Thursday, December 10, 2009

Supermarkets are square...

One thing about supermarket shopping that SUCKS with a capital SUCKS is that you don't have access to a variety of vegetables. Yes, you can get broccoli, carrots, potatoes, etc but more than likely you get only one type of these vegetables, like Yukon Gold Potatoes for example, while at the Farmer's Market, at one stand there are more than 10 varieties of potatoes to choose from. Not only is this better for us nutritionally, but its super fun!
Check out this Romanescu Cauliflower. This cannot be had at your regular supermarket. Isn't it gorgeous? And it was deliciously and simple prepared in less than 20 minutes.
I sauteed some garlic and sun dried tomato paste in olive oil, then added some water to create a sauce. Then I warmed another pot, drizzled some olive oil on the bottom and added the Romanescu Cauliflower, cut in half (but whole is fine, too). Over the top I poured the tomato sauce over and salt and pepper. I added a little water to the bottom of the pan, then put the lid on so it could steam in the tomato sauce for about 10 minutes until tender but not falling apart. This is a very traditional and quick way to prepare cauliflower. With a nice piece of Italian Bread, lunch was served!

6 comments:

Markus said...

The other cool thing I noticed about this cauliflower (at least its cool for science geeks) is that it is a prime example of naturally occurring fractal geometry. This means that its form is basically a replication of itself on several size scales. For more on fractal food check this:

http://www.fourmilab.ch/images/Romanesco/

Javelina Bomb said...

The supermarkets only sell produce that can be refrigerated and shipped easily. Why do you think I have to plant my own fave and tomatoes?

Pizzablogger said...

Agreed and winter sucks too.....all my beautiful basil done for the year and not many local veggies to be had at all :(

Jennifer Galatioto said...

u plant ur own fave? Thats awesome!

can't basil live indoors?

Pizzablogger said...

Basil can live indoors, but I do not have a South facing window in my inner-city rowhome and it never does well inside my home:(

Yes, I have eight 5 gallon paint buckets from Home Depot...drill some small 1/4" holes in the bottom for drainage, fill with soil and compost and one plant per bucket...each plant with a lotta pinching gets quite large and all of them together grow into a mini forest of basil and looks so ghetto fab in the paint buckets doancha know! They enjoy occasional Italian opera music played to them during twilight on summer nights.

Add in an old clawfoot tub filled with soil, sage, rosemary, lavender, thyme and chives and my little concrete "backyard" looks like something outta Sanford & Son.

adozeneggs said...

I was able to score some Romanescu cauliflower at the farmer's market over the summer. It was fantastic!!