The Food Lover's Garden : Growing, Cooking, and Eating Well

“Your ‘one stop shop’ for everything from seed to plate . . . This book will leave you . . . ready to launch your own journey to food self-sufficiency.” —Lisa Kivirist, author Soil Sisters Put off by the origin-unknown, not-so-fresh, pesticide-laden herbs at the grocery store? Hungry for delicious high-quality vegetables and looking to have some control over where your food comes from? Foodie meets novice gardener in this deliciously accessible, easy-to-use guide to planting, growing, harvesting, cooking, and preserving 20 popular, easy-to-grow vegetables and herbs. Taking the first-time gardener from growing to cooking delicious, nutritious, and affordable meals using these herbs and vegetables, this book is a celebration of food in all its stages. The Food Lover’s Garden guides you through: Getting started with easy step-by-step growing instructions from balcony to backyard Simple, tasty cooking recipes incorporating each vegetable and herb Meal combinations of two or more of the featured herb and vegetable dishes Selecting essential kitchen tools and gadgets to maximize the herb and vegetable harvesting Canning and pickling recipes for preserving the rest. From the humble potato to pungent garlic to the beauty of the beet, classic vegetables take a delicious turn with innovative cooking recipes. Truly food for all seasons and palates. Foodies, novice gardeners, urban homesteaders, and supporters of sustainable living—take back your right to high-quality food with The Food Lover’s Garden. “The crisp photographs, lushly painted illustrations, and delicious text lead the reader from the garden to the kitchen and pantry with anticipation of culinary delight.”—Darrell E. Frey, author of Bioshelter Market Garden Growing it, cooking it, eating it! From the vegetable patch to the dinner table Put off by the origin-unknown, not-so-fresh, pesticide-laden herbs at the grocery store? Hungry for delicious high-quality vegetables and fragrant herbs, and looking to have some control over where your food comes from but you're a novice gardener? Foodie meets novice gardener in this deliciously accessible, easy-to-use guide to planting, growing, harvesting, cooking, and preserving 20+ popular, easy-to-grow vegetables and herbs. Taking the novice gardener from growing herbs and vegetables to cooking delicious, nutritious, and affordable meals using these herbs and vegetables, this book is a celebration of food in all its stages. The Food Lover's Garden guides novice gardeners through: Getting started with easy step-by-step growing instructions from balcony to backyard Simple, tasty cooking recipes incorporating each vegetable and herb Meal combinations of two or more of the featured herb and vegetable dishes Selecting essential kitchen tools and gadgets to maximize the herb and vegetable harvesting Canning and pickling recipes for preserving the rest. Beautifully illustrated with author's water colour sketches and photographs from her herb and vegetable garden, this book is perfect for the foodie and novice gardener—from the humble potato, to pungent garlic, to the beauty of the beet, classic vegetables take a delicious turn with innovative cooking recipes. Truly food for all seasons and palates. Foodies, novice gardeners, urban homesteaders, and supporters of sustainable living—take back your right to high-quality food with The Food Lover's Garden . Jenni Blackmore is a writer, painter, micro-farmer, and certified Permaculture Design Consultant. Her most recent book Permaculture for the Rest of Us follows her journey from industrial Manchester to Quackadoodle Farm, a sustainable homestead in Nova Scotia. In the Beginning IN THE GARDEN 1. Deep Down 'n Dirty: Getting Started in the Garden Necessary Tools What Plants Need What Soil Needs Creating Garden Beds What to Grow 2. Potatoes & Leeks How to Grow a Potato Leeks 3. Beets & Greens Beets Greens 4. Squash & Garlic Summer and Winter Squash Winter Squash Summer Squash Garlic 5. Beans & Onions Beans Onions 6. Tomatoes & Cucumbers Tomatoes Cucumbers 7. Herbs Parsley Summer Savory Dill Cilantro/Coriander Chives Mint IN THE KITCHEN 8. Gifts & Gizmos: Getting Started in the Kitchen Necessary Tools Gizmos Stocking the Pantry Terms & Skills-Cooking like a Pro 9. Now We're Cookin': with Leeks & Potatoes Preparing Leeks Preparing Potatoes Making a Meal-with Leeks & Potatoes Potato Leek Soup Dressing up Potatoes Loving Leeks 10. Super Salads & Beautiful Beets Harvesting Greens-a Reminder Dressing Salads Beautiful Beets 11. Garlic & Onions, Squash & Beans Squash Garlic & Onions Beans 12. Cukes & Tomatoes Cooking Tomatoes Green Tomatoes Cucumbers 13. Herbs: A Magical Mystery Tour Parsley Chopping Herbs Preserving Summer Savory Cilantro/Coriander Dill Mint 14. Old Reliables: Sunchokes, Egyptian Onions, Rhubarb & Blackcurrants Sunchokes Egyptian Onions Rhubarb Blackcurrants 15. Harvest Time: Preserving the Garden's Gifts Freezing Cold Room Storage Pickling and Canning Equipment A Cautionary Tale Jams and Jellies Time for Tea and Cake - Gathering Poppy Seeds Chamomile Tea About The Author A Note About The Publisher "Foodie meets gardener in this deliciously accessible, easy-to-use guide to growing, cooking, and preserving twenty-some popular, easy-to-grow vegetables and herbs. The Food Lover's Garden takes the budding gardener from planting, growing, and harvesting, to preparation of delicious, nutritious, and affordable meals. This book is the full-meal-deal on homegrown food."-- Provided by publisher