BROOKLYN FARM GIRL - Brooklyn Farm Girl

4×4 Garden Plan: Let’s Grow 100 Pounds of Food!

Apr 18 2018

This year we’re going back to garden basics. And we’re back in Brooklyn y’all! After spending 2 Summers gardening Upstate we’re going back to our garden roots – growing in a small space in the city! Let me introduce you to this Summer’s experiment – how much can we grow in a 4×4 garden?

The 4×4 garden begins!

This year we joined our Brooklyn neighborhood community garden and got a 4×4 garden plot. We’re going to be using every inch of that 4×4 space, including the outside of the box with sub-irrigated containers! Seriously, we’re going to use all the space that comes with our little growing area!

So here’s my goal. I want to show you that you don’t need a lot of space to grow your own food!

I want to grow 100 pounds of vegetables in a 4×4 garden plot!

We’re not growing any heavy vegetables this year, such as pumpkins or watermelons, so the majority of the pounds would come from tomatoes. Instead of growing 3 types of tomatoes like we did every year, we’re only growing roma tomatoes this year because that’s what we use and can the most.

Apr 17 2018

CHOCOLATE AVOCADO Baby Muffins! These muffins are so moist and creamy because we use avocado and yogurt in them! This easy recipe is perfect for baby led weaning and also anyone looking for a healthy muffin!

Do you know what I love currently about motherhood? We’re starting to snack together! Looking for a treat that we could both share together I made these Chocolate Avocado Baby Muffins which are a complete hit!

They’re perfect for breakfast and perfect for a snack! After she finishes her dinner at night, sometimes we both sit down and eat a muffin together! So these are great for parents, babies, toddlers or just anyone who is seeking a healthy muffin!

Healthy Chocolate Muffins!

These are healthier than usual muffins because we aren’t using any oil or butter. Instead we’re making them moist and creamy with avocado and yogurt. Remember my avocado brownies? Yup, super creamy! So are these muffins!

Apr 16 2018

The best flower and vegetable garden cupcakes! You will love these easy ideas for fun cupcakes! Perfect for a birthday or enchanted tea party!

Gardeners love their vegetables – but we also love our sweets! Enjoy this collection of pretty garden cupcakes!

Flower and Vegetable Garden Cupcakes!

Aren’t these succulent garden cupcakes beautiful? Wouldn’t they look extra great with cupcake liners that look like fences? Check out Jin Cho’s Instagram pag e for more beautiful creations!

Sometimes I wish my house plants looked this good! They use icing tip 352, 21 and 102 to get the leaves! Get the DIY step by step instructions here!

Apr 09 2018

EDIBLE Chocolate Carrot Strawberry GARDEN is the perfect DIY Mother’s day gift from kids! This simple craft uses chocolate cookies for dirt and chocolate covered strawberries for carrots! Place a few craft rabbits in the dirt and you have a beautiful edible vegetable garden! Great for toddlers, preschoolers and older children to make for Mothers and Grandmas who love to garden!

This edible garden craft is TOO CUTE! I was feeling crafty (and hungry) so I put together this chocolate covered strawberry treat that resembles a carrot vegetable garden – with rabbits and and all! This is such a fun Spring project and would make the best Mother’s Day gift from kids!

This Chocolate Carrot Strawberry Garden won’t take long to make at all! From start to finish you can have this made in 15 minutes. And of course the best part is helping eat those chocolate covered strawberries that are coated in chocolate cookies! YUM!

Apr 05 2018

HOMEMADE Copycat Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies – just like you remember as a kid! Each brownie is 150 calories! This easy to make recipe includes a rich chocolate fudge frosting and rainbow sprinkles on top! Make this brownie dessert to share with your family!

These chocolate brownies covered in rainbow sprinkles bring back memories! I have fond memories of picking out the weekly grocery store snack when I was a kid, most often reaching for a box of Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies! What wasn’t to love about these brownies? They were chocolate! They were soft! They had rainbow sprinkles! They had “Cosmic” in the title! They were so cool!

