A Garden to Tend

Some friends left town and asked me to tend their garden while they were away. Since I live at a higher altitude, where growing much beyond herbs is a challenge, having access to an abundance of fresh vegetables has been a gift.

Harvesting the Last of the Season

As often happens in Colorado, September brought an early winter storm before temperatures warmed again for a few more weeks. I took the opportunity to harvest as many tomatoes, sunflowers, and edible greens as I could carry.

The purple and green basil will be made into pesto to freeze for later, and I decided to make a simple dinner featuring the vibrant arugula and juicy tomatoes.

Fresh, mature arugula has an incredible spicy, mustard-like flavor—far more robust than what you typically find at the grocery store. Many people don’t realize it can be cooked just like spinach or kale. Lightly wilted in olive oil with just a pinch of salt, it retains its character while its bold, peppery flavor becomes a little more mellow.

A Simple Meal – Roasted Tomato and Fresh Arugula Spaghetti

I roasted the tomatoes with garlic to bring out their sweetness while preserving their fresh essence, then tossed them with warm pasta and the arugula. The heat of the pasta wilts the greens just enough to soften them without losing their distinctive bite.

Chunks of marinated feta and a handful of olives added a salty, briny finish that tied everything together. It was rustic, nourishing, and a beautiful way to celebrate the garden season’s final harvest.

The Nourishing Goodies

This simple pasta dish isn’t just satisfying—it’s nourishing, too.

Arugula is packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients. As part of the cruciferous vegetable family, it’s rich in vitamin K, folate, and glucosinolates, which may support detoxification and cellular health. Its peppery bite comes with anti-inflammatory benefits.

Tomatoes bring in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to heart health and skin protection. Roasting them actually enhances the bioavailability of lycopene, making this dish both comforting and beneficial.

Garlic, long celebrated for its immune-supporting properties, is known to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects—especially when gently roasted to bring out its sweetness.

Olive oil, a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, provides healthy monounsaturated fats that support brain and heart health.

Feta and olives round it all out with calcium, healthy fats, and probiotics (if using traditional brined versions), making every bite not only flavorful but functional.