Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Summer's Bounty

I fixed tomato basil soup tonight with fresh goodies from the garden. Then I decided to go ahead and make some pesto, which is such a nice addition to it.

I've been so busy this summer I haven't gotten to fully enjoy everything from the garden. I've got more tomatoes than I can use. I've told both neighbors to pick them and Bob has been, which is nice. I'm really happy I can share with them.

A number of other people have mentioned they'd like to have some home grown tomatoes, but they're apparently unwilling to come and pick them. I guess they expect me to pick the tomatoes for them. They're going to be disappointed on that count. There's a point at which I draw the line and that is picking the tomatoes I've grown and watered in order to give them to you. Fortunately, Bob has been sharing with his family so we're kind of keeping up.

I used about 20 tonight in the soup. I just cook down tomatoes in a little water and then puree them. There's no milk added - it's just tomatoes, basil, garlic and a little sugar and salt to blend it all together.

I think this weekend I'm making more Asian stir-fry with the squash and Japanese eggplant I picked the other day. This weekend's menu will also include a tomato and fresh mozzarella salad with red and yellow tomatoes, drizzled with basil flavored olive oil. That's one of my summertime favorites.

I've got another eggplant that's coming along so maybe I'll have that next week.

People always say you can save so much money eating at home. I'm not sure what they're eating that is such a bargain. I went to the grocery tonight and spent $91 and it was just basics. I could eat at least 10 meals out for that, maybe more. But, if I'm going to the trouble to cook I want to eat really good stuff. I don't understand why you'd "cook" processed/boxed/pre-packaged stuff, but I realize I'm in the minority on this.

If more people were like me cake mixes would not exist, and obviously they're doing just fine in the marketplace. I just don't understand why a cake mix is any easier. I've got flour and sugar sitting on the counter and measuring cups at my elbow. It's just not a big struggle to put them into the same bowl I'd have to put the cake mix into to add the eggs and oil and water. But, again, I know I'm the odd one in this regard.

I'm not a fancy cook - very basic stuff. And, frankly, I really like to bake. Cooking "real" food isn't my favorite thing to do. But, there are a few things I really love to eat. Soon I'm going to be ready to put a roast in the crockpot with some veggies and let it cook all day while I'm at work.

I'm starting to get in the mood for fall. I was thinking today as I was hunting for a parking place in the shade, that I'm ready to need to wear a light jacket. I'm ready to come home and want to put on socks to run around the house in. If only I could have the garden in season and have that coziness of being snuggled into the house - the best of both worlds.

It's fortunate none of us gets to choose I suppose. We'll get some of everything and we'll just deal with whatever it is.