Sunday, September 16, 2007

Celebrating our Local Harvest

Last night we celebrated our amazing local harvest with wonderful friends, food, and music. All of the produce was procured from local farmers, and some of it came right from my very own garden. One friend even brought along another, more surprising, locally produced item. I'll let the pictures tell the story:

Sir D and Lady K hold the plates of Crostini - one with Roasted Eggplant and Pinenut Puree and the other with Ricotta paired with the Apple and Peach Chutney I canned last weekend.



Lady D displayed the Caprese. The tomatoes and basil for this dish were the most local of all ingredients - right from my garden. Sir D said the tomatoes were the best he ever tasted, and that compliment earned him a bag of them when he left at the party's end.



Along with the Crostini the evening got rolling with a game of croquet.



We all dug into bowls of Shell Beans and Summer Vegetables (Onions, Garlic, Carrots, Fingerling Potatoes, Green Beans, Tomatoes, Bell Peppers and Summer Squash) topped with Basil Puree. Even the jug of beer on the table came from a local brewery.





G tried to get a head start on dessert, Fresh Peach Pie with Cream Cheese Crust and Whipped Cream.



But I managed to show it off first, with some mild protest from G.



Then the music got started. Sir D called this Singing for Your Supper.




The little ones were especially entranced.




Then Sir D presented the most curious and delightful of local products: A Spam guitar.




G loved it and was delighted when he got a chance to play it.



MFK Fisher wrote "There is a communion of more than our bodies when bread is broken and wine is drunk." When the bread is local, I think the communion is even happier. I am so very grateful for my community - the friends, food, music, and laughter - that sustains us all.

2 comments:

Gourmet Grrl said...

Great post! We are both so sorry we missed, but glad to live vicariously through the fabulous pictures.

dharmamama said...

Stacey -
This is the first time I've visited your blog! I'm really enjoying getting to know you a little better. I just started reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" which I had been putting off because my diet is SO FAR from that ideal. But on the encouragement of a friend, I started it. And I'm so glad I did. Like "Fast Food Nation" was what it took for me to cut down on fast food, I believe this book will be what helps move me forward to a more sustainable diet... for the planet, and me! Thanks so much for writing your blog - it's very inspirational!