Just Picked

18 Aug

The time has finally come for our tasting – will the vegetables we planted in the spring taste as good as they look? Let’s start with the tomatoes.

And the verdict is?

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©Blogginginitaly.com

Pop in my mouth delicious!

And the zucchini?

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©Blogginginitaly.com

Affirmative again!

Our onions did well, and not so much the peppers, but those tomatoes – they just keep giving and giving! This was our pick for the day, not including those we ate as we picked.

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©Blogginginitaly.com

Getting ready for dinner, Carlo cut some sunflowers for our table,

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©Blogginginitaly.com

while Fernanda worked her magic in the kitchen. Appertivo included hot from the frying pan amazing zucchini flowers:

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©Blogginginitaly.com

and stuffed zucchini flowers, before going in the oven.

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©Blogginginitaly.com

©Blogginginitaly.com

©Blogginginitaly.com

We built our own caprese and enjoyed grilled zucchini, fresh pecorino with homemade plum and orange marmellata, and of course, prosecco.

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©Blogginginitaly.com

Pasta was served with a light sugo (sauce) made from our fresh tomatoes and onions. The breeze was light, the temperature comfortable, and the proud smiles abundant.

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©Blogginginitaly.com

Thinking back to last April, I can’t remember that we had grand expectations for our garden when it looked like this:

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©Blogginginitaly.com

In fact, we felt we planted a bit too early as the garden had to endure several hail storms and lots of heavy rain. But neighboring farmers have commented that their tomatoes aren’t nearly as tall or productive as ours, and that we did well to get the plants in the ground when we did. As it turns out, some of them had to plant a bit later than planned due to the soaked soil.

And while planting a garden is certainly not an Olympic event, in keeping with the times, here’s to our gold medal zucchini and tomatoes,

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©Blogginginitaly.com

And the sense of accomplishment it bought to a bunch of Italian and American city folks working together. Auguri!

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©Blogginginitaly.com

©Blogginginitaly.com

©Blogginginitaly.com

Ciao,
Judy

 

22 Responses to “Just Picked”

  1. Florence Larsen's avatar
    Florence Larsen August 18, 2016 at 8:01 AM #

    Send some of those tomatoes!!!

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Loren's avatar
    Loren August 18, 2016 at 8:24 AM #

    Tremendous!!! Wow. That is so impressive. I can almost smell the fresh goodness. Yum!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Emily's avatar
    Emily August 18, 2016 at 8:33 AM #

    WOW!!! I am totally impressed – and, envious of that beautiful meal. Thanks for sharing the pictures!!!

    Like

  4. jean's avatar
    jean August 18, 2016 at 9:09 AM #

    A special thanks for the cooked flowers. We planted Zucchini here and they overran our garden so much we didn’t know what to do with them all. Next time we will definitely eat the flowers as well!

    Liked by 1 person

    • blogginginitaly's avatar
      blogginginitaly August 18, 2016 at 2:41 PM #

      They are so good and there are many ways to prepare – I know you will enjoy making AND eating!

      Like

  5. Royce Larsen's avatar
    Royce Larsen August 18, 2016 at 9:57 AM #

    Well done!
    Excellent example of “International Cooperation” in the Olympic Spirit
    Where there is a will there is a way
    Thank you for the update

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Hilary Martinez's avatar
    Hilary Martinez August 18, 2016 at 11:55 AM #

    So fantastic and so appealing!!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Bobbie Morgan's avatar
    Bobbie Morgan August 18, 2016 at 6:44 PM #

    Looks absolutely divine!! Can’t wait to see it. We are getting anxious to get there. As usual, love your blog ❤😘😗

    Like

  8. Bobbie Morgan's avatar
    Bobbie Morgan August 18, 2016 at 6:46 PM #

    Looks absolutely divine!! Can’t wait to see it. As usual, love your blog ❤😘😗

    Liked by 1 person

  9. karenincalabria's avatar
    karenincalabria August 18, 2016 at 11:23 PM #

    Love, love, love zucchini flowers! And the tomatoes look great, too! What a reward you have for your hard work – congratulations!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Alexis Colianni's avatar
    Alexis Colianni August 19, 2016 at 10:17 AM #

    salivating!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Judy Sayre's avatar
    Judy Sayre August 19, 2016 at 11:30 AM #

    Love the wonderful pictures of the four of you! I never realized what agricoltorice you are. Jane is with me and we are in awe over the pictures of such beautiful vegetables, dishes and the table. Hope to see you before too many months go by. Abbracciari e baci, Judy

    Like

    • blogginginitaly's avatar
      blogginginitaly August 19, 2016 at 11:53 AM #

      You both would have loved the dinner, and of course, the amici!
      Hope all is well, e un grande abbracci! Judy

      Like

  12. Fr Chuck Faso OFM's avatar
    Fr Chuck Faso OFM August 19, 2016 at 8:44 PM #

    Auguri! What a feast! I will be in Italy from September 15 to October 7 – Sicily, Rome and Assisi for the Oct 4 Feast of St Francis – with two different groups. When are you returning to Chicago — or are you? Il Signore vi dia la pace!

    Liked by 1 person

    • blogginginitaly's avatar
      blogginginitaly August 21, 2016 at 4:31 AM #

      Can’t keep up with you!…Always on the go! Have fun e un grande abbracci!

      Like

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