Emerging Adulthood.

When does one enter adulthood?

How does one know when the crossover has occurred?

What determines it - a biological or a social change?

One might say we become adult humans at the onset of puberty - which can be a slow process, for some.  Bodies slowly fill out in shapeliness; hair appears in new places; testicles and voices drop.  Some girls feel that womanhood happens when menstruation begins.  If that's true, I can say - this year - that I've been a woman for half of my life.  But I'm not sure that, even now, I feel like a true grown-up.

Something New

Something new; a project for Greg and I to share; creative writing; kitchen experimentation; work in the garden; tasting new libations; sharing with the world on-the-line...

...presenting:

The Gastronomes
http://gastronomes.blogspot.com

A new online journal of our adventures in gardening, cooking and eating.
Check it out - and bon apetit!

Tomatoes

It is tomato time in the Mid-Atlantic.  Yes, they're everywhere!  We have made and eaten so much salsa in the past week, it seems like an overdose.  Bruschetta salad is a great alternative (swap the lime & cilantro for balsamic vinegar & basil - plus LOTS of garlic), but I am running out of ideas to keep fresh tomato recipes ... fresh.  Is there anything new under the sun?

We have loved growing our own food this year.  I've pored over cookbooks looking for new things to do with vegetables, but I seem to keep returning to the same stuff.  Salsa.  Bruschetta salad.  Warmed tomatoes over pasta.  Grilled zucchini.  Sauteed zucchini.  Baked zucchini.

Eggplant parmesan
Eggplant parmesan
Eggplant parmesan!!

When in need of kitchen inspiration, I often turn to Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  However, all her veggie recipes are as follows:  "Steam.  Add butter."

Are there any new, fresh, obscure-ethnic-type recipes out there for standard North American vegetables?