We’ve all heard the expression, “Father knows best.” But honestly, how many of us actually believed it when we were teenagers? Pillsbury Kitchen Manager Kim Anderson sure didn’t. She was never exactly thrilled to go with her father when he went to tend the garden plot they rented outside urban St. Paul, Minnesota. Getting up early to play in the dirt just wasn’t her idea of a good time – and for what, a few baskets full of boring vegetables?

Now Kim is a parent herself, and ironically, she married a man with a green thumb and a passion for fresh veggies. And now she knows what we all learn eventually – Father really does know best! Kim and her husband live on 15 acres and are passionate about their 75-square-foot garden. They grow a bounty of fresh vegetables all summer long – tomatoes, corn, beans, peppers, squash, potatoes and watermelon, just to name a few. With the help of her mom and dad, Kim, her husband, and their 17-month-old son enjoy the special time they spend together outdoors digging in the earth and breathing in the fresh air. And they really enjoy the special meals Kim prepares using fresh vegetables from their own garden.

“The garden has helped me become a more creative cook,” she says. “When you have loads of fresh veggies on hand – and a little one who can’t even talk, yet looks at you as if to say, "Zucchini again?" – you have to use your imagination!”

Kim and her family enjoy delicious, nutrient-packed meals that feature fresh produce in inventive ways. In addition to traditional roasting and steaming, which allows you to enjoy the full flavor of the fresh vegetables, she also heaps fresh veggies into stir fries, fresh salsa, and homemade pasta sauces. (Click here for Kim’s favorite salsa recipe.) Of course, in the fall, hearty homemade stews loaded with wholesome ingredients are a family favorite. (Click here for Kim’s favorite stew recipe that uses a variety of fresh vegetables; make a big batch that you can freeze and eat all winter long.)

Whether you grow them yourself or buy them at your favorite farmer’s market, fresh, local vegetables add fresh flavor and a lot of fun to any meal.