Red, White and Roux

            A few hours ago I got a call from a friend in Carrabelle. It seems that he and his wife have cultivated blackberries, and I was invited over to share the largesse. Writing about gathering food does have its rewards. I'm thinking that picking in a cultivated garden might reduce the chance encounter with a rattlesnake. I will still dress appropriately and carry a big stick.

            Two of my students, Tomilee Dowden and William Sapp, responded to my blackberry jones with a full quart jar of freshly picked berries. We pulled into the school parking lot at the same time. They made their way quickly over to me to make the presentation. The jar was tied with a ribbon, and they had attached a tongue-in-cheek poem full of grammatical errors. I cried.

            Then, I went home and thought about the highest and best use of my gift. I mixed the berries with sugar, flour, and lemon juice. I ladled the mixture into individual soufflé dishes. I topped the berries with a paper-thin slice of lemon. Then I cut out rounds of pastry to fit over the top. I ate mine warm with a dousing of evaporated milk--no heavy cream in the house. It was heaven on a spoon.

            Willis and Harrette Kennedy dropped off a beautiful bag of squash - yellow crookneck and pattypan. Willis is known for his outstanding garden. They only asked that I spell their names correctly in the paper. I can just imagine their smiles as they dropped off my gift. They have my sincere thanks.

            I'm not much of a gardener. I have a few herbs in containers in the back yard. My Japanese Plum (loquat) trees produced very little this year. My pear tree had a few blossoms, but no pears have appeared. The squirrels get all of the figs. I just don't have the energy to fight for the fruit. Even my kumquat tree didn't provide the way it has in years past.

            Mama said that the site of my house was a dump in years past. Maybe my plants do fine until they reach a toxic underbelly. I'll think about that another day.

            In the meantime, I will plan my raised beds. I am so entranced by the community garden in Apalachicola in the city square behind Chesnut Street Cemetary, I often take a detour by there on my way home just to see the burst of flowers and vegetables.

            A cynical friend remarked, "Won't the crackheads just steal all the crops?" My reply was that I didn't see a down side here. Eating home-grown food would have to improve the neighborhood.

            I think this is quite a marvelous trend. Have you ever eaten corn cooked immediately after it was picked or enjoyed a fresh tomato sandwich over the sink? Think about fried chicken, fresh field peas, potato salad and homemade pickles.

            I'm starting to think that this recession/depression might get us back to the roots of some really good eating.

            Denise Roux is a regular columnist for the Apalachicola and Carrabelle Times. To reach her, email her at rouxwhit@mchsi.com