Saved a Spaghetti Squash

Date: 10/3/08
Common Name: Organic Spaghetti Squash
Location Grown: Farm in Illinois
Obtained From: Fresh Picks
Use: Seed Harvesting

As sometimes happens, this squash went bad before we ate it.  I always feel really lousy throwing food away.  By harvesting the seeds, at least this squash can have a second life.

Peppers

Date: 10/3/08
Common Name: Organic Peppers
Location Grown: Farm in Illinois
Obtained From: Fresh Picks
Use: Roasted for pasta

I always roast my peeper whole over the gas flame.  I realized I would loose the growing power of the seeds if I cooked them.  I slit the peppers, took out the seeds and then roasted them. It went much faster without the bulk in the middle of the pepper.

Savory Pasta with Apples

Date: 10/6/08
Common Name: Antique  Apples
Location Grown: Wolfe Farms Montecello, Illinois
Obtained From: Wolfe Farms
Use: Pasta

Date: 10/6/08
Common Name: Eggplant
Location Grown: Farm in Illinois
Obtained From: Fresh Picks
Use: Pasta Sauce

Date: 10/6/08
Common Name: Organic Red Bell Pepper
Location Grown: Farm in Illinois
Obtained From: Fresh Picks
Use: Pasta Sauce

Thinking about the variety of taste apples from seed produce, I have been adding apples to savory dishes.   I usually associate apples with sweet dishes, which is not surprising as everything has moved to a sweeter taste in the last 100 years.  Apples added complexity to a savory dish.

Pasta with apples, onion, mushrooms, bell peppers, eggplant, and feta

• I cut the eggplant into long strips, brush it with olive oil and bake it at 390 until it is soft.
• Saute onion until nice and brown and then I add the apples. Cook until soft. Add to serving bowl.
• Saute mushrooms. Add to serving bowl.
• Saute red peppers.  Add.
• I mixed all of these ingredients with pasta and added feta cheese.  This dish was a hit.

So Many Seeds From one Pepper

Date: 10/6/08
Common Name: Organic Red Bell Pepper
Location Grown: Farm in Illinois
Obtained From: Fresh Picks
Use: Pasta Sauce

I am stunned by how many seeds one red pepper yields.  If half these seeds produce, I think there would be enough pepper for everyone on my block.

yellow pepper

Date: 10/2
Common Name: yellow pepper
Location Grown: IL
Obtained From: Fresh Picks, IL grower
Use: salad
Other: sweet and crispy

tomatillo

Date: 10/3
Common Name: tomatillo
Location Grown: IL
Obtained From: Fresh Picks, IL grower
Use: Guacamole
Other: SO MANY TINY SEEDS!

lime

Date: 10/3

No seeds. hmm. I seem to remember seeds in my limes in the past. I’ll have to look into possible causes for the absence in this case.

Experimenting with a different way of documenting so all the information is associated with the image. Otherwise it might get to be difficult keeping track of it all, as my collection grows.

jalepeno

Date: 10/3
Common Name: Jalepeno
Location Grown: SAIC courtyard from spontaneous planting
Obtained From: SAIC courtyard
Use: Guacamole
Other: careful with harvesting jalepeno seeds! It can get burning hot under your fingernails!

Peach

Date: 9-30-08
Common Name: Peach
Location Grown: IL
Obtained From: French Market: Villa Park, IL
Use: eaten straight up
Other: kind of mealy

Save Your Seeds

Join the collaborative siteWARE:Chicago in a seed saving venture that harvests everyday potential and explores what we want and need from our surroundings. In this moment of food scrutiny, your seeds and thoughts are crucial for gathering a valuable database and inventory. There are several ways to join the project. [for more information click “Save Your Seeds” or at the page at top]