LUNCH IN THE GARDEN | THE BEST SANDWICH

 

Our garden is blooming! And thanks to the wonderful rain we have received over the last few months on the California coast, it is so very happy.

There is nothing like rain water. Those of you who don’t live in drought state might think me silly, but my plants just adore rain water when they can get it!

I wait for spring all year long, because that is when our garden becomes my outdoor dining room, my reading room, and where we host all our friends and family.

This weekend, I intend to eat at least two meals in the garden, and enjoy the flowers, the bees, the birds and all that green.

I’m making my new very favorite sandwich. It is. SO GOOD. And practically guilt-free. It’s healthy! {Shhhh. don’t tell your tastebuds, they won’t believe it anyway.}

Look for the recipe at the bottom of this post – it was created by Lisa, our friend who is a chef.

Our little garden fairy is one of my favorites. Like antiques {which she is not, she is composite} she has some damage, her poor knee has a hole. The neighbor’s cat knocked her over when she forgot that we have Bentley, our Lab, and ran like a crazy-thing when he came outside.

Never mind. I still love her. Hole and all, it means she’s had some action in her life, and didn’t just sit on a shelf all the time.

Here is a close-up!

Just for fun, here is a shot of this same plot last year, a little later in the season. The drought, and then the heavy rains we had, made some of our plants from last year “disappear” but like life, a garden is constantly evolving.

We are always looking forward to planting new plants to try in the borders. And by we, I mean John. I am not a gardener. Shocking, right? I LOVE gardens. I am just not good at planting.

I am good at buying plants, watering, planning borders and being bossy about where plants should go. And where they need pruning. {John is a patient gardener and husband.}

 

This is my little herb garden, and bird bath. We are so blessed to have lots of birds in the garden, they sing their hearts out all day, splash around in the water in the birdbath, and make quite a racket before settling into the large bushes to go to sleep at dusk.


We’ll probably eat these sandwiches on the deck. Since it’s early in the year, maybe the parasol won’t be needed and we’ll sit in the sun.  These sandwiches are so good, that I might just make them both weekend days.

After the sandwiches, there is work to be done in the garden. {yes, I’ll help!}  Our little pink climber needs to be cut out of the gingko tree. So maybe John will need to eat two avocado sandwiches for energy!

If you have never had an avocado sandwich {is that possible?} you won’t believe how delicious they are.

I hope you try them and let me know if you did, or not!

Lisa’s recipe calls for micro greens, which are these cute little greens you can buy at some markets, Whole Foods, etc. Sometimes when I don’t have that, I use arugula or just a few spring lettuce leaves.

And when I want to change it up, I omit the tomatoes, the olive oil, and just drizzle with balsamic vinegar for a whole different clean eating sensation!

 

AVOCADO TOAST FOR TWO

Avocado Toast with sweet heirloom tomatoes, lemon olive oil drizzle, sriracha salt, crushed hemp seeds, and micro greens are perfect for lunch, a light dinner with a salad or soup, or a snack if you are really hungry.

Ingredients
    • 1 ripe avocado
    • 2 slices artisan whole grain bread
    • mini heirloom tomatoes, red & yellow sliced in half
    • lemon infused extra virgin olive oil (or evoo)
    • sriracha salt (or pink himalayan salt)
    • crushed hemp seeds (or crushed chia seeds)
    • micro greens
Instructions
    1. Toast 2 pieces of artisan bread
    2. Cut avocado in half, remove pit,and scoop out avocado on a plate. Use a fork, press avocado till smooth, and spread avocado on toast.
    3. Slice heirloom tomatoes in half, place on top of avocado.
    4. Drizzle lemon infused evoo over top.
    5. Sprinkle with sriracha salt (or pink himalayan salt) and crushed hemp seeds.
    6. Place some micro greens on top.

Oh. my. goodness. Trust me on this. If you love avocados, you will adore this.

Go to Lisa’s Delicious Table to be able to print out this recipe, and also if you want the recipe to make your own siracha salt. {She promises it’s easy!}

 

I hope you have a beautiful weekend, even if spring hasn’t quite shown up all the way where you live.

