We still have two more weeks until we move in but I couldn’t wait to show you a sneak peak! Quick shot on the camera phone hope to do our next video from there. :)

I hate to ask a favor but please, PLEASE check out the video and if you feel so inclined leave a comment on their site (there’s an area under the video). Maybe I can get their attention if it’s viewed a lot?? Right? I figure it’s worth a shot! RIGHT? :~)

I tend to use Roni’s Weigh for personal news and stuff like this as I like to keep GreenLiteBites mostly about food. To me it’s my recipe archive. But I had to post this here for all my friends that may not read Roni’s Weigh.

ok, end shameless plug. :~P

Of course, Ryan is as cute as ever. :~)

Last year the toddler and I started the tradition of making brownie bites for halloween. Take your favorite brownie mix (I use VitaBrownie Mix) make according to package, bake in mini muffin cups topped with festive sprinkles.

Simple but fun! :~)

If you are interested in trying the VitaBrownie Mix use the code RonisWeigh when you order online for 10% off!

Here’s the story… When I moved into my house about 6 years ago I decided I would TRY to grow a few plants in containers on the deck. I, by no means, have a green thumb. Actually the opposite is true. In the past I think I’ve killed every houseplant I ever attempted to grow.

I didn’t care, I really wanted to take my hand at some home grown vegetables. I just thought it would be really neat to grow some of my own fresh food.

So I invested in 5 large plastic pots for the deck and a few bags of soil. I bought some seedlings from a local farm stand and I was shocked the first year when I plucked tomatoes and zucchini from my own deck garden.

Over the next few years I continued to container garden. Not really knowing what I was doing I’d experimented each year with different vegetables and different techniques. Sometimes I’d buy seedlings sometimes seeds. I learned that large plants in containers need a lot of water and you can nurse a dry plant back to health. I also learned that with a little attention and care it really wasn’t that hard.

This year I decided to take the leap and carve out a corner of my yard for a mini garden. It was a lot of work but I tilled the soil by hand, fenced it off with a little border and planted all different seedlings to see what would actually grow in my Maryland clay.

To my surprise everything grew and grew fast! Before I knew it the plants were so big I couldn’t get into the garden anymore. My melons vined outside of the garden and under the deck. My tomato plants grew so large I couldn’t tie them to the stakes anymore and my Zucchini plants literally took over the garden with their enormous leaves.

I’m sure if I knew what I was doing I’d have a more fruitful (and better looking) garden but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Look at the fruits of my labor from just today!

Even if this is all I get out of this year (which it’s not I’ve been plucking zucchini and cherry tomatoes for weeks) it was well worth it and here’s why….

1. Planting and showing the toddler that you can grow a garden has been priceless. His little face lights up with excitement every time he discovers a new fruit to pick.
2. Growing our own veggies also gives me more of a chance to teach him how important a good diet is. He routinely pops cherry tomatoes and green beans in while picking, he’s wiling to take bites out of zucchinis and he even HAD to try to a hot pepper after I continually warning that it would be hot! For him eating fresh whole foods is second nature and I’m reinforcing that!
3. Organic is such a buzzword lately but really, growing your produce is the ultimate organic, healthy option out there. Nothing is more fresh and nutritious then something you plucked from your own plants.
4. It keeps me busy. There have been many a Sunday where I just want to veg in front of the TV, then I remember I have a garden! I end up out there (with the toddler) picking weeds and watering. It’s a great outlet that really gives you a reason to get off your butt!
5. I’ve gained the confidence to continue to garden and I know that even though my garden isn’t perfect it doesn’t matter. I’ll still get something. Even if it’s only a tomato or two. Who cares! It’s fun and productive! :~)

So I hope me showing you my disaster of garden inspires those of you who are afraid to take the leap of growing your own vegetables to give it a try. For all the green thumb readers out there, I’m open ears to any gardening advice you’d like to give!

What GLB recipes would you like to see in a book?

I’m thinking I’ll make it a reader’s choice type of thing. I’m not sure. Plus I’m having a hard time picking so I’d rather ask then make assumptions as to what recipes are book worthy.

So please, please, please comment away and give me your suggestions. I’d really appreciate it!

See you next week! (Although there may be a mid week surprise, you know I can’t miss a weekly video!) ;~P

I made the Thin Crust Whole Wheat Pizza Dough, this time half whole wheat and half white whole wheat (no soy) and it was perfect!! (even the husband thought it was perfect!)

Nutritional info for the pizza as shown.

So, here it is, 7 things you didn’t realize you needed to know about me and food…

1. I HATE mayonnaise! Despise the stuff. And it’s not just for health reasons. Even as a child it just totally grossed me out. While I’m confessing I might as well add sour cream, ranch dressing and creamy soups to the list.
2. Unlike A.Grace, I like my bananas still a bit green and firm. As soon as there is a brown spot on it, I’m ready to bake with it. Thankfully, the toddler doesn’t care, so I eat a few early in the week and he finishes the bunch later on.
3. When I was a kid, every day after school I would make myself an English muffin pizza. (I guess I started to train early on the pizza addiction)
4. I might get some slack on this one but I have NEVER liked Mac & Cheese. EVER! Honestly, the smell grosses me out. My comfort food of choice when I was a kid was beef-a-roni. You know, that mish mosh of elbow macaroni and ground beef you’d get at school. MAN, I could eat that by the pound!
5. Something weird I started doing a few years ago, I mix raw almond butter with my natural peanut butter. It makes a great texture and I figure the toddler is getting a better variety of nutrients.
6. I can’t tell the difference between frozen yogurt and ice cream. I mean, maybe, if I had a blind taste test side-by-side comparison I’d be able to tell. But if you give me something cold, creamy and chocolate, I’m good.
7. My favorite thing to do in the WORLD is to split a homemade smoothie with the toddler. Here we are this morning downing a banana strawberry blueberry cherry chocolate smoothie! Sometimes we go a little nuts with the flavors. ;~P

So I guess it’s my turn to tag others. Well, I may be going totally out of my league here so I doubt they’ll respond but I tag Pinch My Salt, Smitten Kitchen, and The Leftover Queen. Three of my absolute favorite food blogs, they all have awesome photos and inspire me every day to think outside of my comfort level.