an absurd post about radishes
"Fancy" French Breakfast Radishes
This week I did some planting in my raised bed gardens. Now that the worst of the summer heat has departed Arizona (yes, in October), the winter growing season is upon us.
For me, gardening is not dissimilar to fishing. I begin with low expectations, focus on the process and being outdoors, and graciously accept any yield as a bonus. I routinely spend more money on gardening than I could possibly justify in production. In most years, I'm lucky if I have enough for a few salads. However, there is something about taking a seed (or seedling) and watching that once dormant life force rapidly transform and produce flowers, vegetables, or fruits (in spite of my lack of skill).
This week I planted snap peas, several varieties of cucumbers, tomato, chard, kale, dill, oregano, basil, mint, nasturtium, carrots, green onions, and...radishes.
I always plant radishes, although I'm never quite sure what to do with them. In my limited gardening experience, I have learned that even I am capable of growing a bumper crop of radishes. They are like the "training wheels" of the produce world. I'm not even sure you need to take them out of the seed packet -- add water, perhaps a tiny bit of soil, and poof...radishes.
I plant the traditional round, red variety, but I also like to throw in French Breakfast radishes. They sound and look a bit more sophisticated (but, as far as I can tell, they taste the same). Do the French really eat these for breakfast?
My radish production far exceeds my consumption abilities, primarily because I lack any novel ideas for preparing them. Raw with salt. Raw on a salad. Pickled. That's all I've got.
Are there other ways that you veteran gardeners prepare radishes?
In addition to being a "wannabe" gardener, I am a "wannabe" cook with the lofty goal of someday beating Bobby Flay. I think when I face off against Mr. Flay on his cooking show and he asks, "What is your specialty?" I will likely respond "Radishes, Bobby. My specialty is radishes."
I may not win, but I will be able to see what in the world a master chef does to prepare this mysterious root vegetable.