It was a week of first things and last things in the garden with emphasis on last things.

I harvested the Brussels sprouts stalks last week garnering sprouts from marble-sized to blossoming cabbages. The littlest ones steamed nicely needing only a little butter.

I sliced some of the larger ones very thinly for Mollie Katzen’s Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Potatoes and Spinach (The Heart of the Plate). Tender fingerling potatoes and the last of my kale, shredded finely was my take on a great recipe.

I also sauted shredded sprouts with some garden celery and spring onions in olive oil then topped with Parmesan cheese. A huge pile of the mixture and Point Loma sourdough bread (Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe) was lunch one day.

I harvested mountains of Tuscan kale at the end of it’s season. Being June, I had to share it with the gray aphids. After much rinsing, I gave most of the kale away as one person can only each so much kale. My husband doesn’t share my enthusiasm for the vegetable. 

These are the best of the last of the apricots. Do we have to wait another year for more apricots? 

Most of our stewed apricots didn’t make it to the freezer.

I will probably buy about 25 lbs of organic apricots from Smit Farms at our local farmers’ market. We’ll enjoy eating them out of hand but will stew and freeze most to enjoy through the year. 

And now for first things–the volunteer Hallock tomatoes, growing in a bare patch of dirt with only dew for water. This delicious little tomato has set fruit in December in the shade in my garden. Not at all fussy.

Enjoy viewing other garden harvests at Harvest Monday, hosted by Our Happy Acres.