green week five :: fresh

The UPS driver brought a new kitchen gadget today.  And so, our afternoon and bellies were quickly filled with hand cranked green basil fettuccine.  I tried for a photo, but could only capture a grayish tangle of dusted noodles -- a blurry image that completely dulled the dazzling experience.

To wrap up green week then, I'll return to the co-op's produce section:

And I must clarify.  The 100-mile diet I mentioned yesterday isn't something we're able (okay, willing) to do here in northern Minnesota.  Especially in the winter.  We strive to eat as much local food as possible - CSA shares in both the summer and winter; chicken, beef, eggs, milk and butter from local farms; summer's fruits and vegetables picked and preserved; locally grown and processed grains from the co-op.  But I can't go without a daily dose of fresh greens and fruit, and the notion of months of cabbage and apples from the root cellar doesn't quite cut it for me.  Plus, I honestly couldn't imagine life without chocolate; and we know there isn't any cacoa growng anywhere nearby.

Comments

[Ellie]

I'm so with you on the limitations of the 100-mile diet. I'm not even sure what we'd be eating, certainly not chocolate or coffee or............. What I do is the no guilt diet - I try and do what I can to live my ideals, but if it's not possible (or not tastily feasible), then I don't guilt myself about it. I just try to do the product justice by cooking it the best I can, and enjoying it with people I love.

[Sarah Jackson]

I wish I could do a 100 mile diet, but Phoenix has a similar problem to northern Minnesota - there are seasons when nothing grows here. But we do the best we can.

And coffee and chocolate are not negotiable in my diet.

[capello]

i have a friend doing the 100 day diet and dude, it's difficult. she has about eight things that she's willing to let be more than 100 miles away, chocolate (of course) being one of them.

i'm looking forward to the beginning of CSA this year. letting the food naturally ripe on the vine is so much better.

[Mintyfresh]

yay for homemade pasta! i've been making pasta from scratch with friends a lot lately.

[Alicia A.]

or rice. or lots of spices.

Oooo... homemade pasta. Yum!

We were disappointed last year with the produce, so we're going to skip the CSA this year and try to go to the organic farmers' market. I hope it works out.

[Tracy]

I made pasta this weekend too! It's so fun, isn't it?

[Grace]

I'm so with you on that, Sarah. We probably have it a little easier down our way than you up there, but still ... not much is grown all winter long. Gotta have those fresh greens. Yes, a necessity.

[Alison]

Fresh pasta is just the most delicious melt in your mouth taste, especially with fresh basil.
I can taste it now..