Healthy Vegan - Fresh Chickpeas, Patty Pans and Sunflowers

Its nearly the end of August and the garden is producing fruit and vegetables at a pace that I cannot keep up with, still I am pleased with myself that this year compared to the past four years that I have done well.

This is the first year that this garden has fed us well.  

Here are just a handful of fruit and vegetables picked this week.  It includes French Bean Climbing Purple Cascade, Plums, Courgette Squash Striato di Napoli , Sunburst Squash patty pans and some nasturtium flowers which have been adorning many a meal lately.  

Early in the week, I had also picked some nasturtium seeds and made Pickled Nasturtium Seed Pods that will be used in place of capers; and nasturtium leaves for nasturtium pesto for a potato salad.  

We finally have some sunflowers, they really do cheer up a garden.  I picked up a mixed bag of sunflower seeds, so its a variety  from dwarf sunflowers to Russian Sunflower which has yet to open its head - if you look at the above picture, its the one in the far left corner.  Its definitely 9 foot tall and maybe still growing.  D wants me to grow giant Sunflowers next year, well they are impressive. The sunflower on the right is just over 5 foot like me.  

I have harvested the first of the Sunburst Squash patty pans, now I have to think of ways to eat them...

I have harvested a load of plums early this week.  Some this morning were made into Cinnamon Plum Jam and some plums were given away last week to immediate neighbours and some friends.

The runner beans are still producing.   I have to admit that I have got bored of the runner beans this year, mostly because I have felt uninspired by them. 

The tomato plants were put into the greenhouse late, so they are a little behind - but they are growing well.  

Green fingers crossed that they do ripen and we get to enjoy them very soon.  

Also hoping that blight does not get to them, so far so good. 

And I still have marrows and courgettes growing, but as you can see from the specimen below - they are a little misshapen, but I don't mind that - it still tastes good. I was just disappointed that I did not get to tuck into many golden yellow ones this year.

And finally, I allured you here with the mention of fresh chickpeas, well here they are.  I went over to see my parents last week and was given some fresh chickpeas.  These were podded and added to a Savoury Pilau - Vegetable Rice.  

I  am sharing this with  Harvest Monday hosted by Dave over Our Happy Acres.