This is only my third year of having a vegetable garden, and I’m happy to report that my garden has become my happy place. Something about seeing the plants that were started from seed, to baring fruit, that leaves me with a feeling of reward and puts a smile on my face.
Every morning, I head up to the garden and pick the ripened daily crop and my mind is working in overdrive on what I’m going to make with my fresh ingredients. You know, farm to table and all.
This year, I planted several sun gold tomato plants and they are hands down, the tastiest tomato I have ever put in my mouth. Their beautiful golden color coupled with their sweet tomato-y flavor are perfect palette pleasers. Popping them in my mouth one after the other, not too many make it back to the kitchen. The ones that do are rinsed and set in a basket for the rest to enjoy.
The brandy wines, of course, turn into the Ultimate Tomato Sandwich.
The super 100’s, called this because it takes about 100 to make a pound, will be roasted and will produce many jars of my Roasted Tomato Marinara Sauce.
And, a few bowls of my Roasted Tomato, Tomato Salsa.
The cucumbers are in full production too, and I’ve already canned a couple jars of these pickles and these pickles.
So my garden, my happy place, is also my backyard market. And that right there, makes me feel like one of the richest people in the world.
Is your garden your happy place, too?