I have scraps. Yep. Every size, shape and material imaginable. Wood scraps, metal scraps, fabrics scraps, paper scraps. I have scraps of laminate, piping, wire and ribbon . . . and, of course, food scraps. Now, let me clarify this before y’all draw a big fat line through visit JoElle’s house; I don’t KEEP the food scraps like a do all my crafty scraps. No! Eww. . . gross! I mean, I would if I had a compost system set up but I don’t – so no.
Well. . .until last week.
Last week I made one of my favorite regular dinners, Asian Tacos! They are so easy and delicious. Just brown ground chicken with some chopped up green onions. When it’s cooked, add this AMAZING sauce.
While it simmers, wash some big romaine or butter lettuce leaves. Chop a few more green onions, a baby bok choy or two and coarsely grate a carrot. Slice some radishes really thin and quick-pickle them in equal parts lime juice and rice vinegar. To assemble – lay out your lettuce leaf, add the chicken, the veggies and the pickled radishes right down the middle of the leaf. Sprinkle with some cashew nuts and chopped cilantro. Eat like a taco. So Delish!
So while prepping this dish I was thinking about all the fun garden-y stuff I’ve been doing on the blog this spring. First the Oui Planters (P.S. – check out the really cool news about those at the bottom of this post) and then the beautiful Bloom Bombs. I was thinking how much fun it is to have unique ways to grow and enjoy plants when I grabbed the cutting board and began to slide the veggie scraps into the rubbish. The cute little baby bok choy butts caught my eye and I wondered. . . Could I grow a new baby bok choy from a baby bok choy’s butt?
Of course I stopped everything I was doing to ask my personal assistant, google, what veggies can be grown from themselves and guess what? . . . (you already know the answer but I’m going to tell you anyway and you can produce fake shock and awe sounds – k?) – Bok choy and romaine lettuce! GET OUT OF TOWN!?
It’s true.
Seriously! This is big news in my world. It’s like By One Get One vegetables! I mean sure, you have to wait 10 days for a new baby bok choy but it’s, in essence . . . FREE! Also, there are only two steps involved to make this free food miracle happen!
STEP ONE
Cut the bottom inch of the baby bok choy or romaine lettuce. Really, this shouldn’t count as a step because you already completed it when cooking the amazing Asian Tacos – or what ever you were making.
STEP TWO
Place the bok choy or romaine butt into some shallow water – just so the root part is immersed. Keep it full of fresh water every day and place it in a window sill to grow.
When I woke up the following morning, I could already see two little bright green leaves peaking out. For someone who has tried unsuccessfully to grow an avocado from a pit at least half a dozen times, this was like seeing Jesus in your morning toast! This was amazing and each day it just keeps growing and popping out new baby bok choy.
I figure by about day 9 or 10, I will have an entire new baby bok choy – for free! I’m so thrilled and really, that can only mean one thing – Asian Taco Friday!
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Vikki | 5th Apr 19
What a great idea–it’s so pretty and Spring and you get to eat it too. Thanks for this great tip!
JoElle | 9th Apr 19
Thank you Vikki. You are very welcome. I love the little bok choys so this is perfect.
Veronica | 5th Apr 19
You can do this with lettuce?
JoElle | 9th Apr 19
Yes, with romaine lettuce – although the bok choy was the most successful in terms of size. The turtles got to free bok choy and loved it.
Tania | 5th Apr 19
I tried to grow celery one time and it got all black and moldy but I think I’ll give one of the two things you recommended a try… I actually don’t know if I’ve ever had bok choy!
I ordered some of the lids the other day for the Oui jars and my total with shipping was $7.90… not bad!
Your mom shared her darling little jars with me too, I love them! Have you visited the Oui blog? They have some cute ideas for their jars!
Tania
JoElle | 9th Apr 19
Thanks for your comment Tania. The baby bok choy definitely worked the best. I didn’t know there was a Oui blog. I will have to check that out. Also, thanks for the price on shipping the lids – so basically about $3. Can’t wait to see what you do with your Oui pots – I know they will be super cute!!