Whenever I’m in the grocery store now and I walk by the display of Little Debbie pastries, my eyes always dart to quickly find the Cosmic Brownies. I usually smile quickly and move along. This time though, I decided I was going to make my favorite childhood brownies! Enjoy these Homemade Copycat Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies!

Mar 27 2018

CREAMY Lettuce Soup is a delicious, healthy recipe that uses 1 head of lettuce. Combined with heavy cream, chicken broth and spices, this is a great way to add lettuce to your diet! I love using Bibb lettuce in this recipe but Romaine and Iceberg work good too! Who knew cooked lettuce could taste so yummy for dinner – even kids love it!

Hi,

Do you want to come in?

I’m going to make us some soup. It will be delicious.

Oh, what kind of soup you ask?

*LOCKS DOOR, REALLY QUICK*

Lettuce soup.

Mar 25 2018

Learn how to cook PERFECT Indian Basmati Rice! This easy recipe uses basmati rice and fragrant spices to create authentic tasting Indian rice. Pair it with roasted vegetables to make a healthy, vegan meal for dinner!

I love Indian food. The problem is that I don’t have any experience with Indian cooking, or traditional Indian spices so I was always scared to try cooking it in my own kitchen. Instead I forked over the money for Indian take-out, wishing I could make my own! Finally, I decided I was going to learn how to make basmati rice, Indian style.

How authentic is this recipe? It tastes so much like our favorite Indian restaurant that Matthew thought I bought it from there! And here’s the best part – it’s so easy to make! You can be a total Indian food cooking newbie and totally nail this basmati rice recipe!

Let’s talk rice first because not all rice is created equal. Indian rice calls for basmati (baz-mah-tee) rice which is a long grain rice that’s more expensive than typical plain white rice. You will find various brands of it in your local grocery store but here’s the one I use. Basmati rice is my favorite, not just because of the taste but the smell – it smells amazing!

Nutritionally, white and basmati rice have pretty much the same calorie content as basmati rice is about 200 calories per 1 cup cooked rice.

Mar 15 2018

DELICIOUS CROCK POT Corned Beef Brisket with Vegetables recipe! This slow cooker recipe cooks a 4 pound corned beef brisket with cabbage, carrots, potatoes and onion to create a amazing dinner! Use the leftovers the next day for the best BBQ sandwiches!

When it was my first time buying brisket many years ago, I didn’t know where to look for it at – with the meats on the shelf? Behind a refrigerated door?Is it at the meat counter? And what does it look like? I had no idea. So after a google image search and phone in hand, there I found it in the meat department on the top shelf all the way to the left.
My first thought- yikes, that is expensive.

My second thought – they had point cut and flat cut. What is the difference? Again… to Google I went in the meat department. Point cut has more fat content but is more tastier. Flat cut is less fat, less tender. Also to note Flat cut is about twice the price (twice the yikes).

Best type of meat for Brisket

So when I saw a reviewer saying “If you want taste, go with the Point Cut” that was it. I wanted the flavor and texture, I wasn’t about to take that away for less fat. If this is a special meal you have a few times a year, do the point cut – just do it.

Mar 12 2018

PARSLEY PARMESAN PASTA takes 15 minutes to make! This healthy meal using fresh parsley costs less than $4! Blend the parsley with other simple ingredients to make a nut free pesto sauce and then pour on top of pasta! It’s delicious and easy to make!

The answer to the question “What the heck do I make with a bunch of parsley” I was asking myself while standing in the kitchen is this recipe! You’ve been there. You buy fresh parsley because you need 1 tablespoon for a recipe and then the rest sits in the refrigerator. Well I’m here to help you out! You want to make this Parsley Parmesan Pasta!

This delicious pasta meal takes less than 15 minutes to make so it’s easy! It’s a budget friendly meal costing less than $4.00. And oh yeah, it’s delicious. Like really really really delicious!

