I must admit that, over the years, he’s converted me. We now buy our free range protein from local, small farmers we know personally. Almost everything else is organic even in the dead of a Canadian winter. Packaged and processed is a rare thing and usually a mistake.

The fact is that real food tastes real. When I eat crap (and most of what’s available in the supermarket deserves that name, imo) I feel sick, I have allergies and, most of all, I overeat because I am desperate for some nutrition. I don’t believe, for a moment, that food grown with chemical fertilizers, in depleted soil, is as good for you. Makes no sense and there are plenty of studies to back me up. Who funds the other kind, I wonder?

Does eating well cost more? Maybe, but I doubt it. I think my husband and I save plenty by rarely eating out because we have so much better fare at home. Also, I now take practically no medication and that’s a saving of hundreds of dollars every month. Not to mention good food has become, in our retirement, an important hobby, an endless source of amusement. We started this “hobby” many years ago when we were busy working and raising our family so if the kids are bored take them berry-picking or teach them no-weed gardening or let them raise their own chickens.

No freaking contest, Ms. Wente.

Truth be told. I agree with you. Although I have had good and bad experiences at farmer’s markets (the Foie Gras incident). Yesterday I bought 2lbs of green beans. I quickly blanched them and we had them for supper with store-bought roast chicken. A nice marriage between convenience and the freshest of ingredients. They were delicious and we ate some raw walking back to the house. The dark side of yesterday’s shopping trip was I bought two bins of raspberries. When I got them home to wash them, the bottom half was moldy. I paid a premium for fresh and got 1/2 of what I paid for (usable product). I decided that from now on, only frozen fruit from Costco.

All in all, each of us needs to decide what works for us and our families. I wonder if Margaret Wente might consider becoming an organic farmer when the Globe & Mail follows suit of the NY Daily, LA Times, Chicago Sun, etc. Maybe the sun will give these MFA types some much needed Vitamin D (deficient in their fluorescent existence).

Having said that, I am forever grateful for this recipe, Godfather, and I look forward to once again cooking potatoes after a 9 year hiatus that followed my unfortunate potato experience up North.

While I am anxious to see what type of “service” I will be asked to perform, I’ll try to enjoy the moment, while preparing the best I can to answer the call whenever it comes.

Mr. Rovers, you are a brave soldier. Did the ceasar have your tears as one of the ingredients. Let me suggest a photo collage on the fireplace mantal. Maybe your first picture with the scapes, the stir fry you made. You know…the better times. Seeing them lay there in the brine…they look…so peaceful. Tell the kids that that scapes are now in brine heaven.

Saying goodbye is sometimes sweet sorrow. For all of you out there, grab your favorite ingredient and give it a snuggle. You never know when it’s gonna end.