When I was younger, my Dad grew a gigantic portion of our fruit and veg. He was quite the insomniac so would go weeding and sowing at 5am rather than lay in bed pretending to sleep.
Summer time meals always had an added layer of frivolity as we’d mockingly say ‘Mmmm, these beans are nice Dad, did you grow them?’ or ‘Yummm, these are the best tomatoes ever Dad, are they yours?’
Heaven forbid you forgot to drool over any homegrown component of a meal :)
Funnily enough, now I grow the veggies, I have a complete understanding of the pride he felt serving up the food he’d grown. It’s a very satisfying feeling.
There is also something deeply soothing using his hand tools to turn over the same soil he did. In the past 6 months I’ve watered that soil with as many tears as I have anything else.
So, here’s a salad grown by me. The lettuce, watercress and beetroot were all grown in the poly tunnel (who knew watercress would grow like a weed under plastic? This was one of my better experiments this year as I’d always assumed watercress needed to have its feet in water) and the eggs are from quail I hatched at the beginning of the year in my front room.
Altogether, this little salad left me feeling content, satisfied and wordlessly connected to Dad.
That’s real soul food huh?
- A few lettuce leaves
- A few sprigs of watercress
- 3 hard boiled quails eggs 3 minutes for an almost set yolk
- A simple oil & vinegar dressing
- In a bowl pile up the leaves.
- Top with the beetroot & eggs, drizzle with the dressing and serve with fresh baguette and a little too much butter ;)
Tammy/Our Neck of the Woods says
What a lovely post. I can now see where your great appreciation and love of food comes from. How could you not be so fond of food after growing up with an awesome dad like yours? :) And your recipe looks utterly delicious. I know your dad would be so proud!
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Tammy ;)
Janie x
Nick @ Bakingbeardy says
Do you actually have a quail you keep around for egg harvesting?
Jane Sarchet says
I do! They’re cute little things, but very very nervous.
Janie x
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
You had me giggling at the little bit too much butter.
Jane Sarchet says
That pretty much sums me up Bintu :D
Janie x