Another week, another late recap. Without Holly helping me out I’m sure I’d procrastinate all week! How about I just admit that recaps are going to happen on Tuesday nights and we call it good 
Last week was busy for us, what with the first seeds popping up, sleeping hens and company for dinner. This week is shaping up to be even busier as we get ready for next week’s electrical work and the first seeds going into the garden.
Thank you again to all of you for the continued inspiration, great posts and inspiring recipe ideas. The winter wouldn’t be the same without you.
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The West
Einat made a roasted cauliflower soup to take the chill off of a rainy week. The texture was silky and the flavor combination sounds delicious. On the side was toast with bacon and cheese (yum!). All this cauliflower talk is making me consider soup.
In the midst of a busy week of travel and cold frame building, Maya still found time for a simple dinner of roast chicken. Along side were mashed potatoes, roasted carrots and braised cabbage. A meal after my own heart, of course I must have lived in the same cave as Maya because I don’t get the Battlestar Galactica thing either.
Anita and Cameron have been busy traveling, but still found time for dinner at the new Nopalito. This new gem pushes all of Anita’s buttons, plus the food was good enough to bring her back again soon. Reading it makes me wish that we had more options up here in the sticks.
It might not be pretty, but the new Moroccan fish recipe that Joan tried turned out great. It was just the thing to make some winter fish tacos, and a healthier version to boot. Now I know what to make to satisfy Mike’s recently confessed fish craving!
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The Midwest
Anne‘s second attempt at cauliflower puree was a resounding success, thanks to the addition of potatoes. Dinner also included corn, green beans, and carnival squash alongside a locally farmed, freshwater trout pan-fried with lemon and herbs. A quick inventory of her freezer revealed it was “still packed to the gills,” thanks in part to the continued availability of local produce from their winter farmers market.
This week’s local meal was a celebration of backyard bounty at Karen‘s house, when the family enjoyed fried eggs, oven fries and fresh made whole wheat toast, along with strawberries frozen last summer and milk from a local creamery. Congrats on your first “bakers’” dozen in a week; you’re right, the excitement is not quick to wear off!
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The South
A busy week kept Laurel from posting any photos of their Dark Days meal. Of course, busy also meant the localest meals of all, leftovers from last week’s meals and using up the fridge contents. Be sure to swing over for Part II of her interview with Mangochild.
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The East
What is the worst thing about homemade bread? Pam will probably tell you that it disappears so quickly she barely had time to take a photo of the loaf this week! Hopefully, the plethora of sweet and white potatoes, beets, and cabbage will continue to satisfy the family through the remaining weeks of winter. The tasty new sweet for this week was a pecan pie, made with the nuts from a neighbor’s backyard.
Sophie‘s entry came with a warning this week: “do not rub your eyes, even if you rinsed your hands,” after hand crushing your own, dried cayenne pepper. Ouch! Thankfully, it sounds like this mishap did not prevent the sweet and the heat meeting up in her pork chops with apple sauce entree. The dish also includes, acorn squash, shallots, garlic, maple syrup, rosemary, sage, olive oil, and Jamaican rum. Mmmmm…
Despite feeling less than creative this week, food on the fire escape was inspired to try making the 30-minute mozzarella recipe from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Although its texture may not have been spot-on, the verdict is the cheese tasted great and melted well enough to be used successfully at a “make-your-own” pizza party.
A little of this and a little of that made for a quick local meal for Kim,when she added her own chicken stock, chicken, corn from last summer, and onions to an all-natural tortilla soup mix. Top that off with some Vermont cheese, and you’ve got a delicious, and colorful supper.
Nicole‘s Alternate Universe sounds like a fun place to visit… there you get brownies made with locally made maple sugar, a vegetarian pot pie enhanced with “Vrapple,” and potato wrapped halibut served with garlic spinach.
Even with stress rearing it’s ugly head, Mangochild found time to tell us about her aloo paratha. Essentially, it’s grilled flatbread stuffed with spiced potatoes. This sounds so simple, and yet so exotic that I know exactly what I’ll be doing with our overwhelming glut of getting ready to sprout potatoes from last summer. A bit of butternut squash with honey and cranberry preserves rounded out the meal. I hope this week is better than last, Mangochild!
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