Radishes

Spring vegetable gardens are a lot of work, with just the promise of reward. Dig, dig, dig. Plant, plant, plant. Add all the perennial borders: trim, trim, trim, weed, weed, weed, mulch, mulch, mulch.

One of the first rewards is pulling up perfect round radish orbs. I have planted just about every type of radish, but the little Cherry Belle types are still my favorite. Plant some seeds earlyish, and before you know it, you have peppery little sweeties for your salads.  I am on my third planting before Memorial Day.

Of course, they are so darn quick and easy that their virtue can be your vice. I always forget them a little too long and end up wasting some, letting them get woody or cracked. Today, however, I pulled up a bunch of them because they were perfect, and I didn't want any to be wasted!  Plus, they have so few calories I can eat them with abandon. Not they way the French do - with fresh butter - although I'd love to. Woodbury Kitchen serves them with tarragon butter that is my idea of heaven. One of the best things I ever did with a radish was to mince them up, and to butter, and spread thickly on pumpernickel bread for an appetizer. But I need to stick to the less buttery, and caloric, choices. I have too many for just adding to green salads (though I have so much lettuce every friend may be eating such salads this week, too). The Produce Bible has a recipe for a salad with cucumber, celery, shallot, avocado, radishes, and cilantro - with a vinaigrette. I think I will be substituting garlic scrapes from the Farmer's Market yesterday, and perhaps Italian parsley since I have a lot in the garden. But I am keeping the avocado, cucumber, and radish combination.

If any readers have radish recipes to share, please do!

Copyright 2010, EmeraldAcre.blogspot.com

New Year's Oysters

I don't like oysters. It is nothing against the remarkable creatures - the Chesapeake Bay is better for them, and we need more - but eating them is another matter. I actually like the unique taste of oysters; it is the texture that creeps me out. Raw oyster sliders? Gag.

It all started when I was a prideful teenager. My Uncle Bob (actually my father's cousin) had a Christmas party. All the adults were in the kitchen and living room, and kids in the basement. I didn't know many people and did not want to hang with the basement crowd, so I was upstairs arguing politics with my very-right-wing Uncle. I was proud of holding my own, and my Uncle found it (perhaps) amusing. So then he challenged me to oyster sliders. Not having had a raw oyster before, I was easily game. Just one,and I was running to the basement, suddenly more interested in playing pool than politics.

But once again we are dining on oysters on New Year's Eve. We have some very nice oysters from the Bay, and I will be making Oyster Stew because my husband and son love it. I will have it well, as I am learning to like what they love. A few weeks back, we went to Woodbury Kitchen (http://www.woodburykitchen.com/) with our friends Ellen and Joe. They serve emphasize local fare, and have an ever changing and intriguing menu (radishes with tarragon butter as an appetizer was a surprise hit with me). One thing they do exceptionally well is oysters - grilled in a variety of preparations. I had one with bacon and tomato, and I have to admit that they were the best oysters I have ever eaten.

We also have caviar on New Year's Eve, along with champagne. Since I love both, the yearly splurge is always a treat. This year, I am trying (semi) local, American caviar, primarily because of cost,and an effort to be more responsible. So if I the oysters aren't to my liking, I'll wash them down with caviar and champagne. Life is sooooo good!

Copyright 2009, EmeraldAcre.blogspot.com