Novice preserves from a Brooklyn kitchen
[apples and almonds] I searched a really long time for a good apple loaf/cake recipe. One either already vegan, or that could be made vegan with easy substitutions. One not too soggy or dry. I came across this recipe, and we have made it repeatedly since. [hot apple cake, not quite ready to eat] You… Continue reading Apple cake
[Italian plums and anise] On the first day of fall, I made a wee small batch of Italian plum jam. I'm posting about it today because I couldn't capture the beautiful maroon color of the jam in artificial light. Even the gray overcast skies that eventually turned to heavy rain couldn't hide the pinks. [cooking… Continue reading Italian plum jam
[cosmos, nectarines, honeycrisp apples, honeycrisp cider, cabbage, basil, chard, tomatoes, beans, peppers] COSMOS! They're one of my favorites! I got so many smiles bouncing down the street with them on the way back home. Plus it's cider season! This is my favorite cider farm in New York, so I am stoked. We're more than halfway… Continue reading CSA Week 16
[slow-growing herb mix] I've slowly been building up my dried herb mix. Currently it consists of oregano, thyme, sage, and savory. I've been throwing into soups and roasted vegetables when I want a more subtle flavor than herbes. It might be perfect now, but we'll see what comes along with the herb share later in… Continue reading Collard greens and cannellini beans
[okra!] I love okra, but I've never cooked with it before, so this week has been good for stretching my cooking chops. After a quick search, I found a pretty comprehensive recipe for what came in the CSA this week, an okra, potato, and tomato tagine. I know it's not authentic, but the Internet is… Continue reading Okra
[gomphrena, basil, parsley, potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, okra, collards, bartlett pears and yellow peaches, heirloom tomatoes] Look at these flowers! Gomphrena make me so happy. And seem to resist the bug explosion the other flowers get. This is the last week for extra heirloom tomatoes, and I'm absolutely sad about it. Summer produce is coming to… Continue reading CSA Week 15
[5 pounds of heirloom tomatoes] The weekly bag of heirloom tomatoes has been wonderful, but kind of overwhelming. We haven't been cooking as much since we moved, especially with friends visiting and my birthday, so fruits and vegetables have been building up in the fridge. This morning, I had a full peck of tomatoes on… Continue reading Heirloom tomato jam
[heirloom tomatoes, Italian plums and yellow nectarines, tomatoes, lettuce, shishito peppers, radishes, squash, and leeks] When I first got the shares email, I thought the peppers would be bell peppers. I thought I'd make another ratatouille with them. I went to pick them up today, though, I saw that they were shishito peppers, and that… Continue reading CSA 14
[a simple summer sauté of mushrooms, tomatoes, and green beans] At a friend's dinner party years ago, I was introduced to a very simple dish of sautéed mushrooms, green beans, and tomatoes. With the right herbs, and some olive oil and onions, it's a quick and filling meal (or side) I love to make during… Continue reading A quick one
[basil, sorrel, escarole, mini tomatoes, scallions, beans, squash, eggplants, carrots, heirloom tomatoes, yellow nectarines, and pears] Summer produce is going strong! The last two weeks, I've been on the extra bag of heirloom tomatoes list, so I've been making a lot of HT+beans+basil salads. This week, with more squash and eggplants, I might make another… Continue reading CSA Week 13
Rhubarb Season 