For lunch, we had tuna salad sandwiches. The tuna salad included boiled eggs from our chickens. Well . . the chickens didn’t lay boiled eggs . . that only happens in July and August! 
Eggs, Lettuce & Carrots from the Chickens/Garden
I could let myself feel very smug about the garden and how well it’s doing but I know that all it takes is one crop of grasshoppers or a hungry deer, and it could all be history. Of the things I do, such as sewing, quilting, canning . . probably the garden gives me the greatest satisfaction. I love playing in the dirt. The anticipation builds from the time I buy the seeds, til I plant them, seeing them sprout .. even the watering and pulling weeds just doesn’t damper the thrill I get when I dig around in the dirt and find bright, crunchy, sweet, orange carrots, or juicy, tangy, maroon beets. I used to call them burgundy but now that Texas A & M could be my favorite college football team, my beets are no longer burgundy . . they’re maroon. But . . what do you think about that? I mentioned orange and maroon talking about my garden. I should probably not do that again! But, my carrots are bright orange . . not that muddy orange that some other Texas team uses.
OK .. back to lunch! We had tuna salad sandwiches using the eggs from the chickens, the lettuce from the garden and we had fresh carrots with Ranch dressing. Of course, the sandwich was on homemade bread. Oh, did I mention I was feeling a bit smug about lunch today?
Lunch!
I was trying to wipe the crumbs off the plate for the photo. The top piece of bread kept falling off. Vince said “What are you doing?” I told him I was trying to wipe the crumbs off the plate because Pioneer Woman never has crumbs on her plates. He told me that I am not the Pioneer Woman so I should take the darned picture and let’s eat so . . I did! You probably have crumbs on your late when eating a sandwich too, don’t you?
Even though I love the carrots and beets, it’s so nice to have the lettuce growing in the garden. I just go out and pull however many leaves we need and it just keeps growing. It should grow just fine til it gets too hot — June or July.
Lettuce
Compared to the lettuce we get in the stores . . well, there’s no comparison. I suppose lettuce is the crop I miss the most during the summer because we use so much of it in salads, on sandwiches and burgers and for juicing. Without a doubt, the summer crop I miss the most is tomatoes. There’s also no comparing home grown tomatoes to any that I can buy in the store. I can hardly wait to go out and pick a fresh tomato and make a BLT. I suppose there’s no chance I would have tomatoes and lettuce in the garden at the same time but I’m real happy to have at least one of them out there.
Uh oh, now you did it. I’m probably going to have to quit following your blog (read my post from yesterday and you’ll know why!!!).
You’re carrots look great. Mine don’t get very long. What type of fertilizer are you using?? What kind of lettuce do you have the best luck with?? We planted several varieties this year but I really like the buttercrunch the best. Really sweet and crunchy.
Judy Snider
Sounds like you need a greenhouse for those off season tomatoes! I bet Vince could either find a bargain or build you one!
Yum! Nothing better than a tuna sandwich on freshly toasted bread. I have found a recipe for bread which I can eat in limited quantities. Apparently, sourdough and pumpernickel breads have a lower glycemic index than other breads, so I combined the recipes to make sourdough pumpernickel, and I do other things to add fiber and protein and lower the carb load, like using some almond flour and protein powder. I bake a loaf every couple of weeks and slice it up and freeze some slices. I can manage one nice toasted piece with a nice tuna salad! It’s just the best. Well, I’d prefer some nice crusty french or italian bread, but this will do!
Judy……..As I sit here looking out……fair amount of snow on the ground, 26F (no wind, though!)–need I say that I am more than envious!!! ‘Nuf said…….
We’ve had a few nights in the mid-teens and that took out my broccoli, damaged my kale and made for some pathetic looking mustard greens but the beets, carrots, lettuce and cauliflower are doing good and the chard, mustard greens and kale are going to make it . . I think.
Looks great!! I just got my seed catalogs in the mail this week and have started planning out next year;s garden -with the hope of an extended season in a hoop house!! Tending my garden is one of my favorite things to do! Your lunch looks great – crumbs and all!!
Now you need a tuna pond. =) Yes, there are crumbs on my plate … and on my shirt and my skirt and the table and … you understand, don’t you? =)
The difference between homemade bread & store bought is that you don’t have crumbs from storebought! Plus the taste is so worth making your own bread too!
Looks so good!! Being in MO, before the frost hit the tomato patch, I went out and picked all the green ones and brought them in, wiped them off and hoarded them!!! Ate my last one Dec 29th. If you wrap them in newsprint, they will last quite a while. Your garden foods look fantastic!!
Boy ,you can tell that those are fresh eggs! They never peel as smoothly as old eggs! I loved seeing the little bits missing from them. I could almost taste them! Wish I had chickens! Can I come share your lunch?
I have a few little sweet tiny tomatoes still growing. The plant came up from seed from my summer “Texas Wild” tomato. If you ever see this variety, be sure a buy one. It makes a huge plant covered with tiny tomatoes and just keeps on producing. Your lunch looks so delicious! Yummmm!
DH and I are laughing at your sandwich photo conversation. We had essentially the same conversation this evening while I was trying to take a photo of our carrot dish. Why don’t they understand how important it is to get a good picture of our food?
Judy, I have to agree with you about the homegrown tomatos! My Mom (87 ys old) wipes them off in the garden and eats them like apples. My Dad used to say that she was “out grazing the garden”. She does the same with the corn. LOL I don’t know about in Texas, but here we make Mater Samwiches. Bread slathered with some mayo, and just sliced maters in between. Eat over the sink because they are so juicy! Oh yum! Hurry summer! LOL
I late reading this journal about tuna /egg salad sandwich
my plate has crumbs while as your plate looks so delicious /Your carrots are gorgeous and the lettuce is fantastic,, , can I be a bunny in your garden.. I love love to bake homemade bread. yours looks yummy..
I mentioned that I told my DH about Speck; I sure as heck am NOT going to tell him about THIS one! (Graduated from “that other” university.)
Back on topic, I don’t even anticipate tomatoes any more. I can’t tell you when I last had a home-grown one.
judy, can you grow lettuce in the house during the summer months?
i love your food posts! i love to use the cuisine setting on my camera and i get plenty of ribbing from my family for it.