An apple a day...

We have set up a self serve farm stand at our place. I say "we" but Jake did all the design and heavy lifting but now that is is done it is my job to stock it.

Thankfully we have this big old apple tree in the back yard. And, when I mean old, I mean really old.

Let's see the house was built in 1908 and I can imagine that those first happy home owners planted an apple tree perhaps within the first 3 years. No way to know for sure but I call it the "100 year old apple tree" for that reason.

And, are they yummy! Crisp, sweet but with a little tartness. Yellow streaked with red; just beautiful. Wish I knew what they were but we just call them Molly Delicious.

So, I am stocking the farm stand with apples...and people are actually buying them!

Yesterday, around after school time, I noticed a couple of teenagers who had been walking home from school step into the farm stand and look around a little sheepishly.

When they had gone I went up to check and see if they had paid. No money in the cash box! Damn kids! I muttered like an old curmudgeon shaking my fist at the sky. Annoyed? Yes!

But later I went up and noticed they had left a buck under one of the apples. Isn't that like a curmudgeon to jump to conclusions? Thinking the worst of the next generation?

So, it got me thinking, those kids while walking home had probably 2 apples each. Just because my farm stand was there - convenient - they had their servings of fresh organic fruit. They could have bought candy bars or bags of Sodium Crunchies at Mom's - the local gas and sip but they didn't.

The bought my apples. All annoyance vanished. Benevolence replaced it. Now I am pondering an After School special price for students!

No. That may be to preachy. I am just glad some high school kids are getting their fruit.

What's for dinner?

We're lucky out here on Vashon because of all the farm stands. I don't go as often as I should but there are many sprinkled around the island and it is really fun to do some shopping road side. They are usually "self service" or "honor system".

Plum Forest Farm is right around the corner from my house. They have eggs, greens, seasonal veggies and organic Turkeys at Thanksgiving time. So, a day or so ago, I picked up a bag of fresh leeks and thought; Potato Leek Soup.

Now, let me say, I am no chef. I love to eat but my culinary skills are basic. I can make soup though. And, Potato Leek is one of my favorites. Unfortunately, I am the only one in my family who really likes my soups. But, sometimes you just have to be selfish and make it anyway. This recipe has bacon in it as a way to get my bacon loving family to give it a try.

Shell's Potato Leek and Bacon soup

8 med. sized organic potatos diced, leave the skins on if you like
2-3 carrots chopped
1 lb. of bacon, sliced into 1 inch pieces
4-5 leeks sliced, greens chopped and discarded
4 cups chicken stock
garlic - 2 or 3 cloves
cream, 1/2 & 1/2 or Rice Milk to finish

Set potatos and carrots into Chicken stock to boil until soft. Meanwhile, saute bacon until crisp, remove from pan. Hold back several tablespoons of fat and throw in garlic then leeks. Saute until limp.

When potatos and carrots are soft, mash slightly, add leeks and stir. Add cooked bacon, stir. And, add cream, 1/2 & 1/2, milk or Rice Milk.

Serve it up hot!