veggies!

One of the things I love about living in the new house is that my neighbors four houses down grow their own veggies and set up a form stand on the weekends.   They have their own green houses and a big garden.  If you're ever up this way check them out.  Here's a link to their website:  Atkins Barnes Farm and Homestead.  And here's a link to their Facebook page:  Atkins Barnes Farm and Homestead.

I'm not big on veggies and neither is Bob.  I always have good intentions when I buy veggies.  (The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, right?)  I see them in the store and it makes me want to go home, whip out all the pots and pans, drizzle olive oil everywhere, and start cooking my heart out. While pushing my cart I have visions of gorgeous veggies transformed into delicious dishes that we just can't get enough of.  (This is especially true at Whole Foods.  Their produce section is a food porn addict's fantasy with all those bright, gleaming veggies!) But the reality is this:  I get way too ambitious.  I buy too many varieties, I bring them home, wash them, and they sit in the fridge or on the counter until I'm forced to either cook them all or throw them away.  Every time I walk in the kitchen or open the fridge I see them sitting there, just waiting for me to do something with them.  I then proceed to get what I went in there for while trying not to make eye contact with the peppers or broccoli, then close the fridge and go about my business, as if the veggies didn't exist.  It's a sad existence for them, really, and they'd be better off going home with someone else.

Well, now that I have a farm stand four houses down from me, I can buy just a little to try and not feel like I have to make the most of my shopping trip.  And the bonus is getting to know my neighbors and seeing their old house; it was built in 1730, which is five years old than ours.  Also, the samples.  Oh, the yummy samples.   This morning it was grilled cheese and Swiss chard on ciabatta bread.  Last week it was Swiss chard with chorizo sausage on mini toasts and a few other things.

This is what I bought this morning and it only cost me $5.00.  Lettuce, 2 heirloom tomatoes, 4 shallots, garlic, and a cucumber.  I'm a raw tomato hater so I'll need to figure out what to use them for.  I'm thinking of stuffing them and then baking them.  Anyone have any other ideas?