October Harvest

Sunday, October 22, 2006

These beautiful gems awaited us in the garden when we returned from our trip. There were tomatoes, peppers (poblano and jalapeño), and a handful of baby squashettes.

Sadly for us tomato lovers, a few of the Beefsteaks and Brandywines took a tragic plunge to their deaths while we were out of town. There I found them, lying silently upon their shadowy grave, blood-red pools of withered, putrid flesh -- ghosts of tomato-sandwich dreams unfulfilled. (Yes, I'm getting into the Halloween spirit, can you tell?)


The good tomatoes, still rich with the flavor of late summer days, made their way into a fresh, Guapo's-inspired salsa. So did one of those jalapeño peppers -- a brave move on my part, after the little mishap I had with one of those fiery little buggers back in September.


The tomato salsa made a vibrant accompaniment to the chicken and black bean empanadas I cooked for dinner. The empanadas were flavored with our garden-fresh oregano and garlic, accented with onions, cumin, and few careful shakes of cayenne pepper. Fantastically delicious!