Peas plumping up their pods, blossoms swelling into fruit, the slight withering of garlic stalks that lets you know their harvest time is coming--in midsummer, we get to reap what we've sown. In the kitchen this means we're harvesting edible flowers from our modest kitchen garden and tart cherries from our tree, and rejoicing in the first tender summer squash and snap peas from our farmers.

Each bite of bounty is work and energy embodied in edible form, and a reflection of the care that was taken in its production. A friend of mine told me that she planted thousands of flowers this spring, envisioning her harvest of fragrance and color in armfuls and bouquets, come July. But she neglected the seedlings in the spring, and didn't give them fertile soil or attention. Now, she laughed hopelessly, she's left with scraggly plants and no flowers to speak of. Not to make an example of her, but...well, we reap what we sow. It's not enough to just plant seeds of ideas, or hopes, or kohlrabi; you have to nurture them, and defend them from pests, and tend to their well-being. We reap what we sow--and water, and weed, and trellis, and prune, and...

Big thanks as always to our farmers and producers, who do the essential work of tending their fields and forests, so that we can in turn tend to our stew pots and trays in the oven, and so that you can, in turn, tend to your lunch.

Rice and Beanly Yours,

The Macro Mamas

 

|| Menu for Saturday, July 08, 2017 ||

Saffron Rice

Beluga Black Lentils with Cumin, Cinnamon, & Fennel

Sugar Snap Peas, Kohlrabi, & Celeriac with Cashew Sumac Sauce

Cauliflower Romesco

Grilled Baby Squash with Pickled Ramps & Garlic Scapes

Blanched Kale with Minted Red Cabbage

Pressed Cabbage and Radish with Fennel Gomasio

Field Greens with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

 

|| Desserts ||

German Chocolate Cake

Raw Cashew Cheesecakes with Cherry Glaze (GF)

Strawberry, Apple, & Rhubarb Crisp (GF)

Heavenly Tapioca (GF)

Coconut Parfaits, Two Ways (GF)

Espresso Dark Chocolate Mousse (GF)

Strawberry Torte

Orange Poppyseed Muffins

Lemon Bars (GF)

|| Small Treats ||

Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons (GF)

Maple Peanut Butter Cookies (GF)

Orange Zest Chocolate Chip Cookies