local lovin.

one of the great things about our new apt is that we live within walking distance of downtown and get to keep things really local. about two blocks from our place is the montclair farmers market. i was inspired to get some veggies for a light and and minimal cooking dinner. i picked up some cherry tomatoes, a big eggplant (for a buck!) and then some romarsi pesto, which is made by a local woman whom i yoga with. i've had it before and it's super yummy. here's my recipe(or just directions) for whipping up some dinner with those goodies plus some rice pasta.

easy pesto veggie pasta:

• cut egglant int 3/4" cubes;

• cobmine a container of cherry tomatoes and the eggplant and drizzle with olive oil, sea salt and pepper;

• here's the part that makes it really easy: put all the eggplant and tomatoes on the george forman grill;

• cook until the tomotoes get golden and shriveled;

• bring a pot of water to a boil and add about 16oz. of rice or quinoa noodles (i used trader joes rice spirals bc we were out of my fave quinoa ones);

• once done, add all the veggies and noodles, then add about half a container of the pesto and serve! salt and pepper to taste.
  

super easy, super yummy. i think that jared could even make it (think). its good hot or cold as left overs. i tried to take pics but on saturday, my iphone needed a break, that is i forgot to charge it the night before and it died.

all this local lovin made me really want to make my own pesto and really grow some herbs. so we trekked over to home depot for a little window box to start our own recession garden for herbs at least. hopefully in the coming weeks we can start composting. for now we have basil, tarragon, oregano and mint growing on our windowsill. the pic above is me at the home depot, which according to my married friends, i will learn to loathe. for now, i get a little bit excited when i go there, even though i only have use for about 5% of what they offer.

growing up, my father and mother planted fairly elaborate gardens from which we got most of our veggies and even pickled and canned things to eat throughout the year. i have always wanted to continue with that. there's something to be said about really getting what you can from what you have. we grew our own veggies, and even raised some chickens at some point for eggs. my parents taught me a lot about being frugal and getting the most out of things. thinking back, as i was growing up, i never was for want. and it was great bonding time to go into the garden with my dad and see what had sprouted up each day. i might not be able to grow much on my little apt porch, but at least it's something. and something is really what you make it to be. thanks mom and dad for the life lessons. xoxo.