Livin' off the Fatta the Lan'

Anyone who has read Steinbeck's classic gem, Of Mice and Men, will hear Lennie's voice in the title of this post.  For me, it sums up one version of the American Dream, the one that promotes self-sufficiency, independence, resourcefulness.  It stands in opposition to another version of the American Dream, one that pushes materialism, acquisition, superficiality, and greed.  In Lennie's dream, he and George will raise crops and chickens and rabbits and not have to be subservient to anyone else.  It's a good dream.  Spoiler alert:  it is a dream unrealized.

I'm all about self-sufficiency, independence and resourcefulness.  And Frugal is my middle name.  So now begins the season of living off the fat of the land, minus the chickens and rabbits.  My garden has gone beyond spinach and lettuces and is now producing some heartier fare.

So here's a future dinner.  You are looking at carrots, a scallion, a shallot, Swiss chard. a mini-eggplant, three snowpeas, and some purple beans.  (Don't be fooled by the beans.  When you cook them, they turn green.  It's magic.)

To these, I added a store-bought plum tomato, mushrooms, and half a green pepper.  After slicing and sauteing the veggies, I added homemade basil pesto frozen from last summer's bounty.  Served over pasta, sprinkled with grated Parmesan . . . and living off the fat of the land is pretty damn good!

The veggies featured above will be available for the rest of the summer.  Yellow squash will be ready in a few days.  Cucumbers will be bountiful.  If I win the war over early blight, there will be tomatoes and basil.  Cabbages, kale, broccoli, celery, peppers, garlic and beets will be added to the larder.  And in the fall, potatoes, butternut squash and Brussels sprouts will be ready.  I will spend my time making sauces, soups, and pesto to freeze for winter meals.  And storing potatoes, onions, and carrots.  The Brussels sprouts stay in the garden to sweeten from a few frosts before picking.

Does it sound like I am in love with this idea of living off the fat of the land?  It is this love that motivates me to plan, dig, hoe, plant, nurture, water, weed and harvest.  Oh, and cook.  A strong love, indeed.