I've spent more time this week using previous harvests than I have harvesting new items but there is still plenty left in the garden. I harvested another Hale's Best Melon - this one shown weighing in at 3 lbs. And another one - 4.5 pounds so the biggest so far - was harvested yesterday and had a bit of a nibble on the stem end (it had come off the vine so I guess I should have harvested it sooner). I just cut off the end with the nibble and ate the rest.
The bottom of the basket is mostly full of Tuscan Nero Kale, along with Fizz Kale, Curly Scarlet Kale and Croatian Chard. On the right, you can see a small number of broccoli side shoots.
Some of these greens ended up wrapped in phyllo similar to my kale and ricotta phyllo packets recipe.
And some of the Tromboncino squash I harvested last week was used to (finally!) make Michelle's zucchini tart (scarpaccia). I fiddled a bit with the ingredients and it came out a bit puffier than her photo but delicious nevertheless. Thanks for the idea Michelle, I love the concept of that type of batter mixed with veggies and am looking forward to trying other variations.
The last of the harvest this week included more Delinel green beans, and an assortment of tomatoes and peppers. These peppers and tomatoes along with most of what I had in the kitchen went into a small batch of tomato sauce which ended up in the freezer.
I roasted a big batch of peppers that had been harvested over the past few weeks. Once the skins were cleaned off and the seeds removed, they went into baggies and into the freezer. And I'm still in the process of drying / dehydrating the big batch of Feher Ozon (for grinding my own paprika) along with some ancho peppers and cherry tomatoes.
And I also roasted one of the Marina di Chioggia squashes which went into two dishes: a really delicious version of Butternut Mac and Cheese as well as a luxurious breakfast of Pumpkin Pancakes.
Since I spent so much time in the kitchen this weekend, I decided to use up some buttermilk I had in the fridge to make these two loaves of Irish Soda bread. Not too shabby for my first try!
Please pop on over to see what other gardeners are doing this week at Harvest Monday hosted by Dave at Our Happy Acres!
The melon harvest is most impressive. I like the concept of the phyllo packets. We, too, make the vegetable tarts, and agree that they are really good.
ReplyDeleteI feel like that melon harvest is impressive! I've tried growing them several years and the first time I've had success!! It's been a hot summer and I watered well ...
DeleteIt looks like you have been busy in the kitchen! Your phyllo packets sound yummy. I have to confess I've never worked with phyllo dough, though my wife has. Your roasted peppers look great too. I need to do that with some of mine.
ReplyDeleteI love cooking up the harvest but to be honest I've been going back to a lot of old recipes. Need to get inspired with some new ideas (which I often get from other blogs for sure!).
DeleteI'm glad the Scarpaccia is to your liking. Your puffy version looks wonderful and I can't wait to see what variations you come up with. The phyllo packets look so good. I could see having a stash of those in the freezer to bake on short notice, great for appetizers or a light meal. I am envious of the melon, my plants are resenting the cooler than usual weather (at least until this weekend) and are just poking along. They've finally set some melons but I doubt there will be enough time or warm weather to get them to mature.
ReplyDeleteI have to say this is the first time in four years of trying to grow melons that I've ever been successful. Finally the right conditions. But not sure I'll do it again, I rarely succeed. :)
DeleteI grow Hales Best too and it is delicious. I'm impressed that you have kale and cantaloupe at the same time. All your dishes sound fabulous. I will have to add those pumpkin pancakes to my list of pumpkin recipes.
ReplyDeleteHmm, everyone has different climates to grow in. I always grow kale throughout the hottest summers but it doesn't taste as good as the plants I put in specifically for a fall harvest ...
DeleteYum - I love Irish soda bread! I did make the Feher Ozon paprika and it's not bad - It's pretty sweet with a definite "pepper" type scent. I've used it a couple of times when I stir fried some veg, but I don't think I used enough as it didn't seem to make a big flavour impact. I'll be searching for other recipes to use it in.
ReplyDeleteOK well good to know it might flavour up a bit. They are dehydrated, I just haven't gotten around to grinding them into powder.
DeleteNice to be getting melons where you live. I have not tried them because I don't have the space. How do you like the dehydrator? I will have to fire mine up soon to dehydrate a batch of sliced garlic and perfume up the house.
ReplyDeleteI am obviously not using it correctly. I had the setting way too low and it took DAYS to dehydrate the peppers and some cherry tomatoes. I think I have it figured out now.
DeleteOMG, no fear of vampires in your place any time soon.
I'd love to be able to grow melons.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit surprised at my success to be honest. Naturally good conditions I guess.
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