Highest and Best Use

Food and decor from the August garden.

Greens living their best lives, according to what passes for a meal plan in these parts:

Should eat the 6 day old leftover thin crust pizza (boxed from a work team after hours pizza party). The basil (finally seeming to establish a foothold) needs pinching; can add some on top. Oh, there's amaranth from the monster plant-tree out there - can use that in place of spinach. Let's go for the big leaves. Really need to snip off the flowers so it doesn't self seed as much next year; will clip the ends and harvest the little leaves around the flowers, then cut up the stems to self compost. Well, aren't the droopy flower clusters charming! People DO harvest them for boho bouquets... maybe we'll hold onto the de-leaved stems. Oh... the shiso next to the amaranth; a little won't overpower the mix. [Glancing at adjacent planter.] Lamb's quarters ... I HAVE been meaning to try it. [Walk toward door, pass by another planter.] Red amaranth! That might be pretty, to break up the greens - on the pizza AND the bouquet. [Close to the door.] The Vietnamese balm is awfully tall and getting leggy; would it be weird to add it to the mix?

Inside. Warm pizza, strip leaves into a bowl. Grab a third and sprinkle atop slice #1 of 3, eat. Not bad, a little dry. Maybe it would be better with dressing. 

Pour over small part of remnants of bottled roasted garlic dressing, rather thick and gloopy, add splash of apple cider vinegar to thin it all out. Toss leaves, top slice #2 after sprinkling it with red pepper flakes. Eat. So much better!! The acidity cut the richness of the cheese and mellows the saltiness of the pizza beautifully, the bit spice - really, higher order leftover pizza, here. The Vietnamese balm coming through is just right, and the rest of the greens taste unified. 

Top slice #3, fold and eat - MUCH easier to consume and bite through the leaves. THIS would make a good regular dish - whoever was smart enough to top pizza with salad?!!

Oh... Would this work as a modified grilled cheese? Hmmm...

How cute is the little amaranth bouquet that led off this post?! Food AND decor!