Strawberry addiction

I keep buying flats of strawberries from Mariquita! Today I finished up another batch of strawberry balsamic jam - I have decided that macerating the strawberries in sugar for 24 hours is the best way - I've got about 15 pints.   I am freezing lots of strawberries (3 gallon bags of frozen whole berries now!).

First Date: Kohlrabi

I got Kohlrabi in my Mariquita box and after reading up on all sortso f recipes - was very careful to peel & trim it and it still came out woody, not exciting or interesting for flavor or texture.  I'm pretty sure I'm not going out of my way to grow this in the garden or to buy it again.

Do you have a passion for kohlrabi? How do you prepare it?

Cardoon Pot Pies

First date with cardoon from Mariquita box - made into pot pies, along with english peas, new potatoes, cardoon, red onion, spring garlic, carrots, sweet potato and seitan.  I also made a cardoon and new potato bisque.  Both dishes came out fabulous - reminding me how much I enjoy both pot pies and new potatoes. Cardoon has a delicious artichoke-like flavor but without all the leaves!  I'll definitely try cardoon again, esp for soups and pot pies.

REVIEW: The Wild Muir: Twenty-Two of John Muir's Greatest Adventures by John Muir (5-stars)

 Purchased as an impulse at some park bookstore in the past couple of years, I am so glad I finally sat down to finish this book! It's like a box of chocolates, packed with novel delights - each just as delicious as the other, making it hard to decide which you like best.  The book lacks the excessive, hyperbole laden introductions that typically accompany this sort of thing.  The editor includes a brief paragraph or two to introduce each selection and provide context, along with a nice timeline of Muir's life at the back.  

There's even the inclusion of an article written by a man who accompanied Muir on a hike - and another report showing someone else's view of the same incident.  All in all, showing that Muir's physical fitness must have been quite unusual even for today because he rarely mentions any difficulties on climbs and gives the appearance to the onlooker of a fleet footed gazelle prone to bouts of "amatory botany."  It's funny - I rather had a picture of Muir as somewhat kin of Doctor Who - very intelligent, constantly moving and going and exploring, not really getting upset or stressed out about any scraps: falling ass over teakettle and knocking himself senseless or going snowblind didn't seem to upset him.  All the while admiring, enthusiastically appreciating and overflowing with joy at the amazing lovely wonderful things around him.  

I think one of my favorite stories was about the tree ride because I share this fascination with wind and could totally see the movement of the trees he described.  I most envy his description of the aurora borealis events - never having seen one.  The little dog going along on the hike was a fantastic tale, too.  I quite relished his constant descriptions of the quality of light - and the anthropomorphization - describing "badgers, marmots and other small people who live on the mountain."  

Now, I wish I could hear his voice - so I am going to have to go find some proper Scottish indie films to get that in my head for the next time I read something by Muir.

REVIEW: The Wild Muir: Twenty-Two of John Muir's Greatest Adventures by John Muir 

RATING: 5-stars

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