AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
After weeks of record-breaking high temperatures, it was wonderful to enjoy a cup of coffee on my back deck on this 75-degree afternoon surrounded by pots of oregano, garlic chives, basil and cherry tomatoes that I’ve proudly grown from seed.
As usual, the aromas of basil, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme got me thinking of recipes I can make using my own herbs and veggies along with those from my favorite farmstands, produce stands and farmer’s markets.
Before bringing the Around The Park Again column onto my already existing Sharon Lee’s Table website in 2020, I’d used the platform to highlight traditional and family recipes. To gather seasonal produce and ingredients for those recipes, I began visiting farmer’s markets, farmstands and produce stands throughout Anne Arundel County. They included, among others, Diehl’s Produce of Severna Park and Diehl’s Produce of Annapolis, Chase’s Produce and Marco Ridge Farm in Davidsonville, Peninsula Farms at Turkey Point in Mayo, Pumphrey’s Farm in Millersville, Langton Green Community Farm also in Millersville and the Severna Park Farmer’s Market.
However, my journey of discovery for recipes and ingredients had begun much earlier.
Reasoning that Diehl’s Produce of Severna Park was the ideal candidate for a Local Food Picks column I was writing for Annapolis-based Capital Newspaper in July of 2011, I headed for the open-air market.
From plums, peaches and melons to Eastern Shore corn on the cob, the produce beneath Diehl’s Produce’s red and white striped tents was picture perfect…great for the column. But I needed a recipe or two to share with the readers, so I searched out manager Jennifer Diehl. Pointing to several cardboard cartons of good-sized green tomatoes Jennifer said, “I have just the recipe for you.”
According to Jennifer, longtime customer Judy Ridgely shared her recipe for Curried Green Tomatoes with the Diehl family and they found it absolutely delicious.
It’s definitely one of the most delightful summer recipes I’ve ever tasted and very easy to make. With Judy’s blessing, we shared it with Capital readers in 2011. I, personally, have made it every summer since and share it now with you.
Judy Ridgely’s Curried Green Tomatoes
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 onion chopped relatively fine
1-1/2 teaspoons curry powder
Pinch cayenne pepper
2 cups coarsely chopped green tomatoes
Salt to taste
Chop tomatoes and onions.
Melt butter in a skillet or non-stick pan. Add the onion and cook slowly until translucent.
Add curry powder and blend well. Stir in a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Add green tomatoes and cook, stirring for 3 to 4 minutes during which time they’ll turn from green to gold.
I like them served warm with a range of meats or poultry.
Six years after doing that column, I repeated the recipe for Sharon Lee’s Table. The farmstands, produce stands and farmer’s markets I mentioned above have since provided a trove of tasty ingredients for subsequent recipes. Those recipes fit a variety of seasons, moods and occasions and I plan to revisit them occasionally here. They connect all of us via taste, family and our love of the area. Look for more in the future.
CHANGE OF DATE for Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company’s 1st Annual Gala, Silent Auction
A few days after our announcement in last Thursday’s column that the Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company’s 1st Annual Silent Auction & Gala would take place September 14, we were contacted by Fire Chief Dave Crawford to ask that we amend that announcement.
“We have run into snags regarding our choice of the original date in September.” Crawford said. “Last week we had to make a difficult decision to move the gala to April 5, 2025.”
We’ll be keeping you posted as plans progress.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
