Moroccan Pumpkin Soup

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Yesterday was a bright and sunshine-y. Apple-crisp.

As nearby Church-bells rang out eleven, I found myself basking in the day, with a seasonally appropriate pomegranate cocktail in hand.

I was sitting in the most delightfully welcoming garden, a space festooned with artifacts of a life well lived, surrounded by happy dogs lazing about.

My hostesses home, (the space I had to walk through, wide-eyed with awe, to get to the cocktails...I mean, garden) can best described as a compound (many structures, a few paths...voila, you have a compound) offering unexpected twists and turns. Truly charming. Perfectly homey, with a punk-rock ethos. It was flawless.

So as we lounged in this tranquil glade, my hostesses boyfriend popped his head out of the second story stained glass window, squinted his eyes, smiled and asked if we wanted refills on our bevs, I had an epiphany.

Life is good.

Nothing profound, but it is something important to be reminded of.

Life is good.

And with a bit of this soup...that much better.

When feeling frayed and needing to come back to a zen-space, (something I have mentioned more than once on this site, I'm sure) remember what stupendous friends can offer, what a fantastically beautiful place the world is, and so much more. And remember what a soul satisfying thing soup can be. All that, and everything seems right in the world.

I cannot tell you how quick this is to make. A few moments, and it tastes incredible. You can also make it with roasted squash - that certainly would make it super-fab...

Either which way, I recommend it. Autumn in a bowl.

And now, my peaches, I am off to the spa. (A day getting toasted in the garden helps a girl get her head on straight, but a day at the spa, well, that sets it in stone...)

Now try this, and enjoy!

2 15 oz. cans pumpkin
2 T. vegetable oil
1 large onion, minced (I did this in the Cuisinart)
6 cups vegetable stock
2 15 oz cans chick peas, with liquid
2 T tomato paste
pinch of cayenne
smaller pinch of nutmeg
cilantro or parsley for garnish

Saute the onion in the oil, until tender.

Combine the onion, squash, broth, liquid from garbanzo beans and one can of the beans. Heat a few minutes, then puree. This is best done with an immersion blender.

Add tomato paste, salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne. Add remaining garbanzo beans, garnish with cilantro and serve.

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90 % of the pumpkins grown in the United States are raised within a 90-mile radius of Peoria, Illinois

Pumpkins are a fruit that are 90% water

An intense drought this year is going to cost Americans at the meat counter. Weather wiped out hay crops across the region, forcing cattlemen to sell large numbers of stock. Experts predict it will take three years or more for the nation's beef supply to recover. That will hurt consumers, National Cattlemen's Beef Association spokesman Joe Schule says, because supply is a big factor in the price of beef. -Al.com

Wheat crops have failed and forced up world wheat prices and shoppers can expect to see an increase in the cost of bread, meat, fruit and vegetables. Shoppers should get used to the high prices, even if the drought breaks soon. Food industry analysts and economists say prices of certain foods will stay high into next year. For the third year in a row, bakers are confronting big increases in the price of flour and other ingredients directly related to shortages caused by the drought. -ABC News

Tuna is a treat!

Wow, it's a new record - posts two days in a row!

We love fish and would eat it more often, but around here it's very, very expensive - usually $12 per pound or more. When it was just the two of us eating it, no big deal, but with 2 growing boys eating adult or near adult-sized portions, it's really hard to spend that kind of money. Most of the time we're stuck with salmon and tilapia, but I can also find pretty decent tuna for about $9-$10 per pound. Still pretty pricey, but I get so tired of not eating fish, so I splurge once in a while. It's a shame, really - we like fish and it's so healthful...........sigh.

Tuna with Wasabi Cream

When I started looking for a recipe for the tuna, I knew I wanted Asian flavors. I came upon this recipe from Cooking Light and it jumped out at me. This recipe is very easy to put together and very flavorful. The seasonings on the tuna give it a nice kick and while the sauce has its own kick, it also has a nice contrasting coolness from the sour cream and mayonnaise.

