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April 22 is Earth Day but here at Planet Green it's all month long! If you're gearing up to show your support by throwing a deliciously green dinner party, don't fret because I have some really fabulous ideas for keeping your green, and keeping it green, at the same time. The best way to make it as green as possible is by making the meal with ingredients that are locally available. They call this the 100 mile diet and it's a particularly great time to follow the diet regimen.
What fruits and vegetables do you have to work with right now?
Well, that depends on where you live but in my neck of the woods things are really starting to sprout. Think zucchini, rhubarb, artichokes, asparagus, spring peas, broccoli, and salad greens.
I love artichokes. In fact, one of my favorite restaurant dishes is a fire roasted artichoke. I don't know how they do it, but it comes out bursting to the brim with flavor (I think there might be some serious butter involved) and I get to enjoy the meat of each individual leaf, culminating with the heart in the center. So fulfilling. Why not make Emeril's Simply Delicious Artichokes?
Cost: $31.00
Full of nutrients and straight from the garden, how better to indulge in some yummy pasta? Making your own is just so many miles tastier than buying the dried stuff and it doesn't take a lot of ingredients. What's more, it's an easy way to enjoy all of your favorite spring greens and add a tons of nutrients to your pasta without sacrificing that fresh from Tuscany escape. You can really make this with just about any green in your garden you just don't want it to be too bitter.
Cost: $27.00
The most important part of the pie is the crust, and this recipe makes incredibly sweet, chewy, crispy crust that turns a beautiful golden brown and melts in your mouth. It doesn't hurt that it's about as simple as can be, either. Since both apple and rhubarb lend to an extremely runny pie, it's important to add some thickener. Even if you like a runny pie, I recommend at least a tablespoon of cornstarch. That is as much as I added to my pie, and it was practically soup. Delicious, apple rhubarb soup.
Cost: $26.00
Are you closer to a brewery or a vineyard? Whichever you're closer to, go for it. In my case, we're closest to Irvin House Vineyards. Irvin House Vineyards features five varieties of muscadine wine: Tara Gold, Palmetto, Magnolia, Mullet Hall Red, and Live Oak Reserve. The Irvins hand selected five local Charleston artists for the labels displayed on the wine. At $12 a bottle, it's a good deal too.
Cost: $12.00
