yummm...grasshopper...
Okay, I'll admit we are most definitely not insectivores. But Calvin was very proud of the fact that he whittled a willow stick to a sharp point and impaled a grasshopper. That boy has some tribal instincts in him!
What I meant to brag about here was the garden-harvested component of our dinner tonight. On the left, broccoli, all second shoots; in the middle, tomato, Pruden's Purple (Or Caspian Pink, if I could just find my garden notebook from planting time!) Anyway, the first beefsteak tomato of the season, and delicious. On the right, Swiss chard, sauteed in olive oil with two garlic cloves, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice (Can't grow lemons here, sorry!) and pine nuts. I'm wondering about the pine nuts; I mean, we do have pine trees, but harvest would present a problem due to the height at which the pine cones grow. Oh, and notice the basil sprig in the middle. That is, I think, Genovese basil, from seeds I saved from a garden long forgotten somewhere else, and it is the most potent, fragrant, intoxicating basil to be found anywhere. Basil, like hops, is a sign that if there is a God, it likes us and wants us to be happy. (Attributed to Ben Franklin, in part)
This was not the whole meal; accompanying it was fried shrimp from a Big Box store, shipped from somewhere on this earth. That's local, isn't it? The shrimp, however procured, was delicious. I promise some day we'll find a way to grow our own in a tank in a greenhouse.
Entertainment was provided by a local hillbilly band. They say a good time was had by all. ;)
10 comments:
Oh no--not shrimp! And you had so many eco-karma points going for you with that plate of delicious homegrown veggies! I think the homegrown entertaiment puts you ahead, though. ;)
That looks like fun! And a yummy meal, too. I wonder if I could tempt others to eat my chard with that presentation. Pine nuts are so-o-o good. But I thought they only came from a certain southern pine, no?
What a hoot that last picture is!
Or maybe a hootenanny!
Congrats on the broccoli. Mine was completely decimated by cabbage moths. I'm making plans for "screened porches" to house them in next year. You don't have to much problem with those?
Love the last pic!
Sylvia- I know, it seems for every step forward we take in eating locally we take a step backwards for "convenience". But the music was nice. :)
Laura- I haven't looked into pine nuts enough to know what pines produce them. Our pines here probably produce something not so plump and flavorful, but the crossbills who come every few years seem to enjoy them!
Madcap- My broccoli came through unscathed, but my hopes of huge cauliflower heads were dashed by a fungal rot of some sort. Gardening is such a learning experience!
LauraHinNJ- It's such a pleasure seeing them come up with something like that on their own. Mr. Attitude gets the greatest expressions on his face when he's playing the banjo-mandolin.
What a hunter! Glad you didn't make him eat it. He can hunt through my garden anytime.
Shrimp and home produce...what a great supper...and that band...WOW!
The food looks wonderful. I am going to try you way of cooking greens.
Love that band, too.
I love that pic of Calvin! Brings back memories of painstakingly sharpening "spears" and "arrows" when I was a child. I never killed anything, though, I bow to his manly prowess.
Those veggies look TASTY!! I have never tried chard before, but looking at that it's on my list for next year.
That last picture is priceless! :D
FC- It got him away from the video games, for a while...
Sandy- I forgot to mention with the Swiss chard, throw in some minced fresh basil. And some white wine wouldn't hurt. ;)
barefoot gardener- sounds like you grew up right! And definitely try the chard, as nutritious as spinach but not as fussy. It will stand hot weather and drought and still produce like mad, and not taste too bitter!
ggg (and everyone else)- That was one of the great moments when if I had been shooting film I would think twice, but with digital it's "Aww hell! Shoot away!" And you end up with some priceless memories as a result.
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