I served it with mushrooms and onions that I roasted in a mixture of sherry, soy sauce, salt and pepper - these turned out very nicely and I liked that it freed up my stove for making the spinach. I used the basics of this spinach recipe, substituting sesame oil for the olive oil. Add a side of plain white rice and you have a simple but elegant and delicious meal with relatively little fuss.

The only thing I didn't like about this recipe? The name. The official name is Tuna "London Broil" with Wasabi Cream. I don't get it......................

A New Cookie Recipe!

Slowly but surely, I feel like we're getting a routine down. It helps that my youngest is now done with football - our Sundays are blessedly free once again. Not only did we not have to go anywhere today, but it was windy and chilly - perfect for baking. Okay, so it was nice enough that I probably should have been outside doing more gardening before it gets too cold, but I just plain didn't feel like it.

I pretty much took the summer off from baking and am looking forward to getting back to it - especially since apparently NOT baking made absolutely no difference in my weight. I seriously thought that once I stopped, I'd drop a few pounds. No such luck. Lesson learned? Might as well bake!

Maple Walnut Oatmeal Cookies

Today's cookie recipe comes to us from my favorite source for cookies - Martha Stewart. I love thumbing through the two special issue cookie supplements she published - they are full of tempting recipes. I tried a recipe from her 2000 cookie magazine - a recipe that I have been wanting to try for quite some time.

This recipe is unusual in that it does not contain eggs. It's a delicious combination of oats, maple, walnuts, butter, syrup and brown sugar. The cookies bake up a bit flat, but they are soft and chewy. I did not make giant cookies as the recipe calls for, but I decided to keep the baking temperature the same - 300º. Oddly enough, the cookies still seemed to brown too fast along the edges while not quite setting in the middle. I might have to lower my baking temperature next time a bit more next time. Still, after cooling completely, they had a pleasing texture - just a tad softer than I'd like. The maple flavor shines through and is nicely complemented by the savory crunch from the walnuts.

Hopefully I'll be around later this week to start catching up on sharing what's been going on in our kitchen.............

Boys and Their Toys

I heart Dave...and well, what can a girl say about a nervous Alton...

Beet & Watermelon Salad with Sherry Wine Vinaigrette

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At this time of year, summer and fall always struggle for domination in Southern California.

Sure, the calendar says it's October, yet, the mercury hovers at 90F.

The days are short, and pumpkins are in the market, but we are warm and want light foods. Despite our inner thoughts begging otherwise...

Me, I have an entire shelf of clingy sweaters waiting to be worn, but in the meantime, I clothe myself little dresses in earthy colors and look longingly at my boots, wondering how many more days I have to savor wearing sandals. I have a arsenal of recipes featuring squash and peppers, apples and pears, perched on the precipice, yearning to be tried out, but alas, they just don't seem to match the climate. How can I eat soup on days like this...and yet, how can I resist?

The confusion...it's just so like L.A. Can't decide which we want, so we take both. Warm and cool, up and down, waxing and waning. It's all good by us.

Like this salad. At first glance, it's the absolutely strangest combination of textures, colors and seasons, and yet...it works flawlessly. The dense, earthy beets, the lightness of the watermelon. And since watermelons at this point in the autumn are more texture than flavor, the sharp-sweet dressing is the perfect accessory for these dainty foods. And bonus, the watermelon takes on an astonishingly vivid hue when mingling with the beets.

So despite the calendar and the weather report, when it comes to this dish, summer and autumn are tied. For now.

Try it, and enjoy

3 large beets
Olive oil
Salt
1 small, seedless watermelon
1/4 cup sherry wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
large pinch black pepper
2 Tablespoons whole grain mustard
1 teaspoon brown sugar
3/4 cup olive oil
Salt
Goat cheese and black pepper for garnish

Preheat your oven to 400F.

Coat the beets with olive oil. Place in an oven proof dish. Add 1/4 inch water to the pan. Add some salt to that water. Cover the pan with foil, and roast in the oven for at least 1 hour, (up to three, depending on the size off the beets.) until a knife can be inserted into one with ease. When done, remove from the oven, leaving in the pan. Uncover and let cool completely, before trimming the root end off and slipping off the skins. Dice into even pieces. (You may want to wear gloves while doing this. Beets do stain after all...)

