...my name is Erica, and I am an addict. A produce addict. Seriously. Even with the fridge already over-full of CSA veggies, when I went to the farmers market this weekend, I came home with this:
Thats potatoes, muskmelon, eggplant, broccoli, leek, green beans, peaches, pickling cucumbers, shallots, mint, raspberries, turnips, and a shank of lamb, if you're curious.
Ostensibly, I went to the market to get my knives sharpened, and even though I came away with excessive amounts of produce as well, the sharpening was the best money I've spent on the kitchen in a long time. I was watching a couple episodes of The French Chef, and seeing good ol' Julia Child (the spy!) thwacking through some fish heads made me realize that lately I'd been feeling like I might have more luck cutting things with those fish heads than any of my knives.
After bringing home my freshly-sharpened knives, all of this weekend's cooking was like a dream: a dream of potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, chicken and melons made of butter, falling apart at the mere touch of the knife. I highly recommend it. Now if I could just get a better handle on the use of a sharpening steel, I might be able to enjoy this dream a little longer. Until then, here are a few more photos from the market:
Hi Erica,
I'm not overly computer literate and somehow didn't realize, when commenting on your last post, that I was putting my phone number on the internet alongside my email address -- not a very good idea! Now that you have this info, please copy it down and delete my previous comment, if you can!!!!
Thanks,
Ellen
gorgeous, gorgeous produce.
We have a fancy dancy knife sharpener you're welcome to use any time, or I could bring it down to you to borrow for a week or two. makes a huge difference. and I can teach you about teh sharpening steel, too, if you're not already familiar with the theory.
I hear you, Erica! I have actually had to talk myself out of stopping at the farm market before going to pick up a CSA load, "Kim, you don't need a bunch of purple scallions right now." Seems like a no-brainer, but I just have to see what's new!
Ellen - Sure thing! I hope you don't mind, I just removed the number and address and left the rest of the comment.
Cara - Thanks! I have the theory down, it's more the habit/practice that I need to work on!
Kim - I know, it can be so hard to resist!
I learned to professionally sharpen all kinds of landscaping tools with a stone (or file if appropriate)and have used a stone to sharpen my own kitchen knives ever since. I would be glad to show you how next time we get a chance!
How did I not learn this growing up?
You were too busy learning to make soy-glazed chicken and using allll the eggs to make angel food cake. :p