciate learning who is out there reading. Iceland and Australia! Sounds dreamy.
What do you do to get such big tomatillos? Or what variety do you use? I’m having major tomatillo envy!
Gosh I don’t know! They do really well in my plot and I don’t feel like I can take credit for that! They like a lot of sun and not much fuss.
Man, I wish so much I could pull off a garden like that- so impressive, and I would imagine, so much work! You seem to love it, which might be my problem too. 😉
Also, your pictures of our little valley are just beautiful. We are lucky to live here!