Glorious oranges in the depths of winter fill my mouth. Somehow they taste like Florida warmth in the coldest days on record in six years. Ever since our CSA delivery included them (from Florida, so they must be trucked in) I have been obsessed with them. I am not alone - my husband and son gobble them down just as quickly. There is something mesmerizing about the pure citrus bursting through the green-only vegetables of winter. It is a small hint that winter will eventually roll into spring and summer, bringing fruit along.
Our family re-enrolled in our CSA for another 11 weeks. I am looking forward to the fruits and vegetables of spring. This week brought lots of yummy nuts - un-roasted, unsalted peanuts in the shell have been a big hit with my husband and son. Whereas I found myself getting excited when I saw Bok Choy again - I love its flavor and it is great in stir fry dishes as well as sauteed all on its own.
One of my Christmas gifts was Fields of Plenty by Michael Ableman. This is a memoir about sustainable farming that is full of stunning photographs and lyrical prose that I began reading yesterday. I am only up to page 30, but already know I will love it and am finding it hard to put down. I have found the warmest spot in my home - right in front of the fireplace- to sit and read. But with the forecast of lows in the teens and single digits tonight, I have also found myself wondering how the vegetables on "our" farm will fare, broccoli already one casualty that I know of. I definitely feel far more conscious of nature's capriciousness, and how enmeshed our food is in its unpredictability.
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