Thanksgiving is almost upon us, just a few days away day away. Consider this bright, easy to prepare, piquant side dish for your final menu. In my never ending quest to discover and showcase new vegetable preparations, today’s focus is the humble root — sunchokes (aka Jerusalem artichokes, which, by the way, have no relation … Continue Reading
This is salsify (SAL-suh-fee). Have you come across it? Salsify was a popular garden crop in Colonial America; thereafter, its appeal dwindled. However, salsify is currently making a comeback (thanks to local farmers), albeit a very, very slow one. Salsify is new to me. Had never tried or even crossed paths with it prior … Continue Reading
Have made it my mission to experiment with less common ingredients. In our increasingly homogenized world, it pays to seek out the unusual. A tomato is not just a tomato. An apple is not just an apple. And, a radish is not just a radish. There are numerous varieties of apples, tomatoes and radishes, each … Continue Reading
Parsnips. Any big fans out there? I’ve never even tried parsnips until about a month or so ago. Root vegetables, in general, appear to be a bit underappreciated. But, I’m determined to give the lowly root vegetable some love. I also have a new self-imposed rule: each week [at my local farmers’ market], to seek … Continue Reading
Lately, I’ve been on a pickled vegetable kick. This may have been sparked my most recent visit to Big Star, a Wicker Park (Chicago) “honky tonk” bar, serving a great assortment of beer, whiskey, and tacos. The sounds of Nashville and Bakersfield (a genre of country music developed in the mid-to-late 50s) fill the bar. … Continue Reading
