simple spaghetti with kale, lemon, and garlic | pinterest test

January is the month of new beginnings and resolutions, but it is also the month the seed catalogs arrive with mammoth force. Seed catalogs make me long for Spring and make it very difficult for me to stay in the moment. I have lists upon lists laying about planning our garden, spring cleaning, and the kids' birthdays. I have paint chips on the front door. I'm constantly looking into the future in January. It's time for me to take a deep breath. Whew.
This recipe I made several times last Spring. It is one of those few Pinterest recipes that comes out spectacular the first time. It's a great one for the days when it seems the greens won't stop coming or even when you forgot a bunch in the fridge. It's also great when you long for Spring, as I am now. My husband loved it as a side to a grilled steak. It is, however, a wonderful main dish. Adjust the quantities of the ingredients based on how many eaters you have and your taste.
...
Simple Spaghetti with Kale, Lemon and Garlic
Adapted from Jess Thomson
Spaghetti
Kale
Olive Oil
Garlic, sliced thin
Salt
Pepper
Parmesan
Juice from fresh lemon
Prepare spaghetti. When it is almost done, saute kale in olive oil until almost crisp. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Drain pasta and add kale. Season with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and parmesan. Serve immediately and dream of Spring.

the essentials

earlier this week i taught a cooking class to the pathway program ladies of the heart ministry center.  thankfully, i had help from friend and fellow volunteer, julie, as well as, hendrix.  the class went well and we were able to provide a crockpot to the ladies who didn't have one.  generous donors donated enough for all the women.  a crockpot may not seem like an essential kitchen item to some, but to a new mom it certainly can be.  or to a mom trying to get back on her feet without a spouse.  one of the women came up to me and said how much she wished she had the ten crockpot recipes when she had her baby a year ago.  she was alone, with a newborn, and stressed out.  she lost a ton of weight and couldn't find time to cook herself a proper meal.  another item that we brought were some chef knives.  this was exciting for some of the women since most of them do not have a proper kitchen knife to prep meals.  i remember when i first started cooking and i was chopping onions with a steak knife.  not  particularly safe or efficient.  and let's face it, when you are just getting started in the kitchen, every little slip up can seem like a monumental failure.
the clients of the heart ministry center are all lacking in some sort of life essential.  some worse than others.  a few days after the cooking class, i read this story on the heart ministry center's facebook page:

“When two young men came into the HMC on a very cold afternoon, they cautiously approached Dana and I at the front desk. You could see how scared and cold they were. We welcomed them and provided a hot cup of cocoa, and soon they shared their story. These young men were stranded in Omaha, having traveled here from Las Vegas on a job promise that fell through. Now, they were isolated in a city with no family, friends or funds. An HMC volunteer met these young men at another non-profit, and steered them in our direction.

Their names are Stephan and Alexander, brothers, 18 and 19 years young. We immediately noticed how lost and afraid they seemed, and how they were unable to stop shivering. They told us of having to stay in the streets during the day with clothing not nearly warm enough to fend off the cold. Our attempts to find other agencies to help get them home were unsuccessful, so we took their information, gave them our home phone numbers, and asked them to please come back the following day. When they returned the next morning, they looked somehow different. We could actually see a glimmer of hope in their eyes, and a smile on their faces – because they knew someone was ready and willing to help them.

The HMC Executive Director, John Levy, approached me and told me the Center would be happy to help Stephan and Alexander. When I told the boys we were going to put them on a bus home, they immediately cried tears. Mother Nature intervened before they could depart, however, postponing their bus ride for a day due to inclement weather. In the interim, we put together enough food to last them the duration of their trip. I rummaged through my purse to find what little cash I could find to help them while another member of the HMC staff, Keith, transported Stephan and Alexander to and from the bus terminal so they did not have to walk another day in the cold in an unfamiliar city.

The brothers thanked us profusely before they left and late last week I got a text message from an out of town phone number stating, "Hello. We made it, happy to be home. Wanted to thank you again so very much. We will always remember you." It was Stephan and Alexander.

We will always remember them too.

For me it was unimaginable for any human being to be in such a situation. I saw my own son in them, and thought if he were ever in such a hopeless situation, I would hope someone would come along and help him too.

