Thursday, April 22, 2010

Greenery

I find very little joy in eating most of the produce that is available during the winter. Much of it is limp and tasteless, having spent far too long on a plane coming from whatever distant locale is lending us northeasterners its warmth for the season.


I spend much of those dark cold months eating like an eastern European serf...lots of potatoes with the odd carrot thrown in. I treat myself here and there with some butter lettuce and a piquant vinaigrette. You can imagine that come springtime my body is screaming for some serious green.


But unfortunately, while my body is screaming the greenmarket is not yet providing much relief. So I was forced to pick up something quite unfamiliar the other day to sate my craving.


Unfamiliar to you as well? Chickweed my darlings, chickweed. As I stood a the Paffenroth booth mulling over the purchase a woman came up next me to and whispered "It reduces you". Done. I could use some reducing as swimsuit season starts to creep up on me.


Inspired by Jen's fabulously healthy (and admirably green flecked) breakfasts over at Simply Breakfast, I began by mixing my new leafy green into an omelette on Sunday. Tasted just like a fresh, grassy version of spinach. I adored it.


As the week began I integrated it, sauteed, into my daily poached egg.


By 7:30 a.m. I had already fulfilled at least one of my veggie servings for the day. Then it is onto the braised collard greens I've been eating at lunch. Delicious. And oh so green.

11 comments:

Angie Muresan said...

That looks delicious! I have never heard of chickweed before. How does it reduce one, I wonder?

French Fancy... said...

Like Angie I've also never heard of chickweed before. Is it a proper weed?

Laura said...

Angie- No idea, although according to wikipedia the obesity cure is an old wives tale...but the thing is absolutely packed with loads of vitamins and minerals it seems.

French Fancy - I have to admit, it does look exactly like a weed my mom might pull from the garden!

Mise said...

The poached egg on chickweed looks ever so tasty. And it'll reduce us as well? It's almost too much to hope for.

Sneaky Magpie said...

your breakfast looks delicious, very nicely poached egg too! I never tried chickweed before, it's not something you can get easily in London. Pea shoots are all the rage though.

I am all for seasonal eating and get my veg box delivered from a farm every week. Can't wait for asparagus, lettuce, radishes etc.

Terry at Blue Kitchen said...

I've heard of chickweed, but never tried it, Laura. What's it taste like? Beautiful photos, by the way!

Laura said...

Terry - It's a little bit like a less intense version of spinach. Sort of like miner's lettuce if you've ever tried that?

Karena said...

It does look delish! Love your site!!

Karena
Art by Karena

Robin said...

I'd never tried collard greens, but had them finely sliced and sauteed with lots of garlic and lemon, much how I love my spinach. Delicious! And oh so healthy I hear.

pve design said...

Yummo! I love chickweed and that egg looks deserving of a fine belly like mine.
pve

Unknown said...

That is one gorgeous poached egg!

I am so lucky to live in Sacramento where we have so much produce all year long.

I used to eat like and Eastern European when I lived in Wyoming!!

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