LINENS | DISHES, GLASSES, CUTLERY

Don’t forget to enter the GIVEAWAY by leaving a comment on any post. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have.

{sorry, this is open to US readers only!} I’ll be announcing the winner on FaceBook on Sunday. Fingers crossed!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO MAKE FOR LUNCH IN THE WEEKEND?

36 thoughts on “LUNCH IN THE GARDEN | THE BEST SANDWICH”

  1. What a beautiful space you have! Seeing how lovely your society garlic and your agapanthus is, reminds me I must divide mine now.

  2. Lidy, I have seen several CA freinds’ gardens this spring thriving from the rain you’ve had, and yours looks so healthy too! I know you must be thrilled to be able to have it surrounding you. Enjoy your time in the garden, and that sandwich looks terrific. I’ve had a similar statue like yours get chipped from flying debris when the weedeater got too close. I saved the wings when I finally had to let the statue go from too many broken bits….?

  3. Marianne Gum

    Your garden is so lovely, quite an oasis. In Alabama we are already having summer temperatures and a bit of a drought .

  4. Diana Lucas

    Hi Lidy, Your garden is absolutely stunning. Spring is the best time here in Texas as well, particularly April. We get hot and dry fast! Your sandwich looks divine and I can’t wait to try it. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe. By the way, I love the wooden coat rack I got from you-it was exactly what I needed. Enjoy your weekend! Diana

    1. Thank you Diana….I am so happy you loved the coat rack, they are so handy! Happy weekend to you, too!

  5. Patricia Flournoy

    can’t wait to try the sandwich…looks wonderful

  6. Ginger Valdes

    The garden is growing like crazy! It’s beautiful,Lidy. I can’t wait to plant some new ones. I asked a guy working for me last week to dig up and rid my yard of the “volunteer Hackberry trees that were popping up all over, but he misunderstood. He dug up everything BUT! At least it will be a fun trip to the nursery to start all over again!
    Ginger

  7. Linda Rubin

    I love the bird bowls you are giving away. An added bonus is that I love pink and birds. Oh, I sure hope I win these.
    I love your blog and your garden is stunning.

  8. Cindy White

    Your garden is lovely and this could be my new favorite summertime sandwich!

    1. Thank you. Cindy, you will adore this! Try it without the olive oil and with a splash of balsamic, too! It’s divine!

  9. Edna McDonald

    Ah…Lidy! while the frantic world goes along its many bizarre paths, your sweet fairy, complete with wings, makes me smile as she calmly awaits the hungry guests so eager to taste that delicious meal!

    Thank you for sharing your peaceful garden that has so much solace for one’s soul.

  10. What a lovely garden you have. I would love to come and have lunch with you. Looking forward ti trying the sandwich. Take care.

  11. Nancy Bailey

    Thank you for the garden tour. Love your garden setting and we’ll be having the avocado sandwiches this weekend! xoxo

  12. What a gorgeous garden. No wonder you want to eat there twice a day!
    You are lucky to have the rain. We have had gorgeous, cloudless blue skies for weeks, quite warm, which is lovely for walking around but I see the plants are starting to suffer. I saw a fig tree yesterday with leaves all shriveled and huge figs on it. Figs are for August, not April. It was shocking Anyway, I can’t believe I am hoping for rain.
    Avocados suddenly got very expensive and not very good here. Of course, they are all imported. No idea what is going on but I’m in guacamole withdrawal.
    I enjoy a tartine of beef carpaccio with strips of parmesan and basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil.

    1. We ARE lucky to have rain, although we needed it so badly. Our area is finally coming out of drought, and we can once again water our gardens. It is sad when nature is confused, isn’t it? Last year our roses bloomed in February due to a strange heat wave, and the rest of the garden was not at it’s best due to lack of water. {we were putting buckets in our shower to catch every drop we didn’t need for washing to throw on our thirsty plants! -you could get a fine if you used too much water} but thank goodness this year everything is back on the normal schedule.

