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Jul 27, 2022Liked by Kimberly Nichols

My knowledge and exposure to vegetables were very limited when I was growing up too, partially because there were so many that my mom didn't like. It wasn't until I was married and out on my own that I tried peppers and zucchini and fresh greens beans and winter squashes and SO much more. We had a lot of the same...frozen veggies (peas, cauliflower, and broccoli) and potatoes. Now, I can't wait for summer every year in anticipation of the fresh veggies from our garden and to go meandering through the farmer's markets on a weekly basis. By the way, I love the way your mom skinned the middle of the potato!

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Jul 25, 2022Liked by Kimberly Nichols

Vegetable medley! A definite staple in my childhood, too. We had a vegetable garden so a lot of our produce came from there, but I also remember having canned vegetables here and there.

I also love finding new vegetables; David always teases me because I’m like, hmm maybe we can try yuca? How about Japanese eggplant? What new-to-me produce can I find today to experiment with? 😂

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Jul 25, 2022Liked by Kimberly Nichols

I grew up with lots of canned and frozen veggies at home, but when I went to my grandparents I learned about so much more. One grandfather was a hunter and he traded meat for veggies from his farmer friends. That's when I learned to shuck corn, shell THOUSANDS of peas and snap beans - green, yellow and purple, while sitting on the front porch visiting with neighbors!! My other grandmother had a very large garden where I learned about all the varieties of tomatoes that were heavenly to eat sliced with just some salt along with Hungarian hot peppers - which we ate a variety of ways!

I had 2 favorite veggies as a child - and sit down for this because it's gonna sound weird - but I LOVED canned baby beets - cold from the fridge - and would literally eat the whole can myself because my parents didn't like them. And mom would buy fresh spinach and boil it, and then we'd eat it with butter and salt and pepper - like a giant bowl of it for dinner, when my dad worked nights, because he didn't like it. I couldn't get enough of those 2 veggies as a kid. I truly believe your body craves the things you need though. I needed iron - which both of those provide.

Fast forward to adult life, where I signed up for a CSA sharing weekly farm box and literally got loads of kohlrabi - every - single - week. I believe I've tried every way you can cook them! The farm sent home recipes with the box each week. I do love their greens creamed like spinach, them shredded for slaw and slices roasted with herbs like you would potatoes.

I would have to say though, without a doubt, my very favorite vegetable now is GREEN BEANS! I LOVE them - all kinds of ways. They are also my go-to veg when I'm sick - that's all I crave and want to eat. After an emergency surgery a few years back, they told me to eat bland and all I could stomach were green beans. It was late fall, after buying out all the fresh beans that existed, my husband went to multiple stores to get frozen beans (it was around Thanksgiving) and stock the freezer - because I think that's all I ate for weeks. I later learned that they are high in magnesium which I lacked from being sick - so my body was telling me I NEEDED the green beans.

If you can't tell, Kim and I have been friends since childhood and could literally talk about food for hours on end together. :-)

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