Caroline Dines

I woke up this morning knowing it was going to be an absolute scorcher out. Normally on these types of days I would literally RUN to the nearest body of water and try to keep cool. Since it was Tuesday, and Tuesday is my day at the Re-Vision Urban Farm, I ran to the farm and worked the fields in the heat! For breakfast I focused on fueling myself up so that I wouldn’t get hungry during my time at the farm. Of course I incorporated a giant Green Monster smoothie into my breakfast (what better when the weather is sooo hot?) but on the side I had something a little different than normal.

Yesterday I picked up a bag of these TJ’s Ciabatta Rolls for our dinner. I had one left over and decided to toast it and spread a small amount of Organic Whipped Light Cream Cheese and Homemade Strawberry Jam! Cream Cheese and Jam is one of my all time favorite combos and brings me right back to childhood. The strawberry jam (Thanks Mom!) also made me feel so summery this morning (as if I didn’t feel it enough already with the 90 degree heat!). This breakfast was FILLING but in a good way!

I have been back at the farm for a few weeks now and I was so happy that today we actually got out of here…

And got our hands dirty out here!

I don’t think I could have handled working IN the green house today. Instead I spent the morning working with a wonderful group of volunteers from the University of Maryland.They helped out immensely and we got a really hard job done in no time! We basically created 10 beds for growing Tomatoes. These beds had to be measured, dug, weeded, fertilized, raked, irrigated, and finally covered with plastic. Here’s a bit of the process:

We all made sure to stay really hydrated and took breaks in the shade from time to time.

Again, it was so nice to have such a great “community” feel at the farm today. Even though these individuals were from far away they had the same ideas about the state of our food, issues around hunger and access to good food, and in general a positive work ethic! It was a wonderful morning. Around 12:00 I grabbed this apple from my bag. It tasted a little bit like hot apple pie to me (minus the crust) because it had literally been baking in the sun! Ooops! Still good though.

My run this morning to the farm was trying so I knew that by mid-day running home would be brutal. I started out ambitious and quickly realized that it would be smarter and safer to take the bus!

Thank goodness for Charlie cards!!! I always make sure to have mine on long runs, just in case!

When I arrived home, I took the quickest shower possible (I was covered with dirt from the farm!) and made myself a big lunch! All the components were superstars but I just had to highlight these Dr. Kracker Crackers because I can’t believe how awesome the stats are!

Besides the great ingredients and health components, the taste is incredible. Seriously, they are worth every bit of the $4.39!

With the heat I was craving lots of vegetables and cold food. I think I was also in need of salt because I was totally into this pickle! However, when I am NOT into pickles?

The plate was made up of a pickle, Ful Medammes, Grape Tomatoes, Carrots, Watermelon, Dr. Kracker Cracker, homemade broco-slaw and a few mozzarella pearls. These are by far my favorite types of lunches, all the different tastes and textures keep my mouth so happy!

While I was sitting staring at my beautiful new herbs on my window sill I felt that I just had to add a little bit of fresh mint to my watermelon. I didn’t eat it but just the smell made the whole dish that much more enjoyable.

Tomorrow I am happy to report that Meg C. and I are heading OUT of the city and will be spending the day on the South Shore at the beach!!! I can’t wait. Summer is here!

I am trying my hardest to be better about my posting but my computer has been acting up (not much memory left after all the pics I have been uploading) and I think I need to replace it or do something to fix it fast. Having to wait until I get into work to post isn’t ideal.  Breakfast was eaten quickly because I was running late. What better to eat on the run then toast with barney butter and apple butter. Yum.

My first stop of the day was the Farm. Today was Volunteer Appreciation day and I was so glad that I was able to make it, even if it was for a short time. It was nice to have a bit of closure and celebrate a great growing season with my fellow volunteers. They had apple cider, apple pie, and sour cream coffee cake for us to enjoy. I had a small glass of apple cider (served in a mason jar. love this.) and a small piece of coffee cake.

It was a gorgeous day for this small outdoor gathering. The table here displays the yummy eats as well as the honey, raspberry jam, and hot sauce (all made by the Farm Managers using Farm ingredients). Each of the volunteers were able to choose one of the jars to go home with. I chose the hot sauce because I was intrigued listening to Farmer Matt talk about the process he went through to make it. He said that for days after wards his hands still burned, that’s how hot this stuff is!