In a blender, combine the vinegar, thyme, mustard and sugar. Blend and while the blender is on, add the olive oil. Stop half way through, and taste. Add more oil as needed. Season with salt and set aside until ready to finish the salad.

Peel and dice the watermelon to the same size dice as the beets. Toss the two together with the dressing. Season with salt and pepper and serve with a sprinkling of goat cheese.


Serves four

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A 2006 U.S.D.A. test found 81 percent of potatoes tested still contained pesticides after being washed and peeled, and the potato has one of the the highest pesticide contents of 43 fruits and vegetables tested. - NY Times

When I wrote graffiti my name was Slop
If my rap's soup my beats is stock
Step from the tables as I start to chop
-Beastie Boys, Intergalactic

Donating to The Red Cross of Los Angeles is a great way to help out those affected by the recent fires.

Books: Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant

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The lovely people who published, Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant, by editor Jenni Ferrari-Adler, sent me a copy for review ages ago, and I have have been remiss in blogging about it. (Mostly because I savored it for so very, very long.)

Bad Rachael, no donut.

So to them, I offer my apologies, and to you my readers, I offer the opportunity to read a fantastic book.

The basic query Ms. Ferrari-Adler posed is, "What do you eat when you are alone?" And the answers are a collection of often touching, terribly hilarious, essays of beans-or-pasta-eating-over-the-sink-in-a-tiny-apartment brilliance. I loved it. It's like taking a peek into the secret lives of people, and learning we are all more alike than we think...

With some of my favorite authors contributing, and some reprinted classic food writing...it runs the gamut of emotions and is always charming and readable.

So next time you sit down to a meal alone (or daydream you may have the chance to do so), don't just stare at your plate, open this book, and devour it too.

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Interested in other blogger reviews of this book? Check out this, this and this!

Want to read an excellent book review in The East Hampton Star, written (the review that is) by Ms. Va-Voom herself? (Nothing about that is food related, I just am proud of my girl!)

According to a study, eggplant absorbs more fat in cooking than any other vegetable. When researchers deep-fried a serving of eggplant, they found that it absorbed 83 grams of fat in just 70 seconds—four times as much as an equal portion of potatoes—adding more than 700 calories. - Wellness Encyclopedia

Hot & Sour Soup

Ingredients:
1 can chicken broth
Approx 1/4 cup cooked shredded meat
Approx 1/4 cup sliced bean curd
Approx 1/4 cup sliced rehydrated wood ears
Approx 1/8 cup sliced bamboo shoots
Seasonings:
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp dark soy
1 tbsp Chinese Black Rice Vinegar
1 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
1 tbsp Fish Sauce
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp Corn Starch
1/4 tsp ground roasted schezuan peppercorns
Approx 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
A few drops of sesame oil
1/2 beaten egg
2 tbsp minced green onions

Preparation:

Combine the seasonings in a bowl and mix well. Rest of ingredients combine in a sauce pan and bring to a boil over high heat. When soup comes to a boil, add the seasonings, and keep over high heat for 2-5 minutes. Slowly add the beaten egg and then remove from heat. Place in bowls and garnish with minced green onions.

Homestyle Meatloaf with Sundried Tomatoes & Shallots

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This weekend, as the Ombudsman graciously attempted - gin and tonic in hand - to tackle yet another one of my hare brained home-improvement projects (hare brained because I think them up and then pout until he agrees to try and help. And since he is only a smidgen more handy than I, it never really turns out well. Bless his heart.) he gazed back to find me perched on the bed wearing the latest in a long line of gold colored high-heels I have a habit of purchasing, and a short, loud, nearly sheer, multicolored dress.

Laughing (and pointing, if I recall. Then again, my G&T had already been drained.) he proclaimed he finally had a motto for my as-yet-un-realized family crest.

"Overdressed for the occasion, underdressed for the weather."

Brilliant.

If only I had paid attention in Latin. I would have it translated immediately and engraved onto the nearest engraveable object.

