Local Harvest

November 14, 2013



This year Josh, Jocelyn and I participated in a CSA (community supported agriculture) from Hindinger Farms. This is the farm a few streets away from my house and the place I always go to for fresh vegetables in the summer. I was really excited for it to begin.


Every week we share a box of locally grown fruits and veggies. In the beginning we got strawberries, lettuce and spinach. Then green beans and blueberries. Kale was a big thing but I never did much with that. Peaches and apples and tomatoes. Then I got a big bag of Italian plums. I wasn't sure what to do with them but I wasn't going to let them go to waste. I looked up recipes on the internet and found a plum cobbler. I had my doubts about it but I went ahead anyway. It was delicious! Definitely something I would do again. Who knew plums could taste so good.


But the real challenge was the eggplant. Jennie was the eggplant queen and she always complained about how much work it was to cook. But since she is not around to make it anymore I decided it was time to conquer that dish. I called Annie, who called her mom, and I made their version of fried eggplant. Flour instead of breadcrumbs. I'm sure Jennie used breadcrumbs but I did what they suggested. I had so much I had to freeze some of it. But the rest I made into parmigiana. It tasted almost as good as I remember. Next time I will try the breadcrumbs.


So the CSA was a success. I made spaghetti squash and this week I'm going to try turnips. We only have two more weeks of produce but I am already looking forward to next year. A really wonderful way to support your local farming community.

Down With Peapod

June 10, 2013



Most people I know hate to go to the grocery store. I've always loved food shopping. I love to wander up and down the aisles looking at everything. I love to pick out just the right fruit and vegetables. I love to discover things I've never tried. Peapod? Why would I want other people to pick out my food? It would save time but I would not have the pleasure of finding that special ingredient or of impulse buying. Everyone needs a little impulse buy every now and then. Although it would keep me from purchasing potato chips. A struggle I have with myself every time I go into the store. "Just a small bag wouldn't hurt. You don't have to eat the whole bag at once," says the voice in my head. I leave with a bag of chips about fifty percent of the time.

Grocery shopping is quiet time for me. I used to try to go by myself when the kids were little. It was sometimes the only alone time I would have all week. For awhile I cried a lot in the grocery store but lately I've gone back to enjoying the experience. And not just the supermarkets but Hindingers is open again for the season. All that just picked produce. Last week I bought asparagus that had been harvested right before I got there. This summer Jocelyn and I are participating in the CSA at Hindingers. Every week we will get a crate of their harvest. I'm can't wait to try some new recipes.


So no Peapod for me. I want to get down and dirty with my food! After all what's the sense of having a gorgeous refrigerator if it is not filled with food.