Today was the last day of our summer Farmer's Market with farmers from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. Also, French nuns residing in Chicago who sell their pastries and breads. I really can't think of much better than local grown foods, and seeing foods in their more natural states, like these brussel sprouts. My mother said when she was young, grocers always sold brussels sprouts this way and bananas on the stalk, just like I saw them selling bananas in Costa Rica recently. Anyway, I really like getting out and talking to the producers and getting fresh high quality foods. They often inspired some of my paintings. You may have seen some of my farmer's market finds in a...
Spent the weekend at my parents' farm in Wisconsin and harvested some pumpkins and hubbard squash along with a rainbow assortment of zinnias.
So much color this time of year! I hope to paint some more zinnias and pumpkins this week. Stay tuned for vibrant colors!
Nasturtium flowers are easy to grow here in the Midwest, USA. They really are effortless, provide nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies, and both leaves and flowers are edible. I find there is no need to spray them either, so they are totally organic and pesticide free.
Here are a couple ideas. The first is just as a garnish for almost anything. Here with vanilla ice cream. I've also put them on cakes, salads, and omelettes.
Here is a video of me making the top dish of Nasturtium Dolmas found on the On Vegetables cook book by Jeremy Fox.
