Living In A Local Zone

The spotlight this week belongs to a couple dishes I made this week while my Mamma was visiting me. We both took Monday through Wednesday off from work to make a 9 day vacation (counting the two weekends, Thanksgiving, and the day-after), and had a blast! Here are two of my favorites. Even though we didn’t have a single Thanksgiving dinner per se, it was a very thankful week – and an entirely local one!

Meal #1: I chose this meal not for its drama or creativity, but rather for its simplicity. One of the things I found eating local is that it can allow the flavors of the fresh food to shine through without too much “treatment”. My family has also commented on it, just how the most basic preparations somehow “taste different” and are more special due to the quality of the veg itself.

I have an insane amount of various winter squash. Although this is by intention, as I am storing for the winter/spring, there is plenty to use on these chilly days. I took a beautiful acorn squash from George Hall Farm and split it, roasted the halves, and drizzled some maple syrup from Blue Heron Farm over the top. On the side were roasted brussels sprouts, also courtesy of George Hall. I’ve done brussels sprouts many ways, but my favorite is simply dry roasted with a bit of red and black pepper. It really develops the natural flavor in there, staying moist even without any added oil or other seasoning. There was also had some homemade wholemeal corn bread from Gray’s Grist Mill that I also dipped in that maple syrup (and used in the bread itself – I’m addicted to it!)

Meal #2: This was one of those “I don’t want to cook but have to eat” days. I got in a funk and was feeling sick on Saturday (flu-like thing) but was reminded by Mamma that I had to eat. So into the fridge it was. I had just picked up my weekly stash of veg from George Hall Farm, so there was certainly a lot to choose from, not to mention the bits from last week yet to be used. I saw some kale from last week- one of those odd veg that I love when eating but can’t convince myself I like when cooking – and decided to pair a huge mess of it with the red onions I got that day. The grains were handled by some locally made whole wheat flatbread, and the protein from beans I’ve gotten from Long Plain Farm. Not too much thinking involved.

But I put this meal in the spotlight because it was one when I realized that food is for nourishment. Yeah, we know that rationally, but I really “got it” that the food was what I needed to feel better, sustain myself, and achieve all I want in my life. Without the nourishment we get from the earth via our local farmers and suppliers, where would we be? And in turn, without us as caretakers, what nourishment will we leave future generations? In the past few months, I have started to get a glimpse into food miles and the journey from earth to table, and its a journey I’d like to keep as short as possible. But more than that, eating locally has nourished my mind. I have learned so much already about my local foodshed and the planning that has to go into this lifestyle. I have made baby steps into learning about food storage, but have so far to go in that area. My mind is starting to open and ask questions I’d not have thought of 5 years ago. And that’s a good thing. So I am thankful for that meal.