The small family (staff) we have here at the Heart Ministry Center is one I’m proud to be a part of. Each and every day I learn life’s great lessons here, because this is what we do." - June Bear, Operations Director
(to read john's blog post  about the outstanding HMC staff, go here)
......
stories like this are why i am constantly talking about the heart ministry center.  the kindness and amount of giving that happens there daily is overwhelming and humbling.  the staff there is extraordinary.

thankful tuesdays

good advice if you are preparing the feast.

we're all thankful for something this time of year. hopefully.  even in my family's darkest moments we have found gratitude.  i know this year has been full of ups and downs for everyone including my family.  i do hope that we all have a chance to gather on thursday, eat good food, and take a moment to give thanks.  here's what i am most thankful for...

• my husband, my son, and the growing, very hungry baby in my belly 
• the super folks  heroes at the heart ministry center that delivered thanksgiving meals for over 400 families in the omaha metro last saturday
• my brother and his family who are making our thanksgiving feast
• all the coats the preschool parents, parishioners, and CCD children at our preschool collected for the heart ministry center's clients
• my MIL is getting better everyday and can use a walker and get herself out of chairs.  she'll be home in a couple of weeks!!
• that i live a world where a parent can overcome his greatest grief to celebrate his children and make life better for other kids through art.
• that it is tuesday which means it only two more days to my favorite holiday!!

have a happy thanksgiving all!

.....

feeling guilty about all the yummy food? drink a smoothie.  smoothies solve almost all problems.

blueberry banana smoothie

1 frozen banana

1 c. frozen blueberries

1 1/2 T/ ground flax seed

1/2 c. vanilla yogurt

1/2 - 3/4 c. milk 

blend together in blender and feel the guilt melt away. 

GSW:six {holy moly, it is hot!}

alright, it is officially summer which means that our farmhouse is officially hot.  you know, because we do not have air conditioning. well, we do.  we have one window unit. see here for the explanation.  so this week's menu is all about doing as little cooking as possible...meaning avoiding turning the oven on at all costs. i found have written about this at length when i reviewed the archives.  it is not all bad, though, since hendrix and i have already snacked on four tomatoes from our garden this week!!  good times, good times. onward, we go....

shrimp + sausage kabobs with a green salad + rice pilaf
{boil some extra potatoes to make a potato salad with for dinner later in the week. see what i did there?  saved you some time, is what i did. you're welcome.}

grilled lemon + dill salmon with best potato salad
{this will take you less than 15 minutes to prepare if you make the potato salad in advance}
for the salmon just brush them with a bit of olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and lay lemon slices and fresh dill on each piece.  wrap in foil and grill for about 5-8 minutes depending on thickness or broil in the oven.  serve with potato salad}

japanese pizza
{this looks delicious! if you recieved a cabbage from us this might be just the thing to use some of it for...read this lovely article for more thoughts on the forgotten vegetable, cabbage}
if you live with a man like my husband...i would just add a nice grilled piece of meat to this and i would just eat the pizza as it is.  we all have to compromise in life.

slow cooker chili colorado burritos with rice + beans
{listen here and listen good: the crockpot is your friend even when it is summer.  i'll make an exception for these and turn on the broiler just long enough to make that cheese melt.  throw some cherry tomatoes on top of these burritos, too!}
i really like the VIGO brand of rice and beans for convenience.  they come in flavors like red beans and rice, saffron, black beans and rice, etc.. almost all grocery stores carry them and they can be found in the hispanic foods aisle, usually.  serve any variety with these burritos and you will have a happy belly.

zucchini boats with grilled italian sausages
{hendrix will go to town on this dinner and will really love me if i add some fresh fruit as a side.  also, super easy to prepare, less than 30 minutes}
these zucchini boats are a perfect way to use those cute little zucchini we are already seeing in our neck of the woods/  throw some sausage on the grill and call it dinner!

and you know what?! it's effing hot. so make some of this, too....
raspberry pomegranate sorbet

and as far as healthy snacks go...please read this and consider making a donation to an organization that is near and dear to my heart.

