Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Spiceman’s F.M. 1410 in Dallas loves the legumes

By Pegasus News wire

Fresh Shelled Legumes ~ Blackeyed, Creamer and Purple Hull peas with Pinto beans to follow in 10 days or so.

Now you'll get the third degree about what just makes a pea, a pea

Almost drowned in a sea of beans as if water boarded, I cop this plea

You see, beans and peas are both legumes

And both can cause malodorous fumes

Pea vines have tendrils which beans are not laden

But bean sprouts, not pea sprouts, sport a cotyledon

Bovines, much prefer beans to peas

Devine... is how I cook and eat these

The term "Field Pea" is merely a Southern vernacular

Meaning a plethora of peas that are quite spectacular

Speckled Butter, Pidgeon, Crowder, Creamers and Cow

Purple Hulls, Pinto Beans and Baby Limas ... Wow!

These peas and beans are among my favorite, summer chow

Please be careful, don't eat too many or ... Apocalypse Now!!!!

Fresh Spices ~ Spices come from all but the leaves (leaves are herbs) of particular plants or plant families possessing concentrations of medicinal, aromatic oils or esthers, i.e. roots, stems, bark, flowers and seeds. Seldom are spices found fresh except in root form, e.g. Ginger, Turmeric, etc. But what I have in store are some special seeds picked green from coriander plants. Green Coriander Corns @ $2 oz. and quite the Melange' a trois.

Fresh Herbs ~ (many of these are locally grown) Basil, Chervil, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Epazote, Italian Parsley, Marjoram, Mint, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Tarragon, Thyme

Salad Herbs ~ Arugula, Sorrel, in time for the Soft-Shell Crab season, also great with Salmon/Trout: sorrel sauce or ver jus with shallots and cream; Alliums, aka onions, garlic are kin to the Lily. This week we have some locally produced Shallots, Wild foraged Drummond Onion tops, and Green Garlic.

Petite "Lolita" Lettuces ~ From Jose Rico Farms, Red Romaine, Red Oak, Lollo Rosso, Green Romaine

Greens ~ Also From Jose Rico include, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Red Mustards, Wild arugula, Baby Red Beet Tops

Red Amaranth Leaves ~ an ancient salad green found in various manifestations around the world, very delicious

Purslane, the "Fattoush" salad green, aka "Lebanese Cress" is high in tri-omega amino fatty acids and deliciously delivers much more than most alternatives (flax, fish oils, liver/organ meats)

Mushlooms (heirloom fungi) ~ Maitake/Hen O' Woods Mushrooms also possess copious quantities of tri-omega along with B vitamins in spades as well as anti-tumor, anti-viral and immune boosting properties; Shimejii Mushrooms have many other names, Beech Mushroom, Clamshell Mushroom, as there are as many varieties; Shiitake, Baby and Medium; King Trumpets; Abalone Mushrooms

Edible Wild Veg ~ Fiddle Heads, Ramps

Morels and the idle wilds in late Thursday or early Friday.

Source: Spiceman's F.M. 1410

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