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Patiently Waiting

April 11th, 2013

Remember that spinach I sowed in the low tunnel in the garden at the end of March?
spinach in the low tunnel 2
I’ve been keeping a keen eye on it waiting for germination. It looks like the two types of soaked seeds germinated a day ahead of the non-soaked seed. Not sure if that makes soaking worth the hassle. I’ll be watching to see if one grows better than the other as well, but I’m guessing they’ll probably be the same.
spinach in the low tunnel 1
One thing is for sure, I can’t wait to harvest my first bowl of spinach. As I prepared a frittata this morning I was wishing I had some kind of green to put in it. I used to very much dislike cooked greens, but the more I eat them the more I like them, especially with eggs.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy spinach?

23 Comments to “Patiently Waiting”
  1. Joan on April 11, 2013 at 6:18 am

    Favorite: in a salad. Most used: frozen chopped spinach thrown into pretty much everything we cook in the winter. We also freeze lambs quarters (a weed, and I think even tastier than spinach, plus it doesn’t shrink down nearly as much when cooked), kale, and chard, and use the frozen versions pretty much interchangeably.

    I don’t have any spinach in yet – need to do SOON!

    Reply to Joan's comment

  2. Adriana on April 11, 2013 at 7:14 am

    Spinach pie! It’s something my mom made a lot when we were growing up. Not sure if it’s a “real” dish, or something she made up. I grew up with Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian food, so we ate a lot of “fusion”. My spinach and other salad greens are germinating this week in my low tunnel. Yay for Spring!

    Reply to Adriana's comment

  3. Adelina Anderson on April 11, 2013 at 8:04 am

    We (kids and me, not the husband) love our spinach raw and also sautéed with garlic scapes. One of our favorite go to summer foods.

    Reply to Adelina Anderson's comment

    • Robin on April 11, 2013 at 8:30 am

      I love garlic scapes with spinach!

      Reply to Robin's comment

  4. Maria on April 11, 2013 at 8:09 am

    My fav is spinach & orzo pasta. My pet lovebirds also enjoy spinach too. (Spinach, arugula, and lettuce are big hits with them. Other greens, not so much.)

    What is it about watching seeds sprout that so exciting? I could watch seeds sprout all day and be perfectly happy with life.

    Reply to Maria's comment

  5. angie h on April 11, 2013 at 8:20 am

    My husband and step son love it sautéed in butter. I prefer spinach salad and spinach dips.

    I didn’t realize spinach was a seed to soak….what other types of seeds do you soak?

    Reply to angie h's comment

    • Susy on April 11, 2013 at 8:27 am

      You don’t have to soak it. A few varieties of seeds are supposed to do better when soaked before planting, things like beets, peas, etc. But I’ve heard from some gardeners that the plants are actually stronger if the seeds aren’t soaked. This was just an experiment I did to see if they germinate faster, I’ll keep watching the plants as they grow to see if it makes a significant difference.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  6. Nebraska Dave on April 11, 2013 at 8:31 am

    Susy, spinach is not one of my favorite foods. I can tolerate it in a salad or a stir fry. My mother-in-law makes good spinach but it’s more cream sauce than spinach so I’m thinking that doesn’t count. The favorite way for Mom to make spinach was boiled with a little vinegar drizzled on it. Ack!! I’ll probably plant some this year but no boiling or vinegar that’s for sure.

    We had another light skiff of snow last night with cold temperatures. I haven’t had a chance to get to the garden yet this year. Today will be spent hanging two more florescent grow lights for the tomatoes and green peppers. There’s always something to do even if it is inside.

    Have a great day in the garden.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

    • Jill on April 11, 2013 at 10:17 am

      Haha! That’s how my mom served spinach too, and that’s why I didn’t embrace spinach til I was in my late twenties! I feel your pain Dave!

      Reply to Jill's comment

  7. Robin on April 11, 2013 at 8:33 am

    I love spinach on my pizza. I put it between the sauce and cheese so it doesn’t dry out in the oven, or sauteed with the mushrooms and onions before being added on top of the cheese.

