Pic Today 11/21/11

UNDERGROUND DINING:

FIRE AND PASSION

Another Rogue Underground Dining event.

This one at a local coffee roaster,

surrounded by bags of rare artisanal coffee beans.

Chefs preparing indescribable courses

of seasonal fare . . .

including frittatas topped with fresh watercress

(hmmm, I wonder where they got the fresh greens!)

Pic Today 11/20/11

WILD RIVER GREENS

One other source of winter greens this time of year

are the clean, spring-fed rivers of Missouri.

Wild watercress is abundant now,

tucked near the streams that flow from our many springs.

Watercress is especially sweet and peppery,

and delicious in salads,

but it needs clean, cold, flowing spring water.

(Just what the trout need, too.)

It's easy to harvest,

replenishes itself, and

is absolutely delicious!

Pic Today 11/19/11

WINTER GARDEN HARVEST

Just because the nights fall below freezing,

is no time to stop growing and harvesting

beautiful, nutritious vegetables.

Early winter weather is the best time

for hardy crops -- sunny days, chilly nights --

especially if you cover tender leafy plants,

like lettuce, spinach, chinese cabbage, swiss chard.

And this is the best time for cauliflower (white & yellow),

broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and kale.

(Here's the best part -- it's too cold for bugs and pests.)

Check out today's bounty.

Don't you wish you could taste the fresh flavors?

Yum!

Pic Today 11/18/11

NATURE UNEXPECTED

Nature grows in mysterious ways,

sometimes in the most surprising places.

You find her where you don't expect to,

and how you can't explain.

Pic Today 11/17/11

COLD FRONT HAS ARRIVED

(BRRRR!)

Our recent spell of warm weather

has "gone south for the winter."

Today, it felt cold "to the bone."

Time to light a fire, bring the plants inside

and rake some leaves (before the first snow.)

This old railroad town of Kirkwood,

Missouri, can handle it.

We're ready!