It's Independence Day, and I see articles declaring independence from everything from pantyhose to peer pressure. It all makes for fun reading, and I think that's what makes us distinctly American--the freedom we feel to put a stake in the ground for principles, and the unyielding belief many of us hold that what we believe is possible actually is possible.
And so, in honor of this spirit of endless possibility, I want to give a shout-out to Liz in Maine at Pocketfarm, who has managed to coordinate about 100 bloggers nationwide in her second annual One Local Summer challenge, where each participant makes a completely local meal (or as much as possible) at least once a week.
Liz and a small, dedicated team of volunteers are compiling updates from all the blogs and presenting them in a nice, neat little package once a week on an attractive blog dedicated to the effort. The updates are divided by regions in the United States, and each blogger mention includes a link back to that person's blog. Week One of One Local Summer is currently up and available for your reading pleasure. And, yes, "Pattie" under the South's roundup, is me. You would have guessed that by the lamb's quarters and amaranth mention, however, wouldn't you have?
Today, a day we celebrate our country, is a great day to check out how individual people in kitchens, gardens and farms are putting a stake in the ground for a principle in which they believe. And you may even feel inspired to celebrate the local bounty of your region with a local meal of your own. As I share in today's picnics and barbecues, I am also going to hold in my heart those who are not with us currently on American soil, and those who are but are hungry.
My contribution for Week 2 of One Local Summer? Homemade vanilla ice cream--what is more American than that? It has just six ingredients in it--raw whole milk from Chad the Milkman (Carlton Family Farms), duck eggs from Corinna (Garmon Family Farms), wild blackberries from Melissa (Blossom Hill Farm), organic cane sugar and vanilla (included under the "spices and seasonings don't need to be local" loophole), and a sprig of mint from my garden as a garnish. What--ice cream isn't dinner? Who says :)
Posts
4 comments:
Oh Yummie!
Very nice Post and I too am really thrilled with Pocket Farms Brilliance.
Love it--and you made the ice cream with duck eggs, which is something I really ought to try! I, too, am devoted to my ice cream maker.
Jamie: I think it was my best ice cream yet. I usually get too heavy-handed with the vanilla but this time I let the other ingredients take center stage. Wow. I really love baking with those duck eggs, too. They add a whole new level of richness. But in all honesty? The best part of making ice cream, especially with eggs that you have to cook with milk into a custard and then let cool, is the waiting. The shared kitchen time. The knowing that what you're making can't be found on aisle 11 of any store. Just in the stores of memories being created right here, right now.
I love using my duck eggs in ice cream. mmmmm.
Thanks for the shout-out, Pattie. I never dreamed that when I had this idea last year it would take a whole YEAR to get this much recognition. But if it gets people talking (and more importantly, eating locally) then it doesn't matter how long it takes. :)
Post a Comment