Exploding Watermelon and Other Farm Box Adventures

Nothing like an exploding watermelon to get your day off to an interesting start! The Accidental Locavore was starting to cut up a watermelon from the latest farm box because there was a soft spot on it, when suddenly…splat! Not sure what caused it, but suddenly there was watermelon juice and guts all over the kitchen floor. What a mess! Thank goodness it was seedless, or we would have been chasing those slippery seeds down. Too bad, because the one we had the week before was golden and luscious!

Spaghetti squash made an appearance this week and I’m working on a pad thai version, using the squash instead of rice noodles. In the meantime, here’s a recipe using it with some of the beautiful eggplants and what looks to be the last of my basil.

For dinner with the Charcutepalooza pâte, the Locavore served a plate of perfect tomatoes with burrata, olive oil and basil. Thanks to my friends Lisa and Ellen in San Francisco for making me a burrata fiend! If you haven’t tried it, seek it out. It’s mozzarella with a cream center. Think mozzarella Twinkie, but oh so much better!

Since we were starting to get overrun with corn, I shucked a bunch of it and froze the kernels and cobs for a future chowder. People always make it seem like a big deal to cut the corn kernels, but all it takes is a good sharp knife, and since my kitchen floor was already trashed…The Locavore has an advance copy of Bobby Flay’s new cookbook and can’t wait to try his Roasted Corn Soup, among other goodies from Bar Americain. 

My cousin Ellen is coming for the weekend, so if we’re not busy canning, she’ll be a good guinea pig for Dorie Greenspan’s Pumpkin Stuffed With Everything Good, and since the Locavore is going to an event at the James Beard House with her next week, it will be a good use of the red kabocha squash from the farm box. I also made a batch of stuffed cabbage with the beautiful purple cabbage and the rest of it will probably make coleslaw for the tennis players this weekend.

I’ll report back on all the goodies and the Dorie Greenspan event next week. Stay tuned.