Veggie Art
Bob and I continue to enjoy the garden, even as the summer winds down. We have been good stewards of the vegetable garden’s bounty, eating lots of fresh veggies, canning and freezing, and giving away multiple bags and baskets of fresh veggies to family, friends and co-workers.
Over the Labor Day weekend Bob harvested a big basket full of tomatoes, eggplant and beets. We took a few photos before the veggies went to their respective pots… here is a close-up of the basket. In addition to feeding our bodies, these beautiful vegetables have also been feeding our souls. Look how beautiful!
Within hours the tomatoes were simmering in a pot with celery and onions. The sauce is now in the freezer and will be enjoyed throughout the coming months in a variety of dishes. The eggplant went into the oven and were roasted for baba ganoush, which we devoured last night with shish kebab and grilled garlic naan. Mmmmmm! The beets are going to a friend who loves fresh beets. Earlier this summer I canned two batches of pickled beets!
We discovered a few new favorites in the garden this year. One veggie was quite a novelty and posed a bit of a mystery. We picked up a tray of Veronica Cauliflower at the nursery. We were surprised at the way the plant looked as it grew, and started calling it Alien Cauliflower. We were even more puzzled when I saw a picture of this mystery veggie in Sunset magazine, and they called it Romanesco Broccoli! I did a bit of Googling, and found that, depending on where you are, it is called both Romanesco Broccoli, Romanesco Cauliflower, and Veronica Cauliflower. It’s a strangely beautiful vegetable, looking like a piece of fractal art. The taste is mild and slightly nutty. We plan on putting this in again next year. It’s quite the conversation piece. Here’s a closeup of this oddly beautiful vegetable…
