When I see the stacks of orange orbs in front of grocery stores, I can’t help but think that pumpkins have been hijacked for that trick without a treat, the Halloween jack-o-lantern. The hijackees have been bred not for their texture or flavor, but for their bright color and substantial stems. To find a truly […]
News
Four Fresh Ideas for the Fourth!
Seeking out food from your local farmers is a patriotic thing to do. Fresh fruits and vegetables connect us in a literal and visceral way to our land, and buying them is good for our local farmers and local economy. And they taste great, and are good for you, too. So this year, declare your […]
Sugar Snap or Snow Peas with Lemon Herb Butter
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 […]
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. […]
