Tuggy

Driving home from Costco on a lovely Saturday afternoon with my family we spotted a dirty old plastic tugboat a block from my house. We had my dad drive around the block again to look, make sure from the gentleman outside it was free and grab that bad boy for little Charlie! He adores boats and all this one needed was a good scrubbing.

So my mom gets out to help and we carry that light, yet awkwardly large plastic tugboat about 20 yards and realize it would take forever at that rate. I hitch it up over my head and carry "Tuggy" home. My neighbor sweetly stops to ask if I need help, I think to myself "heck no, (but thank you) I've got my mommy super strength!" I get it in the back yard and get a big bucket of borax, bleach and give "Tuggy" a good scrubby! 

Looking good, but there was the lost plug issue...so I think...corks!! Good thing I collect them and lucky for me there was a boulevard fancy beer (larger than wine corks) cork! Fits like a glove! My "Tuggy" makeover is complete, filling with water as I type. Charlie is napping away and when he wakes to find sweet "Tuggy" filled to the brim with water that face will be priceless! Gosh, I love being a mother, and a darn crafty one too! 

Garlic Scapes?!

Today at The Merc (Lawrence's fabulous organic market) I saw something I'd never heard of.
Garlic Scapes. What are they? They are the curly tops of the garlic plant and are completely edible!

Then I saw Leeks, and I never buy them because they are too expensive. Today though from the same farmer I saw baby leeks! At a great price too. Garlic scapes and baby leeks would sooo go with the cauliflower and baby new potatoes I got the day before. And just like that, a delightful new and healthy group of veggies came together. How did I put them together you ask? I made a sauteed garlic scapes and leek mashed potato and cauliflower dish. It turned out delicious and so rich and flavorful!

Here's the recipe (roughly)

2 Baby Leeks trimmed and washed finely chopped

10 garlic scapes finely chopped (there is a woody end you want to discard)

10 small new potatoes, quartered

1 head of cauliflower, cut in large chunks

1 tbsp butter

1/4 milk 

splash of chicken stock

salt and pepper to taste

Boil potatoes for about 5-7 minutes then add cauliflower until fork tender, another 10-15 minutes.

After you add the cauliflower add the butter to a hot pan and add leeks and scapes, after about 5 minutes add a splash of chicken stock to keep them moist. Continue to sauté another 5 minutes turn off heat and add milk. Drain pots and cauliflower. Mash slightly and add leek mixture as well as salt and pepper. Use hand mixer or standing mixer to mix until fairly smooth. I left mine a bit lumpy for a nice texture. Pour into a 9x9 baking dish and serve right away or if you make them ahead like I did bake for 20-30 minutes at 350. 

I really hope you enjoy these as much as we did, they are so healthy and I love that I tried something new!!