Chicken Feta Meatballs & Couscous: my new hyper-fixation lunch

Chicken Feta Meatballs & Couscous: my new hyper-fixation lunch and answers to your questions Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:55:13 GMT https://carmeninthegarden.substack.com/p/chicken-feta-meatballs-and-couscous Carmen in the Garden is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Gardening Hotline: answers to your questions Each month, I open up a Q&A on Instagram, welcoming your questions about anything. Additionally, feel free to use the subscriber chat anytime to crowdsource your queries!

What is the best starter plant for a first time gardener? Herbs! I mention them often because I use them daily, and they're incredibly easy to grow in almost any space. Some, like mint, need to be grown in small pots to prevent them from taking over the garden. Right now, I'm particularly loving basil. I wrote this post talking in depth about growing herbs:

What type of meals can you make with hot peppers from the garden? Hot peppers might not often be the main event, but they pack a punch in so many dishes. They’re great in salsas, soups, and stir-fries. You can pickle them for a spicy sandwich kick or dry them to use later.

Did you feel uncomfortable filming yourself as a cc? [content creator] If yes how did you get over it? I started my TikTok in early 2022 without telling anyone in my real life. My advice to anyone wanting to post more on social media is to do the same. A great piece of advice I follow comes from Mel Robbins: your social media is not for your friends and family. She means that it’s your business card, a way to connect your service—be it beauty, fashion, food, or gardening—with the people seeking it. This mindset helps you focus on reaching and engaging with your target audience. I also wrote this post about my thoughts about social media since “going viral”:

What are your tips to help your garden produce? To help your garden thrive, there are a few non-negotiables you need to keep in mind:

Sunlight: Ensure your garden receives full sun, ideally 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Without adequate sunlight, plants will struggle to grow and produce.

Water: Consistent watering is crucial. Invest in a reliable irrigation system or establish a watering routine to keep your garden hydrated. Remember, different plants have varying water needs.

Soil Health: Amending your soil with organic matter such as compost and mulch is essential. Compost enriches the soil with nutrients, while mulch helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Learn more about compost and mulch .

Pollinators: Create a pollinator-friendly environment by planting flowers and plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. These creatures are vital for the pollination process, which directly affects the yield of many crops. Learn about creating a pollinator-friendly garden.

Do you have an irrigation system in place? How much time do you spend watering your garden? Yes, I have both drip irrigation and sprinklers in place. However, everything in containers still needs to be hand-watered. While most of my garden can manage for a short time when I'm away, I do need someone to help out for longer trips. Mulch helps retain moisture, but it's not enough for extended absences. For the best results when you're out of town, consider setting up an automatic irrigation system with timers, and ask a neighbor or friend to check in and water the container plants.

Organic growing “fertilizing” tips! Anything other than compost? There are various types of compost you can use, such as store-bought, homemade, vermicompost, and manure. In addition to compost, I occasionally use an organic citrus fertilizer. The key is to carefully read the instructions on the box and only apply fertilizer at specific times of the year according to those instructions. This ensures your plants get the nutrients they need without over-fertilizing.

How to start a garden? See this post:

How do you use your cucamelons? You can snack on them, add to salads, use as garnishes for cocktails, blend them into a granita, or pickle them. Use them just like you would a cucumber.

What are other crops that can grow successfully in grow bags? I’ve grown tomatoes, hot peppers, and herbs successfully in these grow bags .

What do you do with the dirt you planted potatoes in? I either reuse it again or use it to top off my raised beds.

I think I saw you’re in LA, what do you do about our heat? Yes, I’m in LA, and dealing with the heat is definitely a challenge. Here’s what I do to keep my garden thriving: I water deeply in the mornings to ensure the plants have enough moisture to get through the day and to reduce evaporation loss. I regularly remove weeds to prevent them from competing with my plants for water and nutrients. I stagger my planting so that taller crops can provide shade for shorter ones, helping to protect them from the intense midday sun. I also use mulch to help retain soil moisture and keep the roots cool. For particularly sensitive plants, I sometimes use shade cloth to provide extra protection during the hottest parts of the day.

What can I start planting now that summer begin to end / What are you planting for fall? Stay tuned for this Thursday’s complete August gardening guide where we start fall crops! In the meantime, I wrote this post about my fall garden plan:

Is it hard to grow caviar limes? In my climate, I find them very easy to grow. They are in a spot that gets full sun year-round. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well they’ve done—they are pretty much everbearing. The hardest part is harvesting them because the branches are so thorny!

Do you collect seeds or buy new seeds next year or let things naturally reseed? All of the above!

What are you doing to mitigate coyote attacks on your chickens? I had a coyote enclosure built right next to their coop, allowing them to roam safely during the day. I can also open it up to the larger run area when I'm in the garden with them. The coyote enclosure is made of hardware cloth and has an apron or skirt to prevent digging.

Any tips for starting a baby garden/ plants that can grow indoor in an apartment? See: herbs!

How did you garden start? Currently renting an apartment but you’re living my dream! I started with no experience or formal training, just a small apartment balcony in college. Over time, I've been a member of a community garden, had a backyard garden, and now the front yard garden you know today. You can read all about the journey here:

Chicken Feta Meatballs and Couscous

This is my new hyper-fixation and go-to meal prep lunch! I cook my couscous in homemade bone broth for an extra boost of flavor and nutrition. (Pro tip: I did a video workshop on how to make bone broth at home because it tastes way better, is cheaper, and the quality is much higher.) When you're looking for a meal that's anything but boring, yet filling, easy to make, and nutritionally sound, this recipe is a must-try. Serves 4

For the Couscous and Vegetables:

2 cups couscous

2 cups bone broth

2 small cucumbers, diced

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

Fresh basil and mint, chopped (about ½ cup combined)

2 tablespoons Olive oil

Juice of ½  lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

Chicken Feta Meatballs:

1 lb ground chicken

2 cloves garlic, grated with a microplane

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 egg

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Olive oil for cooking

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, garlic, breadcrumbs, crumbled feta cheese, egg, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper.  Mix until well combined and form into small meatballs.  Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook the meatballs until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.

In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a boil.  Stir in the couscous, cover, and remove from heat.  Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

In a bowl, combine diced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, and herbs.  Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.

In a bowl, layer couscous at the bottom.  Arrange the marinated cucumbers and cherry tomatoes on top of the couscous.  Place the garlic feta chicken meatballs on top.

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