48 children

this summer the heart ministry center will be supplying backpacks every friday, for 8 weeks, to children.  the backpacks will, hopefully, be filled with healthy, non perishable foods to get them through the weekend.  monday through friday they can come to the center to receive a free lunch and bottled water, but on the weekend there was no option until now. today i had the awesome oppurtunity to help decide what foods would make it in the bags and what else should go in....things like wipes, sunscreen, and more.  for their first bag, the kids received hygiene products.  john, the executive director, also would like to get the kids their own reusable water bottles.  as i worked on a list, i asked him "will the kids eat this? or that?".  the answer was always "yes." because, of course, when you are little and hungry, with no other options, you will eat anything. some of these children are as young as four.  in this city, omaha, we have children who are hungry and are not sure where their next meal is coming from...1 in 6 children, qualify as food insecure in our fair city.  this is not right and it breaks my heart.  i wanted to be able fill the bags with more.
if you would like to help, think about donating food or reusable water bottles for the children to use.  most of the food needs to be non-perishable and if it comes in a can, please make sure it has a pop-top.  we did include some fresh fruit since we figured it could be a treat or would at least last for 24 hours.  yes, fresh fruit is a treat. here is a list of things that would be appreciated, i am sure:

reusable water bottles
individual packages of wet wipes
resealable packages of tuna
crackers
pop top cans of beans {pinto or black}
tortilla chips
dried fruits
unsalted nuts
granola bars
individual containers of peanut butter
disposable utensils
individual containers of applesauce
apples
bananas
granola bars
packets of oatmeal

the heart ministy center is located on 22nd & binney street. right in the heart of where they need to be. donations can be made at the center and, of course, you can always send a cash donation. you can always recieve a receipt for your donations, as well.  i would be happy to pick up your donation if i am going down there, too.  just send an email. 
to learn more about the heart ministry center and all they do...like their food pantry, free legal clinic, free urgent care clinic, iva's clothes closet, or self sufficency prgram for women...go to http://www.heartministrycenter.org/
also, some things i noticed on the wish list board.  the wish list board is where the staff fills out what certain clients of the center need. 

sewing machine
crockpots
bed frames
mattresses
couches

if you have any of these items and would like to donate, please contact the center and they can arrange for it to be picked up.  thanks, folks.

gardening + parenting

yesterday, hendrix and i planted some more carrots & beets. while, i was prepping the beds i asked him to fill a bucket with compost before we planted the carrots.  he replied, "because they're hungry?". promptly, he got a bucket and filled it without any help or questions.  i was amazed.  he has been displaying a lot of gardening and cooking knowledge, lately.  almost like it is second nature.  then it occured to me that the cooking and gardening that he and i have been doing his whole life was finally starting to rub off. he was getting it!! 
i visited with the ladies of the pathway program this week.  we focused on ways to get and keep their homes/lives organized.  as well as, how to work with their children to contribute thorough chores and meal prep.  we looked at ways to incorporate family calendars, chore charts, meal plans, and budget plans into their everyday lives. while, i was there one of the ladies shared with me that she had used some of my cooking tips (from our last class) with her children and they were now eating salmon*!! we all had a great time thinking of ways we could involve our children in the housework and what lessons they would take from it. 
....
if you are interested in gardening this week, why don't you check out the community garden at the heart ministry center on wednesday.  they'll be working and planting beginning at 5pm.

also, you can set up your own garden AND help the center by going to the plant sale.

*fyi: you can get a pretty good sized bag of frozen salmon for $4.99 at aldi.  and it is good!

catch up::prep

spring cleaning + organizing, beautiful weather, garden prep + planting, three year old birthdays, and time with my {baby}boy won out, my friends.  sorry, dudes.  i'm back.  i swear.

it is garden and rain barrel time!!

here's what i HAVE to tell you....

tilling: mike is quickly becoming booked, but for $50 (up to 500 sq. ft) mike will come till your garden with our commercial tiller.  tilling is a must for your traditional, in ground garden, to prepare the space for your new boxed, raised garden, or to work the ground of your raised dirt garden. email us to schedule a time.

compost:  $40 for 1/2 a pick up load.  mike can also till this into your garden if you book him for till job.  contact us for smaller or larger purchases.  this compost is black gold and will make your garden glorious.  great for containers, as well.

rain barrels:  check out our craigslist post for more info., the basic info is that these are brand new barrels with a garden hose spigot and are ready to go.  these are a great way to reuse water...so great we are putting one in at our rental property.

all natural, pest control:  we have 50 lb bags of diatomaceous earth available and duster applicators available, as well.  DE is an all natural way to treat those little buggies in the garden that won't bug off..pun intended.  read more here.  check out our craigslist posting.  the great thing about buying from us is that if you are in the omah area, no shipping!!

