Cookies and Kale: The Secret (Balcony) Garden

OK, it's not really a secret, but we do live on the 6th floor, so you'd have to be looking up to see it.

My last apartment had a balcony too, but it was north-facing, so I didn't bother trying to plant anything on it. Our current apartment is south-facing, however, so as soon as we signed the lease we started plotting what we might grow.

Our hot hot jalapenos.

Seriously. These things are freaking hot. Ask MG.

Over Memorial Day weekend we put our plan into action and bought some seedling plants at the farmers' market in front of our building.

Rosemary.

We wanted an assortment and we wanted them to be edible, so we went with fairytale eggplant, basil, dill, chives, thyme, arugula, bell peppers, rosemary and jalapenos. We later acquired mint and stevia plants that we received as guest gifts at a wedding we attended in June (coolest wedding favor ever? Possibly).

Cute little baby bell peppers! I can't wait to eat you!

Our amazingly resilient arugula plant, on the right. Seriously, this thing has survived both the temps and a very hungry green caterpillar that was feasting on its leaves. Also a very hungry blogger and her boyfriend that were feasting on its leaves.

Minty fresh.

Despite the heat waves we've had this summer, they are all thriving! (Well, not the dill, but even that appears to have made a come-back.) We've been taking advantage of all the fresh herbs as much as possible. So far we've used balcony garden harvest in:

-Lemon Thyme Bars

-Grilled Eggplant with Chives, Thyme, Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

-Fig, Arugula and Cheddar Melts

-Thyme and Goat Cheese Frittata

-Mint Chutney

-Fattoush

-Chicken Curry

-Caprese Panini

-Egg Salad Sandwiches with Bacon and Arugula

-Rosemary-Lemon Chicken Kebabs

-Roasted Eggplant with Cous Cous

-Moroccan Carrot Salad

-Greek Salad

-Simple Roast Chicken with Herbs

-Tuscan White Bean and Tuna Sandwiches

Pesto waiting to happen.

Mini eggplant! Hey there!

Some internet research informs us that our fairytale eggplant are ready to be eaten, so we have Spicy Roasted Eggplant and Tofu with Sesame and Honey on the menu for this upcoming week.