Heirlooms in the Garden

An heirloom can be defined as "something of special value handed on from one generation to another." Many of us are in possession of an item of this sort, such as a piece of jewelry or dinnerware. The same principle can be applied to seed varieties, pass down over the course of centuries, from generation to generation. And like your grandmother's ring, the seed passed down reflects the conditions under which it was developed (though, you also end up with a greater diversity of crops, while one ring tends to remain a single ring). Heirloom vegetables and fruits harken back to a day prior to the industrialized methods of farming that reward uniformity, and if any of you have seen those ugly heirloom tomatoes, you know what I mean!

I can't seem to stop writing about peaches and tomatoes, can I? Perhaps that is because they are so flavorful and wonderful at the moment. Perhaps that is due to the large quantities of the two fruits I have been consuming. Either way, it is always nice to incorporate in a new flavor or two to change things up.

Well, A Couple Cooks recently posted a delicious recipe for an heirloom tomato and peach salad! Very summery - refreshing and nourishing. The photo gracing the blog emphasizes how the deep red of the tomatoes contrasts nicely with the vibrant yellow flesh of the peaches and makes the green of the mint pop (and the couple themselves make a pair of beautiful bloggers!)

Though a really simple and quick recipe, I made a few changes to suit my mood and herbs on-hand:

1 heirloom tomato

1 large peach

3-4 leaves basil

dash of white balsamic vinegar

pinch of fleur de sel or sea salt

Five days more to Portland!