It’s a rainy Monday that is doing a rather fine job pretending to be Sunday. There is no school today, no need to go to town, therefore no need to dress. I’ve enjoyed reading what feels like 101 blogs. I’m eating a satisfying ham sandwich slathered with mayo and mustard on white bread. It’s like giving into a craving…on all accounts. Really it’s the first day since getting back a week ago to Orcas Island, that I’ve not had a full day agenda. We all need these days. It almost feels like the spanse of time between Christmas and New Year’s. Which outside of the years being responsible for a cafe and/or retail store is like living a few days in a warm cozy cocoon, visiting with friends and family, enjoying hot drinks, reading books and being together. Now that I think of it, this is what I look forward to most at Christmas.
Category Archives: Vegetables
La Bomba aka The Italian viagra…
I’ve been checking out some new books at the library before I purchase. I recently came across this one…Earth to Table: Seasonal Recipes from an Organic Farm
Though I’m completely behind the concept, I’m just about up to you know where with all the farm to table slogans. But the photos on this cover indeed caught my eye and hell, it’s free to have a look! Continue reading
chocolate and zucchini
Of course this sounds familiar. No, not from the hundreds of zucchini bread recipes…just from one of the original food blogs, what was it? Oh right. Chocolate & Zucchini. One that I still peer into on a regular basis, she never seems short on ideas and is currently reaching out to her audience for inspiration on the title of her new book coming out in spring 2013. Go Clotide.
Fava bean & tomato salad
Back in Hamburg with a shining sun, a crowded Elbe and fresh memories of a full summer, we are reeling through seven weeks of adventures on Orcas, in Seattle, Atlanta and Charleston, as we stroll along the river…also a beautiful place to be. I will miss my new favorite spots for photos – the kitchen window sill and the front porch step. I’ll miss the deer strolling through the orchards and past our kitchen window. The ferry rides too. Most of all I’ll miss our friends, community and dear ole dad. The fact is though, no matter how our lives weave in and out of that island, we are always welcomed back with open arms. I’m eternally grateful.
Now it’s back to school time. Back to routine. That too has its place and I think we are ready for it. I do wonder what it’s like after the kids are gone. Maybe there isn’t such a demarcation of seasons. Honestly, I can’t remember. I was practically a kid when I started having them and will be firm into midlife when my daily parenting is complete. Any thoughts out there?
So before summer is officially over, whether your life will change dramatically come the first day of school, or not, see if you can get yourself some fava beans. These guys take a little time and effort, but it’s so worth it. I started with the idea of succotash..
Donna Hay Photo Challenge #9 Goat Cheese, lemon and pea Pasta
***UPDATE*** I’m pulling out the pasta pea bit from my last post so it’s not smushed in between the cabin and the salmon and the …..And you may still get another one later today for the berry tart bake off! Where did June go??? Ok… just pretend like you’re surprised 🙂
Yes, I did make MORE pasta and had a lovely but challenging afternoon taking photos of it. It was like a haircut you keep having a go at and never feel you get quite right… except with less long term effect.
Here is the link to the Donna Hay photo challenge at Jungle Frog Cooking.
And here is the original picture-
The image comes from the summer issue of Donna Hay’s issue 55 (febr 2011). The photo is taken by William Meppem and styling by David Morgan.
And this is my go at it 🙂
And this is the one I couldn’t decide on…
And here’s the rest of it you’ve already seen….
Here’s the recipe but head over to Junglefrog if you want to Print. You should go over there anyway because it’s a great site.
Ingredients
- 400g penne
- 420g frozen peas (2 cups)
- 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 2 tablespoons lemon rind (finely grated)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 240g goat’s cheese (crumbled)
- 50g rocket (arugula, chopped)
- sea salt
- cracked black pepper
Boil up you noodles of choice… regular semolina or one of the many gluten free varieties. The recipe called for Penne but I like the twists… And get yourself some peas! I love using pea shoots for the green and Donna Hay used Arugula. I also added cut up snow peas giving it a little crunch.
I used fresh shelling peas, snap peas, and pea shoots all from local gardens. I used to love growing pea shoots for salad. You can even do this in a pot of the porch.
A little olive oil, fresh garlic, lemon juice and zest, fresh goat cheese and did I mention PEAS!
It’s a simple dish that can be made ahead of time and served at room temp or warmed up a bit…
Shaved Asparagus and Mushroom medley
A wee bit more asparagus…really, you will soon be missing it when the lovely, fresh local spears are gone and the long hauled, pithy ones return.
Weiß Spargel…
White Asparagus, Hollandaise & Lox
find it at Biscuits and Bobbins
As we continue with our Spargelzeit (asparagus season), you will be seeing many asparagus recipes. For those of you who may not be asparagus fans, I’ll try to sneak in a few other things… like chocolate chunk cookies with cranberries 🙂
Please join me today over at Biscuits and Bobbins where I will be guest blogging and sharing my recipe for white asparagus, hollandaise and lox. Blog pal, Jodi, a former pastry chef and major asparagus lover has been waxing idealisitically to me over her memories of the joy of living in Germany during white asparagus time (it’s big here in Germany, like, really big….) Since I can’t invite her over ( the commute from Atlanta, Georgia would make her just a bit late for supper) This is the virtual dish I prepared for her. Guten Appetit Jodi!
Buckwheat Crepes, Asparagus, Proscuitto,Gouda & Mornay
I’m coming through this time with what I had planned. Wonders never cease. And this time of year it seems the asparagus never cease! As I mentioned, we’ve got sweet little huts all over the village with green and white asparagus and strawberries. In addition to the prolific stands, like three in a two block radius… brimming with freshness, we have loads of crisp spears and red fruits at the market four days a week! Today I’d like to feature…
Buckwheat Crepes, Asparagus, Mushrooms, Gouda, Proscuitto & Mornay
Glazed Carrots, Apples and Horseradish
One of my favorite magazines in Germany besides my monthly Food and Travel is Landlust. Beautiful photographs from the countryside, fresh recipes and for me a chance to read German. Like giving a boy girly mags to learn how to read… oh that’s bad isn’t. Sexist too? Sorry. I will say though, my German exels in reading and translating recipes.
This month’s issue displayed gorgeous young vegetables, cooked simply, with interesting combinations and ingredients. I’m pleased it was the carrots with horseradish that stood out above the others. Eaten last night with a simple grilled steak and steamed broccoli, these carrots gave our meal a little umph! Sweet and salty with a little bite.
Carrots, apples & horseradish {Print Recipe}
For the love of Kale…..
Ok… I’m at it again. I’m loving making these videos. I will probably continue unless I hear how boring they are to normal people. Well, honestly, then I may still continue doing them because they are self gratifying. So I’d love to get some feedback. Or not. No really I want it…. thx wt
I’m placing it here, up top, so you have the option to watch…. or you can scroll past to the recipes.
Kale is in. In season. In fashion. Just plain in. It’s a funny thing kale. It’s a great summer salad and really can be grown in the pacific Northwest at least, and I’m sure here in Germany, year round. Just at the peak of heat, it bolts, but usually there’s another patch just coming up and it’s only a short kale eating pause. (Baby red russian kale in summer is great raw in green salads.) But we think of it being “in season” in winter. Certainly here in Hamburg, it’s out in kilo size bags. I think because it is also often the garden Savior. The plant you can knock the snow off of and still harvest. It’s even sweeter after a frost. It has to be very very cold to kill the kale. And it only asks for a light cover such as remay (lite woven fabric) to give that bit of protection to hold out through the freezes.


