virtual gardening clinic: i'll be back.  i promise.  in the meantime, if you are semi experienced and ready to go...now is the time for collards, radishes, beets, asparagus crowns, onion sets, peas, spinach, & turnips to be planted.  (i know what i am doing when i get done writing this post!)  if you are not ready...no worries!!! you still of plenty of time.  we'll talk more later this week.

container gardening:  mike and i have been working on some awesome, {almost} completely maintenance free, container gardening set ups.  we have some around town that are going to be planted very soon...i will get some pictures very soon.  these are great ways for kids, busy people, people short on space, and handicapped folks to grow produce.  you can grow greens, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, peas, some root veggies, potatoes, and summer squash.  in fact, this year we will be growing quite a bit of own produce this way.  it will be easy for hendrix and easy for me if i am lucky enough to grow a baby this year, too.  pictures and details soon!!

consulting:  businesses and home gardeners, if you are wanting help with planning your garden or setting up your compost system please contact us.  initial consults are $40 and tailored to fit your needs.  i am becoming booked, but have time slots available.

community:  remember the heart ministry center when planting your gardens...plant extra and make a weekly donation to the food pantry.  fresh produce should not be a luxury.  also, did you know that the heart ministry center has a community garden??  perhaps plan to volunteer one afternoon there.  you will see our containers there, too.  we will be planting lots of herbs and greens in them making more room in the garden for other goodies.
.....
again, my apologies for a delay in posting.  frankly, i have been enjoying my time with hendrix and not having to rush to get things done like i had to last year.  this reaffirms our decision to not do the veg box this year.  i also have been percolating LOTS of ideas in my head.  so while i work those out...you may see lags in posting.  i will be back later this week with a clinic.  thanks!

cooking with heart

2 hours.  5 recipes. 4 women. all mothers. yesterday, i met with three women from the pathway program and talked about grocery budgeting, meal planning, and cooking technique.  i also demoed five recipes for them.  we made minestrone, berry oatmeal, chicken "nuggets" & apples, shrimp with white beans, spinach, and feta, and spaghetti with spinach & egg.  it was a really great afternoon.  they all really wanted to be there and wanted learn.  some had more experience than others in the kitchen.  some did quite a bit from scratch cooking already.  some had lots of picky eaters at home.   we were all mothers, though.  so it took no time for us to compare notes on toddlers, picky eaters, and the struggles of feeding all those mouths.  in the end, i do think they enjoyed the class and took something away from it.  they tried all the dishes and even liked the spaghetti with spinach & egg (which i thought was the weirdest dish and would get some "no thank yous").  they agreed that breading the chicken cutlets WAS  totally simple and fast.  they asked how to alter some dishes for picky eaters.  they started to tailor the minestrone soup to their family's taste.  talking with each other about what they were going to add to it when they made it at home.  they were happy for some new ideas to add to their regular shopping and cooking routine.  i was happy to cook and serve food to women making life better for themselves. hell, i was happy to cook and serve food. 
.....
spaghetti with spinach & eggs (adapted from time for dinner)
spaghetti, prepared according to package directions
eggs, one for each eater
spinach or chard
olive oil
garlic, minced
salt
pepper
parmesan
hot sauce
prepare pasta, meanwhile fry an egg for each eater.  toss hot pasta with spinach, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.  cook on low until spinach is wilted.  place in bowls and make a well with pasta.  place an egg in each "well", top with parmesan and hot sauce.

case of the mondays + fat tuesday

the rain is making me sleepy and totally unmotivated.  however, i have managed to stick to hendrix's new routine and it is only 8 am on monday morning.  that may be the only thing i accomplish today...and i am okay with that.  hendrix is going to be three soon and with that he has been going through a rough stage of absolute disobediance.  sometimes it is funny (in retrospect)...like when he says "i was being rude" after smearing non water soluble diaper cream all over himself and his belongings.  other times, not so much...like when he drops to the floor in the store and screams "NO" like a pyscho.  so, yeah, we are trying more routine and reward for good behavior.  immediate, tangible consequences for the naughtiness.  hendrix is a good kid 95% of the time.  but, man oh man, does that other 5% really wear me out. i dowloaded this chore chart.  i like it because it is simple enough for him to look at and understand.  also, it highlights the basics that i wanted him and i to work on.
.....

