Eating Seasonally Local

Feb 26, 2021 | Uncategorized

2/7/21

It’s almost dinner time and the thermometer is at -9.  I processed my seed order today, always a highlight and I am contemplating the week ahead.  

My meals are starting to blend together.  Soups and Stews for dinner, sandwiches and more soup for lunch.   Breakfast is always easy with either oatmeal or bacon, eggs and sourdough toast(thanks to my hens for still laying).  My pantry is holding out, running low on pickles, an easy side to a sandwich. 

Eating Seasonally Local Learnings

  1. The simpler the better.  A great meal doesn’t have to feature a bunch of ingredients and sides!  This helps three ways; less prep time, less food consumed, and less food wasted.
  2. Freeze some of the soups and stews so you don’t go into a leftover coma.  I have found purchasing the 32 oz. deli food storage containers are very handy and I can even re-use them.  It also makes sending care packages to my family and friends easy!
  3. A winter salad is enjoyable.  I’ve found a new locally grown green from #Revolgreens out of Owatonna, MN.  My local Coborns carries them and they are delicious!  Pair that with some canned pickled beets or beans, a little local goat cheese and a nice vinaigrette, a simple salad!  Can I tell you how great my homemade apple cider is in a vinaigrette??  I’ll talk about that in another blog….

So what am I cooking today? 

Dinner will be Beef and Venison Stroganoff made with homemade Elk Stock, onions, and some #StrictlyMushrooms grown locally. Stroganoff will be served on mashed potatoes and a side salad with pickled carrots and greens. I also have a batch of vegetable beef soup in the works for our lunches this week.  

Soup ingredients include beef bones for the stock, garlic, butternut squash, onion, carrot, celery, cabbage, parsnips, dried thyme, rosemary, frozen corn and roasted tomatoes, brown beans, S&P..  The only ingredient from the mercantile is the celery!

Of course, each of my meals has some homemade wholewheat sourdough bread.  A staple and a future blog!

For now, stay safe out there, eat well and Live Life Like Someone Left the Gate Open!