Mar 07 2018

PRETTIEST Cheese Dip ever! MEXICAN Vegetable Bowl MONTEREY JACK Cheese Dip! This easy dip recipe is made with grated Monterey Jack cheese and Mexican spices! Cover the top with chopped up vegetables to make the most beautiful homemade dip! This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mission®. All opinions are entirely my own.

Cheese lovers, this dip is calling your name! This Vegetable Bowl Monterey Jack Cheese Dip is made with Monterey Jack cheese, which is perfect for 2 reasons. First, Monterey Jack cheese melts beautifully, it’s one of the best melting cheeses in my opinion, so it makes a perfect cheese for dip. Secondly, when you add a little seasoning and spice, it’s a great cheese to use for Mexican inspired dishes, like this cheese dip!

I got to thinking about what makes the perfect dip. It needs to be cheesy, creamy and full of flavor. But it also needs to have perfect partners in crime, in this case Mission Organics® Blue Corn Tortilla Chips and vegetables! Instead of putting the vegetables on the side, I decided to include them in the dip to make a Vegetable Bowl Cheese Dip!

Mar 03 2018

HOMEMADE COOKIES recipe for baby led weaning and soothing a teething baby! These healthy Sweet Potato cookies are made with mashed sweet potato, banana, baby cereal and oatmeal! My favorite part is that these cookies are so delicious we can share them together!

Can you believe Enceladus just turned 8 months? How time flies! With month 7 came her craving for finger food! No Mom, she doesn’t want to be fed with a spoon, she wants to feed herself! I admit, it does get a little messy when she feeds herself but it’s lots of fun to watch! And honestly, nothing warms my heart more than to know she loves Mama’s cooking (she’s a big fan of my mashed cauliflower potatoes!).

Life has been filled with happy moments of “first foods”. The messy first time she ate watermelon, the slippery first time she ate avocado, the sour face lemon taste, the happy face of tasting jam on toast, etc. Sweet potatoes have been a favorite of hers for a few months, but I had to figure out a way to serve them in a way that she could feed herself since she prefers finger foods over purees nowadays.

I felt like her breakfast choices were lacking so I got to thinking in how I could incorporate sweet potatoes in breakfast or a snack. I came up with these soft and yummy Sweet Potato Banana Cookies, perfect for baby led weaning eating adventures!

Feb 25 2018

HEALTHY Tomato Cucumber Tuna Salad with olive oil dressing! This easy salad recipe is a Summer favorite! I love using fresh tomatoes, cucumber and onions from the garden! It’s completely dairy free too! This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Blue Harbor.

This Tomato Cucumber Tuna Salad is the perfect fresh Summer salad. Or if it’s not summertime, then it’s the perfect close your eyes and pretend it’s Summer salad! It includes a few garden favorites; tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and fresh parsley so it’s ripe with flavor. It also includes Albacore tuna which has a delicious, mild and clean flavor. Trust me, you’re going to love it!

It’s still Winter here in NYC and I feel like we’ve had a colder than average last few months. I’m sick of wearing my big Winter coat and pushing the stroller through the windy streets. To comfort my need for wishing for a warmer day, I made this Summer feeling salad that has me dreaming of picking tomatoes in our vegetable garden.

Feb 22 2018

The Brooklyn Farm Girl tea swap is BACK!!!!!

After multiple requests from tea lovers around the world I have brought the swap out of hibernation! If you love tea, I invite you to join the Winter Tea Swap! Running monthly tea swaps was a little overwhelming and took a lot of planning on my part, so instead I am bringing them back seasonally. I think this is a better idea too since our tea taste changes from season to season!

(How to throw a tea party!)

If you’ve never been a apart of a tea swap, here’s how it works:

You and a assigned partner send each other a small package filled with different teas to try, a small snack, and a little note saying hello. You can send as much tea as want, but at the very least I recommend sending 10 bags. This allows you to try new teas that you might have never tried. Plus it will be relaxing to sit down at night, read a small note, nibble on a little snack and drink a cup of tea! The entire swap is about meeting new friends, trying new teas and smiling!

