Summertime Solanceous Sustenance!
Tomaotes and potatoes! Something that's not broccoli!
(And yes, I'm sorry, there is still broccoli in your tote. Big, gigantic, 3 pound, out of control heads of broccoli. Turns out the broccoli field in the New Nine is VERY fertile this year:). I hope you're surviving it OK.)
We are definitely turning the corner into the season of Solanaceae: that's the family that tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers all belong to (one of my personal faves). There are both red and heirloom tomatoes jumping off the vine in the greenhouses right now. Roberto dug the first new potatoes this week (lovely Red Golds....the yields weren't spectacular in this early variety, but the quality is nice). And next week you might just see your first glimpse of voluptuous, shiny purple eggplant. As soon as la berenjena (eggplant) appear, I know exactly what to eat every night: la berenjena! Broiled, grilled, lots of olive oil, salt. They are the meat of the vegetable world and for the next couple months I plan to indulge in them as often as possible. We pray for lots of ugly ones that don't make grade for our customers so that we have an ample stash of "house" eggplant at our fingertips.
Also, but not in the Solanaceae lineup, sweet corn is a mere week or two away. We planted more of it than ever this year, so get ready for some true August feasting.
|