tomorrow is fat tuesday, so i thought i would share one of my favorite, slow cooker recipes. get some confetti and celebrate with these yummy recipes.
Jambalaya
3 pounds Whole Chicken, Cut Up
1 can (14.5 Ounce Can) Diced Tomatoes
1 can (14.5 Ounce Can) Chicken Broth
1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
2 cups French Fried Onions
¼ cups Hot Sauce
2 cloves Garlic Chopped
2 teaspoons Old Bay Seafood Seasoning
1-½ teaspoon Dried Oregano Leaves
¾ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoons Black Pepper
1 cup Uncooked Regular Rice
1 pound Shrimp, Peeled And Deveined
Combine chicken, tomatoes, chicken broth, green pepper, 1 cup of French Fried Onions, hot sauce, garlic, seafood seasoning, oregano, salt, and pepper in your slow cooker. Cook on low for 5 hours.
Remove the chicken bones. Stir, if you’d like (shredding the chicken in the process). Stir in the rice and cook on low for about 1 1/2 hours or until all the liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked.
Turn slow cooker to high and add the shrimp. Cook for 1/2 hour or until shrimp turn pink. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup French Fried Onions when all done. Enjoy!
*You can just thrown in thawed, pre-cooked frozen shrimp, too.
*If you are making this when your gardens are thriving feel free to use fresh tomatoes, just add some extras all smushed up for their juice.

and for dessert, try this wonderfully easy & delicious recipe inspired from here.
Chocolate Pie
1 chocolate cookie crust, premade (found in baking section)
1 (12 oz) bag of semisweet chocolate chips
1 can of coconut milk, light works great
melt bag of chocolate chips, careful not to scorch the chocolate.  once melted, immediately pour into blender with coconut milk.  blend for a few muntues until completey smooth and blended.  pour into pie crust and let cool & set in fridge for at least four hours or overnight,  serve with whip cream, if you like

i am off to come to terms with my lenten sacrifice...sweets.  i got a sugar problem.  the problem is that i love baking and eating the deliciousness.  i got to stop before i get the diabetes at age 35.
enjoy your monday and i'll see you on wednesday with a full report on tomorrow's cooking class at the heart ministry center.

2325 sack lunches to Omaha youth, 1100 people helped with clothing assistance

those numbers are just a few of the things the heart ministry center pulled off in january.  yes, in one month HMC helped that many people.  now you know why i won't shut up about how awesome they are!!  i was lucky enough to spend some time there last week. it was wonderfully eye opening.  i met some awesome people and am going back to teach a cooking class (finally!) to their women in the pathway program.  ericka, the pathway coordinator, asked me to focus on freezer meals, once a month cooking, meal planning, and budgeting.   these are especially important for the women to learn since most are on food assistance.  the pathway program's main goal is to help the women become self sufficient. so when these women find jobs/get better jobs, the hope is this class, will arm them with the knowledge and ability to budget and meal plan and it won't be so hard to acclimate to losing some of their food assistance.  i want the recipes to be easy, fast, and all the ingredients to be relatively inexpensive, that can be found at any grocery store.  it should also be noted that these women have voluntarily joined the pathway program and chose to attend these classes.  this goes back to what i was saying about people really wanting to learn how to cook and garden. the women are making the choice to make life better for themselves and for their children.  sometimes without the support of  their families. 

i have come up with some freezer friendly meals for breakfast & dinner.  they are:
apricot french toast served with cottage cheese
whole wheat berry pancakes
egg "cups" (those egg meals in a muffin tin all over pinterest)
quiches
lasagnas
minestrone
chili
enchiladas

then for lunches i was going to recommend making big batches of the following, once a week.  inspired from this post. they can also be served as a side at dinner:
lentils
black beans, rice, and spinach
ravolis (the frozen kind, prepared)
hard boiled eggs
black eyed peas (see recipe below)

for some cheap, quick, & easy meals i was going to talk about...
roasting
tacos
grilled cheeses and all the variations
soups + stews

for kid -friendly, but not totally gross meals....
homemade mac + cheese with veggies
mexican "pizza"
homemade whoppers (with ground turkey, whole wheat buns) and sweet potato fries)
spaghetti and eggs (linguine + spinach with fried egg, hot sauce, and parmesan on top)
runza casserole
appetizers for dinner (cheese, fruit, hummus, veggies)
pizza

what do you all think? anything i am totally missing? please share any recipes, tips, or ideas that you have with me. i want to really set the women up for success in the kitchen, for it to be fun, and for the kids to get into it, too.
.....

