Delicious dining

I enjoyed the most delicious dinner last night (Potatoes Dauphinoise from my new cookbook Skinny French Kitchen) with a side order of First Harvest Baby Spinach Leaves!! Yep, I raided the veg patch for the first time last night (although, in truth, the leaves have been ready for over a week), took a huge handful of freshly picked leaves home, washed them, steamed them, seasoned them and served them with a knob of butter slowly melting over the top.... Excuse me while I step back and quietly salivate.

First harvests are the BEST! How is everyone else doing? Had any delicious dinners yet?

Tags: Spinach, first, harvest

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Comment by Una Bee on May 17, 2011 at 14:48: I almost pre-ordered that book before it came out, is it good? I don't eat meat so I don't want to get stuck with too many books that are full of meat recipes (although I sometimes cook meat for Hubby).

I've thinned some leaves here and there and used them in my salad, that's my 'harvest' so far.

Comment by Caro on May 17, 2011 at 15:26: To be honest, I hadn't eaten before I went grocery shopping (Big Mistake!) and the book had me at Macaroons...!

Comment by elaine rickett on May 17, 2011 at 18:39: I picked some lettuce for lunch that I sowed in October and overwintered in the greenhouse. I was expecting it to be tough but it was fine.

Comment by Caro on May 17, 2011 at 21:51: I had the same experience last year with beetroot that I'd left through the winter in the ground (through sheer laziness) - come spring when I cleared the bed, I thought I'd cook the small ones and they were delicious and tender - amazing!

Comment by Zoe on May 18, 2011 at 9:14: Dinner last night was a quiche made with our own eggs, & a huge salad made up of loads of different varieties of lettuce leaves cut from the garden.

I just can't get over how different lettuce is when you eat it within minutes of picking it. So much more flavour.

Comment by Caro on May 18, 2011 at 11:07: It's not just that everything tastes so fresh and flavoursome, it's the profound satisfaction of knowing that you put all that produce on the table through your own efforts! (Oh, how I wish I could keep chickens, but I'd have to move first - further away from railway lines and foxes!)

Comment by Zoe on May 18, 2011 at 11:11: Carolyn, you could always look at the larger fully enclosed coops??

Comment by elaine rickett on May 18, 2011 at 14:06: I have been known to say after having Sunday lunch - "the only thing I didn't grow was the gravy".

Comment by Caro on May 18, 2011 at 14:13: Una, I've gone back to look properly at the 'Skinny French Kitchen' and I'd now say Yes, it's got plenty to offer for non-meat eaters and meat eaters alike. I'd say there was perhaps only 20% meat based dishes. The basic idea is to produce classic French dishes but with a lower calorie count - substituting more robust flavours (stronger cheese, herbs, etc) in place of added butter. I bought it because there are dishes I cook anyway (Potato Dauphinoise) but also lots of fresh inspiration - and the photos are gorgeous. Did you know air was important in making really good mash and a good whipping is how mash always used to be made? I didn't! I'm looking forward to making a proper Ratatouille and, in the autumn, Squash and Cinnamon Cheese Soufflé and Cream of Pumpkin soup with Chilli and Sage - yum!