After the Farm I rushed to the bus stop. I caught one bus and one train and then walked the 10 or so blocks to the Corner shop. My shift went great despite being frazzled at the beginning. I was impressed with the new packaging we have for our chocolate chip cookies (one of the biggest sellers).

While I didn’t have any of the cookies I did have two samples of the soup. I feel it is my duty to try them for two reasons: to make sure they are hot enough, and to give customers an honest opinion on the taste. The first was the Curried Pumpkin. Hands down this is one of the best soups I have had in awhile. I have to recreate this somehow.

The other soup on offer was the Minestrone which had chunks of turkey sausage and tons of white kidney beans in it. Yum. Hearty and rich but still brothy which I liked. Sadly my camera ate the picture. I also had a big cup of tea. They have the best tea here, MEM tea. I tried this variety today and added a splash of soy milk.

I also ate an apple (that I picked up at the Farm earlier) while I worked and I hate to say it but I gave in to a few samples.

Today was the passion cupcake which has the most heavenly frosting and is topped with coconut. It doesn’t look all that pretty in this picture since it was the last piece on the sample tray, but boy did it taste good!

After my shift I rushed home as quickly as possible to be sure I had time for a nice long run. I ate a slice of cheese and a piece of turkey bologna wrapped up before I set out (sorry no picture). The weather was perfect and I was totally “feeling it”. I ran for about 5 miles, mostly along the Charles River. I came home to ice and stretch my piriformis muscle I am determined to beat this injury and have a big run planned for Sunday with Meg so I need to step it up a notch! Tonight is our third “Recipe Night” at the house and we were lucky enough to have a family staying here all the way from Iceland who offered to cook a traditional Kjötsúpa (Icelandic Lamb Soup). While the recipe is fairly simple (lamb, carrots, potatoes, onion etc) the secret ingredient as with most foreign dishes is the spice mixture which she brought with her from Iceland. I was able to score a tupperware container for my freezer so I will be eating it again but I wish that I had access to the special herb mix that she used so I could recreate it on my own.

The dessert was unlike anything I have had before. The mother called it a cheesecake but this was not like a typical “american” style cheesecake which is so rich and dense you can hardly get through one bite. This was light, airy and refreshing. She made the crust using digestive biscuits (whole wheat she told me) and layered it with cream cheese that had been whipped with the smallest amount of confectioner’s sugar. Then it was topped with milk chocolate that had been mixed with sour cream. This sour cream in particular.

Finally fresh strawberries and blueberries were sprinkled over the entire “cake” and then a dollop of homemade whipped cream (just heavy whipping cream and a splash of special Icelandic vanilla). I had told myself that I wasn’t going to over do it in the dessert department tonight and even though I had a good portion of this I feel perfectly content right now and don’t have that awful sugar high that I usually have after birthday cake or cookies. I am going to get the recipe for this for sure.

As promised the Northeast was hit with a huge storm on Sunday. I awoke to rain on the windows which is actually a comforting feeling for me. If it is sunny outside I always feel the urge to get going as quickly as possible so as not to miss out on the day. Waking up to a rain storm felt cozy and safe and I lay in bed longer than I would have normally, a perfect way to start a Sunday. As I lay in bed thinking about getting up, I remembered our egg harvest from last night which motivated me to get up and get going.

I scrambled one of these beauties in the microwave so as not to dirty up a pan. I ate it with another one of my mother’s lovely muffins, a scoop of peanut butter, apple butter and a sliced pear. The hot mug of tea was also very necessary on such a cold, blustery day.

We spent the morning at the Manor. As I mentioned before, my brother Andrew lives at Sylvester Manor is a 243-acre educational Farm on Shelter Island. Here is a snipet of what the farm/manor is all about (taken directly from their blog): “Started in 1652, the Manor has been a native hunting grounds, a slaveholding plantation, a vegetable farm providing food for New York, Hartford and Providence, and home to the father of modern food chemistry, Eben Norton Horsford. Today we grow vegetables for our 25-member CSA, and host workshops on food, culture and place.” The estate is truly amazing and you feel as though you have stepped into another time as you drive down the windy driveway passing dense forests filled with deer and other wildlife (we saw a total of 8 deer over the course of the weekend!). You finally come to the end and are presented with this absolutely gorgeous Manor that is well preserved and filled with treasures from years past.

