It's been a busy Tuesday. Trying to catch up on housework, laundry, getting ready for a garage sale...garden work, baking bread (didn't get it done on Monday this week, had to wait until today). I wanted to share some of the beautiful produce from my garden...we picked this for a garden salad for dinner tonight. It was too pretty not to photograph :)
head lettuce (this is the first year I've grown this...it is Ithaca Head Lettuce, and it looks and tastes exactly like a head of lettuce you buy at the grocery store), romaine lettuce, rainbow baby greens and mesclun mix...onion, tomatoes, cucumbers and cilantro. I used this to make a yummy dinner salad just like my grandma Russell always made (I remember her always using these exact ingredients from her garden to make a salad). And to top it off, Homemade Ranch Dressing. I am not much of a ranch dressing sortof gal, in fact, I think I would rather eat dirt than eat the Hidden Valley Ranch in a bottle (BLECH!). But homemade Ranch...now this is some GOOD STUFF!
Homemade R anch Dressing (Sherelle Christensen)
-1 c. mayonnaise
-1/2 c. sour cream
-1/4-1/2 c. buttermilk
-1/2 tsp. dried chives (fresh during summer)
-1/2 tsp. dried parsley (fresh during summer)
-1/2 tsp. dried dill weed (fresh during summer)
-1/2 tsp. garlic powder (if you don't LOVE garlic, you might want to use a little less)
-1/2 tsp. onion powder
-1/8 tsp. seasoning salt
-1/8 tsp. pepper
(if you love cilantro as much as I do, chop up about 1 Tbs. and add to the mixture)
Combine all ingredients in a large mason jar and shake well. Refrigerate.
And...if you just don't feel like making your own homemade ranch dressing, I would suggest Uncle Dan's Ranch dressing mix. You mix it yourself with milk and mayo, and it is by far the best ranch mix I have ever had!
This ranch is also super yummy to dip pizza and sandwiches in! We like to make panini sandwiches in the panini grill (with homemade honey wheat bread) and then dip them in this ranch. It is sooooo good! Ranch dressing is also the perfect way to get your kids to eat salads and veggies!
Since I'm on the subject of garden produce...namely tomatoes, I thought I would take a bit to mention something about tomatoes. The other night I was busily trimming my tomato plants (they were so out of control, it took me three hours), and I thought about all of my blogging friends who have emailed me and told me they are growing their first garden this year. I thought that I would share a little about tomato trimming. Did you know that when it comes to tomato plants, the goal isn't to get them as big and bushy as possible? I learned this the hard way. When I first started growing tomatoes, I though that I was very impressive because I had the largest tomato plants in the valley. Sadly, when fall came, I had giant healthy plants with millions of small tomatoes, and by the first frost of fall, only a handful of ripe tomatoes. It was basically a waste of my time, because I hardly got any tomatoes! I have learned over the past couple of years, that the poor plants just keep producing and producing, and putting all of their effort into growing big, beautiful useless leaves. I now trim my plants several times throughout the summer. This allows them to get more air and sun to the inner parts of the plant, and it also allows the plant to work harder on nourishing tomatoes instead of tons of growth. It will also help with problems like mold, yellowing leaves etc. I usually trim off most of the leaves from the bottom portion of the plant, and then I thin out the rest of the plant, cutting off those big bushy leafy stems that have nothing else on them (i.e. no blossoms, new growth etc.). There are quite a few online articles that will help you learn where to trim them. Anyways, I just thought I would share this tip with some of my fellow gardeners...
The plants on the left have been trimmed, and the ones on the right haven't...
Experience is the child of thought , and thought is the child of action. We cannot learn men from books.
Posted by: air jordans | July 15, 2010 at 02:01 AM
Nice tomato plants! What do you use for pest control? I'm looking for a way to keep aphids out of my organic tomato garden and found Safer Brand's Tomato and Vegetable Insect Killer so far. Have you heard of it? It’s certified organic and safe to use up to the day of harvest.
Posted by: Jerry | April 21, 2010 at 01:10 PM
Just got around to reading this whole thing - THANK YOU for the tomato hints - I have BIG, BEAUTIFUL plants - with very few blooms - I'll be trimming them all down shortly!
THANKS!!!!
Posted by: Robyn Longhurst | July 21, 2009 at 10:13 PM
You are totally Martha Stewart, but much prettier! =) Good job on the pics. I bet you and your sistas have a great time together. Hope all is well! Heidi ho
Posted by: Heidi Myers | July 19, 2009 at 08:48 PM
Hi Sherelle,
I just wanted to comment and say how much I love your blog and the wonderful recipes and info you provide. I love the pictures you share of your beautiful family and the great advice. Thanks for sharing the wonderful ranch dressing recipe.
I just adore the new look of your blog so fresh and inviting.
