Our CSA restarted last week and I've never been so happy to see Kale. I remember when we first started getting local greens a few years ago it was an adjustment, they were too flavorful. We joked that they just went out to a field and picked wild grass for our salad mixes, it tasted so potent and earthy. Now when we buy a bag of spinach and arugula from TJ's it just tastes like nothing to us. This winter break was hard, we dutifully bought vegetables from the grocery store but they were not fun to eat - all bland and kinda wilty. So yaaay for Maryland beet tops, and swiss chard and radishes! I am thankful for them.
Here's what we did with them all week - the greens (including the stems) are sauteed, or stewed, or braised somehow, then heaped over a slice of spongy bread, with parmesan sprinkled somewhere in there, and topped with eggs lightly fried in olive oil. I like the eggs over medium so that the runny yolk contributes to the whole delicious mess. We've fixed the greens several ways before but this recipe is my current favorite. The original idea came from, of course, Orangette. I don't love her boiled kale recipe as much as some others, but it's still great. If I don't have much time I just sautee cubed pancetta for 30 seconds, then throw in the greens and wilt them down with the fat and some salt, southern style. Any way you cook it the basic idea is a winner and now I can't wait for lunch today.
It was quite something, as usual.
For those who don't know - every year St. John's College challenges the Naval Academy from across the street to pretty much the only sport that they can beat them at: croquet. This year the Johnnies won 5-0. But the sport is not really the point for most of us.
