Seed Savers Exchange’s library of how-tos is full of practical guidance on a wide range of topics, including gardening, seed saving, pest control, soil health, and more.
Sugo: Juice of Life, submitted by Robin Morgan, Seed Savers Exchange intern and Italian chef. The Italian word sugo means both “juice of life” and a tomato-based pasta sauce. To call something sugo is to say it is rich, interesting, and worthy.
Cabbage Pasta, submitted by Diane Ott Whealy, co-founder of Seed Savers Exchange, Diane’s daughter, Tracy Lynn Whealy, never was a vegetable fan, but she discovered how delicious cabbage can be through her mother’s pasta dish. This is a beautiful dish when prepared with red cabbage.
Fried Thin Skin Ausilio Peppers, submitted by the Ogle-Riccelli family, who have stewarded the ‘Ausilio Thin Skin Italian’ pepper for four, going on five generations. These fried peppers taste great on bread or in a sandwich and go well with onions, mushrooms, and diced potatoes.
Golden Tomato Tart, submitted by Rosalind Creasy, author, photographer, and Seed Savers Exchange advisor. This spectacular tart can be served as an appetizer or as an entrée for a light lunch. It is quite dramatic made with gold tomatoes or any combination of colorful homegrown luscious tomatoes. Any leftover marinade can be used as a base for a vinaigrette dressing.
Rustic Zucchini Crust Pizza, submitted by Amy Goldman, special advisor to the SSE board and author; recipe from The Compleat Squash: A Passionate Grower’s Guide to Pumpkins, Squashes, and Gourds. This rustic repast is something like a frittata but not quite as eggy. It is cooked in the oven like a pizza rather than on top of the stove. My daughter won’t eat zucchini in any other form.
Chard Tart with Saffron and Fennel Seeds, submitted by Deborah Madison, chef, Seed Savers Exchange advisor, and author; recipe from The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
Grilled Okra with Indian Salt and Mixed Spices, submitted by Deborah Madison, chef, Seed Savers Exchange advisor, and author; recipe excerpted from The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. A long, pointed pod with fine ridges extending the length of its body, okra has another name, lady fingers, which suggests the refinement of its shape. Grilling okra is one of the best things that someone can do with okra. For ease of handling, skewer four or five pods onto two parallel skewers, like a ladder. Brush with vegetable oil and sprinkle with sea salt.
Grandma Ott’s Ground Cherry Jam, submitted by Diane Ott Whealy, co-founder of Seed Savers Exchange. My Grandma Ott treasured her ground cherries for jams and pies. She would pick all she could before frost and store them in their husks under a bed upstairs. They would keep for months in that cool place and could be used fresh for special-occasion pies in the winter.