This is one of my favorite times of year. The garden is in full swing.

It is busy, but the rewards are delicious!

It’s the time of year that I can meander through the garden, choosing what I will feed my family for dinner.

Dinner is an exciting time. It’s a time where the entire family stops. We share our day. We share our stories. We laugh. We talk. We discuss life. We talk about the next day. We dream.

There are no phones, no computers, no TV, just us. A family sharing a meal that took all of us to bring to the table.

Dinner is not always the same time. It’s not perfectly plated. (Though I really try because I always want pictures!) It is sometimes very late. But we always stop for dinner. It’s our moment that the world is completely shut out and the only thing that matters are those gathered around the table.

We choose our moments. This is one we guard closely.

We are blessed to be able to live the way we do. It’s not because we have to, it’s because we want to. We started our quest for only local meat and veggies a long time ago. After a visit to the local super store, I realized that I had traveled the world yet did not leave the city. I thought, I have no idea the quality of this food. I thought of the energy spent to get it to market. I thought of how the animals were raised and process. It did not sit well with me.

We found farmers. Made relationships. Bought local. Bought for the season.

As we grew in our journey for health, had more property and knowledge, we started to produce our own. Not out of fear of our food sources or lack of food on a shelf, but the desire for better food, better for health and for sustainability.

I think about how far we have come on our journey from that moment.

Dinner tonight will be simple. Chicken we raised. Veggies we grew. A Pantry Staple.

Baked Chicken with Garden Veggie Pasta (S)

If you are following the Trim Health Mama lifestyle, this meal will be fat as a fuel source.

Chicken – any cut with skin

Every Day Seasoning

4 Servings DreamFields Pasta – Penne

3 Small Zucchini, chopped

Medium Sweet Red Pepper, chopped small

2 fresh tomatoes (med to large), chopped in chunks

2 garlic cloves, minced fine

1 small onion, chopped fine

Fresh herbs as desired – Lots of basil, a bit of oregano, and a pinch of thyme. Roughly chopped.

4 TBS EVOO

Mineral Salt, as desired for taste (THM Mineral Salt)

Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese, garnish

Directions:

Place chicken in baking dish and sprinkle with Every Day Seasoning.

Bake at 350 until internal temperature reaches recommended 165 degrees.

Chopped veggies and herbs as instructed above.

In small skillet, use 1 tbs of EVOO, saute onion, peppers and garlic until onions are translucent.

Set aside.

Cook pasta as instructed on the box. Add zucchini on the last 1 minute of cook time to soften.

Drain Pasta & Zucchini.

Place zucchini and pasta back into hot kettle. Add the remainder of the EVOO, chopped herbs, and onion, pepper, garlic skillet mix, as well as the chopped tomatoes.

Stir together.

Plate Pasta & Veggies with Baked Chicken. Ladel chicken broth & drippings from baking dish over pasta & veggies. Garnish with fresh parmesan cheese.

Enjoy.

NOTE:

I love more veggies. This is what I had picked. However, as our okra sets on, I would add okra! Great suggestions would be spinach, okra, summer squash, additional peppers, or other leavy greens you love.

I love making this pasta dish. My daughter loves pasta! This is a great way to enjoy pasta but not overload your blood sugar and stay in your fat as fuel zone. *See my notes below on pasta.

As we are in our second season here on our new homestead, very thankful, our God answers dreams. Dreams of a homestead. Dreams of growing and raising 85% of what we consume. Not because we have to, because it’s in us to do it.

As I comb the garden for our next meal, I look forward to our quiet time around the table. I feel very blessed we get the privilege to live this way. As we preserve our harvest, I think of meals to come around our table, unwinding for they day.

My thought to you, Go! It is the season for farmers markets! Go. Get out. Meet your farmers. Develop relationships. Buy local. Make memories. Have fun gathering your next meal. You won’t be disappointed.

Until next time, Happy Homesteading, wherever it is you call home!

Blessings –

Farmgirl Jo

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*Note on DreamFields Pasta. I find this pasta very gentle on my glucose. I do not recommend eating this on a daily basis. Our family enjoys it about once a month as we like the taste of “real pasta”. DreamFields Pasta did say on its package, 5 net carbs. However, due to legal language, they had to remove it. Most find it very gentle. This will be a personal choice item on the THM journey as part of a low carb meal.

I am a member of the Trim Healthy Mama Affiliate Program. Here’s my link if you wish to purchase through it. THM is not a MLM company. I receive a small commission from your purchase. Your price does not change. Thank you for choosing to purchase through my affiliate program.