In the past 48 hours I’ve picked blueberries straight off the bush, researched local farms to start buying organic grass-fed meat from and eaten wild blackberries on the side of the bike trail.
I’m still showering, I swear.
It’s funny how it’s not until you start explaining those type of things to other people who don’t even think about that kind of stuff that you realize how crazy you sound. Saturday night over Mexican, Ulysses stared at me like I had 4 heads when I was trying to articulate how buying meat from the regular grocery store literally gives me a guilt trip the entire time I’m there. I have to mentally talk myself into throwing it in the cart. I will literally stare at a cut of steak and imagine some poor pathetically corn-gorged cow who probably moved all of 20 feet his entire life covered in his own shit (a few too many Netflix documentaries perhaps?). That’s not normal, I know. But, I throw it in the cart anyway because finding organic, grass fed anything where I live requires an excessive amount of effort and time. So I made a decision this weekend to finally buck up, make the time and spend the extra few dollars to find food that doesn’t give me a guilt trip anymore. I’ll just refrain from talking about it in public to avoid the crazy stares.
One of the interesting side effects of the CSA I’m doing this summer is that it’s made me want to celebrate the food more. First I talk buying meat from a farm and now I’m celebrating blueberries…I promise I’m not drinking while writing this.
There’s something about picking the fruit from the bush, knowing exactly where it came from, knowing I don’t have to wash off some crazy pesticides that just makes me want to do something special with it. I buy blueberries all the time from the store. Usually, they just end up in or on my breakfast every morning. But these blueberries (blueberries I picked with my own hands!) seemed too good for that. They’re too perfectly sweet and ripe to just throw in a normal breakfast and be gobbled up without thought.
Simmering them with some ginger and lavender though sounded better.
Spreading that over a goat cheese crostini sounded perfect.
If that makes me a crazy “crunchy” food lady, I’m fine with it. Just don’t expect me to share.
- 1 heaping cup blueberries
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ tablespoon ginger, minced
- zest of ½ a lemon
- ½ tablespoon lavender, chopped
- pinch of salt & pepper
- goat cheese for spreading
- wheat bread, sliced
- Combine everything except goat cheese & bread in a small sauce pan.
- Simmer over medium heat for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to help the blueberries breakdown.
- Once thickened, remove from heat and set aside.
- Toast sliced wheat bread and spread goat cheese on top.
- Top with blueberry jam and extra lavender for garnish.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh girl, I’m right there with ya! My regular stores have organic chicken, which helps, but they rarely have organic pork or beef. It’s always a huge internal struggle!
To me, there is no greater joy than picking that first berry off the bush and popping it in your mouth, letting it’s sun-warmed juiciness explode on your tongue. These crostini are equally as lovely!
On Saturday, we were running low on milk, but I told my husband we’ll have to conserve until Monday when I can get to Costco. He asked me why I only buy milk from Costco. I said because I can get three half gallons for $9. Not doing the math, he asked me how much a gallon was now. I said a little over $6. He started choking on the spit in his mouth and yelled “$6 for a damn gallon of milk!?! Milk used to be $2.99!” I said, “Well, it still is if you want milk filled with hormones and chemicals and nastiness. I’m talking about organic milk.” He just stared at me for a full 30 seconds before saying, “Organic milk? What the hell is organic milk?”
Haha. I can relate. Ulysses isn’t as “animated” about it, but he would not continue with my $6 gallon of milk if I wasn’t around, put it that way
I have been buying organic, grass fed, humanely raised meet from a farm in CT where I live called Stone Garden Farms in Shelton, CT. We buy a share of a cow for 4.99 a pound. Let me tell you it is well worth the money and the best money I have spent. I WILL NEVER buy factory farmed meat from the grocery store again. Excellent choice!!! Can you share the documentaries you have watched?
Food Inc., Food Matters, Forks over Knives, Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead are all good documentaries. And any books by Michael Pollan, my fave being the omnivores dilemma are great reads. I also loved Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.
I’m surpirsed there are no direct options in your area, we have a couple small farms and even our main grocery stores have a few quality options. I know a few people who buy chest freezers and then buy meat online and have it shipped and store it in there for a while which seems to be a good option. Hopefully you find a great source.
Well, there are options. If you go to Union Square Farmer’s market in NYC about 85% of the stuff there comes from farms within a 25 mile radius of my house. THe problem is none of them sell direct to any of the mainstream or even non-mainstream grocery stores around me (or more likely, those grocery stores don’t source that kind of stuff). So, buying it on a weekly basis is tough. Like you said, I’m going to have to buy it online or direct from the farm in bulk and make it work that way instead. So there are plenty of options, just not convenient ones
LOVE blueberries and goat cheese.
Your weekend sounds dreamy, Gina! I get the same guilty feeling when I buy meat that’ not grass-fed… But sometimes it’s just impossible! This crostini is lovely: fancy and simple!
