growing: broccoli

When I planted the vegetable/herb patch this year, I thought ahead to my summertime menus. What are my favorite summer veggies that I can't get enough of? Zucchini, yes; eggplant, yes; dill and basil, yes please. But I was most excited this year about broccoli. I didn't know how to grow it and cheated slightly, buying a small plant from the herb vendor at the farmer's market.

I planted it in the ground, watered it routinely, and lo and behold, it has been producing broccoli (unlike the, ahem, eggplant). Not a huge amount, but after harvesting the central crown the plant now has three smaller offspring that are just waiting to jump on my plate.

I made something like this pasta salad earlier in the week with farmer's market broccoli, but hope to make it with my own garden variety very soon. Perhaps even taking a batch to my friend L. who is about to pop!