poetry friday

If Nature smiles -- the Mother must 

by Emily Dickinson

If Nature smiles -- the Mother must

I'm sure, at many a whim

Of Her eccentric Family --

Is She so much to blame?

interesting strawberry recipes

Image via 101 Cookbooks

Have you noticed that strawberries are everywhere? Cheap, plentiful and delicious--even beautiful, wholesome organics.* Good news for berry fans (which we are--we're living off the stuff right now)... of course, bad news for the farmers who are losing the profits they normally count on this time of year, due to a glut of berries flooding the market.

We can't help the farmers with recent bad weather luck, but we certainly can buy and gobble up their "problem."

So, the stores are chock-a-block with berries, stacked up and begging to come home with us. When faced with a "bogo" special at the market, I instinctively grab 'em. As many as I can get home. But, how to use them all up before they get mushy--and, worse, fuzzy?

First, it's important to store them right: take them out of the clamshell or berry basket, and spread them on a paper-towel lined plate, so they can't touch. They're like little kids in the car on a long journey: "she's touching me!" They hate that. If you're going to gobble them up very soon, leave them out of the fridge, as they seem to lose some flavor in the chill. Otherwise, pop another paper towel on top and put the plate in the fridge.

Now, recipes. I've been bookmarking them, so as to address the multiple pounds of berries we're buying per week. Mostly we eat them straight, but sometimes a bit of class is called for. We all probably know how to whip up a tart or assemble a shrotcake-y treat... but here are a couple of my current favorites that are a little unusual:

Interesting Strawberry Recipes

Fava Beans and Strawberry Salad with Pecorino, from Chris Cosentino, at nearby Incanto

Strawberry Ceviche. Yeah, with actual fish. Mmmm, ceviche.

Strawberry Panzanella, from 101 Cookbooks (pictured above). This is a really special, interesting recipe for perfect berries.

Strawberry Clafouti. This looks easy, stylish... good for a dinner party perhaps?

Dark Chocolate and Strawberry Tartlet, from the ravishing Tartine Gourmande. For if you're feeling ambitious... or just want to impress someone :)

What interesting ways do you like to eat strawberries? Need more ideas!

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*My advice: buy only organic strawberries. They're one of those "dirty dozen" foods which you really must avoid conventionally: they're loaded with spray residue. No bueno. Hey, why not download a dirty/clean dozen wallet guide or iPhone app?

the weekend, pictorially

- Act 1 -

A bit of cooking.

Fresh pasta. Always yummy, but we both agreed we don't quite have the right recipe yet. Anyone have a good one to share?

Pizza with garden kale, yukon gold potatoes, yellow onion and thyme. Starting with the fresh-picked kale, I then turned to our trusty Flavor Bible for some good suggestions for complementary ingredients. It never disappoints.

- Act 2 -

Broooooooooooom.

Told you, this kid is nuts-o for brooms. We spent some quality time this weekend perusing options in the Container Store catalog. We even fished this fine literature out of the recycling bin once. A committed obsession (and compliant parents).

- Act 3 -

Green gangbusters.

I did some serious garden puttering, one of my main talents.

A bit of relaxing, too.

The beets needed a little thinning...

...and eating, as well.

- Act 4 -

Finally, some quality time...

... contemplating the color blue.

ooopsies in the garden

Thank you for the lovely recent comments on the progress of our first veggie garden at this new house! I'm totally enthralled with the daily progress. I promise you I always kiss and hug the baby and husband upon arriving home from work days, but it's never long before I tip-toe outside to see what's doing. There's so much to learn--like oh! So THAT'S how baby fennel bulbs form. Or, woops, that's what happens when you wait to thin the carrot beds. Oh. 



But, as I said earlier, there's always something positive to behold out there. Nature just keeps doing her thing (Happy Earth Day!). Tonight, I moseyed outside to pick some kale for pizza (what else) and noticed that amid all the pretty white pea flowers, there were the first little teensy pods starting to poke out, making plans to fatten up with smooth little green jewels inside.

But, oh, I assure you things are never all perfect. In the last few days, a couple of little gardening thorns have found their way to my side. Perhaps a little venting is in order? OK, here's my dirt list:



1. Dang, I started too early!
Right inside our back garden door is a wooden table covered with a green tangle of my summer crops: cherry, pear and violet tomatoes, green and purple tomatillos, two types of basil, hot Thai peppers, etc etc. For eight weeks or so, they've all been snug as bugs on a heating mat, under two sets of grow lights (two different heights). But, some of the most vigorous tomatoes (ok, nearly all of them) are going absolutely nuts, and are threatening to blow the lid off the tallest setting of the lights. The tomatillos started flowering, for pete's sake. Oops.



They NEED to go outside, get in some dirt, and really get their grow on. But, crap, it's been chilly lately. I could blame everything on some recent cold nights, but really I think I just started the seeds way too soon. (I was excited!) Now that the grow lights are at their tallest setting--and the tomatoes have started to grow around the bulbs (gulp)--I think I'm going to bite the bullet and start hardening them off (acclimating them to outside) this weekend, as we're supposed to have nice weather. If the temp dips again, I guess I'm committing to blanketing my plant babies before each cold night. Argh.



