First I want to say this isn’t a food blog — it is an awareness building blog — if I can get people thinking about spending their food dollars on Maine grown food during the winter months we can create year round income for Maine farms! Plus it is one more way you can help build a secure food system for Maine.
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It’s the end of November and many people are still looking for Maine grown lettuce. Now lettuce and salad greens can be found, but they are not as abundant as during the warmer months.
I admit salad is my favorite food (next to the newest vegetable pizza) and I am constantly looking for new ways to engage in “the crunch” of a nice crisp salad. So I started asking my customers about cabbage or kale as a substitute, the looks from customers ranged from are you crazy to that’s what I do! Here are some ideas similar to those offered by my customers:
KALE SALAD (I used Apples in place of the Pear) – use this for the idea and then make it your own!
CABBAGE SALAD (use as a base and add your own touch — I like to add pickled cranberries and Maine shrimp)
BROCCOLI STALK SALAD (yummy!)
So my challenge to you is — continue to enjoy your salads — incorporate KALE, which is sweeter as the weather gets colder and it is still being harvested fresh out of the fields. Also, incorporate frost sweetened cabbage and broccoli (the stems as well). Experiment …. buy locally grown food (yes even in the winter) — use winter products to bring a new twist to your cold weather eating (and don’t forget Maine potatoes)!
