Rainbow Swiss Chard

Everything fresh from the garden is good.  We enjoy meals that are made from things that we grew right out our back door around fifty feet from our kitchen.  One thing that makes fresh foods even better is when they look good.  We try to grow foods that 'pop' with flavor AND color.  Take for example Rainbow Swiss Chard.  

Why do you think they call it RAINBOW Swiss Chard?

If there is something in the garden that catches your eye more than Rainbow Swiss Chard, I haven't found it.  Swiss Chard is in the beet family(you can see the similarity in the texture and shape of the leaves), but it doesn't make a big edible root like normal beets.  Instead, it makes sweet leaves and stems that can be eaten.

A different color

Although we grow mustard greens, turnip greens, and kale, Swiss Chard is our favorite green to eat.  In addition to tasting great and looking great, it is one of the healthiest vegetables available.


More colors...

We usually saute the chard, but it can be eaten raw as well.  It is a cool weather crop and once the temperatures start hitting the mid to upper 80's, the quality starts diminishing.  Thankfully it has still been in the 40's during the night while reaching into the 70's during the day.

Speaking of the day... The days are getting longer.  That means I can actually get more done in the evenings.  It feels so good to come home and enjoy the sights and sounds of the outdoors after being cooped up in an office all day. This afternoon from the garden, I watched Benjamin playing 'Army' in the back yard with his gun.  He ran across the field of battle and with great theatrics, fell to the ground, shot by a musket and writhed around kicking and moaning before taking his final breath.

I hollered at him, "Benjamin, don't pretend to die on the battlefield!  You know what General George Patton said about that, huh?"  He said, "Nobody ever won a war by dying for his country.  He won it by making the other dumb guy die for his!"  I sanitized the quote a little bit to remove Patton's salty language.  Man, that guy could cuss a blue streak.

From colorful language back to the colorful garden - while I was turning over some dirt right next to the mustard greens, Nosy Rosie came to tell me hi as the brilliant sun set in the sky right behind her.

Hello Rose Ethel!

Finally, I watched as the setting sun put pink highlights on the clouds.  I enjoyed the view for a while and then decided it was time to go inside and eat some supper! 

Pink sky at night, sailor's delight