the afternoon harvest

Which led directly into last evening's dinner. Quite satisfying if I do say so me-self. Most of the beets were a bit small, but their tops had started to look sad and I think the weather has turned inhospitable to our lovely red friends. I pulled them all out and figured we'd start again in the fall. Which judging by our current weather patterns, should be sometime in December. (WHEN IS SUMMER GOING TO GET HERE???)



In making last night's din, I was reminded of a favorite Deborah Madison quote from Local Flavors (one of my favorite cookbooks, btw):

"When food is cheap we tend to treat it carelessly and wastefully. But when it’s dear, when it costs what it’s actually worth, we tend to pay closer attention to it. In this sense, good food can sharply focus our world.”

I grew those darn beet tops and one way or another (even if it took me nearly an hour to wash all the dirt and bird poop and aphids off of them), I was going to enjoy every last leafy morsel. When I buy my beets at the market, I often ask for the tops off, even though I do love them, because I sometimes can't deal with the cleaning and trimming and preparing. But when you grow your own food, it becomes so precious that you can't help but put in the extra effort in the kitchen.

Hence, sauteed beans and greens with garlic and butter + roasted beet and carrot salad with avo and lime + quinoa (of course) + and a teeny pile of chickpeas for protein.



You should see Brock's face when I concoct a dinner like this. He's like, "We're having what exactly?" You'd think I'd offered him a plate of cheeze whiz and noodles. (Just kidding, my love. Sort of.)



(Look familiar?)

But he does his best to enjoy. And I always say, "But aren't you IMPRESSED that I GREW all of this????" He is. He'd just prefer it if I grew margarita pizzas and everything bagels. But I haven't figured out how to do that yet.

I'm leaving on Sunday for Yosemite for the week with my whole family, so posts might be light, or lighter than usual. But I may pop in with some photos. Ahh vacation. Or as my family likes to call it "Death by Vacation." I'm sure some of you out there can relate. But we always have a big time.

Have a most excellent weekend.