Eating well

Preparing and eating food is a pleasure/passion I enjoy in both my lives.  

"We're eating well" - I say when we have just finished another meal
that looks as good as it tastes, that is well balanced- aroma, flavour, and texture - and leaves us feeling happy and content with our lot in life.  

On the farm, when we have more time to prepare, present and eat our meals, often using our own produce, I seem to be saying those words a lot.
Some highlights from July.

Fried stuffed zucchini flowers, shrimp, green beans and sage leaves

4th July ribs

Peach cobbler and Mark's homemade vanilla icecream 

Left over grilled ribeye made into a salad with a tangy lemon dressing, tomatoes and green beans from our garden

Salade Nicoise - also with our tomatoes and beans

Zucchini, pea and corn saute with farfalle pasta

Roast local pork chop on a corn fritter,  green salad with a mustard thyme dressing and peach mojo

Sunday night's roasted corn risotto

I am looking forward to August

Bon appetit!

Last of the summer corn

Tonight we ate some fresh sweetcorn grown by our friends Steve and Dawn.  

Possibly the last that we will get our hands on this summer.

This recipe for Roasted Corn Risotto is one I have cooked on both sides of the world for a quite a few years.  It is one of my favourites.  The corn's roasted sweetness- slight caramelised, the creamy stock and just cooked arborio rice is a fresh and summery version of a traditional comfort food meal.

I would never have attempted this if it was a hot night - but at 80F with a fresh breeze we have had a perfect afternoon and it tempted me to the stove to stir my rice and stock, accompanied by a glass of a wine - a classic Californian chardonnay. What a match! And perfect later with the risotto.

Our verdict, the last of the summer corn is the sweetest.

Fried Green "Tomay-toes"

Following on from my recent post on local specialties -
I had some fried green tomatoes on my recent trip into Kentucky.  These are a regional specialty of the Southern states.  

The idea of them has appealed to me since I read the book and saw the movie, 

Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe) many moons ago. 

(Must read/see that again while I am here)

I had them a while back on a visit to Memphis and at the time I felt they were a bit heavy on the oil, without much real flavour.  I thought perhaps that was what green tomatoes must taste like - but it didn't match with what I had read or imagined and I had no interest in tasting an uncooked green tomato.

They are not readily available in Illinois or Missouri so when I saw them on the menu at Shandies in Paducah as Fried Green Tomato Crisps - pickled green tomato with pink peppercorn ranch dressing- I immediately knew I had to have them again.

We shared a plate of these tasty morsels - the tang of the pickling really elevated their flavour, there was a  crunch of, I think, cornmeal in the batter and they were light in spite of being fried and dipped in the dressing. I think the pickling was the key. 

I have been researching recipes and will give them a try soon.  

We have plenty of green tomatoes at the moment.

City highlights and a disappointment

A couple of highlights from my road trip to Paducah Kentucky- in case you are ever in the area! 

The stunning impact of the  floodwall that protects the historic downtown from the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers overflowing their banks.  Beautifully rendered painted murals by Robert Dafford cover three blocks and because they are lit at night it was very comfortable to view after the heat of the day.  Each one captures a significant a moment in Paducah's history. I can't stop thinking about the murals and their stories.

It was really interesting, and there was not one bit of graffiti!
Strangely enough the murals were not highlighted on the official Paducah Travel website.

We also enjoyed the National Quilt Museum even though we don't quilt ourselves. 

A wonderful and diverse exhibition of quilts - some over 200 years old and other more modern examples.

I took this photo before I was told that photography was forbidden. 
I don't think my i-phone did any damage.

Some are still being made totally by hand, although this is becoming increasingly rare.  The use of  machines, as well as being quicker has created a whole new style of quilt - which we thought was more like a wall hanging.  I appreciated the hand made quilts more- for their history, the time commitment and talent it takes to make one.  I can't imagine having the concentration and patience to do that, ever.

We treasure a few old quilts here on the farm that Mark's grandmother and other relatives made. 

Check what's open before you go.

According to the Paducah Convention Bureau the town has a thriving arts district, a wide variety of cultural pursuits, rich history, urban cuisine and eclectic accommodations, and  offers an incredible array of experiences.... 

Just not on Sunday and Monday!  

The historic downtown district had what looked like some great restaurants, buildings and stores but deserted on Sunday afternoon - with only one store open, a cafe, and one restaurant open... Monday there were a few more places open, but it was also obvious that many of the shopfronts on the blocks just three back from the river were boarded up - not just closed.

Midweek it may be different as the large convention centre obviously draws people to the city then.

A sign of the struggling economy - but disappointing as a weekend visitor.

Trash or treasure?

Had a quick and enjoyable trip on Sunday/Monday to Paducah Kentucky with my friend Nanci. 

One of the things we like to do together is antiquing.
We are not collectors of any specific collectibles.

We both mostly look for home furnishings and decorator items, we are happy to find a bargain and we know immediately if we step into a store if it is likely to have any treasures for us.

We still quickly look around just in case we spot something hidden- but it is a real pleasure when we enter a store that has creative and thoughtful displays, is clean, the staff are helpful and knowledgeable and it doesn't look like it is a room of junk.

However, we all know that one person's trash is another persons treasure.

This is my treasure from the last two days.

A pressed tin ceiling panel I think will end up on a wall  in the farmhouse.
A watering can for Mark.

My favourite piece - this beautiful old stone bottle.
Late 1800s - early 1900s apparently...
I love it.
The feel of it in my hand, its colour and sheen and history.
I wonder who owned it and where it has been.

A jar that is very similar to the bottle, but not as pretty and a kerosene lamp.
These lamps are available everywhere - but it was a great price, in good condition and I have been looking for one to add to two I already have in the bathroom.

What do you think - is this trash or treasure?

Corn - an update

The temperatures remain high and any slight breeze we get is very dry - it is already 100F in St Louis at 11am.

For crop followers, our corn is speeding towards maturity with these  record high temperatures and no rain.

An updated photo of ears of corn from our fields. 

An update from Mark 

"Due to the heat and dryness anywhere from 5-10 kernels per row that had pollinated, have not filled out and are a total loss. The ear on the left of the tape had great potential but the heat during pollination led to only a handful of kernals on the ear actually pollinating. We will have some corn- many fields in the area are likely near  zero yield and the dairy farmers have been chopping silage for days as the corn is rapidly drying down in the heat"

An update from me

It may be too late to save the corn crop- but I can't wait for the temps to drop and some rain to clear the dust and freshen the garden. I am over this heat.

Spotted this morning

Seen this morning in a field on the side of the road near our farmhouse.  

We were close enough to count her spots and this beauty didn't even think about leaping away

 So pretty