Thursday, August 21, 2008

When it rains, it pours

A couple days of rain, and my garden looks like it got ass-up drunk and got in a knife fight with some Clackamas County bitch. Today it dried up enough for me to examine the damage and pick over the ruins. My tomatoes are still a week or two off, fuck! I have two pink toms that just need a little more sunshine and sugar, but they're looking pretty good. Even though I staggered the plantings, I'm gonna end up with ten bushels all at once (my Portland peeps should let me know if they want some, I'm gonna dry and sauce the bulk). But my peppers looks goood, and I'm keeping them all for myself.

The Anaheims (long, light green) are mild and fresh-tasting, and the anchos (darker, glossy green) are a bit spicier. They'll be so good fire-roasted.

Summer squash are a daily offering. My zucchini went directly to fetus-sized squash hanging heavy on the vine, and will have to go straight into zucchini bread. Two days of rain takes these little pattypan squash from blossom to fist-sized fruits, ready for the picking. Sliced on the mandoline and marinated in a warm, garlicky anchovy vinaigrette, they go soft like noodles.

And these lil' baby pattypans? Hell, I'm just picking them with the blossoms still on, gonna batter and fry 'em right up. The big ones will get diced up and added to a spicy saute or a nice succotash.

I think tomorrow I'll make chile rellenos with blue corn pudding and calabasitas. Maybe I'll throw in some shredded, poached chicken. Stay tuned.

21 comments:

cookiecrumb said...

Good.
The nice thing about summer squash is you can pick them at any size, and eat them.
I adore your baby pattypan with the megablossom.

michael, claudia and sierra said...

you and cookie and you gardens...

i am very envious.

i like the idea of the zuc's with the garlicky anchovy dressing...

Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul said...

Look at you showing off all those garden delights...very jealous here Heather..and I wait with baited breath to see the results of your efforts with these.

April was in CA now MA said...

Chile rellenos! *swoon*

Nikki @ NikSnacks said...

For real. I wish I had a garden. Or lived in Portland to get some of your booty. Heh.

I stole some peppers from a basket at work. I want to see what you do with yours. Then I'll see about mine.

eatingclubvancouver_js said...

I'm tuned!

MrOrph said...

Oooooh....ooooooh I want some of those chilies....pleeeeeze!

I wish I had a garden.../pouting

Brittany said...

I am insanely jealous, my garden looks like a ghost town, all dried up. No rain....so I will live vicariously through your bounty!

Judy@nofearentertaining said...

Wow. I told you that you would get even with me for all of my bragging over the winter about the fresh stuff I am getting. We get nothing right now. I am existing on organics from who knows where!!! Beautiful stuff there Heather.

Laura Paterson said...

Great crop Heather! Wish I lived close enough to partake in the tomato fest :)

Jen said...

Lovely crop and your menu has me drooling! I don't think our tomatoes are going to produce this year.

Judy@nofearentertaining said...

Hey Heather-I left an award for yo on my blog. Swing by and get it!

Heather said...

That's the Way the Cookiecrumb - I am actually thinking about testing your hypothesis, and see how big a zuke can get before it's too pithy to eat.

Claudia - You live in Tennessee! Can't you grow up some tomatoes and okra? I'll be sure to make something nice with all that in tribute to my non-garden-having compatriots.

Petah - Once those tomatoes come in, look out!

April - I can't wait to eat all that chile and cheese. :)

Nikki - It's not stealing if it's just a basket, lying there, with a sign that says "Free" on it. ;)

JS - Uh, oh, now I'll really have to try to not disappoint. Oh, the pressure! :)

Donald - You should make a garden for yourself! What with these rising food costs, and your desire to eat healthy, it just makes good sense.

Brittany - At first I thought it said you'd live vicariously through my booty. Which would be fine, I guess. More fun than my bounty, that's for sure.

Judy - I still wouldn't mind having your greenhouse and citrus trees. ;) And thank you for the award! I'm flabbergasted.

Kittie - So do I! You'd be a fun neighb.

Jen - Mine still might split before they're ripe. Fingers crossed...

Mike of Mike's Table said...

That's a great looking haul you got there. My only two non-pathetic plants this season are habanero and cayenne...which is fun, but you can only work that into so many dishes. ;-) These look like they should yield some great results

glamah16 said...

I'm jealous!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Too-big zucchini absolutely kill stuffed with spicy lamb mince and covered with a feta custard.

But I am so stealing the anchovy vinaigrette idea!

peter said...

I just picked a zuke today that was a perfectly modest size, and yet it was all punky inside so I didn't even cook it. Meanwhile, I've picked ones that are positiveley John Holmesian in dimension and they're perfect. Go figure.

Heather said...

Yo Mikey - I ain't mad at some hot chiles. At least those go a long way.

Courtney - Aw, the grass is always greener on the other side, Ms. Fabulous.

Foodycat - Now that's an idea. A good one, at that. :)

Jube - Those dang cucurbits are wily unpredictable. I had a cuke that was the size (and shape!) of a softball, and was all pithy on the inside. The seeds were fruity and delicious, though.

Susan @ SGCC said...

They all look so beautiful! I'm so jealous. My little garden was a disaster this year. It was too hot and dry. Can't wait to see what you do with all your loot!

Anonymous said...

Hey you see any padron peppers around town, in a garden, at a maket? anywhere? i wanna get my hands on some, they're my favorite!

garden looks great BTW

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

One of the benefits of having your own garden are those beautiful and elusive zucchini blossoms. I have left hints all over the farmers market and even became bold and asked for them directly but no luck:D