Tee Gee, if you were only allowed to grow three different vegetables, what would you choose and why?
Well because I like so many vegetables it was quite difficult to make a choice so I have come up with the following three:
1) The Humble Potato ( a maincrop multi purpose variety)
This is a must because it is easy to grow, it stores well and is very versatile in so far as it can be used in so many ways.
But for this vegetable during the war years I think I would have gone hungry many times.The way my mother produced highly nutritional dishes from our meagre rations was just amazing.
When you think they can be; boiled, baked,roasted,mashed,creamed and form topping on such things as shepherds pie, or any leftovers fried. If they were a bit past their best they could be used in soups & stews.....definitely my No1 Veg.
2) The Sweet Pepper this is another very versatile vegetable as it can be eaten unripe or ripe, it can be eaten cooked or raw it can be stuffed with all manner of savoury ingredients with chilli con carne being one and sea food cous cous another. Curry & boiled rice is also very nice.
It can be chopped up and used to garnish the potato be they boiled, mashed or fried.
It is also a vegetable that can be shredded and frozen, or stuffed and frozen making it a dish that can be eaten at any time of the year.
3) Had you asked for fruit / Veg I would have chosen the Apple as this is something else that can be prepared in so many ways for eating.
But you asked for veg so my third is the onion I don't think there is anything nicer than carmalised onion with some fried potato leftovers and some shredded sweet pepper thrown in for good measure. Like the others it is easy to grow, stores well, can be eaten raw or cooked in many ways definitely has to be one of my top three.
I think to have all of these means I will never go hungry, as I can use them on their own or all together in a number of very tasty dishes.
I hope that answers your question Silverleaf.....sorry for the wait...Tg