So You Grew a Garden... Veggie Round-Up!

It's time for the round-up! I have to admit I was drooling every time I opened a new email submission. These are all really great and wonderfully colorful recipes! As much as I love fall, I am already looking forward to next summers garden so I can personally try all of these fantastic recipes! For my own submission, I used a new recipe for a great dip, it is down at the bottom!

Thanks again to all of my participants. Your recipes are a great inspiration to all gardeners that have run out of ideas for their harvest, as well as non-gardeners just looking for a new way to cook up some veggies!

First up we have Amy from the French Kitchen. She submitted this drool worthy recipe for a cheesy vegetable medley. I love how simple AND delicious this looks. Amy says, "This is such an easy but flavorful dish. I used vegetables from my grandfather's garden and the recipe comes from my mother-in-law. It's simply sauteed chopped veggies and melted cheese. Need I say more?" Nope, no need to say more. You had me at cheese.



Next is Jessica from the Novice Chef. Her sauteed eggplant sounds absolutely amazing. I was excited to see an eggplant submission because I have never actually cooked eggplant before. Now I have a great recipe to start with! Jessica says, "This recipe is one of my favorite ways to cook eggplant. The lemon really gives it something special!"


Molly, from the Rookie Chef, submitted this super colorful kabob. Kabobs are a really fantastic way to use vegetables and make a great presentation on a plate, as you can see from her picture. Molly says, "Rainbow Kabobs are a great way to incorporate six different vegetables into your diet. The wider variety of color, the wider variety of nutrients!"


The next submission comes from Yudith at Blissfully Delicious. This tomato tart looks and sounds so delicious! It makes me extra sad that the darn deer ate my tomato plants! Yudith says, "I love how simple this recipe was. It really showcases these homegrown tomatoes that my mom planted this summer!"


Cate, from Cate's World Kitchen, submitted another great eggplant recipe! Again, another reason for me to pick up an eggplant the next time I'm at the grocery store! Cate says, "The smokiness from the eggplant is what makes this salad, but the citrus and all the fresh vegetables keep it light and perfect for summer."


The Beantown Baker, Jen, submitted this incredible looking potato salad. I love how unique this recipe is, it's a great play on an old favorite. Jen says, "I love heading to my farmers market and just grabbing whatever looks fresh to throw something together for dinner that night. I came home one week with snap peas, cucumbers, and tomatoes which turned into this delicious potato salad."


Janet, from Cooking in Cucamonga, sent me 3 great links from her blog. Spinach and ricotta stuff portabellas, chock full of veggies pasta sauce, and black bean and corn salsa. I am such a sucker for any kind of salsa and hers looks really delicious, so I chose it for the round up. Janet says, "The name 'salsa' is misleading in this recipe. This is not really a salsa, or even a garnish; It is more of a side dish. It's a great summery addition to a bbq or burgers, and can be made even better by using fresh corn."


I almost forgot this next submission! I apologize, Amy! Amy, from Skinny Food by Amy submitted a very unique jalapeno pepper jelly. This jelly looks like so much fun to make, and as she points out in her post, what a great Christmas gift! Amy says, "I've never canned anything before, but I was really excited to try to make this jalapeno jelly. It is going to make great gifts for my family and friends this holiday season!"


Finally, my own submission for the round-up. I have just a few straggling Serrano peppers from my garden and I was looking for a way to use them. When I decided to have a few fellow nursing students over for a study session, I wanted to make a good dip and this recipe seemed like the perfect way to meet both of those needs. This dip certainly did not disappoint me or my guests. It's flavorful, spicy and creamy all at the same time. This will be a must for football Sundays which have FINALLY begun! Also, I used the leftovers as a spread on a burger and it was *amazing*. Give this great dip recipe a try!


Jalapeno Popper Dip
(Adapted from The Rookie Chef)

Ingredients

1 block of neufatchel (reduced fat cream cheese), softened
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
4-5 serrano peppers, seeded, roasted and finely chopped
1/4 cups jarred jalapeno rings, finely chopped
1/2 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 - 3/4 cup monterey jack shredded cheese

Combine ingredients in a bowl. Transfer the dip to a nice oven proof serving dish. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese starts to turn golden brown on the edges and is bubbly in the middle. You can also put the ingredients in a crockpot, if you do that I would recommend doubling the recipe.