A Case of The Februarys

Sunshine! Lime Green Salad Varietal Tomatoes From Casey's 

February is not my favorite month. I dream of sunshine and often suffer from that "getaway" feeling. You know, where if you don't getaway to somewhere else, you might tell your colleagues, friends and family to get away from you... Anyway, Spring & Summer here in Calgary are short, and I like to harness some of that delicious brightness by growing some of my own veggies. I started with just a little tomato pot here and there, then moved to a 2' x 5' box, and now I have rented a garden plot from my Community Garden. Last year we had a plethora of potatoes, swiss chard, lettuces, carrots, and kale. It was amazing what that little plot produced for us. To augment the garden supply of veggies, I also lovingly tended to heirloom tomatoes that I started from seed. My seeds came from a fantastic community seed event called Seedy Saturday, and Casey's Heirloom Tomatoes of Airdrie. My unique tomatoes were so beautiful and interesting, and truly tasted amazing. They were perfect in salads, bruschetta, and even just on their own with a little Himalayan pink sea salt. 


A friend recently gave me a cookbook that was compiled by some of her friends and family, and the community of Nelson, BC. (Check it out if you are ever there; Seasonings: A Year of Local Flavour in Words and Recipes). In it, there was a wonderful ode to tomatoes, written by Antonia Banyard. Here is just an excerpt...

JD's Special C-Tex Varietal From Casey's 

"You have flushed with new colours. The light bounces off your curves. The lines on your skin darken from white to yellow to orange. Your smells are so familiar, I could find you with my eyes closed. I know every blemish and wrinkle, every scar. Some of you are misshapen or maturing too quickly. I will keep all of you. I will wait until you ripen. I will take you all in." 

Can you smell that terrific, oh-so-Summer scent of those tomatoes yet? I can't wait for Seedy Saturday to get started on growing some new varietals.

What's for Dinner?

So, I have decided to start this blog. I decided that I should write about something that I think I know about... my passion, FOOD! And all things associated with where to get it, how to enjoy it, what my thoughts are when it comes to our social commentary on the topic... 


My posts and point of view are coming from the city I live in, Calgary. So let's get to it...


My husband came home tonight with the perennial, mundane, vagueness that is the question, "What should we have for supper?" If you are like me, you are not a person that plans meals in advance, that has recipes and grocery lists set out for each weekday. I choose my meals like I choose most things, totally arbitrarily! I have to have lightening strike me with a delicious idea. I want everything to be as amazing and simple as tomato and garlic bruschetta on artisan bread with a great chianti. Alas, this didn't happen on this freezing cold, Monday evening. What to do?


We did something that we do about once a month, ordered Swiss Chalet! Ok, so I know what you are thinking... how can a self-proclaimed foodie possibly stoop to the level of pre-roasted, unimaginative chicken and sauce? I will say that there is a little bit of perfection in food that arrives to your door in less than 20 minutes, piping hot, in a throwback to TV dinner tray. In addition, there are no dishes to clean up, a real plus in my books! 


My first blog entry is a short ode to idealism and compromise in the empty fridge that is a brisk Monday night. What is your compromise when you are not struck by a Jamie Oliver-esque flash of brilliance?