Andrew gave us a tour of the inside as well as the many outbuildings which include the “milk shed” where baking powder was actually invented! (many of the pictures you are about to see were actually taken on Monday when it was sunny!)

The estate includes a formal garden, a pool, walnut trees,

fig trees,

3 barns, a canon,

as well as many other fascinating details. While the pool and the gardens are not in “tip-top” condition (I was enthralled with the pool for some reason) the plan is to restore all the components of the estate to their former glory and preserve the historical essence.

We had a quick lunch before heading out on a little excursion to the South Fork of Long Island. I ate a PURE bar (not pictured) and a super crisp Honey crisp with peanut butter.

We took the South Ferry to North Haven and then drove with Andrew to a music gig that he was performing at with his fellow farmers. We then explored the East End of Long Island driving from South Hampton all the way to Montauk Point.

It was a gorgeous drive through East Hampton (established in 1639 the buildings were so old and beautiful to look at, there were also tons of windmills) despite the rain and we even mangaged to get out of the car and get a picture of the lighthouse to prove we made it.

My Mom and I also snapped a picture to prove how miserable the rain and wind were. I don’t know why we’re smiling, it was sooo cold and windy! If you see that blurry part of the picture that is actually rain on my camera.

After a lot of driving and another Ferry ride it was time to eat again! Since no one felt like cooking anything, I offered to take my parents out to dinner since they had been more than generous with the ferry fees and driving me around all weekend. We decided to try Sweet Tomatoes (one of the ONLY restaurants on the island that was actually open due to the storm and the season) and it was a GREAT decision. They were offering a 4 course meal served family style which my Mom and I decided to go for. My Dad had his mind on the locally caught striped bass which was the special of the evening (always a good sign). They served a garlicky brushetta when we sat down which we promptly gobbled up.

Next came the salad course which was a really awesome ceasar salad.

Next came the cold antipasto which was layered tomato, mozzarella, and prosciuto with a basil glaze on top. I think this might have been my favorite dish of the evening, (it actually might be tied with dessert, just wait) the basil glaze was so yummy it made the combo pop.

What I loved about this dinner was that the food just kept coming out! I thought that the main course would be served next but I forgot about the hot antipasto: fried zucchini with hot marinara sauce. The marinara sauce especially delicious; the hint of lemon really wowed me.

Finally it was time for the main courses. At this point I wasn’t super hungry but I wasn’t about to turn down this delicious Chicken Scapriella dish that was just sitting in front of me.

It was different chicken pieces cooked with sausage, peppers, onions, and served with parmesan crusted asparagus. Oh man this dish was good. We ended up eating half and taking the rest home for left over lunch on Monday. My Dad’s striped bass lived up to his expectations too. It was served with mashed potatoes, asparagus, and rosemary infused tomatoes.

And just in case you thought we were done, we’re not. The dessert sealed the deal. It was basically fried dough (that melted in your mouth) topped with cinnamon sugar and dipped into melted godiva chocolate. Yikes! The waiter called this dish, Churros, has anyone else experienced this decadent dessert?

We certainly weren’t about to let any bit go to waste. Clean plate club!

After such a satisfying meal we all slept like babies. In the morning the sun was out but it was time to go home. Our journey would be long with two ferry rides and a lot of driving (more for my ‘rents!). We took one last trip to the field.

I managed to score a few items to bring home: two beets, a few leaves of kale and a tomato!

So sad that this weekend has come to an end but I am hopeful there will be more trips in my future. It’s such an idyllic, inspiring and thought provoking place. I am so glad my brother gets to be a part of it each day.

Sorry it has taken me literally all day to post. I was seriously on the go from 8:00 this morning to 8:00 tonight. My food choices were a little random but satisfying none the less. Here’s how I started my morning. The typical pumpkin/barney butter greek yogurt and banana with the addition of coconut and craisins.

I ended up at the Farm this morning because my day at Haley House has been switched to Wednesday. I seriously considered not going this morning due to the cold rain spattering my window, but since it was the last “working” morning (next week we have Volunteer Appreciation day with Cider Donuts!) I dug out my rain gear and trudged off to the bus. I only got to handle one veggie this morning and that was these beautiful, dirt caked onions.

I used to hate onions as a child but I have come to love them, texture and all! These were dug out this morning and needed to dry in the green house. The rest of the morning was spent making boxes for the C.S.A. pick up tomorrow (last one) and organizing irrigation tubing. Let’s just say I prefer digging in the dirt to greenhouse tasks but it’s all necessary and I know they were happy to have the help this morning.

