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Patricia Davis's avatar

I love lettuces—-even the two you’ve dismissed. It’s always exciting when local greens are available after winter. I’ve been dismissive of iceberg but have to admit the crunch is good on sandwiches. Some smarty pants call shredded lettuce “shredice” and it makes me smile. You should write your biography! Oh the places you have been and the food you have eaten. Impressive.

I’ve heard it said that British women are born to gardening and American women turn to it after menopause. True for me. I’m envious of women who have an early start.

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Julia Watson's avatar

I love ‘shredice’. I shall borrow it. I think gardening is one of the elements in English DNA. It sets you up for flower shows and garden fetes.

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Patricia Davis's avatar

I think the “correct” ha spelling may be shreduce! Love the word “fete” and I am gobsmacked by how many of them happen where you are. Near my southern Oklahoma town we have Rattlesnake hunts featuring grilled freshly caught snakes! And there’s the Watermelon Festival complete with a Miss Watermelon contest. Kansas is much less colorful.

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Julia Watson's avatar

Aren't rattlesnakes poisonous? I ate snake once, in Indonesia. It had been swimming, unnoticed, alongside me. A fisherman coshed it and grilled it in the beach. It tasted like chicken, which should be a t-shirt slogan. I'd be very proud to be Miss Watermelon. I've won a seed spitting contest. Does that qualify?

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Patricia Davis's avatar

I replied earlier and it seems it didn’t make it over the cyber pond! If I remember correctly there was a separate seed spitting contest but the Watermelon Queen more than likely was chosen for her large watermelons on prominent display. And yes rattle snakes are poisonous. Yuck!! Congrats on the seed spitting win.

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Julia Watson's avatar

What a delightful image you conjure up!

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Rachel Phipps's avatar

Have you tried home grown lollo rossa? My parents do it every year and it's a key part of our salad bowl!

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Julia Watson's avatar

I haven't. So the stuff I buy may not be the best reflection of it? Even pricey Natoora's hasn't convinced me. I may have to gatecrash your parents' supper...

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Rachel Phipps's avatar

It's almost bolted so there is a lot here! I do think the sub-variety matters also, I know my Dad is very specific about the seeds (whereas I accidentally mixed up my Cos and Little Gem this year so that has been fun...!)

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Julia Watson's avatar

Such challenging garden adventures!

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Julia Watson's avatar

The reputation of the poor Iceberg is unfair - so much owed to being treated without respect. If only for its texture contribution it deserves better.

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Harrison's avatar

Looks so yum

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Julia Watson's avatar

Very simple - but good. Like so much country food.

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Harrison's avatar

Yes!!

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Zora Margolis's avatar

One of the things that differentiates mole verde from salsa verde is the addition of chicory or romaine lettuce leaves; the other is toasted pumpkin seeds. The uncooked leaves and seeds get added to the blender jar, along with roasted onion, garlic, tomatillos, cilantro, Mexican oregano, cumin, and chiles. The puree is simmered for twenty minutes or so, with bay leaf and avocado leaf (I get them dried in Latin markets). The greens add complexity and depth to the mole.

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Julia Watson's avatar

It's so interesting how one basic idea gets added to and developed and made more complex and interesting as it is subjected to the cooking possibilities of different cultures. That sounds delicious - I hadn't known about mole verde

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Kristi Chase's avatar

Here, in the Boston, MA area, shredded iceberg lettuce adds a vegetal freshness to subs and grinders (subs heated in pizza ovens). When the subs are bad the lettuce is a limp mess adding nothing good to the sandwich. In a good sub shop the delicate green flavor refreshes even as the sub fills your stomach.

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Sally Morgan's avatar

That was my favourite garden - the use of edibles, unusual veg, biochar, and the inclusion of a functional toilet with the waste being processed into more biochar for the garden

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Julia Watson's avatar

It was encouraging to see just how many other gardens were exploring the need for wide climate change and sustainability solutions.But I took liked that best.

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