Late Summer Garden/farmers Market Goodness

[rps]

Here at Holiday Island, planting a tree requires a quarter stick of dynamite, so I do not garden like I used to in Tulsa. I have herbs on my porch and I visit farmers markets. In the last 10 years, the influx of Latino and Asian families have begun to compete with the good old boys, the hippies, and Mennonites, and the markets are incredible here, in Fayetteville, and in Bentonville.

This time of year everything is bearing and looks wonderful. Allow me to share a recipe that uses many of the products available this time of year.

Start with waxy potatoes (gold or red), zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes that are all nearly the same diameter. If they aren't cut them to wind up that way. Slice all in 1/4 inch slices so you have equal amounts. Three squashes, three Japanese eggplants, 6 to 8 tomatoes, and 5 or 6 potatoes are about right. Put everything except the tomato in a colander and sprinkle generously with salt. Mix well to coat and allow the vegetables to drain in the colander for an hour.

Lay the tomato slices on paper towels and salt liberally.

Peel and slice thinly two onions.

Saute the onions in olive oil until they caramelize. Add three cloves of thin sliced garlic about a minute before the onions are done.

Spray grease a casserole and spread the onions and garlic over the bottom.

Use paper towels to press the tomatoes dry and to dry the sliced other vegetables.

Spread thyme sprigs over the onion, then stack the vegetables in rows on top of the onions. Drizzle the completed casserole with olive oil and cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with Gruyere cheese or Parmesan. Return to the oven for an additional 20 minutes to melt the cheese.

[BilletHead]

Nice RPS,

You have to love farmers markets.

BilletHead

[jdmidwest]

If you need dynamite to plant a garden, raised beds are probably what you need. They have worked wonders for me.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Yum!