Have you ever heard of lime thyme before? I have heard of lemon thyme and of course plain old thyme - but never lime thyme! Anyhow, my mom bought some for her garden - I can't even think of what I can cook with it - but now my mind is racing. Here are some pictures of James and Grammy Kate gardening. Chase was busily preparing the soil - he is great at adding the soil supplements. Actually, before the new greens were planted Chase had seen the empty dirt and said, "Soil!" If that doesn't define a gardener...I actually just finished my resume and wrote "aspiring gardener" down at the bottom - so its official; James, Chase, and I are aspiring gardeners. The boys like the dirt part, and I like the learning names of different plants part. Thanks to our tutor, we may even have a chance of becoming gardeners - thanks, Grammy!
We went to the Bay Lands today (and on a totally unrelated note--Chase thought a large floating log was an alligator and stared for twenty minutes scared to death but transfixed). Anyhow, one of the plants at the edge of the crocodile infested waters smelled exactly like black licorice. It couldn't be - could it - but it was - wild fennel. I don't know why I am so fascinated - but wild herbs are not something I come across frequently - I feel a bit like a colonist (or someone who would be equally excited about wild fennel). I smelled it over and over and even brought some home - I should have cooked with it, but I just smelled it.
Now that fennel is on my mind, all I can think about is going to Chelsea Market, waiting in line at Amy's, and buying a turkey sandwich on - Semolina with Golden Raisins and Fennel (their signature bread). It is so yummy! And the last time I was there, one friendly baker saw James peeking in the window as they weighed bread dough, and he brought us out a piping hot baguette...how's that for a friendly New Yorker! Anyhow, I love wild fennel and Amy's.
