Bruschetta for Rainy Days
As this holiday season comes to a close, I always find myself looking to the land for support and nurture. Smaller meals, more organic and seasonal. Bruschetta in the evening with ingredients that sustain and comfort. Not elaborate but perfect little bites of nourishment. I love presenting bruschetta to family and friends.
On a farm, we always rise with the sun. Listen to the dawn song of the birds and learn a lesson from the trees – everyday. Given the abundance and diversity of our farm, it’s a poor day when we learn nothing, but even that teaches us to look and respect.
Watch the clouds, the brilliant red orange glow of sunrise – like a Georgia O’Keeffe painting. Be amazed every day.
Today, there will be rain and even warnings of high winds, hail, and thunder. Sometime today, stop for a minute and enjoy the sound, smell, and power of nature.
As I prepare for the coming growing season, I order seeds that will grow and then nourish our guests at our bistro. It is a gift to grow food to help people who are not as fortunate to have rich dirt to sustain their lives. Always respect those who grow food, those who love to get their hands dirty in the ground, and be amazed when their seedlings sprout. It is a birth from the ground to sustain our life.
The olive grove is shimmering in the rain, gray-green and resting. Our annual olive pruning is now finished. Soon, the xylem and phloem will begin to move upward from the roots and trunk to the tips of the tree. Green tips are a signal that life moves forward with the seasons.
If you listen, if you pay attention to learning, observe the rhythm of the earth and respect. Light a candle in the evening to soften the transition from light to dark. Rest easy and begin again refreshed and ready to meet another sunrise. Bake bread in the morning to rise and sustain our daily life. The magical mists rising and falling in the Valley signify warming and cooling of the land. Watch as each tree changes shape in the mist. Lovely. All looking forward to growth and Spring.
SKY THOUGHT
The sky is so close
So close to me
I could reach it from here with the branch of a tree
Verl Jean 2012
BRUSCHETTA
Ideas for your late afternoon snack in this Winter to Spring transition. These can be sweet or savory. (My preference is always savory!)
Toasted bread, warm olive oil, and your favorite toppings.
Some of my favorite toppings are:
- Sauteed mushrooms with a dash of red wine
- Fried Sage leaves with oil and butter
- Caramelized onions in oil, Hard Boiled Eggs with Caviar
- Slices of cheese, Red Onion Jam
- Sauteed chicken livers in oil with lots of fresh ground pepper
- Asparagus, Broccolini, Roasted cauliflower
- Oil cured dried tomatoes
- Smoked oysters, tinned fish
- Pea hummus with shavings of parmesan cheese
- Radishes and winter flowers
Serve with a crisp cool white wine and Enjoy the Sunset.
