i brought home the wallflowers from the blood orange dance and they just make my heart sing.
Look what I got from my first Farmers’ Market visit of 2010. Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Lemongrass, Onions and the reason for a weekend full of joy, Blood Oranges.
I got them from two different organic stalls. One had pretty, pretty citrus. The other, ummm, not so much. But, there was something about my sweet wallflowers. They were recently picked and dirty. There was still part of the stem attached. I was smitten. I don’t know if i would have brought them home from a store like that.
Isn’t it sad how we are taught to judge produce? It has to pass the shiny new car test. Have you smelled some of that beautiful fruit at the store? What do you mean you can’t smell anything? Really? Each and every piece has to be spectacular. How real or natural is that?
It’s got to look like what we think its supposed to look like, but what does it taste like? And really does everything have to taste exactly the way it tasted before? I’m okay with it not. As long as it’s full of personality. A good one.
Man, I am still feeling up my ugly blood oranges. I can’t stop smelling them. I know I’m supposed to be using them for the Can Jam, but I had to have my first taste of the season. Okay, tastes, plural. Yes, I ate a few. Couldn’t stop myself. Two were the deepest burgandy. The other was flecked with different shades of orange and red. It’s like each bit of pulp was given the choice of what flag to fly.
So, what am I going to do with them? I think I’m going to go unbelievably lo-fi with it. The ones I ate had most amazing flavor. I think I just want to showcase that. We’ll see.
I’m so glad I started playing around this early in the season. I’m going to find as many ways as I can to preserve what really has become my favorite fruit. I want the rest of the year filled with its brilliance.
Can you tell I dig blood oranges? Don’t get me started talking about cheese. I can’t even keep it in the house.
So, tell me, what cha got in the pot?
Nikki♥