An hour later, project (sort of) complete, (I think I have to have someone come in and touch it up...) we dined on this outrageously delicious loaf-o-meat.

Rich, dense flavors. The peak of perfection. A flawless dish for an autumn evening.

Fancy dress optional.

2 T vegetable oil
3 shallots, rough chopped
2 carrots, peeled and minced
1 pound ground turkey
½ pound ground beef or pork
3/4 cups fresh cracker meal or breadcrumbs
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, minced
1/2 cup whole milk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons each, dried oregano and rosemary
Salt and pepper
3/4 cup (more or less) ketchup mixed with 1 T chipotle chile with adobo sauce

Preheat your oven to 350 F.

Using bakers spray or vegetable oil, lightly oil a standard loaf pan.

Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add the carrots and sauté until vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer to large bowl.


Add all remaining ingredients except ketchup to vegetables in bowl. Mix thoroughly. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake 1 hour. Brush with ketchup and bake 15 minutes longer.



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I am a junkie for this site, and it's all for a good cause!

Want to make good seafood choices? Check out the Marine Stewardship Council

Are you reading Nook and Pantry yet?

Hardee's restaurants has introduced the new Country Breakfast Burrito. It is a two-egg omelet filled with bacon, sausage, diced ham, cheddar cheese, hash browns and sausage gravy, in a flour tortilla. The burrito contains 920 calories and 60 grams of fat. - AP

Nutty Chicken with Peanut Dipping Sauce

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When my darling, the Glamazon, was a wee bitty child, (pre-glamazon days, which I believe should be called the precocious years,) she announced, in response to my fathers query, "What do you girls want for lunch?" that her favorite food was Chicken Nuggets.

Now, my father is not a fast food eater, nor is he a pop culture follower, so he just roared with laughter, eyes twinkling.

He sincerely thought she made it up. In his reasoning, there was no way there could there be such a foodstuff, it simply had to be the concoction of a fabulous four year old mind. Nuggets of chicken???

Now mind you, at that point in my young life, I had never indulged in a Chicken Nugget, but being a child, I was all very aware of their existence. I chimed in. Eyes wide. Wondering to myself...could this be the day? Would my father actually take us to a fast food chain to eat fried, compressed chicken bits served with gloopy, sugar dense, dipping sauce? The possibility of it all almost felled me.

Well, miracle of miracle, my food-conscious father whimsically decided to indulge her fancy. (She was just so irresistibly cute.) So into the car piled four kids, one adult, and palpable anticipation.

Later, food devoured, my father turned to the (pre) Glamazon, and asked if she had enjoyed her lunch. Tears welled up in her big golden eyes, (yes, her eyes are golden. It's stunning.) as she proclaimed they were dreadful and her new favorite food was hot dogs.

Turns out, her parents had never let her have them either...sly child that Glamazon. Good stuff.

After that day, I'm not sure I ever ate them again. They weren't to my taste. I know for a fact my father never did either. As for the Glamazon, she currently lives on a steady diet of salads and Champagne, as all good glamour girls do...but while none of us eat them, 20+ years later, my father still lovingly calls her (with that smile in his eyes)...Chicken Nugget...

This appetizer, it's an adult version. Real chicken. Complex flavor. Simply stunning.

1 T. fresh ginger, grated
1 teaspoon chile, minced
1 t. vegetable oil
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 teaspoon soy sauce
1 T brown sugar
1 T lime juice
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup water

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup pecans
1/2 cup peanuts
1 T. ground cardamom
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. salt
1 cup rice or wheat flour
2 eggs
4 chicken breasts
Corn oil

Saute the ginger and chile in the vegetable oil. Remove from heat and whisk in the peanut butter, soy, sugar, lime, coconut and water. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Cut chicken into bite-sized bits.

Whisk eggs in a bowl.

In a Cusinart, combine the nuts, spices and rice flour. Pulse to combine. Pour this into a shallow bowl.

Dip the chicken bits into the egg, then the nut mixture. When all the pieces are coated, saute in the corn oil until golden brown. Serve room temperature with peanut dipping sauce.

