Bitten: The Evening Snack Tradition

To me, this is an ideal dinner custom. Something for everyone and a drink, too.

We don't really have a comparable option in Princeton. What we do have are small plates at places like Mediterra or Tre Bar (which is an excellent place for weekday happy hour), or to take further liberties with this idea: BYO and assorted sushi or chaat. We have been known to do that when we can. Still, the options are not as great as I'd like, and certainly not as cheap as the cost of a drink.

Instead I've been making an effort to make things that will keep in the fridge and can add up to a nice stuzzichini assortment (also useful for school lunches, afternoon snacks and unexpected guests). The beauty of what is described in Edward Schneider's column is the variety of dishes on offer. I don't want just bread and oil and more bread in the form of bruschetta or crostini. I'd like vegetables on the table, and lots of them. Perhaps the answer is a regular neighborhood stuzzichini potluck: Bring a bottle or cocktail and a stuzzichino. Date TBA.

Teaching Farm

I read this on Civil Eats today: http://civileats.com/2009/10/13/school-lunch-revolution-blossoms-in-baltimore/

I think it is so cool that they have a working organic teaching farm that even operates as a CSA. And this is Baltimore! I also loved the credit given to the activist students, who turned talk into action.

This Week from the Farm (September 22)

Our half of a full share included:
1/4 pound salad mix
1 head lettuce (I chose butter leaf)
1 pound summer squash
1 pound beets
1/2 large bunch basil, but I gave our half to my mother, so she would have a whole large bunch
1/2 large bunch rainbow chard
1/2 bunch scallions
1 pound beets
1 pound eggplant
1 1/2 pounds potatoes
1 acorn squash
1 butternut squash
3 bell peppers
1 watermelon
PYO: 15 stems assorted flowers, small bunch parsley, 5 habanero, 5 jalapeno, 5 cayenne. I didn't take any other herbs because I still have quite a bit left over from last week.

Tuesday dinner:
Thai-ish takeaway

Then off to the Princeton Regional school board meeting, where my nervous comment and questions about board ownership of school lunch standards and food education were met with blank looks and patronizing smiles. No responses.