Author Archives: diary of a tomato

Putting Up: Beet Pickled Quail Eggs

Posted on March 19, 2014 by diary of a tomato

These Beet Pickled Quail Eggs, cheerfully tinted pink, are like a grown-up version of dyeing eggs for Easter. We first encountered these when a farmer friend, who was expanding into raising quail, started experimenting with pickling their eggs. Ever since … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking, preserving | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

3.17.14 Winter Leeks + Ice-Bred Arugula

Posted on March 17, 2014 by diary of a tomato

With spring just around the corner and seeds about to be started, it seemed unfair to leave the few leeks remaining in the ground any longer. As you see, they’ve soldiered on through the harsh winter hardly the worse for … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Stuffed Cabbage in the Trôo Style

Posted on March 16, 2014 by diary of a tomato

“I have tried it with various spicy and aromatic additions, tomatoes, bits of bacon, herbs and so on, but reject them all in favour of the Trôo simplicity of cabbage, good sausagement and butter. It has a pure directness that … Continue reading →

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Vietnamese Cooking: Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Pancakes) & Banh Canh Tom Hum (Udon Noodle Soup)

Posted on March 13, 2014 by diary of a tomato

Much of what we learn while cooking with others is found in the seemingly offhand remarks — this is how it looks, this is how it smells, this is how to tell it’s done. Born and raised in Da Nang, … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking, field trip | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

2014 Seed Notes

Posted on March 11, 2014 by diary of a tomato

“There is a natural flow to the years, and gardens here to match.” — Russell Libby, “Which Gardens to Plant” As we plan for the next growing season, we’re keeping in mind our intention to simplify. It’ll be our seventh … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged | 4 Comments

Torta Verde — Chard and Potato Tart

Posted on March 7, 2014 by diary of a tomato

We’ve had this Torta Verde, a rustic tart from Liguria, bookmarked for years, but were always hesitant to tackle it because of the dough. It’s meant to be rolled out paper thin, as if it were a sheet of pasta, … Continue reading →

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Juliette of the Herbs

Posted on March 5, 2014 by diary of a tomato

“One of the main purposes of having gardens is that this garden is your teacher and your friend.” — Juliette de Baïracli Levy, “Juliette of the Herbs” We’ve long been enamored of the culinary uses of herbs, and a recent … Continue reading →

Posted in interlude | Tagged , | 2 Comments