3 Gardenuity Gardeners Share Their Favorite Gardens + Favorite Recipes

With the year 2020 coming to a close, we thought it would be a great idea to take a moment and share some favorite moments from this wild and unprecedented year. After all, what would we be without striving to find gratitude in the face of challenge and adversity?

This week, three people who grow with Gardenuity shared their favorite container gardens with us, as well as their favorite recipes to make with the harvest of those gardens!

Keep reading to learn a little bit more about the Merry Mint Garden, the Taco Toppings Garden, and the Sips & Dips Garden. 

The Taco Toppings Garden

Kara Shannon, Co-Founder of Dallasites101, shared with us her favorite way to whip up some delicious tacos from our Taco Toppings Container Garden. 

“So, generally I am not a big cook,” Kara explains, “but one of my go-to’s is actually a taco bowl! I love that you can prepare the ingredients, and keep them separate in your fridge for whenever you’re in the mood to make a tasty bowl. It feels more fresh that way, and you aren’t stuck with the same old leftovers that you need to eat for several meals! It’ll taste even fresher if you’re adding ingredients from your Taco Toppings Garden!”

Kara’s Taco Bowl Recipe

Ingredients

• Roasted sweet potato
• Avocado
• Southwest Chopped Salad Kit
  • I like the crunch that this gives, but you can easily use super greens like spinach and kale! I don’t use the dressing or any toppings, just the salad mix. I use this as my base instead of rice.
• Cilantro
• Chopped Jalapeño
• Salsa Verde
  • For anyone local, Whole Foods sells Taco Deli’s green salsas; I do a combo of the Dona and Verde.
  • Try to make your own with this recipe.
• Cheddar cheese
  • I’m a fan of cheddar cheese, although a mexican blend or pepper jack might be the more obvious choice
• Ground turkey cooked on the stovetop.
  • I add a large spoonful of marinara sauce and Siete’s spicy taco seasoning – the marinara helps add moisture so that the meat is juicier, and then the seasoning is soaked up better.
• Black beans
• Corn
• Chopped tomato
• Chopped red onion
• Sour cream

How To

1. Start cooking your ground turkey on medium heat for 2-3 minutes, then add in the marinara sauce and Siete’s spicy taco seasoning.
2. While your meat is cooking, chop up your tomato, red onion, avocado, sweet potatoes and jalapeño.
3. Once the turkey is cooked, mix it all together and garnish with a dollop of sour cream, sprinkled cheese, and fresh cilantro.
4. Enjoy!

The Merry Mint Garden

Ron Corning, a nationally recognized TV personality, news anchor and producer, shared with us his favorite way to use our brand new Merry Mint Garden. The Merry Mint Garden is the perfect addition to your home this holiday season, as it serves as a lovely decoration, beautiful fragrance and bountiful garden all in one! Learn more about our Merry Mint Garden here. 

Ron’s Raspberry & Muddled Mint Margarita

Serves 1

Ingredients

• Silver Tequila, or tequila of choice
• Choice of vodka
• Freshly squeezed lime juice (one lime)
• 6 fresh raspberries
• 2 sprigs of fresh mint
• Chambord, or raspberry liqueur of choice
• Club soda

How To

• In a regular-sized mason jar, add 6 raspberries and a sprig of fresh mint. Muddle the mixture until loosely pulverized.
• Add one shot of silver tequila, and muddle some more.
• Add one shot of vodka, 1/2 shot of Chambord (or Raspberry liqueur), and the juice of one lime (or a quarter cup of fresh-squeezed lime juice).
• Add ice, stir, and top off with a splash of club soda and a sprig of fresh mint.

The Sips & Dips Garden

Another Gardenuity grower, Laura Druck, the Event Specialist at the Lincoln Experience Center, shared her favorite ways to entertain using our Sips & Dips Garden! This wonderful container garden is perfect for the avid entertainer, as it is geared towards providing all of the essential ingredients one needs for their finger foods and cocktails.

Luckily for us, Laura shared three delicious recipes that are super easy to make, and even easier to consume – check it out!

Let it Brie Crostini Bites

listen to the Beatles as you make this!

Ingredients

• 1 loaf of crispy baguette
• 7 oz brie
• ¼ cup of honey
• Handful of chopped herbs from the garden – rosemary, thyme, even basil

How To:

1. Slice the baguette into ¼ slices, top with a ¼ slice of brie cheese
2. Broil in the oven until cheese is melted
3. Drizzle with local honey and fresh herbs
4. Enjoy!

Marinated “Things Will Get Feta”

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp chives
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tbsp parsley
• 1 tbsp red bell pepper
• ½ of a red onion
• 1 tsp rosemary
• ½ cup EVOO
• 4 oz block of feta cheese
• S&P to taste

How To:

1. Throw the first 8 ingredients into a food processor and pulse until you have a small dice
2. Pour over feta, and let marinate for at least 2 hours.
3. Dash of salt & pepper to taste.
4. Serve with bread or crackers.
5. Enjoy!

Havin’ a Good Thyme Cocktail

Listen to Queen as you make this!

Ingredients:

• Thyme sprigs
• 2 oz Tito’s Vodka – it’s a Texas thing!
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup

How To:

1. Muddle 2-3 sprigs of thyme in a shaker
2. Add ice, then liquids. Shake for a good minute
3. Strain into a rocks glass with an ice sphere and a sprig of thyme.
4. Enjoy year round!