Posted by: fran heupel | July 16, 2009 at 07:20 PM
mmmmm....okay all your pictures make me hungry! And we will definitely have to try that ranch recipe, I am not a fan of that tangy Hidden Valley crap, I only eat Chiz's Ranch :) Every year Levi says he's going to plant a garden, I wish he would just freakin' get on it! Cilantro, mmmm, fresh salsa! Now only if we could grow an avocado tree, I would be in heaven!
Posted by: alicia.king | July 16, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Thanks so much for sharing your recipes and your photos.....they are all so awesome!
Your vanilla cinnamon rolls have become a staple in our house over the last few months as the kids just love them!
Am hoping our tomato plants do well this year as we have an awesome salsa recipe that we just got last summer....in fact, all of the six kids love it and I am 'hording' the last five jars we canned last fall until we get to make some more!
Have a great week and thanks so much for sharing on your blog!
Julie
Posted by: Julie Trout | July 15, 2009 at 09:01 PM
you are so lucky to have such a wonderful garden. we live in a suburb and grow tomatoes in pots on our deck. lol. but we have about 25 plants! my dh loves to make salsa with them. can I ask if there is a reason for the tires around the plants? maybe to keep critters away? I will have to trim ours back a little more. thanks for the tip.
Posted by: tammy | July 15, 2009 at 06:23 PM
OH, I can't wait to plant a garden of my own! We've always lived in apartments or small spaces! Next summer though, I'll be needing these tomatoe tips! Thanks for the ranch dressing recipe! Uncle Dan's is a staple at our house!
Posted by: Holly | July 15, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Look how CUTE your blog looks, Sherelle! Love it! Your garden is to die for, as always! Jealous! ;) Hope you're doing good!
Posted by: Shelly B. | July 15, 2009 at 12:22 PM
I love your blog topper.
I've never made homemade Ranch so I'm going to try it tonight. Oh how I love having a garden! I think mine is slower than yours, but starting to produce some yummy things!
Posted by: lori jolley | July 15, 2009 at 10:21 AM
oh soooooo jealous! I think you should do more of the garden tips, because i am so envious of your garden and have not idea where to start or what to do.
Love the pics....so beautiful
Brittany in heber
Posted by: Brittany | July 15, 2009 at 08:28 AM
Thanks for the ranch recipe - I'm still searching for that "great" Ranch dressing and will try yours! And thanks for the tip about the tomatoes - the pictures really helped. I have two out of control tomato plants and will trim them soon.
Posted by: Sharla | July 15, 2009 at 07:49 AM
Your blog makes me covet! First the asparagus, now the veggies! This year was my first "real" garden and the deer are just ruining it! They are sure enjoying all my veggies. Do you have any suggestions for them? (other than a fence) Thanks for the recipe and the tomato tip!
Posted by: Sarah | July 15, 2009 at 04:01 AM
that produce looks so beautiful and tasty! congrats!
Posted by: claudia | July 15, 2009 at 03:02 AM
This is the first time I see that (to trim the tomatoes), here in Belgium we let grow one plant at a time (one per 2 feet) and when it grows we just cut the leaves they are down, and "pinch" the tomatoe. It means when you have a lot of flowers, you only keep the half of them so the baby tomatoes can become as big as possible.
Excuse my bad English :))
Posted by: Valerie | July 15, 2009 at 12:30 AM
Gorgeous produce!!! I think homemade ranch or Uncle Dan's are THE BEST by far!!
Posted by: Sarah | July 14, 2009 at 11:05 PM
I am so excited to try this recipe. Like I said in my earlier post I made your banana bread recipe then I passed it on to my sister and she also loved it, I told her I got it off your blog and shared her blog with her so she can also become a fan!!!! You always have the best things to share with your readers. Thanks so much for being such a fun part of my day.--Karen
Posted by: Karen | July 14, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Thanks for the tomato tips. I was so surprised to see that you have tomatoes already and now I guess I know why. Why do you have the tires around the plants though? Is that to keep the moisture in?
Posted by: Jill Scott | July 14, 2009 at 09:33 PM
Your garden is so lush and beautiful. Also, I loved you mentioned Uncle Dan's dressing. When I read that you would rather eat dirt than Hidden Valley, I laughed and thought she should try Uncle Dans. I will be trying your ranch recipe, that sounds yummy. Thanks!
Posted by: Gina | July 14, 2009 at 09:18 PM
PS: why do you plant them in the middle of tires?
Posted by: Ann K | July 14, 2009 at 09:01 PM
Mmmm can't wait to try the recipe. My brother gave me the same advice about the tomato plants. He told me I had WAY to many leaves. (who knew?) Now if I could figure a way to beat my dog to the ripe tomatoes... That nose of his finds them every time.
Posted by: Ann K | July 14, 2009 at 09:00 PM
I always love visiting your blog, Sherelle. So much beauty, inspiration, and good food tips. Plus I love when you share recipes.
Blessings,
Linda
Posted by: Linda Albrecht | July 14, 2009 at 08:45 PM