One of the great joys of a backyard garden is that even when you’re sick and can’t get to the shops, it’s still possible to put a decent meal on the table!
When I was unwell a couple of weeks ago, I made a giant vat of pasta soup that fed us all for two days. It was flavoured with Johnny’s free ham bones and loaded with garden veg – kale, kohlrabi, broccoli rabé, leeks, chard, potatoes and carrots. This household staple (which Big Boy’s girlfriend refers to as “gruel”) is an absolute blessing – it ensures that everyone gets their daily vegetable quota, it keeps well and reheats brilliantly, and if I cook a large enough pot, there are leftovers for dinner the following evening.
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On Thursday night, we made potato pizza, using new season spuds topped with fresh oregano and garlic oil…
…perennial leek and anchovy pizza…
…and served them with meatballs, made by combining free range pork mince, sourdough bread crumbs, Francesca’s egg, cumin, coriander, salt and a generous splash of Pepe Saya buttermilk…
. . . . .
And on Friday, inspired by Brydie’s post, we wandered into the garden and brought in four new potatoes, some Tuscan kale, a perennial leek and a fat beetroot. The leek and kale were chopped, the potatoes diced and the beetroot grated. Four fresh eggs were beaten in a small bowl…
We fried the leek, potatoes and kale in a little olive oil until soft, then added the grated beetroot…
The beaten eggs were poured over the top, and the tortilla cooked gently until the base was set. A few cherry toms from our mad tomato tree were scattered over the top.
The pan went under the grill for just a couple of minutes to cook the top. It was absolutely delicious, seasoned simply with salt and pepper, and came entirely from our backyard. We served it with toasted cheese sandwiches…
In the past, dinner preparations often necessitated a last minute dash to the shops for supplies. I don’t miss those days at all!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
What glorious things you harvest and your ingenuity transforms them into a feast. Hope you are feeling better
Thanks Sally, much better now! I think it’s laziness of sorts – I’d rather try and make do with what we’re growing than head out to the shops! :)
Leeks are all too often ignored by cooks, I love them although we haven’t had much luck growing them.
Sue, I wish we could get some perennial leeks to you – they grow all by themselves, and now we always have them in the garden! Regular leeks don’t seem to do so well – and take forever to fatten up!
I love the idea of a potato pizza and how lovely that while our garden has gone the winter way, i can feast my eyes on all your lovely fresh ingredients.. i don’t know why everyone does not have a garden even a tiny one can give us so much good food.. c
Celi, you’re so right – I’m amazed at how much we produce. There’s always something to eat there – at the moment, there’s beets, and rainbow chard and kale, and leeks and lettuces. Enough for us to always have a few homegrown veg on the table!
What a lovely way to live. It must be wonderful to walk into the backyard, see what’s available and ready to be harvested, then come inside with your produce and then get inspired to cook. I want to live like you! I’m the one in your story who’s making that last minute dash to the shops (and you forgot to add, ‘spending a fortune’) xx
Charlie, it won’t be long – your herb garden is planted, veg patch next! You haven’t been in your house very long yet!
Haven’t “seen” you for quite a while. Everything looks quite scrumptious. I envy you with your garden and chickens. I’ve attempted growing tomatoes this summer but they didn’t do too well. We have about 8″ of snow on the ground now, so no gardening for me until next summer again. I’m off to catch up on your escapades. :)
Hi Cat, how’ve you been? We can only seem to grow cherry tomatoes outdoors, and only if they plant themselves. Stay warm! xx
And for those times when you are unwell, you have taught your boys to cook right?
Yes mum. :) Big Boy can do quite a few things now, and Small Man can make toast – does that count? :)
Agree 100%, the backyard garden besides providing good eats is a life saver as well. Because everything is freshly harvested, simple seasoning is all that’s needed. If only I had backyard eggs like you. Must Google perennial leek to learn more, this is new to me.
Norma, I wish you could have chickens too, you’d love them. The perennial leeks were such a find – I wrote more about them here:
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2011/11/25/perennial-leeks/
Thanks for the link. Don’t think it is available yet in the US. will keep searching, sound like a good crop to have in the garden.
I like what you did with Brydie’s frugal Friday meal.
You have TREASURE growing in your garden!
Heidi, it’s worth more than gold – you can’t eat gold. :) xx
I agree, Celia, that eating economically does not mean that you do not eat well. My mother would stretch the last of the roast by making a savoury (ie no sugar but added herbs) pikelet batter, adding the sliced meat (in thick-ish slices) and shallow frying/sautéing. Delicious with green and orange veggies and her homemade tomato sauce.
Meg, savoury pancakes are a wonderful idea! I wrote a post a while back about eating from the garden about exactly that – eating frugally doesn’t mean eating poorly! :)
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2010/09/28/swings-and-roundabouts/
Nothing beats home cooking…. we often shake the fridge at our place Celia. Especially if one of us is unwell. Love your selection of recipes.