    My corner of Maine is going to get two to five inches of snow tomorrow.

    Reply to Robin's comment

    • whit on April 11, 2013 at 10:25 am

      I like spinach the same way! Sauteed with mushrooms, throw in some caramelised onions and use it to top polenta or mac n cheese. Our a cherve tart, if i feel like baking.

      Sorry about your snow! We’re behind here too because of rain…last weekend we received 4 inches in 3 days. Grrr! Wishing we could send these storms to a drought state.

      Reply to whit's comment

  8. Maybelline on April 11, 2013 at 9:06 am

    Raw in a salad with bacon.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

  9. Amy S on April 11, 2013 at 9:18 am

    I love anything with spinach. I have a great frittata recipe and love me some spinach salad. I planted mine 2 days ago but yesterday we got 2 inches of pouring rain so not sure what’ll happen with it.

    Reply to Amy S's comment

  10. Diana @ frontyardfoodie on April 11, 2013 at 9:21 am

    This year I started putting kale in everything from eggs to skillet meals, to salad. Pretty much anything. Sooooo good.

    Reply to Diana @ frontyardfoodie's comment

  11. Donna B. on April 11, 2013 at 9:25 am

    Mmmm… spinach.
    I like it in pretty much everything as well – but mostly with some arugula and fresh oregano and tossed in with eggs scrammbled.
    Mmmm… makes me hungry just thinking about it! :D

    Reply to Donna B.'s comment

  12. Marcia on April 11, 2013 at 10:26 am

    I was one of those weird kids that loved spinach from the start. Saag tofu is one way I love it but my favorite is still fresh from the garden, lightly steamed with a pat of butter and a sprinkle of salt.

    Reply to Marcia's comment

  13. Jackie on April 11, 2013 at 11:42 am

    I also love spinach and I too am waiting for the first green shoots, both undercover and outdoors! Here in the UK we have had the coldest, darkest spring so far … everything is behindhand, but I can’t wait for steamed spinach with black pepper, and a soft poached egg, drizzled with butter …

    Reply to Jackie's comment

  14. Jenny on April 11, 2013 at 11:44 am

    I love a ceasar salad made with spinach instead of romaine. I’ve never liked the really crunchy texture of romaine, and the flavor of spinach goes really well the garlicky dressing.

    Reply to Jenny's comment

  15. Caroline on April 11, 2013 at 12:05 pm

    I don’t like ground meat so I like to put my spinach in lasagna. Yuummm!

    I probably won’t plant any spinach this year. I’m a newbie so I don’t want to overwhelm myself! Although, with this weather (snowing!!!!!) who knows if I’ll EVER get to plant anything!

    Reply to Caroline's comment

  16. KimH on April 11, 2013 at 12:33 pm

    I’ve never met a spinach dish I didnt like… I love spinach and always have.. I used to make a can of spinach for my after school snack when I was a kid.. till I looked down & saw half a worm.. haha.. canned spinach was difficult to eat, (still is actually) but I’ll spread it thin looking for worms and then happily eat it.

    I think my least favorite way to eat it is raw but I like many salads with it in it so I eat them.. or I put a cup or two in my juicer when Im making a good blend.

    Reply to KimH's comment

  17. Meadowlark on April 11, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    Favorite way is a raw spinach salad – sometimes with pancetta, sometimes not. Ala http://www.girlichef.com/2011/05/warm-bread-pancetta-poached-egg-salad-w.html

    OH SO TASTY!

    Reply to Meadowlark's comment

  18. Colleen on April 11, 2013 at 10:47 pm

    There are so many ways to use garden fresh spinach. One of my favorites is a spinach salad with strawberries from our garden add a little balsamic vinaigrette. Can’t wait!

    Reply to Colleen's comment

  19. Aria on April 12, 2013 at 11:39 pm

    We eat spinach most often mixed with scrambled eggs in the morning. Delicious!

    Reply to Aria's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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