The working "vacation" in the lotties was not all blood, sweat and tears--some of the time spent was very pleasureable. I am talking about the harvesting. Up until now, I have only been able to harvest the lettuces that were growing, protected in the greenhouse. As the toms got larger and larger, there was less and less room for them, so harvesting them served two purposes: making room for the toms to expand and making my tummy happy. That was all well and good, but cutting a few protected leafy veggies in the greenhouse does not a successful harvest make. The real test is in what can be grown and harvested outside. I have been harvesting oodles of strawberries, but a few days ago it was time for a couple of the 'big guns' to shine. I am talking broad beans, calabrese and the beginnings of the summer purple sprouting broccoli. First of all, the Aquadulce broad beans. I have planted my broad beans in three phases to give me a longer harvesting period. This is phase one just getting underway. This trug-full gave enough to make a good meal plus two bags of 300g to freeze-in. You probably think that this is a skimpy meal....but don't forget the dessert: Strawberries, shortcake and whipped cream. The serving was so sumptuous that I dare not show it here, for fear of further damaging my already tarnished rep. When it comes to fresh strawbs, I admit to being a hopeless decadent. Next, over in the new garden, I cut a couple of calabrese to go with the last iceberg lettuce from the greenhouse. Holland is known for being windy...see what happened to my poor cup when I left it out overnight in that huge windstorm a few nights ago? We get serious wind here too. The calabrese cooked-up well and there was also enough to freeze-in two bags of that as well. Well, it isn't exactly a huge harvest, but it certainaly is a good start, don't you agree?
What on earth happened to that mug of yours? My, I sort of started to move here to get it straight but then everything else was askew. Your meal looks delicious! Please pass some samples, and then please pass all the strawberries.
Mmm, that all looks so tasty! I like seeing pictures of the cooked food to see how you prepared it. What is cooked in with the broad beans? Little brownish bits -- maybe onion? I'd like to see how other people prepare their harvests too.
Thanks CL--Glad you liked the looks of the food. It really was delicious. DROOPY--hahaha. It was windblown! Passing the samples your way. The strawbs....ermmm....weeeeeellll.....Theyz all gone with the wind, as they say in Atlanta . Hiyah DAISY--The brown bits cooked with the broad beans are tiny bacon fat bits. That is the way we eat broad beans here...with that and ground savory flakes. We can buy these bacon fat bits already cut up that small in packets at the meat counter. I freeze it in and then break off what I need to cook with from time to time.
Oh you must be a good cook. I was ready to eat with you. Naw Cup didnt blow that way. Remind me to show you my 1/2 a cup. b
wonderful looking harvestsjoerd, and the meals, delightful! i just picked and shelled some of our broadbeans today. we'll be having them for supper tonight. will try the bacon bits with them. thanks for the tip! we've been eating some of our Umpqua Broccoli, our Purple Peacock Broccoli, and strawberries, too! should have enough for shortcake tonight! picked our first cherry yesterday....sweet, tart...yummy!
Sojerd aren't you inviting me over for a meal?? Hmmm ... I'm drooling!!! Wish I could those veggies over here, the last time I planted broccoli, no heads and it almost grew into a tree.
Your veggies look yummy, broccoli & beans are my favorite. Glad to see all your hard work is paying off.
B-- Thanks for reading the posting. Too bad you didn't come by for a bite to eat. KAY--Thanks for liking the looks of the fresh veg. Hahaha...silly cup? hahaha...I'm a silly kinda guy--it fits. Thanks BUNKIE--How did your broad beans turn out? Did you like them with backn fat bits? Did you have enough strawbs to eat for dessert? Congrats on your first cherry. I am waiting for a farmer I know to get his cherries in. He has my favourite--Kordia. I eat those things 'til my lips tongue and cingers become all blueish red. hahaha. I'm a sight, when I glutton-out on those babies! Sure KK-- You're invited for food. We are eating fresh from the garden every day now. Just drop in un-announced, it's OK. Thank you GAIL-- It is nice when the work pays off like this. I have already had enough to start freezing-in ANNND eat fresh. It's a dream come true. chuckle.
You are a tease Sjoerd.All those beautiful fresh veggies.Dooley and dr brought me some wonderful Okra and wonderful Green tomatos and some ripe ones we fried the green tomatos and Okra.Its was a great super.
