As The World Grows

These have been unproductive days. If I should ever be able to marshall the powers which control my attitude towards work and productivity (I suppose we call that discipline), I will be a huge success. Until then...

A brief visit to the beach farm, tomatoes yet to be seeded. A visit to the offices at the studio to discuss upcoming changes, where nothing's changed, and finally, some hours in the studio where little was accomplished. Ball dropped, I went to the grocery to pick up some pork shoulder for tacos. In the oven now, I simply wait, while considering how enjoyable watching old episodes of Twin Peaks might be. 

For tonight's tacos, which I am sure to enjoy, I must thank Marie of 66squarefeet. No one person in recent years has influenced the way I think about food as much as Marie has through her blogging. I cannot say that I am a better cook (in fact, I might be slipping for lack of time), but what has happened is an awareness that has invigorated food itself -the process, the presentation, the representation. I think that's remarkable. 

Broccoli rabe or cima di rapa, however you like it, growing fast now. But still too tender for the beach -its awfully windy there. Roots are beneath the wooden box now. Next week I will plant it out. It is a delicious green at this stage.

Fennel, the Greater. Fennel, the bulbous. Slow grower, but competent -no fuss, so far.

The other fennel for seeds -Fennel, the Lesser. Here, a seed capsule slowly casting off. I suspect this plant will become a weed and I will be responsible for creating a new foragable species in the Rockaways. Worse -I hear chefs want the pollen, not the seeds. Either is good rubbed all over pork. I use it liberally in Italian dishes.

The lettuce. Both new to me, well, at least since my last attempt, at the unaccomplished age of 25, in a wet and sluggy garden during my brief stay in Portland, Oregon. Butter and romaine here, to be transplanted into the tomato beds at the beach.