  13. A beautiful garden, healthy sandwich and a good book, , what else do we need?

  14. Dear Lidy,
    Your garden looks wonderful. I am waiting for some warm days to get out and start working in my garden.
    Living here in Wisconsin, is a bit challenging. The weather seems to take a bit longer to warm up than
    in the previous locations that I have lived. Some of the Spring bulbs are peeking out of the ground, so it won’t be to much longer a wait.

    The Avocado sandwich looks great. I will be heading out to the grocery store shortly, and will definitely pick up the ingredients I need to prepare these wonderful looking delicacies. Our nursery here in town just started selling those micro greens. I so enjoy reading your Blogs. Thank You for Sharing with your fans.

    1. Thank you Janice. I hope that spring will soon launch in your beautiful part of the world!
      I know especially in Wisconsin, the wait for spring can be long. 🙂

      Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend! If you don’t want to do the olive oil on top, I love it with the splash of balsamic vinegar, too!

  15. Your garden is so colorful and lush, Lidy! I’d spend every available moment in it, too. I also love statuary and can’t bear to toss out anything despite a chip or two.

    The sandwich looks irresistible. It’s ironic that yesterday I came across a ‘recipe’ for avocado toast and wanted to see what the fuss was all about. I put a sandwich together a bit like this one in your post. It was outstanding and I’m so looking forward to playing with the ingredients as you are. Hoping to get a blog post up this weekend and I’ll share it.

    Have a wonderful day in the garden and a big yay for all of that rain!!

    Jane x

  16. Allison Herron

    Great blog! We got hooked on avocado and tomato sandwiches with Connie and Bruce! We make them here in France often too. Love the idea of sprouts on top! Thanks!!

    1. So fun to hear from you! It figures that Connie – from the land of avocados – would introduce these to you. So delicious. I hope you are enjoying your weekend over there in France!

  17. Carole Shiles

    The most precious herb gaden I’ve seen. I lovery that they are mostly contained. My garden that is not flowers, is a move able feast. The birdbath adds more charm.

  18. Your posts are always such a delight and full of inspiration. Thank you so much for your love and your generosity. Carol

  19. I see you have foxgloves in your garden. I’m crazy about them but have trouble getting them to stay upright when they get top heavy. Any hints?

  20. Anita C. Lee

    Lidy, thanks for the tour of your lovely garden. Your blog encourages me to take the time to enjoy the surrounding beauty every day. I spent my morning having coffee in the courtyard garden amidst roses, irises, and snapdragons. I love how you add those little touches that bring joy to life. I received my Georgia Hecht Bird Heart Charm necklace today. Such beautiful packaging! Thank you for enriching m life.

  21. Beverly Ivey

    Today, in the mountains of southwest Virginia, where I live, it is 41 degrees, raining and breezy. Hardly a day for a garden luncheon, but the dogwoods are beautiful, the columbines are beginning to bloom along with the clematis and bleeding hearts. With beautiful sunny days in the forecast, I plan to prepare avocado sandwiches, which I have not ever eaten, and enjoy the beauty all around.

  22. What an inviting garden and the Advocado Toast is calling my name

  23. Beautiful gardens… Love the fairy garden and the charming character she adds, tho not perfect, she’s perfectly beautiful! The gardens and posts are wonderful!

  24. Denise

    Lidy,
    last chance to win the sweet little bowls. I just love your back yard and the table as always is just perfect I just love the linens that you have at this luncheon just beautiful. please enter me into the drawing.
    Thanks, Denise

  25. Jean Van

    Hi, Lidy,
    Love all the photos and your garden is so inviting, I also have the garden fairy , and I just love her, have her on my porch with a beautiful fern above her on a cute iron stand, she adds so much charm. Well I am going to try your sandwich all the ways you said, looks so Gooddddddddddddddddd. Thanks for sharing and Happy Spring~~~~~~~~~

  26. Linda Jo Johnson

    Such inspiration for lunch in the garden. I would like to have the same sense of peace as in these pictures.

  27. I had an avacado sandwich for the first time recently. Your photos are amazing!
    I wish I could grow foxgloves, but they don’t do well here in Waco. Love your blog!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top