Page 5 - Allisons Newsletter, Lakewood Village - Aug 2018
P. 5
homegrown l
FARM-TO-TABLE:
THE HOT FOOD TREND YOU CAN
ENJOY WITHOUT LEAVING HOME
by BPT
f you’ve eaten out recently,
you’ve probably noticed the
I menus feature locally sourced TRENDS
ingredients. The farm-to-table
movement continues to flourish at
restaurants throughout the country.
In fact, rather than the exception,
it’s become the expectation.
According to the National
Restaurant Association, farm-to-
table is quickly becoming the new
norm. Diners are so attracted to the
freshest fare possible, it’s inspiring
some restaurants to start their own
gardens, on a rooftop, terrace or
simple outdoor plot. Hyper-local
culinary concepts like these represent
the top trend on the annual “2018
Culinary Forecast” report.
You can take a cue from this hot
trend by starting your own farm-to-
table concept garden at home. Just
imagine plucking ruby red tomatoes at home will elevate your cooking right at your fingertips, even if you CAGED TOMATOES purchase and will keep growing and
and rich green basil straight from and you’ll feel good about being just have a small patio or balcony. Whether you choose big, juicy giving all season long.
your garden to make a farm-fresh, able to produce your own food What’s more, some of the most slicers or sweet cherry-sized snackers, Bonnie Plants offers more than
scrumptious caprese salad without while lowering your grocery bill popular produce to eat is also easy caged tomatoes are easy to grow and 250 varieties of vegetables and
ever leaving home. An at-home (and certainly save by not dining to grow. offer endless cooking opportunities. herbs, from tried and true classics
take on the farm-to-table trend can out as much). The experts at Bonnie Plants Determinate varieties of tomatoes to some unusual varieties you may
easily be translated to a convenient No matter the size of your offer some easy-to-grow, space- are container favorites because the not have tried, such as Holy Basil,
“garden-to-table” concept in your garden space, you can grow fresh saving suggestions to encourage a vines are relatively compact yet bear Tepin Chili Pepper, Barbeque
own backyard. Growing your own foods that are readily available garden-to-table trend at home. a productive harvest. Or create your Rosemary, Little Napoli Patio
own container garden using tomato
varieties especially bred for small Roma and many more.
spaces. Once it’s time to harvest, have
fun exploring new recipes and
CAGED PEPPERS experimenting with home-grown,
Try popular and versatile Green fresh-picked produce that will shake
Bell, a heavy yielder of large fruits up your supper and then some. For
and a good all-round pepper for more inspiration for easy at-home
slicing and stuffing. Or, spice up gardening, visit bonnieplants.com.
your recipes with jalapeño chile
peppers, which yield a bountiful This recipe for a classic caprese
harvest. salad is sure to hit the spot as a
light lunch or satisfying start to
STRAWBERRIES IN dinner.
HANGING BASKETS
Sweet, juicy strawberries add CAPRESE SALAD
loads of flavor to salads, dressings,
drinks and desserts. Think you
need a plot to grow a productive INGREDIENTS:
strawberry patch? Think again. • 1 fresh tomato
Maximize space with Bonnie Plants’ • 1 ball fresh
strawberries in hanging baskets, mozzarella cheese
which are everbearing and
produce cascades of • Basil leaves
“Growing your own berries throughout • Olive oil
the growing season.
food at home will • Balsamic vinegar
HERBS IN
elevate your cooking and COMBO POTS • Salt and pepper
you’ll feel good about being Want to raise to taste.
the flavor profile
able to produce your own of any culinary
DIRECTIONS:
food while lowering your dish? Fresh herbs Slice tomato in 1/4-inch
grocery bill.” are your best bet. thick slices. Do the same for
Herb gardens can the mozzarella. Alternate layers
be grown in compact between the tomato, mozzarella
spaces, which means you
can fit your favorites in no matter and basil. First, a tomato slice,
how much space you have. then a mozzarella slice, then a
For example, a kitchen herb few leaves of basil; begin and
combo container featuring sweet end with tomato. Drizzle with
basil, cilantro and curled parsley is a olive oil and balsamic vinegar,
powerhouse pot that’s both practical or your favorite Italian dressing.
and pretty. You can set it right Add salt and pepper to taste. n
outside your door for convenient
access and continuous harvest. ©2018 Brandpoint.
Herbs are ready for harvest upon
5