I came across your blog from a link in Brittany’s post today at A Healthy Slice of Life. I can’t wait to start following you. This recipe looks awesome- good think I just bought a pint of blueberries! I love goat cheese too, so I know it will be a winner!
Hi Brittany! Thanks for stopping by
This looks absolutely mouth watering! I just happen to have some blueberries on hand from the farmers market! Woo hoo!
Hahaha – those Netflix documentaries get to me as well!
I’m a crazy food lady too. At least we have each other!
I think I can top you though on the the “crunchy” factor, at least this time: I made my own deodorant yesterday. Coconut oil, cornstarch, baking soda, and some peppermint oil. So far, so good, although we’ll see what happens at my pilates class tonight…haha
ok, you win
haha
Oh my gosh! This sounds heavenly!
This is gorrrrgeous! I’m a fool for ginger and goat cheese. Absolutely adore this.
Blueberry Ginger Jam sounds so delish and chopped lavender? Oh wow, I need to raid your spice cabinet!
YAY
Good for you, Gina! And seriously, it’s not difficult once you get into a routine. I just stock up on it when I go to TJ’s, and then I buy it at my local farmer’s market, too. Easy peasy 
I also love your incorporation on ginger in unexpected places…like this jam
You’re definitely not nuts-o on the local meat topic…high quality meat is super important in my opinion too…and it’s great to support local farmers. If you have Whole Foods out there (forgive me, it’s been a while since I’ve been to NY), check to see if they sell Diestel Turkey products…not technically local, but the best turkey on the planet. They make awesome sausage and chorizo without all the icky grease.
Your crostinis look yummy!
Unfortunately, the nearest whole foods is 70+ miles away
which saddens me on many, many levels! haha
Hah! I’m so with you! I even have to keep myself from talking too much about food to my inlaws because they probably think I’m nuts. Although they do buy more organic and healthier stuff now, but still… This sounds amazing… blueberries, ginger, lavender. Mmmm
I definitely know what you mean about feeling guilty about purchasing meat at the grocery stores. After a few netflix documentaries and food based books (Omnivore’s Dilemma especially) I have actively changed my food habits and purchasing decisions. You should check out this website – http://eatwild.com/ there’s a link there to a map of all the high quality farms in your area. Hope you find a good farm nearby!
I came across that this weekend actually. It had tons of good information about farms around here!
Goat cheese is my life. And with blueberry jam on top?! You win.
(Also, I have the same guilt trip about chicken at the grocery store. Every.dang.time.)
I love the idea of blueberries and ginger together! I know what you mean about buying organic… I am reading this book, The Dirty Life, a story about a New Yorker who fell in love with a farmer and farm life and now sells organic food and meat to members who sign up for a yearly membership. Their members get everything from veggies, fruits, eggs, to honey, to maple syrup, cream, butter, meat, and so on. They can even get as much as they want during the summer to freeze for the winter. I recommend you read the book, I am pretty sure you will love it. It’s by Kristin Kimball.
that sounds super interesting! I’ll definitely look into it, thanks!
This looks so gorgeous in color and super delicious! I can just tell that the creaminess from the goat cheese and the blueberries mend so well together. I feel the same as you a lot of the days — which is why I buy organic a lot now but I also feel bad for those meats that aren’t organic..they’re just sitting there and they got the same treatment
wahh
LOVE goat cheese and jam on crostinis.
Truthfully, I haven’t ever been much of a meat eater. But I definitely hear you on the local produce bit. I love shopping right at the local farms, especially when they have the option for you to pick everything yourself. And when the berries turn into something like this crostini, I’m officially, totally sold. It looks wonderful!
SO PRETTY!!!
I live in Hopewell, also. We have several good options. Adams in Fishkill sells local grass fed(it has a green label on it). Also on Laurer Road, Sprout Creek Farm sells their meats and cheeses (go to the end of Robinson Lane and make a right). And Fishkill Farms also has a meat freezer.
I didn’t realize adam’s had it! I’ve only been there once or twice since I seldom go over that way for food and didn’t see it. I’ll definitely check that out. I’ve been to Sprout Creek many times though for their cheeses and have bought meat a few times. I thought they only sold lamb though? Am I wrong? Fishkill Farms is where I’m doing the CSA so I’ll check that out this week when I pick up, thanks!
I think Sprout Creek is hit or miss, now that you mention it I’m not sure I’ve ever seen beef there but I’ve definitely also seen pork. It’s the problem with any little farm’s meat freezer, they only have select things. Adam’s has a better selection, but again, what they have for the week is what they have so you have to go with an open mind (although Adams always has ground beef, grass fed local).
This recipe sounds phenomenal and your photos are just plain gorgeous!! Recipes like these always taste better when you know exactly where your food came from – no brainer
This sounds amazing and it looks just as good! Thanks for the awesome idea!! I’m trying to find ways to slip in more of this super food!
I love blueberry jam on quiche…..yummy!
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