Millet Crust ~ Fruit Trees

Looking for ways to cook green beans? Or Millet?

We had a very good harvest of green beans and this combination of vegetables was not only delicious, but utilized my garden goods we stocked up on.

Here is what I did using organic and homegrown ingredients.

In a skillet I added:

olive oil
1onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
4 large carrots, peeled and sliced somewhat thin
1 pint bag of zucchini, pulled from the freezer and thawed
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes*

When the onions and bell pepper were cooked, I added:

1 pint jar of home crushed tomatoes (any frozen, canned would work I think), with the liquid
1 pint bag of frozen green beans (tossed in frozen)
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 can of cannenelli beans, rinsed and drained
a bit of dried basil (I didn't measure)

Bring to a boil, simmer until liquid from tomatoes reduces.

Pour into a 13 x 9 baking dish.  

Topping could be made ahead of time for this, and the dish minus the topping can be made the day before too.

Millet Topping:

Rinse 1/2 cup of millet and toast in a skillet with a bit of olive oil.  Add 2 cups of water, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook about 20 minutes.  Drain remaining liquid and allow to cool.  When cool, add 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs and sprinkle over veggie dish.

Bake at 350°F for about 30-35 minutes. 

Notes:  I used zucchini, but any yellow (straight neck etc.) squash would work well too.  I also used crushed tomatoes, but frozen, or stewed would work too I think. Hot red pepper flakes work well, but finely diced jalapenos, home canned hot sauce or even "fire powder" would work well.  I think 2 bell peppers would be better than one (for our large family). Also, I think fresh basil with more tomatoes would be even better, and I had planned to add some dried basil to the topping and just plum forgot.

We are having one more warm day here today.  Just before temperatures plummet to about a high of 39°F on Saturday.  I checked the fruit trees.  My peach and elderberry have the most spring buds on them. 

I noticed this on one of my apple trees.  Last year I had to stake the new cherry tree due to a deer rubbing it.  I guess this will be an issue, along with raccoons and squirrels.  We'll have to start thinking about making a baffle for each tree. I better add that to the list before I plum forget.

Yesterday, and just because I have to share, ha ha!  Hubby texted me "Picnic!"  and "Ride."  I was super excited.  To go on a motorcycle ride, and get a picnic.  In February.  It was a high of 67°F.   Wow!  So, I made up some egg salad sandwiches, and had even made pumpkin bread.  I put my boots etc. on and waited.  

He later texted, "gonna be 1 hour late."  

That was okay. It gave me time to round up the hens, put them in the run, and take the laundry off the line.  It also gave us time to lasso Dallas who somehow got out.  He saw me taking laundry down and I guess he wanted to join me.  Silly goat. 

An hour later I got another text, "won't be home until 7:30pm."

Off went the boots, and the food went into the fridge and out of the thermal bag.  I know he didn't have any say about it, but I joked to him later.

"Picnic" is code word for "I have to work over."  Some days he's the only guy who is on staff that can fix certain machines.