The cool, rainy fall weather has been a tedious misery for some, but it has produced the most tender, juicy and flavourful kale I’ve ever grown. The last time I made a kale dish for dinner, I used my big wok to cook onions and sliced shitake mushrooms in butter before adding freshly washed, chopped kale to wilt down with the cover placed on the wok.
I kept enough of the kale-onion-mushroom blend aside from that meal to incorporate into the next day’s dinner. In the same wok, with a steamer insert, I steamed potatoes and peeled garlic cloves tender before they were mashed with butter and sour cream. Into the garlicky mashed potatoes went the kale-mushroom blend, mixed together into a version of colcannon, which in its traditional form is lightly cooked kale or cabbage, and onion, mixed into mashed potato.
As one of my favourite comfort foods, mashed potatoes is made more interesting and nutritious with the addition of kale, onion and mushrooms. And the leftovers can be used in interesting ways.
Patties for frying are easily made by adding egg, flour, nutmeg and (optional) grated cheese to some of the colcannon. I like the patties for breakfast.
Another super-easy breakfast is quickly created by placing colcannon in a baking dish and heating it, covered. When it is hot, make an indentation and break an egg into it. Cover the dish and let the egg cook to a desired done-ness. Adjust the dish size, amount of colcannon and number of eggs to suit individual household sizes.
Close to home. Many people I know are, once again, planning for a simple, home-based Christmas with familiar, comforting family meals, walks together, board games and other homey pursuits that don’t involve extra expense and engender no waste.
Gifts can be created close to home too. A little judicious trimming can yield small, raffia-tied swags of fragrant greenery. Jars of jam or pickles are easily transformed into charming gifts with squares of colourful fabric secured around the tops.
As I’ve been thinking in these past few weeks about gifts to purchase, a sort of mantra has evolved and endured in my mind: Shop local. Not too much. Address need.
In my own small town, I’ve been dismayed to see several shops closing over the past two years. At the same time, a few new businesses have opened. One carries a range of ethically sourced goods, all made of natural materials — kitchen ware, table linens, hats, toys, and more. This is where I found the best vegetable brush I’ve ever had — made of coconut fibre.
I’ll be giving away a few of the brushes, along with specialty food items from health food stores and other small shops in town. Use them or lose them.
Local garden centres are browsing heaven at this time of year. Look here for a tool that would make gardening easier and more pleasurable for a family member, friend or neighbour. You may spot an unusual holiday plant to lift the spirits of a friend.
At some garden centres you’ll find the works of local artists and artisans — unique pottery, bird houses, botanical greeting cards, and amusing ceramic figures to place in the garden. Buy local and support neighbours.
The pandemic, rising prices, and diminishing trust in food produced on immense industrial farms continue to turn people in droves to growing some of their own food in home and community garden plots and on decks, patios and balconies. To support this ongoing trend, consider packets of vegetable seeds, labels, waterproof marking pens. Backyard Bounty, by local author Lind Gilkeson, is a comprehensive guide to growing food in our climate.
Seeds for locally regional wildflowers and “pollinator garden” flower mixtures are gifts that help to promote oases of biodiversity and support for essential insect and bird life.
Abkhazi Garden seasonal news. Abkhazi Garden, 1964 Fairfield Rd. in Victoria, is selling holiday wreaths, swags, and table toppers. In the last two weeks leading to Dec. 24, the sales will include edible wreaths and edible table toppers. The garden teahouse and gift shop are open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last entrance at 3:30. As well as afternoon teas, the teahouse is now offering a Festive Christmas High Tea. Reservations are recommended. . 778-265-6466.
