First blush…

July 8, 2020 by Robin Ellis

Ridiculous, I know, but I’m excited today because I spotted the first blush of colour on a tomato in the new vegetable patch–planted a month ago on our old compost heap.

How long from first blush to first bite?

I’m counting the days.

Depends in part on the weather.

Hot days are forecast–so perhaps not so long to wait.

Bit like opening an advent calendar, day-to-day, waiting for Christmas–agony, I remember.

And it’s not only tomatoes that are keeping me enthralled. We just ate our first cucumber–the short stubby kind–that can be bitter, or sweet as can be.

Julien, who helps us with the garden and grows vegetables for a living, told us:

“If you pick them in the morning, they are less likely to be bitter. The unpleasantness builds up during the day.”

I’m looking for the second little beauty to mature, to test the theory.

He also advises cleaning the knife used to cut away infected leaves before moving on to the next tomato, courgette or cucumber plant.

Makes sense.

And water tomatoes rarely, he says–this encourages their roots to delve deeper and it increases the intensity of the taste. And pick them late in day when they’ve absorbed all the sunshine.

One of the courgette plants was given to us by our neighbour, Tom, and is a different variety from the other three. It resembles the lighter ridged zucchini our friend Helen uses for her courgette pasta at Boggioli, their olive farm in Tuscany.

I think it yields a creamier sauce.

(See the AUTUMN section of my new cook book Mediterranean Vegetarian Cooking, p. 158.)

Julian, normally a genial, droll character, said darkly before departing:

“I may have to pour vinegar on the plot–I’m so jealous!”.

Echoes of the film, Manon des Sources?

Posted in Food, other sides to this life, Recipes, Robin Ellis, vegetarian cooking | Tagged courgettes, Manon des sources, Mediterranean cooking, recipes, robin ellis, tomatoes | 20 Comments

20 Responses

on July 8, 2020 at 5:57 pm | Reply Jackie Heaton

Is that learning the knife or cleaning the knife? Just wondering. I know they usually recommend cleaning tools between plants. Or even between each plant. But you probably know this.
- on July 8, 2020 at 6:36 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  CLeaning of course–thanks, Jackie.
on July 8, 2020 at 6:05 pm | Reply Michael

We just received your new cookbook by post in Maine a few days ago, and my wife Susan (my personal sue-chef) made that wonderful farro salad, which I am enjoying with lunch along with a savory braised tofu dish as I write this. Cheers!
- on July 8, 2020 at 6:34 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Bon appetit!
  So happy you are enjoying it.
on July 8, 2020 at 6:09 pm | Reply rjmaloney

That tomato photo would make a great jigsaw puzzle. Since shut in I’ve been attempting quite a few puzzles!
on July 8, 2020 at 7:01 pm | Reply CLAIRE HAROUNI

For me this e mail brought much needed light in these dark times

Thank you
on July 8, 2020 at 7:17 pm | Reply Brenda Wilkinson

Here in the wet and gloomy north of England it is like autumn mybsux outdoor tomato plants have arrested their growth Inhavebine flower on the sweet peas but my sweetcorn is romping away We need the sun back
- on July 9, 2020 at 7:15 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Good luck!
on July 8, 2020 at 8:59 pm | Reply mary crespo

Summer’s here, lets give a cheer…hooray!…hope your new red babies sprout out!…Enjoy those tomatoes…I have a sandwhich of Italian type bread, sprread raw garlic on the edges (after their toasted), slice mozzarella and slice of tomato, (real red)…I have this as a snack…have you tried this already?…will have to check your book out…lots of luck with it…people love you…your so nice…lol..maryc
- on July 9, 2020 at 7:14 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Thanks, Mary.
on July 8, 2020 at 9:42 pm | Reply Karen Stines

I love tomatoes 🍅!
on July 9, 2020 at 1:40 am | Reply judelyod

That is exciting! I’m having the same excitement for our Red Scotch Bonnets and Golden Ghost peppers! They’re just budding and plants are growing strongly so it looks like we’ll have quite the harvest this year!! Also was amazed to see your email as I’ve just been re-watching my beloved Poldark series! Sorry, but yours was BY FAR so much better than the current remake. Not even a reasonable comparison. There’s no falling sleep in front of your Poldark!! Bravo sir, bravo!!
- on July 9, 2020 at 7:12 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Too kind, Jude!
on July 9, 2020 at 5:13 am | Reply Linda

Robin,

I know exactly how you feel! The first thing I do after waking up in the morning is run out to check on my little garden. Watching things grow is like watching a miracle unfold. I love it!

Best wishes to you and Meredith!
on July 9, 2020 at 5:52 am | Reply sherrielowe

Thank you for the tips on tomatoes Robin, I’ve just given my 6 year old granddaughter her first one to grow so I’m hoping it’s successful for her.
- on July 9, 2020 at 7:11 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Wish her luck!
on July 9, 2020 at 6:43 am | Reply heidi

Fantastic! Growing your own food.
on July 12, 2020 at 4:14 pm | Reply Virginia B Newark, , DE

Wow! I am jealous of your beautiful vegetable garden. Be sure to send me some lol
on August 4, 2020 at 5:19 pm | Reply Jane Quaye

Hi Robin our allotment here in the Pyrenees Orientale is going mad so we have just had your aubergines with garlic and walnuts, plus your green beans, anchovies and black olives – all from ‘Mediterranean cooking for diabetics’ (altho not a diabetic in sight). Fantastic flavours and a great feeling of being virtuous!?! What else have we missed out on previously? More delicious dishes to follow I am sure. Your cookbook is off the shelf and now being read- again- for inspiration. Is it really 3years since you helped our U3A cooks to enjoy delicious vegetables?!?! Best wishes to Meredith.
- on August 10, 2020 at 9:54 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Hi Jane! snap on the allotment front!
  We have good memories of our visit chez vous.
  Trust the group is finding ways to prosper in spite of Covid.
  Stay safe and well.