Garden Fuss

Today we came, we saw, and we said good bye to one of many farmers markets closing for the season this weekend. No sooner than arriving did the family and I start pining for, and talking up 2012's market days. Already I can see braving the still cool chilly mornings for hot coffee or cocoa from food trucks like Arepas while on the lookout for asparagus and the first fresh sweet lettuce, spinach and spring onions from local farmers. I may have been nervous about trying ramps before, but after an introduction to them this year part of me now can't wait to snatch up a few bundles to make my own herbed oils, ramp soups, and even a fragrant stir-fry. Like the farmers I met today I am ready to be rid of this years bounty. It was hard work but very much worth it. There are still brussels sprouts, kale, swiss chard and beets in amazing colors to harvest yet. I have got to get busy pickling what's left so I can feed my face in grattitude of this years bounty while flipping through t...

It's been too many months since we've indulged in a pizza night. Well with school back in and everyones schedules picking up for the fall we have to make a point to get everyone involved in communing together. Tonights culinary activities got us a chicken brocolli and (homemade) pesto pizza with an accompanying meaty boy pizza that is full of turkey pepperoni and italian sausage. To burn off our delicious weekend endeavor we did manage to get in a very long almost 2 hour walk with the dog. Overkill? Maybe, but getting the family together outdoors ad involved with dinner is importat to me and the DH. Sunny days like this are too far and few in our region so it's importat to take advantage of the good stuff. I think my fam knows the good stuff is when we're together.

Some how my internal cold monitor went off in time for us to get the potatoes dug up. Wouldn't you know as I post this update the news is reporting that last night we finally reached official first frost temps at the Twin Cities International Airport. I guess I do have 6th sense when it comes to cold.... Well, I have been dreading this for some time now due to our unusually early cold weather. Yes we are in Minnesota the land of schizophrenic climates that can change in the blink of an eye. But it doesn't help to be achy and sniffly and just plain zapped from the dryness and lack of sunlight these days. What's a girl to do? I've tried first bribng then ultimately shaming the kids into digging them up. I even thought about teaching the hound to dig potatoes for a nice scooby snack. None of my drama and theatrics was successful so I had to get my big toosh up with my big girl panties on, wrap my neck, and bundle up to begin my last adventure in the garden this year....

Another reason to support the local markets? They love on our kids with more than delicious fresh produce. They fill little hearts by providing colorful gourds, multiple colors, glitter, and opportunities to be creative. I love that even though the dog days of summerare gone we can still find great things to eat and do @ our local farmers market.  As you can see from the pictures I was able to find beautiful parsnips, and the freshest Jerusalem artichoke I've ever seen. This is an ingredient I have seen in the past and stayed away from because I had no clue. However, I will be using these beauties in a couple different dishes that I hope please my finicky crew. I'll try them creamed into a soup, and a roasted recipe. If this goes over well then you know where I'll be next week.... My local farmers market or somewhere similar hoarding... I mean purchasing another clutch of them. Another honorable mention of the day are the salad greens. I found some amazing lettuce and g...

Diced onion sauteed with fresh cabbage from the garden and topped with chunks of cheddar cheese has been stuffed into seasoned ground pork to make the ultimate burger. As you can see from the pic the burger sits on a bed of cute pear tomatoes and fresh romaine lettuce. For the base of the burger have used fres bread from "A Bakers Wife". Now that's what I call a weekend dinner with greens!

I love pickling and now my mom has caught the pickling bug too. Usually I stay away from consuming okra due to the slime factor when cooked. For my birthday the other day I gt a box from mom with some preserved items including, muscadine jelly and pickled okra. It takes a good cook to use okra in a way that doesn't have slime oozing down your throat. My mom can definitely fry up a good batch with crunch but she doesn't live close eough so I can enjoy them fried. Most people I know put it in gumbo or soup. If it's going into any kind of soup... I avoid it like the plague. This is my first time trying okra pickles and I will tell you now I am going to harvest the remaining pods in my garden and brine those bad babies before it is too late. 
I know it's strange to some for a person to grow a plant they would not eat themselves. I would say to you, have you never seen an okra blossom? It is one of the most beautiful flowers in the world. If I could collect a bloom and prese...

Oh the soft **ping ting** of canning preserves is what I'm hearing this evening. After taking a trip to Trader Joes earlier in the week I found a fresh shipment of California figs. I know this is against my motto of buying local, but I just couldn't pass up this sweet succulent fruit. Nothing says christmas like a meal with figs. Though I've never had figgy pudding which I'm not sure contain actual figs... I do enjoy yogurt with a sweet and savory smelling fig, thyme, and lemon confiture. I can eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Last year I gave away and enjoyed lots of preserves. This year I'm already more than half way done with my canning, and looking forward to tucking into them when the white stuff (dare I say the "s" word outloud) actually hits the ground. Enjoy the pics and be sure to check back because I'll post my recipe for you. 

Later Peeps!!