I went to Kaiser, the closest thing to a single payer health care we will have in America in my new home in Santa Rosa.  Looking outside the window it was like a resort, vineyards, California hills dotted with glorious oak trees; what a contrast from the no windows of my Oakland Kaiser.  

Doctor comes in for the check up.  She is looking at the computer screen, yes all my files are right there.  No questionaires about family members, I only had to do that once with Kaiser.  She,  using her computer, can schedule all the things I need scheduled.  No need to talk to someone to approve it, or wonder if it is covered.   I tell you, if this is socialized medicine, bring it on.  

Of course the inevitable scolding starts, you have to do this and that test at your age and we start talking about food.  I boast about my diet, even though I am obviously not within the BMI approved parameters.  That should keep her off my back.  

I tell her about eating loads of fava beans these days and asked her if there is a worry about over eating favas, my mother used to say that they could poison you.   She turns her nose up at me and smirks that I repeat old Greek women wives tales.   Being in front of the computer, she will prove that there is no such thing, but guess what?  There is a disease, Favism. Once again, Old Greek woman, 1,000, fancy pants Doctors zero.   

She gets intrigued with the syndrome and is reading more and more about it and is not even looking at me.  Turns out young boys are more at risk, so, no more fear of eating favas for me.  She thanks me for learning something.  

My Favas

Favas are wonderful but they are a whole lot of work. Come to think of it, I just figured it out, the old Greek women scared us with the you cannot have to many so they would not have to do all this work.  Again, old Greek women, are ahead. 

 Seedlings bought from the farmers market,

ready for harvest, 

 two buckets full, 

Parboiled for 2 minutes in boiling water, NO MORE.  

Then you have to take them out of the casing.   I froze them in baggies in small portions. Two day project, but I got to watch Greek sitcom, Litsa.com, it's all online, I watched episode after episode, while doing the tedious task.  Damn, Greek men are hot.  

A little parenthesis....

And here they are in the fish yesterday...

Fish and prawns sauteed in "butter" and some olive oil, potatoes were parboiled separately, I added the favas, garlic and cherry tomatoes with some marjoram, oregano and parsley from my garden. 

For acidity a tad of white wind. 

See, Doctor, how healthy that is. 

Of course I did use the my mother's trick,  butter with the olive oil.  But don't tell anyone.  Fish needs butter.  

I now have a supply of fava beans for at least two months ready, easy, local and mine. 

The first harvest from my Santa Rosa potager/kitchen garden.