Vegetable obsessions
“Ooh, cardoons,” I cooed one day, in the fresh-produce aisle at the frou-frou food shoppe. “I wonder what you do with cardoons.”
“If it’s you, you leave it in the refrigerator until it rots,” said my shopping companion, mindful of the fate that had recently befallen a fresh lotus root.
So the cardoons stayed on the shelf that day. And I’ve tried to become more careful about not buying unusual vegetables that are doomed to quick destruction in the fridge.
Instead, I’ve turned to buying vegetables that will wait in suspended animation, like great Cthulhu dreaming, until the stars are right to make use of them.
For example, a bag of fava beans now sits in silent condemnation in the freezer, reminding me eternally of the conversation that accompanied their purchase.
“What are you going to do with fava beans?” said shopping companion.
“Oh, I have lots of recipes for fava beans,” I said.
Readers, do you suffer from a similar unusual ingredient compulsion? What’s the most unusual thing dreaming in your pantry? And, does anyone have a good vegetarian recipe for fava beans?
