garden-fresh bruschetta, a healthy alternative to pizza

john — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:10:23 +0000

Bruschetta is one of those comfort foods that is simple to make, healthy and oh so tasty. Historically, bruschetta is just grilled bread flavored with garlic and olive oil with a pinch of salt. Regional and modern variations add toppings. Like any recipe, the better your ingredients the better your result. And what better ingredients than fresh produce directly from your own garden or local farm stand.

The pictured bruschetta at left modifies the basic recipe by adding blanched kale and black olives. Later this week, when we harvest our first eggplant, we will saute thin slices in olive oil and garlic. Regardless of what topping you choose, the one common ingredient to all bruschetta, and the most important, is the bread. Use a hearty, crusty bread such as Trader Joe’s Tuscan Pane.

mediaOrganic’s Garden Fresch Bruschetta

ingredients

slices of your favorite hearty bread
garden fresh tomatoes, seeded and diced
onion, diced
fresh basil, chopped
salt
olive oil
garlic clove, whole
grated parmagiano reggiano
a hot grill, stovetop grill pan or panini press

To make the topping mix the tomato, onion, basil, salt and olive oil together in a bowl and let sit while you prepare the bread. Lightly brush the bread slices on both sides with olive oil and grill until nicely toasted with grill marks on both sides. Rub the garlic clove on one side of each toast slice. Top with your tomato mixture and sprinkle the grated cheese over the top.

eggplants

john — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:14:08 +0000

One of the great things about gardening is that you are constantly tempted to try growing new things in addition to your old standbys and favorites. Up until a few years ago, for us eggplant was something that was usually deep fried as a pizza topping or found in parmesan. On a whim we purchased some seedlings and by the end of that season we were hooked. We are always looking for new eggplant recipes but one of our favorite ways to use eggplant is in stir frys. It takes to oyster sauce quite well and adds a nice toothsome quality that serves as an adjunct to, or even replacement for, meat or tofu.

Superphosphate, anyone? Anyone?

john — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:13:47 +0000

Our asparagus harvest this spring was very disappointing. It is our third year and everything we’ve read told us this would be the first year we would have a full harvest. We harvested some but many of the stalks were thin, not the fat succulent Jersey Giant stalks we had expected. I did a little research yesterday and discovered that we should have added superphosphate to the furrows when we planted the crowns to promote root growth. Frankly, I think our general problem is that we have not sufficiently amended the soil over the past few years. So far this year we have added organic nitrogen to promote top growth to support photosynthesis but now I’m on a mission to find superphosphate to strengthen the roots. Visits to Lowes and Home Depot resulted in nada. I really need to find a good, comprehensive garden center worthy of my hard-earned $$.

cucumbers – where are the females?

john — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:57:17 +0000

They were planted late but the cucumbers are now growing like wildfire. There are four plants in this bed and I fear they will be taking over the garage soon. I have to keep moving them off the walkway because we keep stepping on them. The only problem is that I have lots of male blossoms but no females yet.

blackberries starting to ripen

john — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:57:56 +0000

This one was absolutely perfect! Unfortunately, the drought has taken it’s toll on the blackberries. I did finally extend my irrigation system to the blackberry bed but only after I noticed their suffering. By that time half of my berries had dried up and half of the surviving berries were misshapen…so I will relish those few perfect berries I am blessed with this year.

of water bans and lawn irrigation scofflaws

john — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:07:03 +0000

The weather continues to be completely wacked. It’s been hot and humid for the better part of the past 5 or 6 weeks. The region has suffered repeated thunderstorms and torrential downpours that resulted in severe flash flooding in some areas. But by some twist of fate/luck, my personal piece of geography has been bypassed by most of the rain. I suppose drought is preferable to flooding since I have a modicum of control over watering.

The town has once again implemented a water ban limiting irrigation usage to just two specific days per week. In the suburbs, of course, irrigation refers to lawn irrigation which accounts for the bulk of non-essential water use. As I ride my bike around town, I am amazed at how many people choose to ignore the ban. I suppose if you have paid a million dollars for your house on a two acre expanse of lawn you feel obligated to keep it looking lush but I find the sense of entitlement off-putting. I am tempted to form my own jack-booted bike-riding environmental hit squad to roam the town photographing these scofflaws.

My poor lawn, on the other hand, is parched. I am one of the few holdouts in my town without lawn irrigation. Of course I do have an efficient irrigation system for my garden that feeds off my four rain barrels…when they contain water. Unfortunately, the rain barrels are now empty and I too must resort to using town water for my vegetable garden.

Mr. Tomatohead

john — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:50:41 +0000

My wife decided to have a little fun with this one. He as mozzarella eyes Click on the thumbnail to get the full photo.

yes, it can get too hot for tomatoes

john — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:46:39 +0000

This year I’ve learned that even in my Boston-area northern location there are spots that can get too hot. Witness my sunburned tomatoes. These were planted in front of a very large south facing panel of glass with a reflective UV coating on it. What started out as a great location in the Spring turned into a lousy location with the peak Summer sun. Plenty of water wasn’t enough to prevent this. No wonder my watermelons did so well in this bed two years ago, and peppers the year before that.

a nice pair of melons

john — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:28:13 +0000

The watermelons are coming along nicely. They are about the size of a large grapefruit and growing rapidly. All told there are seven of them.

Tomato Tomahto

john — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:37:49 +0000

The tomatoes are beginning to ripen fast and furiously. It started with a trickle, first tomato harvested on June 30th. This week things have picked up a lot. Ironically, the rest of the family is in Florida this week so I’ve got these all to myself. Tomato, basil, mozzarella with a pinch of salt, pepper and drizzle of olive oil = heaven.