Anyone that knows me knows that when it comes to gardening (or keeping pretty much any green-ish thing alive), I have the blackest of black thumbs. If you want me to plant sit while you’re on vacation, better take out some insurance.

It’s bad.

So when I got the idea that I wanted to plant a vegetable garden this summer, Ken pretty much raised an eyebrow (or two) right off the bat. After much talking and deliberation, I resigned to the fact that maybe a salad-rich garden was a bit of a lofty goal for a first-timer, especially when we are in the process of figuring out how to add a dog into our family in the next few months. I’m glad I have a husband who reminds me not to bite off more than I can chew.

So this year? We compromised. I could try my hand at container gardening, and if it goes well, next year we’ll “talk tilling.”

Ken’s dad generously set us up with two huge pots full of dirt and two tiny tomato plants. Even though 2 out of 4 of us don’t like to eat raw tomatoes, all four of us adore dishes using them cooked. The kids helped get the two varieties into the soil late last month (Juliet grape tomatoes and Better Boys), then we watered, dosed out into the soil some Miracle-gro, and prayed.

It’s been nearly a month, and would you believe it? I’ve remembered to water these babies every day. (And fertilize them every Friday.) I am so excited that I’ve kept something alive (and growing!) that I admit, I peek out the windows several times a day, from different rooms, just to stare at them and giggle. I know that eating the first tomato off of these plants will be a moment frozen in time. I am confident I will see that day arrive. Maybe there’s hope for me (and my black thumb) after all!

I do have a bit of inspiration to keep me going, to fuel my memory to water these plants. These are some of my all-time favorite dishes to prepare using the red gems of summer. Try them and you’ll see why!

Olive Garden’s Cappellini Pomodoro

Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

Green Bean and Cherry Tomato Salad

Summer Tomato Sandwiches (I like to add basil to mine)

Pizza Margherita