Feb 19 2018

DELICOUS, NO SOAKING REQUIRED, Refried Beans! This easy homemade recipe cooks dry pinto beans in the slow cooker! We always make these healthy crockpot beans for authentic Mexican meals, I will never use canned beans again! Make sure to add shredded cheddar cheese on top!

I love refried beans. Not only do they make the perfect side with your favorite Mexican dish (for us, usually tacos!), but they make a pretty great meal by themselves too! Have you ever had a bowl of perfectly cooked refried beans with a little shredded cheese on top? It’s delicious!

These homemade refried beans are made from dry pinto beans. Dry beans are not only super cheap but in my opinion make the best refried beans. Did you know growing your own dry beans in the garden is easy too? These refried beans are extra special to me because they are made with our own yellow eye beans we grew in the garden last Summer! Feel free to use regular dry pinto beans or yellow eye beans for this recipe, they both make delicious refried beans.

Feb 16 2018

If you’re anything like me, you might spoil your cats. My cats have heated beds, which doesn’t mean anything because they sleep in bed with us. Not only do they sleep in bed with us, but I curl into a little ball so they can stretch out in the bed! During the day if they’re sleeping on the couch I will sit on the floor because I don’t want to disturb them! Occasionally they let me squeeze in between them on the couch for some good ear rubs!

Feb 14 2018

Hey everybody – Happy Valentine’s Day!

I have a really special Valentine this year. In fact, it’s her first Valentine’s Day. Her name is Enceladus…. and I’m kinda in love with her!

Matthew and I are generally excited about holidays, especially Christmas and Halloween, so I knew when we had a child I was going to go a little Mama crazy with activities and dressing up! There’s just something in me that screams “I’M SO EXCITED TO DO ARTS & CRAFTS WITH MY BABY!”.

Feb 12 2018

HEALTHY & CREAMY Roasted Cauliflower Carrot Soup! This recipe is loaded with fresh vegetables and is so easy to make! Even though it tastes cheesy there’s no cheese in the recipe – it’s amazing! Recipe can easily be made dairy free by using almond milk.

Roasted vegetables don’t get enough love in my opinion. Magic happens when you crank your oven up to 450 degrees, and roll your vegetables around in olive oil. Cauliflower and carrots are good by themselves, but ROASTED cauliflower and carrots? They are amazing!

I had some beautiful carrots that I planned on making baby puree with (which I did – with a kick of cinnamon – she loves it!), but I was left with half a pound of carrots. I took another glance in the refrigerator and saw a head of cauliflower that was screaming to be used. I was feeling in the soup mood so I decided to make my family’s favorite cauliflower soup, but with a carrot twist!

This soup is so creamy – but without all the extra fat that usual creamy soups call for! In fact, there is no cheese in this soup! There is only 1 cup of milk, and if you want to make it dairy free you can easily substitute almond milk instead.

Feb 07 2018

Homemade Whole Wheat SLOW COOKER Bread recipe that’s so easy to make! This simple recipe is made in the crock pot and uses honey instead of sugar. This bread is healthy and great for clean eating! Use it for sandwiches or for breakfast, I love mine with a little butter and jam!

Remember my 2 Hour Slow Cooker Bread? I had a few requests for a Whole Wheat version so I baked my heart out one weekend and made this Whole Wheat Slow Cooker Bread, also made in 2 hours!

If you’re anything like me, then you love bread. No, you don’t just love bread, you LOVE LOVE bread. I am pretty sure bread is up there in my top 5 favorite foods of all time. Bread is perfect for sandwiches of course, but it makes the perfect partner for a creamy casserole.

One of my favorite quick breakfast meals is a slice of bread with butter and raspberry jam on it! It’s perfect!