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Do I love Food? Heck yes, and if you live in Los Angeles, you should too. Review coming soon.

Other ways to play with Peanut Butter? Cookies anyone?

McDonalds Chicken McNuggets (C), were introduced in 1983. 6 pieces have 250 calories. A McNugget is a small piece of minced chicken and mechanically separated meat held together with phosphate salts and chicken skin. The pieces are coated with batter, then deep-fried and sold. - Wikipedia

An Old Favorite: Chewy Ginger Snaps

I may not be getting much blogging done lately, but we have been getting a lot of work done in the yard. Although soups and baking are definitely on my mind, I have been trying to take advantage of every moment of warmth and sunshine before it's gone until spring. It did cool down a bit this past week, so after I snuck in a little more yard work, I baked up a batch of cookies.

Chewy Ginger Snaps

This is not a new recipe, but I'm reviving it because it's one of our favorites and because I have a new photo to go along with it. This time I rolled the cookies in sugar for some added sparkle and crunch. I had never been much of a ginger cookie fan until I tried these - they are pleasingly chewy with a nice bite from the crystallized ginger.

Hopefully more treats will be coming out of the kitchen as the weather cools down........

Books: Gluten Free Girl and a Recipe for Brussels Sprouts with Mustard

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I heart free stuff. I would say, most people do. Come on now, don't you?

Shauna; home cook, blogger, wife, (possibly obsessed, but who am I to judge) Beatles fan, friend, published author...she likes her free stuff too. I know.

About a year ago, on her deliriously heartfelt blog, Gluten Free Girl, she spoke of her Fairy G*dblogger, someone who had somehow procured her a free set of Le Crueset cookware, after she had written a particularly charming post about how she longed for a few pieces to call her own.

At the time, I asked that she not mention it was in fact, lil' ol' me who had done that for her, since I didn't want people coming out of the proverbial woodwork asking to work my magic for them too. (And it was magic mind you. Oh yea baby. Abracadabra!)

I had gone ahead and contacted the super-fab (and generous!) people of Le Crueset for her, because I sincerely believed she was the perfect person to appreciate their glam-yet-functional product and it seems she did. And does. And that, rocks.

Made my heart smile.

That girl, she is just someone I connected with...

And whoddathunkit, me, I like free stuff too...and my free stuff this week? Well, Mrs. SJA had her people send me a copy of her recently published book, aptly titled Gluten Free Girl. Boo-ya! I felt so special, lemme tell ya!

My very own copy was on the doorstep Friday morning and I pounced, tearing open the package and flipping immediately to the acknowledgement page, where I already knew I was mentioned. (It's just all about me, isn't it! Ha ha ha) Oh kids, I was so giddy. But later, reading it thoroughly, I found out, the LC incident was also mentioned in the text! Could I be a grin-y-er girl? I think not. Oh yes, I was and am, giddy.

And I am giddy because a woman I just simply adore wrote such a beautiful tome.

I really hope you will buy a copy. It's both informative, lovely, funny and loving. A good read all around I would say...

Now, as part of her "Virtual Book Tour." She asked me to write an essay (I guess its true! You can take the teacher out of the school, but you can't take the teacher out of the -gluten free- girl! Ha!) about my life as a Covergirl...wait, no, about my life as a Gluten Free Girl! (So much more food-centric!) I think the idea is to have different prespectives on how her book can affect different people...as shown by the bloggers she is having participate. Pretty cool, right?

Well, as you can all tell, I'm not Gluten Free...but I am a huge fan of her site, and incredibly sympathetic to restrictive diets. Oh man, am I ever. Vegan? Kosher? Peanut Allergies? Macrobiotic? Halal? Low Carb? Just plain not in to something? I get it. Why? Because that is your body. You choose what goes in it, and only you know what makes you tick, so who am I to tell you what to, or not to, eat? Nope, I'd just rather, (Much like Shauna) you get maximum pleasure out of what you DO eat, and not focus on what you don't. (Phew! Heavy!) All that and I will say this...please...less packaged food, more cooking, ya? Ya!