One of my fellow volunteers offered to drive me to the T station so that I wouldn’t have to wait outside for the bus (I was so grateful because at this point my hands were turning blue from the cold and I needed a chance to warm up). I snacked on this PURE bar on the bus. Did you know that they have 1.5 servings of fruit per bar. Not bad

On my walk back from the bus station I calculated that I would have enough time to go home, drop off my stuff and head to the 12:15 yoga class. Normally I stay later at the farm but since the ride was leaving early I took it! It worked out nicely because my body really needed the yoga release today. Plus it was so cold outside that heading into a heated studio wasn’t bad either . I came home to quickly shower and go to physical therapy. At this point I was pretty hungry so I dug into some chips and dip right on the counter. No plate, no shame. This bean dip is awesome. The cheese dip tastes great but I was disappointed to see that it has a ton of ingredients in it (surprising for Trader Joe’s) some of which are forms of MSG, a big no-no in my book.

After physical therapy (which was great by the way, my hip hurts a lot less and my legs are feeling super strong from all the exercises I have been doing there), I was still hungry since I never really had a “real” lunch. Does anyone else feel this way, when you snack a lot you feel cheated out of a real meal so you end up eating one anyway? Well I do. I decided to heat up the left over carrot fries from last night which were stellar! I basically just took a bag of organic carrots, washed them (didn’t peel them), cut them in half and then in half again, tossed them with EVOO and S+P and baked for 40 minutes at 375. They reminded me a lot of sweet potato fries but I almost liked them better because they tasted less starchy and I really enjoyed the fact that they were carrots instead of potato. Today I served them heated up with a bit of BBQ sauce and some dilly beans and a pickle spear on the side (my Dad’s homemade pickles and beans).

I also had a corn dog. I am trying to use these up. They’re good but I know they’re not the best so I don’t think I’ll be buying them again anytime soon.

Then it was time to head into work. Tonight was Thai Food which was so needed after my long day which didn’t allow for any grocery shopping (we have no food at the moment). We had three main dishes delivered. The first seemed to be a combo of Pad See Ew and Pad Thai (the noodles were like Pad See Ew but there was egg and the flavor was more Pad Thai like) I really have no idea what it’s called but it was one of my favorite dishes that they have brought so far. They always switch it up which is fun.

The second dish was Massaman Curry which came with big chunks of fried tofu. The Curry was my favorite of the evening. The sauce was spiced to perfection and it was loaded with veggies.

The last dish was a very spicey beef. I liked it but it wasn’t something I would order myself.

Mmmmmm….Thai Food Tuesday is by far my favorite night at the house (good thing it only happens once a month!)

Inspired by a fellow food blogger’s recent post, I thought I would focus my post this afternoon on some simple pleasures that have made me smile today. Heading out to the farm this morning was energizing. The sun was shining and I had Ingrid Michaelson’s new album blaring in my ears.

We did the typical harvest of cherry and grape tomatoes, large tomatoes, zinnias, bok choi, collards, peppers etc. I helped with the tomatoes and flowers again I wanted to take a picture of this perfect flower because it was so beautiful but sadly it didn’t make it in the bucket to sell because it broke in the process. It was too pretty to just toss on the ground without at least documenting it!

Since we are nearing the end of the season, the tomato plants are starting to look a little worse for wear. We were all joking around that the smell emanating from the rotten ones is enough to ruin tomatoes for anyone. While it was gross job, it gave me and the other volunteers a real sense of satisfaction. We worked hard to get rid of the rotten ones and I was so proud of our efforts that I snapped a shot. Sorry it’s not the prettiest but it’s real and dirty and it made me happy that we were able to get this job done!

While I was cleaning up, I spotted these beauties in the green house. They’re not for sale and I believe that they’re holding on to them until we get more but I was super impressed that our little garden yielded this many already! Beautiful Pumpkins get me in the mood for Fall!

Soon enough it was time to go, and I was starving! The wrap didn’t really hold me over as well as I would have liked. Next time I will pair it with some yogurt on the side which seems to always do the trick when combined with nut butter and banana. I snacked on this KIND bar on the bus home. I think this may be one of my all time favorite bars. The flavor is Almond Apricot and it’s just so moist, chewy and sweet in a natural sort of way that I can’t get enough of them! Every ingredient is really apparent in the bar as well, you can actually see huge chunks of almonds and apricots which lets you know they’re REAL ingredients.

