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Independence Day Food

One of the liberating things about being single is eating whatever you want for dinner. What are your food plans for the 4th?

Illustration by The Ellaphant in the Room

Discussion

12 comments for “Independence Day Food”

  1. Petra says:

    I grilled my first three baby eggplants that I harvested from my containers. Split them in half, skewered them, and seasoned with olive oil and salt. I was going to drizzle some tahini over them, but they didn’t need anything extra.

    The variety is Patio Baby and they are small, only 2-3 inches long. The plants are not particularly prolific, but it’s fun growing food. Never grew eggplant before, only peppers, cherry tomatoes, and herbs.

    • wendy says:

      What’s the secret to growing good cherry tomatoes?

      • Petra says:

        In my case, it’s probably dumb luck! Seriously, I grow in containers and you want a container that is large enough, as well as having something to support the growing plant (a cage, a trellis).Water, but don’t overwater (my mistake from the past–if a lot of them are splitting, you’re probably giving them too much water). And plenty of sunshine, at least 6 hours worth. I also have to watch for pests (especially the tomato hornworm).

        But mostly dumb luck and a gardener friend who can help with questions.

        • wendy says:

          I can’t imagine it’s dumb luck, because I know a number of friends with lousy home-grown tomatoes.

          • Petra says:

            Okay, I give them names. And talk to them (Terri Tomato and Sunny are my two tomato plants). My mini eggplants are Elisia, Eugenia, and Eleanor. The peppers are Petunia and Peter Piper (sweet bananas) and Pepe (the “pizza pepper”–no idea what it is, but that’s what Wendy–not you, but my favorite organic farmer–called it). These are all in containers. I have four pepper plants in the raised beds without individual names, which I call The Pepper Posse (two serranos and two sweet lunchbox pepper plants). I encourage them and remark on their progress. There, I’ve admitted this behavior publicly!

          • wendy says:

            I knew it wasn’t dumb luck. You’re too talented for that!!

  2. Lauren says:

    I’m traveling at the moment, so I went out for South Indian food. It was delicious.

  3. Gigi says:

    I am embarrassed to say but a frozen mac and cheese side dish. It’s too hot to cook here and when it’s this hot my appetite drifts off.
    However I did go to breakfast with my sister today it’s her birthday and that was delicious.

  4. Liz says:

    I’m offering my menu for the 5th, which was an inferno in Boston: a very chilled dry Rose and cajun shrimp and crumbled gorgonzola on greens with frozen watermelon for dessert. A good friend and I enjoyed it immensely – and that’s without AC!

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