May 20, 2012
It’s the time of year that it’s hard to pin me down. I’m outside. Busy in the backyard, planting, weeding, sitting, contemplating. I just want to be outside. Watching for the return of Chestnut. Seeing if we have any new baby rabbits in the yard. I just find so much peace there, that you’re hard pressed to get a post out of me. I have better things to do.
Because of this I was there, in the backyard, when the peonies bloomed this year. They are my absolute favorite flower: profuse, heavy blooms; heady fragrance. I turned the confetti of abundant petals into syrup. I did this last year, but not as adroitly.
Marry to this that I went strawberry picking with friends last week. And 17 pounds picked meant there was certain to be some jamming. Did there happen to be some master pastry chefs along? Why yes, there were. (Thanks, B.) So I asked them how to incorporate my peony syrup into the jam that was sure to follow all that picking. Add the syrup at the last minute, they said, to keep all the flower essence. But of course.
Ten cups of strawberries
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Posted in Canning, Columbus, Family, Flowers, Friends, Local Foods, Music, Ohio, Peony, Pistacia Vera, Seasonal, Strawberries, Summer |
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March 28, 2012
I returned home after a lengthy trip to Texas to find spring had sprung: the daffodils were spent and the ferns unfurling. Nestled amongst said ferns on the shady side of the porch were dandelions, just emerged, with slender leaves and nary a flower in sight.
Which of course meant they are at their peak for eating.
Tonight’s dinner involved a return to cooking with a risotto. Included were the fruits of my garden weeding – young dandelion leaves – and broad beans, another early spring arrival.
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Posted in Columbus, Cooking Tips, Foraging, Music, Ohio, Recipes, Rice, Risotto, Seasonal, Spring, Vegetarian |
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February 13, 2012
This is hardly even a post about cooking.
It’s a post about what what to do when you want to help. When things happen in life and I feel like I want to hug and cry and help, I cook.
And often, because I feel such a connection with meals, the thing to be cooked just comes to me. This time it was the humble stuffed cabbage.
When I was little, stuffed cabbage was a comforting dish that my mom would make on Sundays. When I was newly married and a fish out of water in New Jersey, it was the dish my mother-in-law and I connected over at Paul’s Diner in Mountain Lakes. Turns out, she loved it, just like I did. She grew up with her mother making them, as well as serendipitously being at a diner on the rare day the kitchen made them. In Texas we don’t have much of a diner culture, but I really grew to love this aspect of New Jersey.
As she explained it, every diner had its own schedule of when things were made and you kind of needed to be a regular to figure it all out. We happened to be there on a Monday, during lunch and we both decided saw and decided immediately that we’d have the cabbage. She grew up with cabbage rolls being served with copious amounts of mashed potatoes.
This was not something my mother did.
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Posted in Beef, Cabbage, Family, Flying J Farm, Rice, Seasonal |
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February 1, 2012
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Playlist included Mr. Sun, by Kina Granis.
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Posted in Flying J Farm, Foraging, Local Foods, Maple Syrup, Music, Ohio, Seasonal, Winter |
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December 10, 2011
I love pressing a small gift into the hands of a host when I visit. And you know me, I like it even more if it’s a quick little homemade something.
This cranberry clementine chutney takes just a few minutes of care and stirring and is quintessentially wintery. It is fantastic with cheese, delicious with pork, lovely smoothed on buttery toast. The ingredients aren’t at all exotic, but combined transcend into something special. And this is one of the easiest recipes ever: combine and stir. You can do it!
Spiced Cranberry Clementine Chutney, makes one small jar, with a bit leftover for you to enjoy
12 oz fresh cranberries
2 clementines, zest and juice
1/4 c dried currants
3/4 c sugar
1 whole star anise
1 cinnamon stick
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Posted in Cranberries, Entertaining, Gifts, Quick, Recipes |
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December 5, 2011
Turbot has become my new favorite fish. At first blush, it’s light, mild, and delicate. But a heartbeat later you realize its meaty, dense, and packed with beautiful flavor. Pair it with this seasonal and politely assertive sauce and you’ll really get your loved one’s attention on a cold December night. Most importantly, the ingredients are familiar and the techniques are pretty basic. It’s a can’t miss weeknight meal that’s quick, healthy, satisfying and elegant. I can hardly believe something so simple could make such an impact. It’s a beautiful dish.
Turbot is popular on European plates, but lately it seems to be making its presence known in American eateries and grocery stores as well. If you can’t find it, ask your fishmonger. The success of this meal is directly related to the quality of the ingredients. Find the best mushrooms you can. These were from the Greener Grocer and perfection. This is a modified version of a dish found in Rick Stein’s Complete Seafood. You must own this book.
Early Winter Turbot with Chanterelles and Melted Parsnips, serves 2
2/3 to 3/4 of a pound Turbot fillet
3 strips of bacon, thickly sliced
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Posted in Cooking Tips, Fish, Greener Grocer, Leeks, Mushrooms, Music, Parsnips, Recipes, Seasonal, Turbot |
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November 23, 2011
Oh my goodness. I stumbled on something. Pumpkin water.
Water. Only the complete essence of pumpkin. Much like tomato water. Only pumpkiny-er. Obviously.
I just knew this would make a good cocktail addition. And of course, my friend Molly completely helped me in sussing out some ingredients. Because she’s totally good at it. And she knows all about cocktails. And does stuff for these guys.
So this cocktail is entirely inspired by the season, what I had around (I was roasting a pumpkin for a pie, y’all, and had this left over), the Ohio seasons, and our recent trip back to New Jersey, our former home.
The Rum Whitfield, makes one
1.5 oz. spiced pumpkin water* (**)
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Posted in Alcohol, Cocktail, Cocktails, Holidays, Music, Pumpkin, Recipes, Rum, Seasonal, Spices, Thanksgiving |
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It’s the time of year that it’s hard to pin me down. I’m outside. Busy in the backyard, planting, weeding, sitting, contemplating. I just want to be outside. Watching for the return of Chestnut. Seeing if we have any new baby rabbits in the yard. I just find so much peace there, that you’re hard pressed to get a post out of me. I have better things to do.
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