Sorrell Soup

Back in November we made Sorrell Soup.

Tom spotted the spikey greens in the sand alongside the drive to the house. Just where it was supposed to be. Wild sorrell is found on sandy roadsides in coastal areas on the east coast. Flowers from March to May -- Peterson's Guide.

Our neighbor with a southern facing slope planted the bigger leafed garden variety, and he gave us some. Outstanding in salads.


Sorrell Soup

Wash a handful of sorrell.
Make a roux, but don't brown.
Add chickn stock, don't brown
Add the sorrell, cook a few minutes, blend.
Add cream to taste.

Why Buy Local

It was supposed to snow today. Ten inches. But the big weather pattern stalled below Philadelphia. Washington D.C. is a playland of snow banks, cross country skiiers and site-seers. Very 19th c.

The Southold fishmarket had glistening, pinky white cod. Just right for fish 'n chips, Tom's favorite. And baked cod (in milk with potatoes) mine.

Why buy local?

So many reasons.

What it is NOT:

-on average picked 4-7 days before being placed on supermarket shelves.

-shipped an average of 1500 miles before being sold.

-had about 80 cents on the dollar taken out for packaging, shipping, marketing.

I like my money to stay local. I like to help keep the farms around. I like the taste of deliciously ripe in season. It's so worth the wait.

Helping keep another farm actually saves local taxes. Several studies in New England show that for every dollar paid in taxes on farmland the community saves about 30 cents in services. Unlike developed land, farmland and open space do not use services like police, school, hospital, etc. To compare, the tax dollar on home and business lots costs the community about 30 cents over that dollar. We could go bankrupt if we developed everything!

Another study. Guess what -- kids eating real food for breakfast, lunch and dinner raises their academic achievement. Food for thought.