Muscadine and scuppernong grapes are grown all over the state in backyards and small commercial vineyards alike. You can often find the vines growing wild in abandoned lots or along old fences. They're easy to cultivate and make delicious jellies and wine.
http://gardenandgun.com/article/scuppernongs
http://doctorschar.com/features/muscadine-grapes-vitis-rotundifolia/
Apples are just starting to arrive in the markets. They are grown in the mountains of North Carolina.
I bought about 8 pounds of apples of mixed varieties. I'm planning to slow cook them in the crockpot with brown sugar, butter, and spices to make a kind of chunky apple butter/apple sauce.
There are still plenty of summer squash, zucchini, and fresh green beans left for sale. New sweet potatoes have arrived, and small mild Vidalia onions are pretty much a year-round staple. I also picked up a 2 lb bag of stone ground, locally produced grits.
For tonight's dinner, we had grilled Atlantic salmon. This picture doesn't look all that great, because the fish fell apart when I moved it to a serving plate. But trust me, it was delicious! I grilled the filets wrapped in parchment paper with butter, lemon slices, sea salt, freshly ground pepper, parsley, and a hint of Cajun seasonings. Served with wild rice, it was wonderful.
I steamed the green beans and then sautéed them with bacon. Because bacon just makes everything better.
I don't think that Jewish or Muslim bloggers would agree with the saying "Bacon makes everything better"! But you can come round to cook an evening meal at our house any time Jennifer! The salmon looks delicious and I am a big fan of green beans.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was a good meal, if I do say so myself. I forgot to mention that I grilled the salmon over hickory charcoal. It had a wonderful flavor!
DeleteThe green beans with bacon and wild rice were nice accompaniments. I threw some squash and zucchini (rubbed with olive oil, salt, and herbs) on the grill, too. :)
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ReplyDeleteI'd not heard of 'scuppernogs'; how interesting. And of course you're right about bacon, it makes everything taste better. YP obviously doesn't know many Jewish people; as soon as they think no-one's looking they can't resist a bacon sandwich.
ReplyDeleteNo one can resist a bacon sandwich!!
DeleteThe smell of bacon frying is a delight, especially mingled with the scent of coffee in the morning!
You have much better farmers markets than we do, or at least than the ones I have seen. Here I like to be in country districts and buy stuff that people sell at the side of the road, it's usually good and a lot of creative fun to cook!
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