Caponata, which is an eggplant salad. This is a similar recipe, though the one I use is in my head. I grilled the eggplant, used fresh grape tomatoes, balsamic vinegar instead of wine vinegar and I add fresh oregano. Vince likes this more than I do and since my eggplant is producing like crazy.
The rest of the meal consisted 
of mushroom stuffed meatloaf, pinto beans from the garden and corn cakes.
I could eat fresh pinto beans every day. Meatloaf – I don’t like it a whole lot but I make it because I love meatloaf sandwiches. Toast some crusty bread, add a slice of cheese, a slice or two of fresh tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, and the meatloaf .. yum!
Vince’s parents had a few tomato plants but they never raised lots of peas and beans like my parents and grandparents do/did. The last year my grandparents lived on their farm . . my grandpa was 78 and he raised and sold 400 bushels of purple hull peas. Mom said he wouldn’t let anyone help pick the peas because he didn’t want them messing up his vines. Whew! I have to remind myself of that when I’m out there huffing and puffing and I picked 1/2 a bushel of peas!
When Vince was eating those fresh pinto beans, I think he realized how truly different fresh beans and peas are from those we buy in the store, either canned or frozen, and I think he’s a little more convinced that all the garden work is worth the effort. He’s always happy to help me when I need help but if it wasn’t for my determination, I’m not sure he would have a big garden.
Dar in MO says
I would help in your garden no matter what the temperature if you cooked for me!! No question about it, you are a great cook. Wish I lived closer.
Helen says
Are you still getting the veggies and fruits from the co-op?
I love to grow things in the garden but I’m not much of a cook. This year we are growing plum tomatoes, they look so weird on the plants after always seeing the round ones.
Sheryl says
Just wait until next year when you plant and harvest fresh English peas!
Anita says
Don’t you love it when you prove the nay sayers wrong! I was once told carrots would not grow in my area, we ate carrots all year long.