I stopped off at Harvest Co-Op to get some groceries and found these crackers that I have been dying to try since Jess recommended them last week! I got the “herb” flavor and was not at all disappointed. I had a few while I was cleaning the apartment (top to bottom) and doing some laundry. I found myself wondering exactly what the box asks “How can rice and seeds taste so good?”

Lunch came around 1:30 once I was done with my chores. Having a clean apartment makes me so happy and I knew I wouldn’t really enjoy my lunch until it was done! I whipped up the simplest of salads using the giant heirloom tomato I took home with my today from the farm. This salad was spinach, tomato, feta and the secret ingredient basil! Topped off with a drizzle of straight up Balsamic, this was I think the best salad I have made all summer. While I love my messy salads with everything but the kitchen sink on them, this one was so perfect in it’s absolute simplicity. I also had no idea how awesome basil is on a salad?! Has anyone else tried this?

Here is the rest of my lunch (minus the peach, it was quite ripe when I went to bite into it so I will wait). Lunch was eaten outside which was lovely even though it was a little windy.

And just because they deserve a pic all to themselves; the newest love of my life “Mary’s Gone Crackers”. Look how thin they are. I was seriously amazed and can’t wait to try the other flavors!

Everything in this post contributed to my happiness today. I hope that you too find pleasure in every day things since it is truly the simple things that add joy to your life.

The farm was busy but quick today. The whole group of volunteers showed up and we worked feverishly  until 11:00 a.m. We picked cherry tomatoes, raspberries, collard greens, potatoes, and beautiful peppers of all varieties.

I had the the prettiest job of the day which was cutting these beautiful zinnias that I had planted at the beginning of the season.

After the work for the day was completed, I strapped on my camel back and prepared for my commute home. I tried one of these Kashi Bars as a snack today since my Mom had them this weekend and sent me home with them. I was excited for the Raspberry Chocolate flavor but sadly they didn’t live up to my high expectations.

The chocolate part was creamy and had a nice strong raspberry component. It didn’t taste too fake either which I liked. However, the bottom part, which made up the majority of the bar, was terribly dry and really crunchy.  Crunchy is fine if it is supposed to be but in this case it should have been chewy. TLC stands for Tasty Little Chewies!  I ate the whole thing with my water because I was quite hungry and it wasn’t THAT awful but I don’t think I will be purchasing these myself.

I returned home after a quick stop at the Harvest Co-op in Jamaica Plain. I love this place! They have some really interesting products which I will be sharing with you later on this week. I bought a few local peaches and had one when I returned home to hold me over til I could clean the apartment and make my lunch.

I threw together a can of TJ’s marinated bean salad (chickpeas, kidney beans with olive oil, lemon juice and some seasoning), some feta cheese, a carrot, and the split tomatoes that I got to take home with me from the farm!

While the salad was a perfect way to use these damaged tomatoes the real highlight of this summery meal was the lobster meat I ate on the side. My dad was nice enough to cook a lobster for me Sunday night and sent me home with just the meat. I heated the lobster only slightly and squeezed a bit of lemon juice over the top. Fresh, succulent and perfect in every way. No mayo or butter needed!

The salad was served on a bed of baby spinach which was on the way out so I was happy to have something to eat with it and divert the focus.

Dessert/afternoon snack was one of these Enviro Kids bars that were recommended to me by a friend. I tried the peanut butter flavor and ended up loving it!

Soft, chewy, not overpoweringly peanut buttery, and very “natural” tasting. They reminded me of a rice crispy treat which I haven’t had in years. The nutritional profile is good but not great if you’re looking for something with a little more staying power:

• 110 calories
• 3 grams of fat
• 1 fiber
• 2 protein

I think I would get these again and treat them more as a dessert on-the-go. Just like the cereal they don’t have any trans fat, nothing artificial, and are gluten free.

The Island has been in my Mom’s family since the 1940’s and has always had a garden that produced vegetables all summer long and provided enough to can and freeze for the winter months. This summer, due to the rain, the harvest has not been as plentiful but we were still able to get some veggies for the weekend and some to take home.

My great-uncle is the farmer and takes great pride in what he is able to provide for the extended family. Carrots, peas, beet greens, potatos, zucchini, summer squash, pumpkins, butternut squash, corn, tomatoes, the list goes on and on! Today we were focused on corn and pickling cukes.