(Me, I can't eat bananas. Happily, they are rarely the secret ingredient in anything...except at Jamba Juice...those peeps love them some 'nanas...stick um in everything...wassup with dat?)

So in the spirit of Mrs. Ahern, I will post today an entirely gluten free recipe...because as she says, its not what isn't in it that makes it good...it's what is...and this recipe was created with love.

Try it, and enjoy!

2 pounds brussles sprouts, trimmed and halved
pinch of sugar and a pinch of salt
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 T. Dijon style mustard
2 t. brown sugar
pinch of salt
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
coarse black pepper

In a large pot, boil the brussles sprouts, with a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar until just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Drain immediatly.

In a blender combine the rest of the ingredients, and blend to emulsify. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Toss the b-sprouts with the dressing and serve at room temp or cold.

Makes 6-8 servings.

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Many of the recipes on this site are gluten free...just click the labels to see!

Info on Celiac.

Info on CVS. (I have that. Miserable business...)

Books: Gluten Free Girl and a Recipe for Brussel Sprouts with Mustard

.
I heart free stuff. I would say, most people do. Come on now, don't you?

Shauna; home cook, blogger, wife, (possibly obsessed, but who am I to judge) Beatles fan, friend, published author...she likes her free stuff too. I know.

About a year ago, on her deliriously heartfelt blog, Gluten Free Girl, she spoke of her Fairy G*dblogger, someone who had somehow procured her a free set of Le Crueset cookware, after she had written a particularly charming post about how she longed for a few pieces to call her own.

At the time, I asked that she not mention it was lil' ol' me who had done that for her, since I didn't want people coming out of the proverbial woodwork asking to work my magic for them too. (And it was magic mind you. Oh yea baby. Abracadabra!)

I had gone ahead and contacted the super-fab (and generous!) people of Le Crueset for her, because I sincerely believed she was the perfect person to appreciate their glam-yet-functional product and it seems she did. And does. And that, rocks.

Made my heart smile.

And whoddathunkit, me, I like free stuff too...and my free stuff this week? A copy of her recently published book, aptly titled Gluten Free Girl. Boo-ya!

My very own copy was on the doorstep Friday morning and I pounced, tearing open the package and flipping immediately to the acknowledgement page, where I already knew I was mentioned. (It's just all about me, isn't it! Ha ha ha) Oh kids, I was so giddy. But later, reading it thoroughly, I found out, the LC incident was also mentioned in the text! Could I be a grin-y-er girl? I think not. Oh yes, I was and am, giddy.

And I am giddy because a woman I just simply adore wrote such a beautiful tome.

I really hope you will buy a copy. It's both informative, lovely, funny and loving.

Now, as part of her "Virtual Book Tour." She asked me to write an essay (I guess its true! You can take the teacher out of the school, but you can't take the teacher out of the -gluten free- girl! Ha!) about my life as a Covergirl...wait, no, about my life as a Gluten Free Girl! (So much more food-centric!)

Well, as you can all tell, I'm not Gluten Free...but I am incredibly sympathetic to restrictive diets. Oh man, am I ever. Vegan? Kosher? Peanut Allergies? Macrobiotic? Halal? Low Carb? Just plain not in to something? I get it. Why? Because that is your body. You choose what goes in it, and only you know what makes you tick, so who am I to tell you what to, or not to, eat? Nope, I'd just rather, (Much like Shauna) you get maximum pleasure out of what you DO eat, and not focus on what you don't. (Phew! Heavy!) All that and I will say this...please...less packaged food, more cooking, ya? Ya!

(Me, I can't eat bananas. Happily, they are rarely the secret ingredient in anything...except at Jamba Juice...those peeps love them some 'nanas...stick um in everything...)

So in the spirit of Mrs. Ahern, I will post today an entirely gluten free recipe...because as she says, its not what isn't in it that makes it good...it's what is...

2 pounds brussles sprouts, trimmed and halved
pinch of sugar and a pinch of salt
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 T. Dijon style mustard
2 t. brown sugar
pinch of salt
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
coarse black pepper

In a large pot, boil the brussles sprouts, with a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar until just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Drain immediatly.

