Chard is very similar to spinach but I think its leaves are slightly thicker and the stems, some of which are bright red, some yellowy,are more robust. These can be used in place of celery, for a stew or casserole, which is very useful when you've run out of celery!
However, like spinach, you need to pick two good handfuls for a cooked dish; and its very accommodating of stir-frys and bakes, where it retains structure and mass, which spinach does rather less well. Its lemony flavour goes very well with cooked chicken, like my chicken and chard risotto!
I've bought another netting cover against the cabbage whites, which has a much finer mesh, to ensure my greens are left unmolested, what a hope!
My patch is looking good and, on closer inspection, it's obvious to the anxious eye that my plants are doing really rather well; well, see for yourself.....!
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| Cabbage patch with grass as a side-dish! |
My plants appear to be rather squashed beneath my netting, on account of the netting being tied-up just a little too tightly. This, my first ever cabbage-grow attempt, made me think I should tie my netting thus, to prevent those pesky insects getting at my greens. At that point, I knew nothing of wood and mesh cages, hoops and netting, or even the use of tyre-hoops, to keep my patch safe from intruders!
However, those cabbage whites attack greens no matter what you do,for they are able to slip thru' the netting by the simple process of folding one wing back over its fellow, and thus ease their passage through!
I eased the netting, untied a few of the string loops and up-bobbed my plumes and curls of green, dancing along with the red stemmed and bright green Rainbow Chard, just longing to be picked, washed and eaten, fresh out-of-the-garden!
And this is how I presented my vegetable for tonight's supper, along with the leg of lamb, roast potatoes and colourful mix of veggies, all cooked by the dear SO, for I was far too busy writing!!!
Toodle oo
Daisy
PS Love writing about all my activities and would love feedback from you, dear reader!!!
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