On a hot summer day, who wants to spend lots of time in the kitchen, at least not at dinner time when the heat of the day has invaded every pore. Not me. But I do love to cook, and have to find ways to get my fix without a lot of fuss. My solution? Making pasta early in the morning, letting it dry throughout the day and cooking up a quick meal in about 15 minutes when I get home from work.
I’ve been growing alliums! The garlic is harvested and drying in the garage…cool and dark, and the shallots have been laying in the yard, drying in the sun. Both in the same family…but different curing methods. They are both a little early this year, as is expected, as everything is early. This morning I found some beautiful beans at the market.
This is the salad Michelle and I made the other day. The dressing turned out quite nice, taking on a bit of the shrimp flavor, but having enough bite to spark up the mixed greens. Red bells always add that bit of color I’m looking for, and the crunch and antioxidants they provide are an added bonus. The perfect spring and summer salad that will be made up again and again after a long day in the garden or a hectic day with tourists….
I have a thing for beans– especially dry beans. I just love all the colors, the shapes, and the names. The Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook lists hundreds of varieties with such wonderful names as Bountiful Ester, Black Turtle Soup, Little Brown Cat, Tiger Eye, or Purple Buddha. I have a bowl of mixed dry beans on my desk to play with and admire. This year one of my goals for the little Galena Community Garden plot
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? “
I have been getting CSA boxes for the last few weeks. I am so impressed with the ‘farm to table’ vegetables. The fact that they are organically grown gives me peace of mind that I am feeding my family the very best. I only wish I had enough space to grow them myself. Since I have been receiving the produce, I have felt an increase in energy (which is a necessity when you have small children) as well as discovering that the taste of the vegetables is quite different than what you find on grocery store shelves.
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.
It is always fun to see the fruit trees bloom in spring, knowing that the flowers will turn into something so good and healthy to eat. This year I was blessed with an abundance of apples on my tree. Here in Southern California the apple tree of choice (about the only one that does not need cold temperatures to produce) is the Anna Apple.
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,
Did you ever wonder about the origins of your favorite dish? Well…everything has a beginning.
Keshi Yena, a delicious dish from the Caribbean island of Curacao, has a humble beginning. This dish was born in the heat of the slave trade on the island in the 17th and 18th century.
Growing your own mushrooms seems a bit unusual, seeing as I steer clear of their random unwanted cousins in my garden. When I first tried this I was living in the Midwest. I had a huge crop of shitakes that were a great conversation piece when visitors came. I am not sure how I came upon getting my first kit. It has been so many years…
