There is nothing quite so graceful as trellised pea plants in full swing. And nothing quite so tasteful as a crunchy sugar snap pea eaten straight off the vine. And nothing that so captures the essence of spring as peas—all kinds of peas. Peas love cool, wet weather, and so are often only in season […]
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Pear
A rose by any other name might just be a pear. Okay, so my poetry might leave plenty to be desired, but gorgeous fall fruit can make the onset of even the coolest days feel welcoming. The delicate scent of a fresh pear is a sweet reminder that it is time to start putting up […]
Okra: Out of Africa
If you grew up in Illinois, you were probably like me and okra never crossed your mind–or plate. The fact is that I never laid eyes on an okra plant or ate an okra pod until my brother started growing it on his central Illinois farm. Now I pluck it off the tall beautiful flowering […]
Mustard Greens
Add some spicy to your green! Mustard greens can be green or purple, can be eaten as micro or baby greens in salads, or can be steamed when the leaves are larger. They are a beautiful and nutritious addition to your summer plate, and they add a wonderful spicy bite to your stir fry dishes. […]
Leek: Not Just for Stews
Leeks are thought of (when they are thought of at all) as a base for winter soups and stews. But they deserve far more attention than a bit player in a winter’s tale. Although the leek is a member of the onion family, the flavor is more subtle and refined than the standard onion. AN […]
Kohlrabi: The Sputnik Vegetable
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first man-made satellite. It was called Sputnik, and it looked a lot like a kohlrabi. Now, with so few people familiar with kohlrabi, the vegetable is often described as looking a lot like Sputnik, which is not far from the truth. The flattened globe rests just above the […]