Lizzy, thank you! Brydie’s recipe was an especially great find, as we can make it totally from garden produce. And pizza is a regular default meal here! :)
Yes how absolutely wonderful Celia. You really must feel good about your harvest. I marvel at big and small boys eating habits and wish my Skater boy would eat something!. I made a yoghurt pie yesterday, he loves yoghurt……but not in pie..want it?
Oooh he’s a fussy boy, Tania! And so lovely and handsome too! :) Thanks love, will pass on the pie, but very kind of you to offer. Hope to catch up soon! xx
Lovely produce and lovely meals, Celia – well done you! I hope you are feeling better now.
Thanks darling. I was really crook for over a fortnight – a long time for me! Much better now. x
I particularly love the last idea.
I do hope you are on the mend Celia, this cough virus thing is quite nasty.
Rose, thank you! Much better now. Brydie’s recipe is an absolute winner!
What delicious goodness Celia – but to make it truly truly healthy, you would have had to finish off with one of your happy heart, squidgy goodness, brownies:).
Jan, we washed it down with chocolate cane toads. :D xx
I really miss my garden. It forced me to be creative and the meals were unique and tasty. Glad you’re feeling better.
Thanks Maureen. I hope you get to have a garden again one day – it must be hard to have had one and then not to have one!
Thank you, Celia, the frittata recipe has just been our lunch. I had two potatoes, some spinach (no kale), beetroot and onions which didn’t quite become onions, all from from the garden, (unfortunately no new-laid eggs), so made the frittata which we enjoyed thoroughly. Your blog is so inspiring.
Carmen, thank you! All credit to Brydie for the wonderful frittata recipe! Our onions never make it to onions either – I think I’m too impatient, and they just take soooo long to grow!
How wonderful Celia! Everything tastes better when it’s home grown and home made!
Thanks Claire! I was just glad not to have to get out of my pyjamas the whole time! :)
Celia, you are always such an inspiration. How lovely to cook so much from your garden. I am sad I never planted mine while we wait on the news of our 2 year contract to Namibia – I still sit in limbo – most frustrating some days.
Hope you are all better now.
:-) Mandy
Mandy, it must be hard when you’re not sure what’s happening – I hope it’s sorted soon. Yes, feeling much better, many thanks! xx
Wonderful feasting from your garden. I’m sure all of that home grown goodness helps to fight the bugs off more quickly. I can have a go at the frittata especially now that I have perennial leeks!
Jo, it’s such a nice easy way to make dinner with all the fresh eggs you and I are both getting! Hope the leeks are growing, they’re a permanent fixture in our garden! x
Gardens are great, that’s for sure – even if they are just like another child! Hope you are feeling better these days, my dear.
Thank you, kind friend, feeling much better. Gardens really are like children aren’t they – bit more predictable the older they get! :)
Now, THIS is why I rec’d you to my publishers for a cookbook! I love that you genuinely use your garden and it’s not just for show! And having been the lucky recipient of your grown goodies, I know how deliciously fresh it is :D
Thanks sweetie, but you know me – any excuse not to have to get out of the pyjamas, especially when I’m sick! Come over and pick from the garden anytime! xx
I hope you’re feeling better now sweetie!
A big pot of that gruel sounds like the perfect cure for most anything :) You are always so rich with a garden Celia, you go out and be overwhelmed with wonderful food and meals- so much better than stalking through the supermarket hunting for inspiration
Thanks darling, much better now, but boy I was crook for ages! Our garden is great, but I was telling Pete how amazing all the stuff you’re planting in yours is! Can’t wait to see it all grow!
All looks and sounds delicious Celia. Yum!
Brydie, great tortilla recipe, thanks love! And I was really pleased to find something new to do with all the beets we’re growing at the moment!
Yum! I’m at the point in the new veggie garden where I’m wandering out every couple of hours to see which seeds have come up…it’s a game of patience at the moment. Which reminds me to go and find some of those perennial leeks to plant!
Thanks Alison! I’ve sent you an email about the perennial leeks! :)
This post is an inspiration for all gardeners, no matter how small a patch of earth they are lucky enough to have. So many wonderful, hearty meals, all from your own harvest. It cannot get any better than this. Well done!
I hope you’re feeling better.
Thanks John! Yes, feeling much better! The garden constantly surprises me – I still am amazed when I see things grow!
WOW! How delicious they are… This is amazing post dear Celia, fascinated me. Thank you, love, nia
Thanks Nia! Hope you’re having a great week! xx
No doubt you are feeling better, with the benefit of all the home grown, home cooked food… These are my favourite kind of meals, put together with what is to hand, but of course par excellence with home grown ingredients :)
My dinners at home look nothing like this..I can only dream of living like this, sauntering out into my garden and coming in to make a feast!
As they would say in my language…MUY RICO!
I can’t believe big boy’s girlfriend called it gruel! I went to boarding school and trust me, thats not anything close to what should be called gruel!