Quote of the Day: Jessica Prentice
And of course eating winter produce in winter helps me reconnect with the earth’s rhythms and with the seasonal reality of my forebears. It reminds me that to everything there is a season and a time. It helps me to let go of my desire to have whatever I want, whenever I want it, instantly. It helps me appreciate that which I have been given and to accept it gratefully. A long night in the Hunger Moon will be warmed immeasurably by a thick, creamy bowl of Cream of Parsnip Soup. Eating it with a chunk of good aged cheddar on a slice of dark bread, it is a little bit of heaven on earth. It is no sacrifice at all, just a return to the simplicity and beauty of eating with wisdom and appreciation.
Jessica Prentice – Full Moon Feast: Food and the Hunger for Connection
I was over at my mom’s yesterday looking at the edible garden. Most everything was nipped by the frost and cold temperatures. The tomatoes are gone for the season; green beans will not grace my plate until next summer. I picked the last few peppers and those will be enjoyed over the coming week.
That’s not really a problem though, we have kale to eat and the peas will produce for a little while longer. A good number of carrots are still snug in their beds of soil and will remain there until we put the garden to sleep for good.
At the farmer’s market I’ve been buying raddichio, bok choi and other cold season vegetables. I no longer crave a fresh tomato out of season, but willingly look forward to brussels sprouts, celeriac and other vegetables that star in winter.
I have yet to grow many of these cold season vegetables in my small garden, but hopefully with all the new space I’m adding in a few years I’ll be able to experiment with them. I’m thankful for the local farmers that grow them so I can get used to eating them before I try to grow them in my garden!
What’s your favorite cold season vegetable? Are you planning on growing any new vegetables in your gardens in the coming years?
Filed under Quote | Comments (18)
I think my favorite cold weather veggie is squash. I can make a meal out of a baked small butternut or acorn. I am going to try parsnips and leeks next year.
to Jennifer Fisk's comment
I too love winter squash. We just had curried chicken pumpkin soup yesterday – so warning & delicious!
to Susy's comment
I love rutabagas. And leeks. There’s really nothing better in the winter than pot roast with stewed leeks. YUM.
Next year I’ll grow my own rutabagas.
to kristin @ going country's comment
We planted some Mache for the first time this year, some garlic for the first time and some Kale for the first time.
Amy
to goatpod2's comment
I want to try celariac again next year. I had trouble getting my seeds to germinate this year.
P.S. Have you pre-ordered your copy of Diablo 3 yet? I’m pretty excited about it!
to Daedre Craig's comment
Yep, pre-ordered our copy earlier this week – we’re super excited too.
to Susy's comment
I love butternut squash and grow quite a lot each year. They are so easy to grow and keep in my cupboard for months. I am always in search of new ways of preparing them. My new favorite is a version of Heidi Swanson’s farro soup. I also love them roasted, pureed, and in risotto. Delicious!
In the garden I try to a least experiment with one new thing each year. I recently added Burdock root, parsnips, and bok choy to my repertoire.
I was inspired by your blog on carrots because I have not had success in the past but your advice has inspired me to try again, especially with the Parisienne variety that will probably do well in my clay soil. This winter I am growing kale, chard, salad, collards, cabbage, broccoli, and I am trying a few winter squashes to see if I can get another round if the winter is mild.
I have an ongoing list of new things to try. Yams are the top of my list.
Traci
to Traci's comment
I am thankful for your post about having to get used to eating certain foods, and that some are not ever your favorite but just eaten because it good for you.
We are slowly eliminating our bad habits and replacing convenient, out of season foods with garden freshness. It is shameful that we don’t eat more in season veggies as we live in California in the Central Valley and there is so much available all year. My neighbors grow tomatoes all year with the help of their green house.
Missing your posts on Simple, Green, & Frugal.
Margaret
to Margaret's comment
Hmm difficult….but I suppose my favorite winter veg has to be leeks, parsnips and winter squash.
I am going to have a go at yacon next year if I can get hold of some tubers and i quite fancy trying some different varieties of winter squash… maybe some heritage tomatoes.
to Mich's comment
My favorite would be butternut squash. I’m very lucky, tho. I live in the Sacramento Valley and can grow almost anything year round. I love all of the root crops, too…roasted: yummy!
to Lynda's comment
I’m ready for the rest from gardening in winter, even though cold weather veggies grow here until the end of November. I’ll grow spinach and lettuce until it just won’t grow anymore, then I’ll just wait until early Spring to start all over.
to songbirdtiff's comment
Rutabagas, kale, and Brussels sprouts.
to mistresseve's comment
Hard to pick a favorite – any winter veg (cauliflower, squash, etc.) roasted then thrown on a salad, butternut squash with sage in a pasta.
They don’t grow near me but I love it when Clementines from CA are available.
to Lee's comment
I’m a little jealous of your farmer’s market! Sadly, most of the markets in my neck of the woods close down Nov-March. I made my last CSA pick up on Friday and was delighted to find cabbage, turnips, sweet potatoes, beets, kale, carrots, radishes, and chard to bring home.
to Victoria's comment
I enjoy switching from lettuce to cabbage as a main ingredient in salads and tacos. It stores so well .. and I just harvested the little ‘side’ cabbages that grow after the main head is harvested .. it’s more intense in flavor.
to Mrs. Mac's comment
Favorite = beets
New = butter cup squash
to MAYBELLINE's comment
squash and apples are on my current menu. I love the local orchard apples. They are good for baking or fresh. Crisp, sweet , and tart. The squash I eat baked with butter salt and pepper, as soup, or use it in baking breads and muffins. Mini pumpkins stuffed with sausage, buffalo chicken, or apples and walnuts. Don’t forget the roasted seeds, I prefer the acorn squash seeds.
to Bonnie's comment
I think brussels sprouts are probably my most favorite winter veggie, though I love them all to be honest.
I had planned on planting some this fall but too many other things got in the way and never got them in.
Not sure what I’ll be growing that is new to me.. I will be planting a LOT more cilantro. I didnt plant near enough this year.
to KimH's comment