black eyed peas with leeks (+ variations) inspired by 101 cookbooks 
-- total cost: less than $6, enough for several lunches or as a side to one dinner and as the main dish for a couple lunches
1/2 lb. dried black eyed peas, prepared
3 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
olive oil
butter
juice from 1/2 lemon
salt & pepper
small handful, fresh or dried herbs (parsley, tarragon, marjoram are good choices)
heat olive oil + butter in skillet, add leeks and cook until almost caramelized.  add leeks to warmed blackeyed peas.  season with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and herbs.  add more olive oil if too dry looking. serve warm and enjoy.
*great with beef kielbasa or apple chicken sausages stirred in
*make a light soup by adding to veg or chicken broth
*put a poached egg on it
*beautiful with a roasted chicken
*easy protein for a kids lunchbox
* berries are tasty alongside

housekeepng

did you all survive the snow? better yet, did you enjoy it? i hope so.  we all had a great weekend.  lots of baking, sledding, cooking, and eating.  hendrix and i also did some craft projects together, but have yet to get to coloring a shirt.  i can save that for this week if it is too cold or boredom hits. 
hendrix also decided what HE will be planting in HIS garden.  he chose...carrots, peas, lettuce strawberries, sweet peppers, and marigolds.  some of his favorite things.  he will be entirely in charge of his little garden.  more on this later.
i did a lot of thinking about my garden, as well, and am considering moving more things to my container garden.  i hope to be growing a baby this summer and know that the container garden will be much less work and just as fruitful.
however, this week is all about making final decisions on what non-candy valentine hendrix is going to bring to school, mailing birthday invites, making seed orders, and continuing the organization battle i waged last week on my house. 
.....
please check these two facebook pages out:
GO BIG FOR CASEY Sunday Fun Days...if you are a midtowner or have ever been to the Dell then you know casey, go have fun on a sunday and help a great guy.
HEART MINISTRY CENTER ...they're on facebook! now you can be updated on their awesome activity and find ways to help. 
.....
i'm off to get this week started off right by drinking the rest of my latte.  i'll be back soon to talk about cute non-candy valentine options, valentine menu ideas for families, hendrix's big #3 party, CONTAINER gardening, and ways EVERYONE (anywhere) can grow food this year.

get connected

3 things you could do to help and get connected to your community:

Great Plains Black History Museum Community Clean Up Day -- May 21 from 9:30 - 2:00

the muesum needs our help to clean up the grounds by mowing the grass, hauling trash, and pruning --- build up your karma bank and rsvp at their facebook page.

Tom DeBuse Memorial  and Fundraiser for Luci ---May 28 from 3:00 - 10:00

huge, family friendly fundraiser at the hot shops art center to raise money for a daughter and to celebrate the life of a father. . .rsvp on their facebook page

Plentiful Plant Sale benefiting the Heart Ministry Center and Sacred Heart School --starts tmrw. at 9 am

NE corner of 90th & Dodge; thurs - sat:  9am to 8pm and sun: 1pm to 6pm

2 ways to get connected with your health and spirit:

Consulting is now available from Clementine's.  For $40, Anna or Caitie can come out and give you a plan to get your yard or garden in tip top shape.  Additional help is available at a rate of $10 per hour.  We can help you get the herb garden, perennial garden, cut flower garden, back yard, or veggie garden of your dreams.  Email clementinespandp@gmail.com ---spots are filling up!!!

Cooking Lessons - June through October. Spots are selling out!! Rsvp on Facebook.

we love mobs!

yesterday, we had our second crop mob and it was so wonderful. mobbers put about 100 pounds of seed potatoes in the ground!  AND they planted more greens, root veggies, the entire cut flower/herb bed, and ONIONS.  awesome, awesome! thank you, thank you, thank you to:

1. the subscribers who came out and worked at THEIR farm--bryce, don, katherine, adam, and deb.
2. our intern growers!  you ladies are a godsend to our farm and family.
3. the levy family, michelle, anne, mary & daughter from the heart ministry center.  the plot is ready for tomatoes & peppers and the greens are thriving thanks to all of you.
4. taylor and friends got some hand planting done, people!  all of our beautiful flowers and herbs will be thanks to these ladies.
5. anyone who dropped a potato or onion in the ground! BRAVO!!!
6. the palubecki's!  melinda and joann helped us with hendrix, the dishes, the farm, and so much everyday.

