Twenty Bag | Jun 23

“Nicola” heirloom gold potatoes, green bell peppers, carrots, Italian basil, Japanese eggplant, snap beans, scallions and Sungold + grape tomatoes round out an excellent bag.

It’s the week of the summer solstice, when we’re blessed with the longest day of the year. I’m celebrating the season with the super sweet little tomatoes the Towles farm sent in this week’s Bag. They’re delicious on their own, splashed with a bit of balsamic vinegar, good olive oil and chopped basil. Genuis ratatuoille is another good place for them and the peppers, eggplant and basil.

Speaking of long summer days, the heat out in the fields can turn brutal as we learned last week in my June 16 post. Twenty Bag farmer Harleston Towles not only braves it with his field crew, but manages to plan ahead with an eye toward the kitchen.

“I partly built the bag with an Asian stir fry in mind,” says Towles, “We’ve got carrots, bell peppers, eggplant, basil—all to be utilized together.”

Hats off to Harleston and the whole farm crew!

Here’s an easy weeknight stir fry recipe that will accommodate those veggies and anything else you may have in the fridge. Toss the dish with a sprinkling of chopped scallions for an extra layer of flavor and a touch of color.

Cool down the kitchen with a refreshing big hearty salad that incorporates those beautiful heirloom potatoes and tomatoes—plus a host of other veggies in a mouthwatering dish loaded with chunks of sharp cheddar cheese. Nicola potatoes are prized for their mild, nutty flavor and low glycemic index. And put away the peeler—you get a nutritional boost from those thin skins!

A potato and pepper frittata, pasta with basil pesto, and grilled Italian sausage and peppers also come to mind!

Looking for more ideas? Search sweetgrass + grits for plenty of delicious recipes curated to tie into what’s growing right now on Lowcountry farms.