It all started the day I was picking up my CSA box at the Farm. I was standing in line eagerly awaiting my box. Just in front of me, a woman was clasping several tomatoes and a bundle or two of curly leaf kale. I stared at the bunch of kale, thinking, “I sure hope I don’t get a lot of kale in my box, like I did last time.” ~which I did. I had to ask her, ” What does one do with all that kale? “
They started out innocently enough…nice little plants, healthy and strong. Spring was cold and wet, and there wasn’t a big hurry to get them in the ground. I planted 3 in the community garden the end of May. Since I only get there a couple times a week, if that, the growth seemed amazing. Kind of like only seeing your nephews every few months—they grow like weeds! Now they have almost taken over my little 10 x 10 plot, escaping the cages and sprawling into
It’s time…it’s finally time! I received my first box of veggies this week. Community Supported Agriculture has hit the mainstream. I remember a time perhaps 15 years ago, a local couple put out ads and articles about this new concept of CSAs. They were trying to recruit people to give them a bunch of money in March to buy
The world of food is truly an amazing place. Just when you think you pretty much know what’s going on…a new food pops up on the horizon Freekeh???? Have you ever heard of it? I was ordering some grains and rice for the shop and the sales woman, Fran, was eager to tell me of this “new” grain they were offering. Freekeh. She repeated the name several times.
Boy, if you whine enough…publicly helps, perhaps, on this blog…look what happens! A box of lemons arrive on my doorstep. Well, I thought they were lemons. Big juicy lemons for lemon curd, lemon pie, lemonade…When I talked to Priscilla to thank her for the wonderful lemons from their tree she told me the little round one was not a lemon at all, but a sweet lime.
Every other Friday I receive a gift. It’s almost like Christmas for me…but I actually paid for it…and I actually LOVE vegetables. It’s a CSA box. If you’re not familiar with the concept, it’s a wonderful thing that is “growing” around the nation. Community Supported Agriculture. In the spring you sign up for a subscription,
I’m in the midst of writing a little booklet about carrots for Learn Great Foods. I have planted some in a big barrel…they are still pretty tiny, but beginning to show their colors. Did you know the tops are edible too? Mildly like carrots, but greener…somehow. The perfect garnish for a carrot dish, or torn into a salad.
Chocolate. I like to say my daughter was made of chocolate and spinach while in utero. That is about all I ate. If I’d known about this recipe then, it would have made my day.
Today, I made this salad using a strawberry jam imported from France and a dark Valrhona cocoa, one of my favorites. Really, who puts chocolate
Here we go with the peanut butter again. I think I must secretly adore peanut butter. Even I don’t realize it, until I try something like this. Thai flavors are so intriguing…. peanuts, lime, coconut, cilantro, even stinky fish sauce. (No fish sauce in this dressing, to keep it vegetarian, but you could throw in a shot, if you are so inclined.)
My grand daughter had a dinosaur birthday party. How cool is that? Lots of lizards and turtles and snakes made their way to the back yard to visit the kids so they could learn a little about our neighbors of the creepy crawly sort. Jurassic Parties did a great job. All the kids loved it. Grandma hung out in the kitchen with a quick peek once in a while. I had to guard the food, after all.
I’ve escaped the frigid Midwest for sunny and warm Southern California to visit with my fellow blogger, Priscilla, and the rest of my family. With my granddaughter’s birthday coming up next week it was the perfect time to visit. I got out just in time, it seems, as Sheila is calling about concerns of holding class this week at the Cookery because of the frigid temperature and 8-inches of snow that
