One Local Summer -week 1:  Western region

Monday, June 09, 2008

Here we are, the first recaps of the 2008 One Local Summer challenge and I’ve got the honor of representing the West coast for the season. Summer is off to a bumpy start here in the Pacific Northwest. We’ve had everything from late frost and snow to unseasonably hot weather to unseasonably cold and rainy weather. The strawberries are late and everything else is off to a slow start as well.

But never fear, we’re all pressing on and those in warmer California are already enjoying things that I’m still dreaming of. Everyone is off to a strong start and already blowing my socks off. Can’t wait to tell you all about what they’ve been up to. Here we go!

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California:

Proving that her meals are just as inspirational in summer as they are in winter, Anita found a new use for asparagus left too long in the crisper drawer - Asparagus pesto. Combined with local pasta, olive oil, cheese, almonds and young garlic, it was her and Cameron’s favorite meal of the week. They enjoyed it with basque sausage on the grill and a bottle of sauvignon blanc.

Taryn found it harder to put together a whole meal than she expected, but still managed a completely local meal of grilled chicken wings and corn on the cob. She also found sources for strawberry and vanilla quark, pitas, goat’s milk and olive oil. Taryn it only gets easier from here.

Local eggs from her brother’s chickens and herbs from her CSA form the basis of Dolores‘ Herbed Baked Eggs. They were the basis of a couple of lazy breakfasts when combined with breakfast sausage and toasted organic bread. A cook after my own heart!

After a practice run on May 31st, Tracey made one of her favorite meals for this first week - a veggie sandwich. She layered avocado, lettuce, cucumber and red onion on toasted bread and sprinkled it all with salt and pepper.

Green bean is eating really locally so far - her own back yard for the most part. Deciding not to turn in her winter cover crop, she harvested her own fava beans and enjoyed them two ways this week. First spread on crostini and then sauteed in local olive oil and salt and eaten with homegrown mashed yukon golds. Way to grow Green Bean! She also discovered that rhubarb isn’t that bad (I’ve got some in my freezer to use with strawberries later this spring!).

While she might think her actions so far have been small, I think Shawna’s been working hard to affect change. Her first meal of the challenge was a lunch of boiled egg, sliced tomatoes and strawberries from her own garden. Yum!

Lauren kicked off the challenge with a classic - steak and potatoes with porter glazed shitake mushrooms and grilled artichokes. Okay, it was a bit more complex than that, but it sure sounds good! Lauren’s start this year is proof that eating locally DOES get easier with practice.

While she was slightly derailed by not having yet found local meat, Allison did have all local sides for two dinner this weekend. They included the marinade for the chicken, baked potatoes, corn, zucchini, onion and homegrown herbs. In addition, the fruit she and her daughter have been snacking on was all local. Don’t worry Allison - no one around here is keeping score!

Momaste finishes out our California group with two entries. The first was a dinner of grilled steak, new potatoes, glazed carrots, asparagus and strawberries. The second a dinner of pork kabobs with sumer squash, mushrooms and fresh onions. She served it with a green salad and and grilled peaches for dessert. What a start!

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Washington and Oregon:

Here at our house, Mike and I ate a lot of local bits and pieces this week. Most of our meals came “this” close to making the cut, but since there’s not much in the way of local veggies or fruit right now, something always got in the way. But finally, on a day that I worked from home, I managed to pull all the pieces together for a local meal of beef stew, green salad with radish and chive blossoms from the garden, homemade biscuits and local red wine. The perfect thing for a rainy June day.

Apparently people actually do read what I write? JM took my off the cuff comment in an email that I was looking forward to see things other than steak, kale and onions in these round-ups as a challenge to reinvent the dish. And boy did she. Yak burgers topped with cheddar were at the top of the list (gonna have to try that) along with red potatoes and kale. Now that’s how you make meat, kale and onions interesting!

The Shibaguyz have been so busy growing their own veggies and eating locally that I can’t begin to capture it all here. Highlights include homemade lasagna noodles, tacos, almost Cobb salad and sides, extras and breakfasts. Really, go check it all out - they’re impressive!

Settling into their new home quickly, Melinda and Matt spent the week making meals that make even me think beets might be okay. Their featured meals included beet green soup, roasted beets and baked apples. And they got to hang out with the Shibaguyz today - so jealous!

Denise and Holly have been busy getting the garden growing and the new farmer’s market off the ground. Their local meal featured black beans and salsa with local pork braised and sliced thin alongside. Denise notes that it’s been harder than she thought to put together a completely local meal - it only gets easier with practice.

For their first meal, Craftydabbler and family had a goat cheese and sorrel omelet with raw spinach. It sounds delicious and next week she promises us pictures.

Taking advantage of the spring Seattle bounty, Kimberly made three local dinners. The first featured fresh salmon and roasted asparagus. The second was fresh halibut baked with homemade aioli and steamed broccoli. Finally, she wrapped up the week with asparagus bread pudding.

Joan has been suffering from the same weather that we have, meaning that now the raspberries and Logan berries are weeks behind. But she has persevered and meals last week included a brunch of scrambled eggs, cheddar, yellow fin potatoes and salmon. They also feasted on chicken enchiladas, grilled steak and polenta with roasted vegetables. Not to mention the glut of cool season lettuce that’s thrilled with the weather.

Lucking into a local meal at her parent’s house, Laura and her family enjoyed a dinner of salmon, salad with arugula, red lettuce, radish and green onion and rhubarb pie. I love those kinds of happy accidents. Not to mention that they got their first ripe strawberry of the year.

Sharon and Gideon enjoyed cottage cheese and spinach gratin for their first meal. They added swiss chard and mushrooms to the dish (sounds good!) and served it with a salad of lettuce and salad turnips.

Deciding to go for broke on her first meal, Donna spent 12 hours making homemade ravioli. Not only did she make her own pasta, she made her own cheese! I don’t care if you weren’t totally happy with the result Donna - you get my undying respect for not just throwing in the towel and ordering pizza!

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Everywhere Else:

Ellen and her family have been enjoying lots of local staples for lunches, breakfasts and dinners. Everything from quesadillas, to homemade waffles and french fries to potatoes with punk rock chickpea gravy, to black bean loaf. Not to mention that their plum tree looks like it might put out this year.

An early start brought rhubarb strawberry crunch to Monica’s table. She followed it up with baked cheese polenta with swiss chard and a side of leftover chard stems and roasted garlic bread. It even got approval from the children.

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I apologize ahead of time if I missed anyone, please leave a note in the comments if I did. Looking forward to next week!