If you haven't checked out the Sign of the Shovel yet, you should. Michele is a fantastic writer and a real joy to read. "Michele Owens, who bites off more than she can chew as a matter of policy, has two gardens: a town garden in Saratoga Springs, NY and a country garden in Salem, NY." This week on her blog she quoted the Kitchen Gardeners International, and I really wanted to forward this:
We also are able to have things that we couldn't get under normal circumstances. For example: Jerusalem Artichokes and Figs. Jerusalem Artichokes are a tuber that grows these great black eyed susan type flowers on giant sunflower sized stalks. But the tuber is soooo tasty. It tastes like an artichoke, and it eats and cooks like a potato. Although if you eat them raw they're more like water chestnuts. They don't ship well at all, so you are unlikely to find them in your local grocery store. Figs don't ship well either; the ones you normally see in the store are dried. Dried figs are tasty, don't get me wrong, but real ones right off the tree are an experience to themselves. (Just flick the ants off.)
Anyone who knows us, knows that there is no such thing as bad food in our house. We love trying exotic new foods, recipes, and cooking styles, but we're in the mac-and-cheese phase of life and can't really afford the freshest most flavorful ingredients unless we grow them. (You won't find vanilla beans or saffron in our spice rack.) We have found a way to keep up our gourmet lifestyle on a tuna noodle casserole budget. Even throwing a few squash seeds in the back yard will improve your quality of life, so try it. What have you got to lose? I promise you will become more then a foodie too.
- Gretchen
Kitchen Gardeners are gastronomes of the highest order. Unlike mere foodies who flit from one trendy spot to another in search of instant culinary gratification, Kitchen Gardeners set out roots in a place and begin planning their pleasure months in advance.Just another reason you should get out there and plant something. One packet of seeds is all you need to get hooked for life. Over the summer I purchased a few homegrown potatoes from the farmers market, and we had a few given to us by a friend of Ryan's dad. I cooked them and tossed in some salt and butter. They were FANTATIC. I was totally shocked! Potatoes actually have flavor. I didn't have any clue! This is the sort of experience I get from every little fruit and veggie carefully harvested out of our yard. Cheap thrills, yes - but thrills nontheless.
We also are able to have things that we couldn't get under normal circumstances. For example: Jerusalem Artichokes and Figs. Jerusalem Artichokes are a tuber that grows these great black eyed susan type flowers on giant sunflower sized stalks. But the tuber is soooo tasty. It tastes like an artichoke, and it eats and cooks like a potato. Although if you eat them raw they're more like water chestnuts. They don't ship well at all, so you are unlikely to find them in your local grocery store. Figs don't ship well either; the ones you normally see in the store are dried. Dried figs are tasty, don't get me wrong, but real ones right off the tree are an experience to themselves. (Just flick the ants off.)
Anyone who knows us, knows that there is no such thing as bad food in our house. We love trying exotic new foods, recipes, and cooking styles, but we're in the mac-and-cheese phase of life and can't really afford the freshest most flavorful ingredients unless we grow them. (You won't find vanilla beans or saffron in our spice rack.) We have found a way to keep up our gourmet lifestyle on a tuna noodle casserole budget. Even throwing a few squash seeds in the back yard will improve your quality of life, so try it. What have you got to lose? I promise you will become more then a foodie too.
- Gretchen