In a blender combine the rest of the ingredients, and blend to emulsify. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Toss the b-sprouts with the dressing and serve at room temp or cold.

Makes 6-8 servings.

________________________________________________

Many of the recipes on this site are gluten free...just click the labels to see!

Info on Celiac.

Info on CVS. (I have that. Miserable business...)

Classic Waldorf Salad with Fresh Tarragon

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There is much about our dear boy the Ombudsman that puts me to shame.

For instance, there is his unwavering commitment to civic life, his energy efficient car, and of course, the fact he doesn't own a television.

Okay, that last bit just confuses me really. But only because he will comment on current shows, or funny commercials, all without having a set to call his own...

But recently, like a primitive life form emerging from the primordial mists of bass-ackwards...it hit me how he pulls of this parlor trick...he watches programs on his laptop.
And in the same brilliant flash, I registered that so could I.

And that my friends...is...pathetically...where I have been.

No, not watching reruns of Mr. Bean (that honor goes to the boy...) no, I just spent approx. 44 hours of my life over the last few days watching shows I never knew existed. Eyes like saucers in the dark...mindlessly absorbing videos for songs I had almost forgotten existed, reveling in the beauty of Mr. Belvedere, circa 1987. (I have terrible taste in tv, what can I say...) Feasting on all sorts of wonderments produced by our friends at the BBC. And catching up on Heroes. Episode after episode of Heroes.

I'm a changed woman I tell you. Changed.

And while my mind was going grey...alas...so did the vast majority of the contents of my fridge.

But I am a resourceful gal. Oh yes, indeedeeeeeeee. I am. I pushed aside the jars of mustard, and that bag of green slime, that may or may not have started out as basil, and I made me a meal. An astonishing meal.

A meal for the ages.

All that and I was able to use some fresh tarragon. My herb-du-jour, and the only green thing still discernible in the crisper drawer.

It was Waldorf Salad, and lo, it was a delight. Easy-breezy to make, and all the ingredients were on hand.

What more could a telly-addict ask for...

2 T. mayo (mmm. Mayo.)

1 tsp. fresh tarragon, minced

1 tsp. lemon juice

pinch each, salt and sugar

2 large green apples, large dice

1 cup red grapes, halved
2 stalks celery, large dice
1/4 cup walnuts, toasted

Combine the mayo, tarragon and lemon juice. Add salt and sugar as needed.

Toss the rest of the ingredients in a bowl along with the mayo dressing. Taste, adjust seasonings as needed, and serve.

Serves two
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Created at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1896 by maître d'hôtel, Oscar Tschirky, the Waldorf salad was an instant success. The original version of this salad contained only apples, celery and mayonnaise. Chopped walnuts later became an integral part of the dish.

"You're the top, you're a Waldorf salad". - Anything Goes/Cole Porter

Drink of the Week: Guavaberry Rum & Watermelon Cocktail

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I spent a few mind bending days in paradise this summer.

It was a long journey.

(Insert blissful sigh.)

Four days of uninterrupted sunshine.

All I brought with me was a small carry on suitcase and all I brought back was a wicked tan, and a bottle of this sticky sweet, fruity elixir. Guavaberry liqueur.

It captures the warmth of the islands in a bottle...then you pour it into a glass, and...consider yourself transported right back to the sparkling beach...

And here is why I do not write ad copy. Could this explination be more cliche?

So look past my words, and go right for the bottle...you won't be disapointed.

If you see some in your local liquor emporium...or if you want to get some online, do so, you will love it.

Support the peeps, and get your drink on.

Cheers!

Oh, and what was the best preparation of this libation?

1 cup watermelon, cubed
1 oz. Guavaberry liquoer
1/2 cup sparkling water
Slice of lime.

Combine all, let set for 10 minutes. Pour all into a tall glass with crushed ice. Garnish with lime and enjoy.

Repeat as needed.

