snow peas

Boxing Day, June 24

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Dear John,

It is hot. Too hot. And feeling hotter. Boiling water to cook noodles or, maybe, presoaked beans is about all the heat I want to add to the kitchen.

Speaking of the kitchen. Since I last wrote, we had a rumble, crash, shatter as the cabinet that holds our dishes detached from the wall and fell to the floor. I am so grateful that we didn’t need to go to the hospital with injuries (though I don’t think your arm would agree that you are unharmed). Hopefully we’ll meet with contractors soon and start figuring out what our next steps are.

In the meantime, let’s think through foods that are easy prep, few dishes, and minimal heat.

Today’s Box

  • Blueberries
  • Cherry Plums
  • Broccoli
  • Green Cabbage
  • Red Butterhead Lettuce
  • Yellow Straightneck Squash

Things in the fridge

  • Sunchokes
  • Cucumbers
  • Fennel
  • Green Garlic
  • Napa Cabbage
  • Broccoli
  • Radishes

In the Garden

  • Hopefully something comes after the heat. Poor plants.

Open Preserves

  • Still to be done.

Pantry Beans

  • Jumbo Peruvian Lima Bean
  • Mayocoba Bean
  • Split Red Lentil
  • Good Mother Stallard
  • Rio Zape
  • And more tucked on other shelves…

Quick and Cold. Or at least cool.

  • Veggies in a dip. Hummus. Ranch. Elote dip. Yogurt sauce. I don’t know what I’m thinking most, but that is how we consumed broccoli last week and I think we should be prepared to do it again.
  • Do we have a cabbage salad with black beans? Cumin dressing? Is this something my dad served? Maybe I’ll ask him. I am assuming we’re going to be shaving the cabbage for salads and slaws.
  • The squash is what I would normally turn the oven on for. The tuna casserole is our standard! The taco filling is a favorite! I might just cook them down in butter and serve on grain bowls? Maybe add some to some eggs and do an instant pot frittata dish?
  • Maybe it’s time to check out Grains for Every Season and see if there’s some particular inspiration for grain bowl salads. I cooked quinoa today, so we have that on hand. Maybe try amaranth soon? It’s more of a porridge. Sounds like something I’d fry an egg on? Maybe? This is why I should look at recipes! In the meantime, I’m going to try to channel the fast casual salad bar places and prep different bits to mix and match. Today’s lunch was quinoa + leftover Indian curry + feta + radishes + raisins. And I liked it. So, room to experiment for sure.

Love,

Sarah

Boxing Day, June 17

planorcanLeave a comment

Dear John,

The beauty of travel is being inspired by other places and people. A magic of visiting friends and family is getting peeks at how other people live. In that vein, a few ideas of things that I liked on our recent trip:

  1. The front yard turned wildflower meadow. I know, we are working on it despite the lack of full sun. The bee balm is blooming right now! And I’m not going full wildflower because I also want the cut flowers–dahlias and zinnias both.
  2. The scissors and sign inviting people to snip flowers. The focus of this blog is our food, but the flowers are lovely and there’s a reason I include them in the harvesting list. Give us Bread, but give us Roses.
  3. A ceramic soap dish that drains into the sink. Because glazing holes is a trick and a half.
  4. I love the berries at the garden. I fantasize about berries at home. Let’s research raspberries in containers before we dig up some from friends though.
  5. On the one hand we have many other things to do that aren’t getting done. On the other hand, sitting down with a puzzle for an hour was a delight.

Today’s Box

  • Blueberries
  • Sugar Plums
  • Broccoli
  • Romaine Hearts
  • Slicing Cucumbers
  • Snow Peas

Things in the fridge

  • Sunchokes
  • Fennel
  • Green Garlic
  • Lettuce
  • Napa Cabbage
  • Broccoli

In the Garden

  • Who knows? We need to check on it! Probably some radishes and calendula and maybe even cosmos and basil. Raspberries or blueberries if they’re still left on the bushes?

Open Preserves

  • Still to be done.

Pantry Beans

  • Jumbo Peruvian Lima Bean
  • Mayocoba Bean
  • Split Red Lentil
  • Good Mother Stallard
  • Rio Zape
  • And more tucked on other shelves…

Meals to make. Maybe.

  • Debated how to use the peas and decided on a cacio e pepe e peas. Bit of Smitten. Bit of Six Seasons. I know they say it’s not a dish for leftovers. Let’s frittata any that are.
  • I left the lettuce in an empty swap box. Here’s hoping we regret the decision. Salad with fennel and cheese and fruit and nut. Salad with broccoli and blueberries and cucumber and poppy seed dressing. Salad of napa cabbage and dressing. Salad!
  • I’m debating between saucy tofu with noodles or bean salad to use the cucumber. I think I’m leaning tofu. But I bet it’d be good with those lima beans.
  • Do we want to turn on the oven to roast broccoli? Or make pizza with broccoli florets? Or should I go with the current favorite blitz to sauce and put on pasta? I do love the lemon feta velvety pasta and we haven’t had that yet this season.

Love,

Sarah