The Vegan's Garden

Spring and summer are the best time to be vegan. This is when gardens are bursting with all sorts of veggies and fruits. It’s also the time to think about growing the needed proteins a meatless diet demands. A vegan garden should have every and any kind of harvest to satisfy even the strictest herbivore.

A true vegan garden starts with the very beginning. Decide what you want, and when you want to harvest it. Of course, you’ll have to grow beans for the protein but which ones. Kidney beans are versatile, being used in everything from chili to bean burgers however they do pose a problem. Their harvest is in early autumn. The same goes for fava beans. They do not thrive in very hot climates , preferring a Mediterranean one with mild temps with occasional rain. They also take four to five months to harvest, so again, they’d be ready in the fall. The best beans are the pole beans, namely string beans, which work very  well in salads and as a side. They are quick growers, only taking two months to mature. What about chick peas, those vegan workhorses? Well, for starters, they're not peas or beans but legumes and cool weather growers. Luckily they are frost resistant so you could plant them in late September and expect a December harvest. You may want to try lima beans instead. Just as nutritious , they're easy to plant and tend. They do take three months so plant now for an August harvest.

Many vegans go for the super greens such as kale and spinach. Kale  can be planted from early Spring to early summer. The seedlings need to be thinned after two to three weeks of growth because the plants grow to a mammoth size. The average kale plant is anywhere from two to three feet with a two to three foot spread. They do require  a lot of land.Most vegans usually eat a lot of it so growing an abundance is not such a big deal. The other , spinach, can be planted right now. It's surprisingly a cool weather plant but can grow well in late Spring or early summer. They're versatile in the sense that the seedlings can be planted in either full sunlight or partial shade. They do thrive in sandy soil and need to be watered once a week. One of the pluses is they're the first for harvest so you can have a salad within weeks of planting . Of course vegans should think about tomatoes, Like beans, they're crucial to a vegetarian diet and lend variety to the diet. Before planting , study the different types. If you're more into sauces, then grow plum tomatoes. Enjoy a sandwich or focaccio with the aptly named beefsteak. If you enjoy them as a snack then think about growing cherry ones. You also have to decide whether to grow them from seeds or pots with young plants too.

A vegan garden may take work but  the harvest is worth it. They'll add to the diet and create a variety of different dishes. Plan today for a summer full of veggies.

Cool Summer Meal Lettuce Wraps

Cooking a summer dinner can be tricky . You want it to be tasty and filling yet you don't want it to be too labor intensive.You want something refreshing but not the typical salad. The simplest is lettuce wraps.These are easy to eat and even easier to make. They're the perfect blend of lightness and flavor with exotic thrown in.

Everyone thinks these easy wraps are modern. They've been around for almost 120 years being served in the UK at teas and in the United States in schools.It's simply taking two leaves and rolling it around any kind of filling. Mostly today they have an Asian influence however lettuce wraps can be filled with almost anything. They also make nice appetizers at pool parties and barbecues. You could even whip up a few the night before going to the beach. The best way though is serving them for a warm weather  supper that's both filling and light.

The best leaves to work with are iceberg,romaine, arugula and even cabbage.Filling them is up to you.If you want to have a hot filling them think of a quick  sauteed ground beef or grilled chicken . Add tomatoes,cilantro and sliced raw onions along with a vinaigrette or even ranch dressing. Put a Mexican spin o it with fresh made guacamole, shredded cheese and sour cream. For a really cool summer supper, then stuff with either chicken, tuna or crab salad.Another easy filling is taken cold cuts and shredding them with celery and broccoli. Add any dressing to make it more flavorful or even just add olive oil and lemon/.

Lettuce wraps are an easy supper. The best part is you can create a filling summer meal without the fuss . It's a nice way to end a day - with a tasty meal that doesn;t require a whole lot of work.