Category: Food

Monster beets

Monster beet

I knew I was staying busy and I knew I was neglecting the garden. But it really hit home when I looked at the long neglected beets. Oops. This one was about the size of a large grapefruit. They’re usually harvested when they’re the size of a fist.

Monster monster beet

I remembered to weigh this one before we cut it up (“Honey, would you get out the chainsaw?”) It was slightly over 7 pounds without the greens and roughly the size of a large cantaloupe.

If you have the opportunity to find beets fresh enough to have attached leaves, the greens are very tasty and loaded with nutrients.

Despite their heft these weren’t woody and were very tasty. If I had more time I’d have pickled and canned them. But then if I had more time I’d have harvested them a month ago.

Top ten

Pastrami

Sequim’s local deli Pacific Pantry opened last year and has gained a loyal following. And now it’s even ranked as one of Washington state’s top places to get a best sandwich ever. I learned this last month after I’d ordered a very nice salad for lunch.

Saturday I tried the recommended pastrami sandwich. This is an awesome sandwich, pastrami on steroids. If you like pastrami, go for it. It was a tad spicy for me. Next time I think I’ll try the French onion soup which looks delicious. Or one of their other sandwiches. They even have pizza.

Pacific Pantry uses locally sourced foods. I’ll definitely go back.

Picking season

Blackberries

Last May I posted a picture of blackberry blossoms here. Here are some blackberries as they become the finished product. The local native blackberries are smaller than these but most berry pickers aren’t going to quibble when they find a vine full of ripe blackberries.

Need guidance on what to pick? The black ones. And if you have to yank to get it off the vine you’re picking too soon. Should you forget to watch for thorns the plant will promptly remind you.

Thimbleberries

Thimbleberry

This has been a good year for thimbleberries though this little specimen is one of the last of the season. Thimbleberries aren’t as common as some of the better known berries around here. They grow wild. In the spring they have white cup-shaped blossoms that by late summer erupt into small, bright scarlet berries with a taste slightly like a raspberry. Pick them too early and they’re tart. Too late and they’re dry and tasteless.

Farmers Market 2

Farmers Mkt 3

Sequim’s Saturday Farmer’s Market has a selection of many of the sorts of things you’d expect. Local purveyor Nash’s Farm has a front and center presence with fresh produce. And there’s honey, interesting condiments, and, of course, lavender.

Farmers Mkt 4

Crafts people are well represented. This person makes interesting variations on bird houses: gnome dwellings. Apparently the designer has enough experience with these creatures that s/he issues warnings.

Farmers Mkt 5

And there are things at the market I can’t say I’ve seen before, such as chainmaille. Is this yet another fashion trend I’ve missed?

Farmers Mkt 6

These are dog leashes. They are knit and then felted. In addition to being soft they are very strong. They’re on the wish lists of all the stylin’ dogs.

Farmers Market 1

Farmers Mkt 1

Sequim’s Farmer’s Market is going full swing this month. Even though it doesn’t look crowded it was quite lively last Saturday with lots of people coming and going on Washington Street.

Farmers Mkt 2

I understand that the plaza of our new Civic Center is destined to be the site of the Farmer’s Market but I guess it wasn’t ready in time this year to lock in all the arrangements. For now it’s split between two spots not far from each other on Washington Street.