I just picked this nice heirloom tomato from our garden today. I took this photo of it while is was still on the vine. Click on the image to enlarge.
This will probably wind up in a tomato on rye sandwich later this week. 🙂
Food & Dining
A Real Artichoke Farm
I blogged a few days ago about our so-called Artichoke Farm. I was joking, of course, about Damsel’s first backyard garden artichoke crop ever. Today, while we were running several errands, some road construction caused me to detour through a residential area where we found a house with artichokes growing in a planter along the sidewalk.
I counted at least 20 artichokes in Damsel’s photo (click image to see the entire photo) of just part of the artichoke patch in front of the house. It made me laugh to see this mature artichoke patch growing literally dozens of pods.
Artichoke Farm
As of a few days ago, there were two artichokes growing in the garden after all. I didn’t spot the second, smaller pod because it was hiding under one of the large leaves the plant grows. The two pods are currently softball and tennis ball sizes. I was hoping that we would get a second one since we decided to let the first one become an artichoke thistle flower.
Yesterday, I discovered a third ‘choke growing on the second artichoke plant. We haven’t decided on it’s fate yet, but there is a better than 50% chance that it will also become a flower. Today, I found a forth ‘choke in the third plant. The jury is out on the fate of that one.
This means we can have our ‘choke and eat it too! Click on the image to enlarge.
Super Sunday
Damsel and I prepared our Superbowl Sunday meal today – we decided on pulled pork sandwiches served with blue cheese broccoli slaw and a dill pickle, a traditional Memphis pit BBQ meal.
I started the picnic roast (pork shoulder) in the crockpot early this morning, throwing in some pepper, fruit juices, chopped onion and garlic cloves. We let it cook all day. When I pulled the pork it was literally falling off of the bone. I used a couple of forks to shred the meat and separate the lean stuff away from the fat.
Damsel came up with a wonderful home made barbecue sauce with that tart southern cooked taste. She placed a scoop of the shredded pork on a bun and topped it with the sauce. It was the best.
We chowed down during the pregame show and took our after dinner walk at halftime. It was a great meal, a good football game and an all around great day – really a Super Sunday.
Home Made Pizza
What you are looking at is Barbecued Pizza – really. I put the pizza stone out on the gas BBQ, close the lid and adjust the flame for 500° or so. Then, after it’s hot, I bring out the pizza that Damsel has loaded up with goodies, slide it onto the stone and close the lid on it for ten or fifteen minutes.
The ingredients are mostly heart-healthy, like the marinated artichoke hearts, olives and sliced tomatoes, but what would a pizza be without mozzarella cheese (low fat, of course) and some meat like the thin Italian pancetta slices we spread over the top. We served ourselves a slice and a half each with a green salad on the side.
Damn good, if I do say so, myself. Click on the image to enlarge. Remember not to drool on the keyboard.
Asian Lilies
The centerpiece for today’s Sunday dinner will be these Asian lilies: Sumatra (dark red), Broadway (blush) and white Stargazers. Appropriate for our Chinese-style steamed breast of chicken and steamed veggies with saffron rice.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Weekend Cuisine
Today, Damsel and I prepared this sumptuous Italian mozzarella-stuffed meatballs served over angel hair pasta and topped off with Damsel’s killer Marinara sauce.
I prepared the ground meat from lean pork loin and beef round tip. I carefully trimmed the meats and blended the two together through the grinder.
Damsel added the herbs, spices and homemade Italian-style breadcrumbs. She stuffed each of the meatballs with ciliegine – a cherry tomato-sized ball of mozzarella cheese.
Oh yeah, this was excellent. Click image to enlarge. Do not drool on your keyboards.