Category Archives: VEGETABLES

Weeds for Lunch

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Heather Jarman

Guest blog by Penny Barry I had an adventure last weekend. Heather returned to Cambridge leaving me with a sub-contracted quest deep in the Garfagnana to discover the hidden properties of weeds as food. So what happened? This is my … Continue reading →

Posted in beans, fagioli, FORAGING, SOUP, TRADITION, wild plants | 2 Comments

Orto in February

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Heather Jarman

It takes some willpower to go down to the vegetable garden on a cold, gloomy February day. But as soon as I’m out the door and heading down the main street of the village, my spirits lift. Even though driving … Continue reading →

Posted in cavolo nero, fennel, GARDENING, savoy cabbage, VEGETABLES | 8 Comments

Seasonal Eating 4: Cardoons

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Heather Jarman

If you see something in Italy in winter with stems like giant celery, it’s probably a cardoon. The cardoon is the same plant as an artichoke, except that artichoke cultivars have been selected to have large edible flowers and cardoons … Continue reading →

Posted in cardoon, VEGETABLES | 4 Comments

Orto in September

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Heather Jarman

Apart from cavolo nero, I used to consider September the end of the vegetable garden until next spring. Now that my neighbours accept my gardening efforts enough to be helpful, instead of laughing at them, they’re willing to tell my … Continue reading →

Posted in GARDENING, VEGETABLES | 6 Comments

Seasonal Eating 2

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Heather Jarman

At the fruttivendola (fruit and veg shop) in La Villa, Bagni di Lucca, last week, I found the first signs of spring vegetables. Among them were carciofi mamme, or mamma’s artichokes. They’re bigger and more rotund than the pointy petite winter … Continue reading →

Posted in artichokes, carciofi, COOKING, SHOPPING, VEGETABLES | 10 Comments