we are blessed and supported by so many. xoxo

in other news, our beloved daily grub closed last week.  BUT we are still doing cooking classes with elle starting in june.  they will be held at the educated baker kitchen in the mastercraft building.  classes are for sale at the daily grub facebook page (under shop now tab) or email dailygrubomaha@yahoo.com to sign up. we are really excited to do these classes and hope to see you there.

also, would you like to come to a dinner in a field?  our field.  inspired by something like this. . .? details soon!

the heart ministry project

i spoke a bit ago about the heart ministry in omaha.  we approached them to see if they would like to receive our surplus crop during the growing season.  i was so impressed and moved by the work the heart ministry does that i knew just surplus crop would not do.  go to their website to learn more about what they do.
so the interns and i set a goal of providing enough veggies for 75-100 people (50 two person veg box subscriptions) a week in addition to donating our surplus.  we will set aside a plot of land on the produce farm that is just for the heart ministry's clients.  caitie and marcia came up with a list of veggies to grow. the veggies had to meet at least one of the following requirements: prolific growers, high calorie, versatile to cook with, shelf stable, &/or familiar to most people.  the veggies being grown are: tomatoes, basil, rosemary, cilantro, thyme, mint, squash, kale, collards, eggplant, onions, sweet corn, potatoes, shell beans, cucumbers, bell peppers, and hot peppers.  all of the expenses have been covered by clementine's p+p and our friends.  clementine's has some great friends i tell you. 
crop mob volunteers will get the land prepared and planted with us.  we will also need a group of volunteers to help us once a month with maintaining, replanting, and harvesting.  caitie and i plan on getting the bags together and delivering every friday during our growing season.  the pantry is open wed-fri from 10 -2.
in addition, i will be teaching one free cooking class to the women of the pathway program from the heart ministry.  i along with guests like bryce from the boiler room, elle from daily grub, brigitte the best baker ever, and my aunt theresa who has a wealth of diabetic friendly recipes will be giving tips on how to prepare whole food, easy, economical meals.
clementine's p+p is blessed with the opportunity to make fresh food accessible to a small part of our community.  i believe that food heals. that food inspires.   that food can provoke change.  i hope at the end of this growing season you all believe it too.

here are some ways you can help:
* sign up to be a volunteer at the crop mob or to come out once a month
* if you are a subscriber bring needed items to donate to your pick up location. we will bring them to the heart ministry the following week
* send me your go to, economical, healthy recipes
* contact the heart ministry for more volunteer opportunities
* bring the veggies to the center on a friday
* come teach a cooking class with me

email us at clementinespandp@gmail.com to help, send us a recipe, give us an idea, or to ask a question. xoxo

stuff you should know about (& do). . .

happy day, all!  there is a lot of stuff i keep forgetting to tell you about.  and to remind you about.
so here's a run down:

1. the boiler room is doing another wine dinner on march 24th and their patio is open.  this looks like a real goodie.  remember chef paul gets to go to nyc at the end of this month and be super awesome at the dinner for the james beard foundation. 

2. we will be having our crop mob weekend on saturday, april 9th and sunday, april 10th.  both days from 8-1, lunch provided.  families are invited and more than welcome.  the fresh air and sunshine is free.  it is BYOT (bring your own tools).  some things we will be doing are: building raised beds, spreading compost, erecting deer fence.  every crop mobster will also get a $10 gift certificate to use at clementine's p+p.  go to our facebook events page to sign up for either day.  can't wait to get dirty with you. (gross)

3. clementine's p + p will start it's cooking classes with elle lein of daily grub in may.  classes are for sale now on daily grub's facebook shop.  these classes are going to be  a wonderful way to learn new ways to cook simple, delicious, and fast meals with the season's freshest produce.  classes run from may thru october.

4. my buddy, michelle, and i will be hosting a clothing swap on sunday, may 2nd at the farm.  everyone who comes must bring at least 7 items to swap and a treat to share.  we have a lot of 0/2, 4/6, 10/12, and 14/16 sizes.  if you and a group of friends are those sizes or another. . .contact me and i will include you on our mailing list.  this a great way to get some new to you, free stuff for spring.

5. clementine's p+p is donating it's surplus to the heart ministry in addition to growing a separate plot of veggies for them.  we are still looking for another $150 in donations to cover the costs of seeds and supplies.  i will post a blog with the details and greatness that is the heart ministry this week. 

6. daily grub has some new hours.  and is open for BRUNCH now.  the waffles on saturday were amazing.

xoxo