Birthday Event Preview: The Simple Garden by Fertile Earth

I don't know about you, but I LOVE to cook. One of my favorite things to do is experiment with different recipes and flavor combinations. My husband loves this, because pretty much everything I make is from scratch, and full of flavor. Well, my mashed potatoes aren't from scratch, but that's because we all legitimately prefer the instant kind. And I doctor them up to make them delicious.

Anyway, when I was pregnant with Xander, I tried guacamole for the first time. I was at my father-in-law's house and one of his friends made some home made guac and brought it over for everyone to enjoy. The guy actually looks JUST like Alton Brown who you may know from several Food Network shows, such as "Good Eats" or "Iron Chef America".  Well, being that I was 4 months pregnant and would eat random things I had never tried before, I decided I would give it a shot. Oh. My. Gosh. I loved his guacamole! I actually shoveled it in and made little moaning noises because it was just that good.

I have been on a mission to perfect my guacamole recipe. I have now succeeded in this mission. The absolute KEY to making the perfect guacamole is all in the herbs. I use fresh Cilantro. Paired with the tartness of the lime juice, the savory garlic, fresh tomatoes and roasted corn,  the minced jalapenos, salt, freshly ground black pepper and cayenne, the freshness of this herb truly is the star of the dish. There is just something about Cilantro that makes it a natural standout. I add this herb to many dishes, but it truly shines in my guacamole. If you're nice, I just might post my recipe!

But why go to the grocery store to find your fresh Cilantro when you can easily and effortlessly grow your own in the comfort of your own home? That's right! With The Simple Garden, anyone can grow wonderfully fresh and flavorful herbs, fruits and vegetables indoors! This is a wonderful family project as well. We are doing our Simple Garden with my 11 year old's assistance. These kits are so simple to use, and come complete with everything you need for a successful indoor garden. There are even helpful grids to show how far apart to plant the seeds! Yep, they have thought of literally everything! You can use this system outdoors, too, by the way!

I received a complete kit to review. It came with an easy to understand garden manual, soil mixture, potting containers, and I  even received a special lid to create a simulated greenhouse to keep the budding plants at a contant ideal state for maximum growth! Also included for my review were the LiteStik, an indoor growing light that acts like the sun, and the WaterStik that allows you to visibly see the current level of hydration in the Simple Garden! They are even color coded so you can tell at a glance whether or not the plants are in dire need of watering. It even tells you if the soil is TOO moist! How cool is that?!

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We're actually growing a melon using this, since that's what Dan wanted to do. I am eager to see how it turns out! Next I think I will do some banana peppers and some cherry tomatoes! I love the versatility this product offers. You can plant almost anything with this handy kit. Since you can grow indoors, you'll be enjoying fresh delicious herbs and produce even in the dead of winter! Now that is something I am looking forward to. This will be wonderful for cooking great dinners with!



I also received The Simple Garden Junior. This is a wonderful kit that is ideal for growing fresh herbs. I love the compact size of this product. It fits perfectly on a sunny windowsill, and it's a cheerful addition to any kitchen decor. The Simple Garden Junior Herb Garden Kit gives you everything you need to start your own Herb Garden. The Simple Garden Juniors unique self draining system protects against over watering. The Herb Garden Kit comes with the planter and tray, seeds, soil, planting template and a planting guide. I am growing Basil and 2 Cilantro plants in the 3 pack Simple Garden Junior I received. Here's what the kit looks like:

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Doesn't this look awesome? This whole system is easy to use and the kids will love helping. No need to worry about having a green thumb. This is so easy, a caveman can do it! I love The Simple Garden, and I look forward to growing many more kitchen essentials with my kit! Plus, growing plants in containers, like the Simple Garden, improves air penetration, nutrient absorption and water management. Plants grown in a raised container typically produce 1.5 to 2 times as much fruit as plants in a traditional garden.

Want some good news? Fertile Earth will be offering 3 lucky winners a chance to win The Simple Garden Junior packages as a part of my For The Home package in my Birthday Bash event! That's right! One GRAND PRIZE winner will receive TWO 3-Pack Herb Kits! Two additional winners will receive ONE 3-pack Herb Kit!

In the meantime, here's how to learn more about The Simple Garden!

HOW TO CONNECT:

You can learn more about these products at The Simple Garden website.

You can also follow The Simple Garden on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of new products and promotions! FYI: Doing so NOW will put you ahead of the game when the giveaways start on June 1st!



BONUS FROM ME:

As if you weren't already excited enough about The Simple Garden, I would like to share my perfect guacamole recipe so you can make it using your The Simple Garden Junior Kit to grow the Cilantro!

Brandy's Simple Garden Guacamole

Ingredients

• 3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 cup roasted corn
• 1 minced jalapeno or serrano chile *Grow this with your Simple Garden!*
• 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced *Grow this with your Simple Garden!*
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro *Grow this with your Simple Garden!*
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Directions:

In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt,pepper, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the corn, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve.  YUMMY!

***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***