As I was making my way to the corn I found a pumpkin in the early stages…it made me excited for fall which is really coming fast!

My aunt Laurie in the corn stalks.

The corn is what we call “mini” because it doesn’t get that big since he doesn’t use pesticides. Sometimes there are worms at the top but you can just flick em off and cut off the end that is “bad”. The kernels are quite small which makes this corn extra sweet and tender.

A good sized harvest. We wanted to be sure to leave enough for my extended family members who were going to be down shortly to pick.

As I was leaving the farm around 12:15 I took this shot. I think it basically sums up the feel of the day which was bright, sunny and beautiful.

Per usual, I was STARVING when I set out on my journey back home. I ate this cookie before I had even put my back pack on and sipped on this coconut water on the bus. This was a new brand for me (it was on sale at Whole Foods) and I have to say that I can’t tell the difference between VitaCoco, Zico, and this O.N.E. I only drink the plain because I think the flavor is perfectly subtle and I don’t find myself craving any added fruit. I wish this had been just a tad cooler but all in all it was a great way to replace the electrolytes I had lost sweating on the farm.

*please pardon my dirty hands, I get dirty on the farm

I took a bus to Forest Hills and then decided to walk the rest of the way home. It was so nice out and my ankle was feeling strong. I also knew that I wanted to stop along the way and pick up a key ingredient for what I had in mind for lunch.

Having only seen the massive sign on my runs and never venturing in, I knew it was time to try City Feed and Supply. I don’t know what I have been waiting for, this place is amazing!

The store is set up like a small grocery store with fresh produce from all local farms. They also specialize in fair trade coffee, bakery items, and a huge sandwich selection. There was a very cool vibe in here with tables to sit and eat at.

I exercised a huge amount of will power and exited with only what I came for.

I took home 4 tomatoes that were split and not worthy of the Farmer’s Market or CSA. These “seconds” became a top notch lunch!

A simple Caprese Salad:

• chopped tomato
• chopped fresh mozzarella cheese
• torn basil
• Olive Oil
• Balsamic
• Salt
• Pepper

My second tasting platter of the day:

• Dr. Praeger tex mex veggie burger
• Scoop of black bean dip (TJ’s)
• One very large carrot
• One serving of Nut Thins crackers (pecan variety)
• Caprese Salad

I can’t believe I have never had a tomato this color before, total eye candy (and mouth candy for that matter)!

I’ll probably be eating more salad for dinner and may or may not decide to post since it will probably look the same!

I have been spending my Tuesday mornings at Re-Vision urban farm for the past 8 weeks or so. I found them on the internet and immediately knew that this was something I wanted to be a part of. This small, organic farm began in 1990 after one woman had a vision to transform a city lot into a fertile piece of land. The farm works in conjunction with the Re-Vision house, a shelter for young homeless women who are pregnant or have children. The goal of this project are simple yet profound; “to increase access to affordable, nutritious, culturally appropriate food for shelter residents and community members through our community-supported farm and greenhouses.”

This picture shows the main field where I have spent most of my time. Across the street there is another small lot where different varieties of squash have been planted along with other crops. The farm also has a field which is driving distance away that I have not visited yet.

One tool shed and one green house sit on the plot as well. In the early months of the season we spent some time organizing the greenhouse and also planting seedlings.

Found this guy sitting in the dirt. So beautiful I wanted to just bite in to it!

The farm has a number of raspberry bushes planted that have produced quite the yield this season in my opinion. Since Tuesday mornings the farm brings their produce to the Fields Corner Farmer’s Market, we spend the first hour or so harvesting whatever is ripe. For about 4 weeks we were picking raspberries which I found completely satisfying even though I often got attacked by the stinging nettle plants which were hard to avoid!

Today, a fellow volunteer and I spent about an hour tending to the basil which will be picked tomorrow for the farm’s CSA. The smell was overpoweringly delicious and gave me a serious craving for some Italian food!

Our next task was to harvest the ripe tomatoes. There were many different varieties present here but I can’t remember any of them other than New Girl and Brandy Wine.

One of the cool things about working on a farm is getting to pick up the rejects and create something delicious for lunch after you’ve been surrounded by the beautiful vegetables all morning long. Stay tuned to see what I went home with and what I created for lunch!