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Quote of the Day: Jessica Prentice

October 30th, 2011

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?

18 Comments to “Quote of the Day: Jessica Prentice”
  1. Jennifer Fisk on October 30, 2011 at 6:21 am

    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.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

    • Susy on October 30, 2011 at 6:52 am

      I too love winter squash. We just had curried chicken pumpkin soup yesterday – so warning & delicious!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. kristin @ going country on October 30, 2011 at 7:16 am

    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.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

  3. goatpod2 on October 30, 2011 at 8:35 am

    We planted some Mache for the first time this year, some garlic for the first time and some Kale for the first time.

    Amy

    Reply to goatpod2's comment

  4. Daedre Craig on October 30, 2011 at 10:47 am

    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!

    Reply to Daedre Craig's comment

    • Susy on October 30, 2011 at 2:02 pm

      Yep, pre-ordered our copy earlier this week – we’re super excited too.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  5. Traci on October 30, 2011 at 11:18 am

    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

    Reply to Traci's comment

  6. Margaret on October 30, 2011 at 11:30 am

    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

    Reply to Margaret's comment

  7. Mich on October 30, 2011 at 11:39 am

    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.

    Reply to Mich's comment

  8. Lynda on October 30, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    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!

    Reply to Lynda's comment

  9. songbirdtiff on October 30, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    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.

    Reply to songbirdtiff's comment

  10. mistresseve on October 30, 2011 at 3:47 pm

    Rutabagas, kale, and Brussels sprouts.

    Reply to mistresseve's comment

  11. Lee on October 30, 2011 at 3:51 pm

    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.

    Reply to Lee's comment

  12. Victoria on October 30, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    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.

    Reply to Victoria's comment

  13. Mrs. Mac on October 30, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    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.

    Reply to Mrs. Mac's comment

  14. MAYBELLINE on October 30, 2011 at 5:27 pm

    Favorite = beets
    New = butter cup squash

    Reply to MAYBELLINE's comment

  15. Bonnie on October 30, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    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.

    Reply to Bonnie's comment

  16. KimH on November 1, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    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.

    Reply to KimH's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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