2. Woops, that's not lavender.
So, some heartier plants that I started indoors have already made their way outdoors and into pots and open beds. I moved some pretty marigolds out, some thyme, sage... and some Munstead Lavender, which is supposed to be an outstanding English variety. I love me some lavender people. Only problem is that the five cute little seedlings that I've been tending for eight weeks and recently potted up into pretty matte brown pottery... yeah, not lavender. Tonight, I got a letter from Renee's Garden Seeds, the extremely excellent local seed company that I try to buy most of my seeds from, saying that yeah... it's not lavender that you planted. It's heliotrope. Um, whaa? They somehow shipped the wrong seeds. They're really sorry.*

First of all, it's ridiculous that I didn't quite figure this out yet. Yeah, the leaves didn't look too lavender-y... Like many new gardeners, I blamed myself: obviously I just didn't know what young lavender plants look like. The crinkly dark green leaves would someday soon morph into silvery, scented foliage. Ha. It doesn't work like that.

OK, now what do I do? I checked the RGS website and heliotrope--heretofore unknown to me--is a (somewhat stuffy-looking--sorry) Victorian flower used in nosegays. You know, something so sweetly scented it could be carried around to mask unpleasant odors of the time. Hmm, I do like fragrant blooms. But, a heliotrope is so not what I was after. Toby says to just chuck 'em... hoo boy, that would be the day. I can't throw away anything useful, beautiful or potentially interesting. Perhaps I'll compost a few of them. I only have so many pots. Oh, dilemmas. Well, at least I know I'll be starting new lavender seeds this weekend: the letter from Renee Shepherd was  accompanied by the real lavender seeds, plus some bonus, fancy French Cosmos. (Oooh, pretty. Should I grow those, too? I'm pathetic.) 

So, how about you? What's on your Spring dirt list? I can't be the only one :)

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* Despite this seed mix-up, I must point out that I love Renee's Garden Seeds. If you've grown from them, you know. Their seed packets are ridiculously informational, they sell interesting varieties, and they're very responsive to questions or problems. Of course, I had no idea that I was having a problem with my pseudo-lavender, but no matter. I'm sure I'd have figured it out someday. ...Anyway, I'm really hoping to mention this Bay Area company again this year: my mother-in-law recently sat next to Renee Shepherd at a professional function, where after some chatting, my MIL was offered a tour of the RGS growing operation in nearby Felton, CA. A few months ago, I was invited on this future tour as a Christmas gift--I was speechless. The best gift. Don't worry, I'll take pictures and share!

simple soup tip

Since making stock last week, I've been eating a lot of homemade soup. The weather dipped back down recently, with some rain and chilly days. So, mmmmm, soup.  Especially with homegrown chard and kale.

Read on for my crazy simple soup formula (it's too basic to call a recipe), but here's my tip:

You may have already done this a thousand times, so pardon me for being so silly all this time. But, have you ever popped a parmesan rind into simmering soup? DELICIOUS!

Next time you get to the end of your chunk of parmigiano-reggiano, wrap it up and stash it in the freezer. Then, when you make some soup (or pasta sauce), pop it in for the last 15 minutes or so. It infuses the simplest soup with umami: savory, meaty, cheesy goodness. 

Do you do this? You should.

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Blake's Simple Soup Formula

Aromatics: Dice carrot, celery, onion, pinch of salt... sweat it in olive oil, in a big pot.

+

Seasoning: Add some garlic, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, a squirt of tomato paste... cook briefly.

+

Vitamins: Throw in some chopped greens (kale, chard, etc)... sautée until wilted.

+

Liquid: Add a cup of diced tomatoes and a few cups of chicken stock (homemade!), enough to cover. 

+

Chef-y stuff: Throw in a bay leaf, fresh thyme, and a few springs of parsley.

+

Cook: Bring to a simmer, let it bubble away for a bit.

+

Finish up: Throw in a 1/2 c or so orzo pasta, along with the parmesan rind. Cook until pasta is done. Discard rind and "chef-y stuff" from above. Check salt & pepper.

ENJOY.

PS: this soup makes great leftovers!

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image: restaurant widow

garden update: mid-April

Woah. Things are really booming in the kitchen garden. Everything's going nuts! And, we've been trying to keep up, gobbling up fresh salads most every day and tucking kale and chard into everything imaginable. The radishes are nearly all pulled out and the arugula has already bolted. Things happen fast once Spring really hits. And, the peas and favas are just flowering now, so the fun has just begun.

Here's what Spring looks like in my little green heaven.


Step inside... the favas are towering and the wee little herb seedlings are still hiding from toddler grabbiness behind chicken wire.


Beautiful pea tendrils and flowers. Not too long until we're picking pretty green pods.


'Laxton's Progress' pea flower. To me, this looks like a little girl's pretty Spring bonnet.


Fava flowers! This is my first time growing favas, so I'm so excited to see these beautiful, striking blooms.


More fava flowers on the way.


Beautiful 'Bright Lights' chard. Had some for dinner tonight, tucked underneath salmon, roasted in parchment.


Cavolo nero. Love.


Assistant garden inspector, checking out the greens beds. 'Heaven on Earth' rose in the background, about to bloom.


Close up inspection.


...AND! Last but not least, as promised, the artichokes are GO. Last weekend, I planted two 'Green Globe' and one 'Purple of Romagna' plants. I surrounded them with seeds of sunflowers of varying sizes and colors, as they're supposed to be good companions. Fingers crossed.

Want more Spring garden porn? More photos here.

moment

morning... groggy... cuddles