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The guavaberry or rumberry is a fruit tree which grows in the Caribbean - Wikipedia

Guavaberry liqueur is considered the national drink of St. Maarten

A treasured Christmas drink, guavaberry liqueur inspired holiday traditions. On St. Maarten, carolers would go from door to door, singing “Good morning, good morning, I come for me guavaberry." At each house, they'd receive a small sample from the owner's bottle. - Searchwarp.com

Fresh From The Farmers Market: Toka Toka Avocados

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Bright and early this past Sunday, I found myself at the always fab and glam Hollywood Farmers Market.

Gosh I love it there!

I was wandering around, trying to gauge where we are in the "seasonally available" cycle, (Peaches, out. Peppers, in.) when I caught sight of these jewels.

Upon bleary-eyed, squinting inspection, a small sign told me they go by the name, Toka Toka Avocados. (I walked past the stand three times trying to figure out where they were from, but couldn't figure that out. It just dawned on me this second, that I could have asked the woman who sold them to me...I guess just because I was up and wandering around, I wasn't totally awake after all! Hee. Hee.)

Nestled in their wooden crate, half of them looked like miniature eggplants, (the glossy purple kind) and the other half looked like classic Hass avocados...except that they have a smooth skin...that is edible! Sorting through to choose an assortment of colors, it was obvious they were all perfectly ripe and ready to eat within a day or so. Smaller than average, (Maybe two and a half inches long, versus, the four+ that most avocados are?)they cost a sensationally reasonable, three for a dollar. I took six.

I ate one,taking a tentative bite. The skin is quite thin, and like most fruit (and they are, I believe, botanically, fruit. Not that that is relevant right now, but whatever) the skin has its own taste, but nothing overly noticeable. As for the actual flesh, honestly, in terms of flavor, they are a bit...flat. But in terms of, um, you know, being able to skip that annoying "peeling" step from your avocado prep-work, well, it rocks.

And they make really beautiful additions to a floral centerpiece!

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San Diego County is the Avocado Capital of the U.S., producing 60% of all the avocados grown in California, which produces about 90% of the nation's avocado crop

I looked up Toka Toka avocados, and couldn't find any info. There are many varieties of edible skin avocados though!

On October 3, 2007 the New York Times food section ran an article about Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. I'm just sayin'

What's this?? A new post??

I'm afraid to go so far as to say that I'm back, because it's hard to say, so let's just take it one post at a time, shall we?

I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I've posted regularly! There are many times when I miss blogging, but also times when I'm just very content to go about my business in the kitchen with no regard to trying to get the perfect shot or for that matter, any shot at all.

We are beginning to settle pretty well into a routine. However, most of my free time lately has been spent outdoors on quite a few lawn and garden projects. We've been creating vegetable garden beds for next year, doing a bit of landscaping and just general lawn maintenance. I'll try to post a few pictures soon. The weather here has been quite nice, though a bit on the hot side recently, and it's been wonderful to be able to get some work done.

Anyway, on to the first recipe I've shared in quite a long time.............

Now that the lazy days of summer are past (Or are they? It was 89º here today!), I have been keeping my eye out for quick and easy recipes to help us build a nice long list to choose from for those busy weeknights. This spinach quiche recipe from Epicurious caught my eye - not only for the apparent ease of preparation, but also for the puff pastry - puff pastry makes everything taste better.

It's certainly not a light recipe, but maybe the healthy amount of spinach in it helps make up for the added fat? The crust is actually just a sheet of puff pastry that is rolled out, placed in a pie plate and trimmed. The filling is a combination of spinach, cheese and half and half. Very simple, but very delicious. I thought it was a bit like having spinach dip in quiche form. Yum! I was a bit afraid that the puff pastry might make for a soggy-bottomed crust, but I'm happy to report that this was not the case.

Spinach Puff Pastry Quiche

The amount of spinach was overwhelming for 2 out of 4 of us DH and my youngest thought it was too much, my other son and I had no problem devouring our pieces and wanted more. In order to avoid complaints the next time around, I would consider making two quiches at once, dividing one package of frozen spinach between two quiches and perhaps adding sauteed mushrooms to each quiche to compensate for having less spinach. Puff pastry comes in packages of two sheets anyway, so this would work quite well and I even think the extra quiche would freeze - unbaked - quite nicely for a later meal.