"Just Foods"

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

- Michael Pollan

Mary Beth Lind, co-author of Simply in Season (http://www.worldcommunitycookbook.org/), was the guest speaker at our "Just Foods" potluck this evening. We had a fabulous turn-out; Scotti estimates there were between forty-five and fifty people there, and he is a far better crowd-guesser than I! Amazing dishes were brought and shared, and a lively conversation followed. I continue to be reminded what a blessing Carrie is to our community; fully a third of the people at tonight's dinner are not members of the church, and each said they found out about the dinner through some connection or another to her.

My contribution was a casserole of winter vegetables and pork from Mike and Donna's farm.

Here is the recipe:

2 pork shoulder steaks

1 lb cottage bacon

1 head cabbage, shredded

2 large turnips

1 large parsnip

1 yellow onion

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup apple cider

salt

pepper

potatoes

Using a four-quart slow-cooker, layer half the vegies, then the pork shoulder steaks, then the rest of the vegies, and finally top with the bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces. Sprinkle with brown sugar, salt, and pepper, then pour vinegar over. Cook for six hours on low. Realize that the pork steaks should be cut up, pull them out, chop, and give any bones to the dogs. While you're doing this, realize that potatoes would be a good addition and that you still have a few homegrown potatoes. Cut them into small chunks, add them, and turn the slow-cooker up to high for an hour. Promise yourself that next time you will plan ahead more carefully. Realize you won't. Be happy that the people who raised the pig, Mike and Donna, enjoy the casserole and that you know enough good farmers that only the brown sugar wasn't grown locally.

Some exciting new projects were discussed, including a new take on the "community garden." Our neighbors Kelly and Karen were there, and we discussed how odd it is that, despite proximity, different things grow well in each of our gardens. Kelly, for instance, has fabulous luck with green beans, while mine seem to rot before they finishing flowering. I can grow fabulous tomatoes, though, and neither she or Karen can get a decent harvest. So we are going to look at each planting what we grow well, and creating a "grazing around the neighborhood" garden. Want a tomato? Come grab one from my garden! Need zuccini? Go to Karen's house! It's an exciting idea. I hope it works.

Peace!

Sarah