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Apple, Pear and Banana Baby Food

Feb 04 2018

EASY TO MAKE Apple, Pear and Banana Baby Food! This recipe makes 64 ounces of baby food for only $10! This simple homemade puree uses fresh fruit that your baby will love! Follow this DIY on how to make it and info on freezer storage! This is my 7 month old’s favorite combination puree!

Ok, I can’t help it, I’m obsessed with making baby food. Did you think that this vegetable garden loving Mama wouldn’t be making baby food? I love to puree fruits and vegetables in the kitchen and watch Enceladus react to first tastes!

If you love cooking, then you understand the amazing feeling one gets when you serve friends or family a home cooked meal. When placing the food on the table in front of your family, you are essentially saying “I love you!”. So imagine my excitement when I’m cooking for my baby!

Enceladus started eating fruit and vegetable purees at around 5 months. Since turning 7 months old a few days ago, she’s tasted plenty of combinations, but this one is her favorite: Apple, Pear and Banana! What’s not to love? It’s like a tropical fruit smoothie for babies! I’ll be honest, I love this puree so much I might sneak e a few bites in when she’s not looking!

Besides the satisfying feeling of feeding your baby a home cooked meal, making your own baby food is extremely economical. Let’s do some simple math real quick.

Jan 29 2018

EASY & CREAMY Cauliflower Pot Pie Recipe! This easy Vegetarian Pot Pie uses frozen pie crusts to make a delicious dinner! The pot pie is made with cauliflower, carrots and peas filling in a creamy sauce! It’s a healthy, vegetable friendly solution to homemade chicken pot pie!

I have a confession. I wasn’t going to post this recipe. Not because I didn’t think it was delicious and that your family would love it. No, quite the opposite! This is one of my most popular recipes to make that often leaves friends asking “Can you give me the recipe?”. But I wasn’t going to post it because I was ashamed of how it looked. I had pot pie embarrassment.

I am not a expert pie maker. I cannot make perfect crust. I am not Marie Callender! What my pot pie lacks in beautiful crust makes up for in taste, and that’s how I feel about this Cauliflower Pot Pie!

DELICIOUS Vegetable Pot Pie!

I know this Cauliflower Pot Pie is not the most beautiful pot pie you’ve ever seen. The crust is uneven, it has caved in spots, heck it even has a crack down the middle of the pie. But goodness gracious, this pot pie is DELICIOUS! AND EVERY DELICIOUS POT PIE DESERVES A DAY TO SHINE!

So here I am. After attempting to photograph it 3 times but putting away my camera every single time, I came back to it before the sun went down. I googled photos of “pot pie” that looked perfect. They were magazine cover beautiful. And then I laughed. Who am I kidding? I will never make the most beautiful pot pie that has intricate leaf designs cut out of it. That’s not me. That’s not my style. I’m Pamela. I make messy casseroles and blueberry muffins that sometimes fall apart.

4×4 Garden Plan: Let’s Grow 100 Pounds of Food!

The 4×4 garden begins!

I want to grow 100 pounds of vegetables in a 4×4 garden plot!

Chocolate Avocado Baby Muffins

Healthy Chocolate Muffins!

Garden Cupcakes

Flower and Vegetable Garden Cupcakes!

Chocolate Carrot Strawberry Garden

Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies Recipe

Lettuce Soup

Easy Indian Basmati Rice

Crock Pot Corned Beef Brisket with Vegetables

Best type of meat for Brisket

Parsley Parmesan Pasta

Vegetable Bowl Monterey Jack Cheese Dip

Sweet Potato Baby Led Weaning Cookies

Tomato Cucumber Tuna Salad

Brooklyn Farm Girl Winter Tea Swap!

No Soaking Required Slow Cooker Refried Beans

Goblin and Toes, it’s Chicken Filet time!

I have a Valentine!

Roasted Cauliflower Carrot Soup

Whole Wheat Slow Cooker Bread

Apple, Pear and Banana Baby Food

Cauliflower Pot Pie

DELICIOUS Vegetable Pot Pie!