Here's to a Happy, Healthy 2010!!!

Ah the holidays...my favorite time of year. So much so that one of my nicknames past was "The Christmas Nazi." I love the decorations, lights, movies, music, and parties that take over the month of December. Always have. Of course with all this merriment comes a bit of over-indulgence in good food and good wine (or Cava as was the case this Christmas).

With the New Year literally just around the corner, I've been taking some time to reflect on the past year. I think one of the most important lessons I've learned this year is that good health is paramount - you really shouldn't take it for granted. All the other stresses in life - jobs, mortgages, kids, pets, parents, debt, etc. - will pale in comparison to being faced with a major health concern. Nutrition is such an important part of keeping your body healthy. It really can't be an afterthought. We give so much time to our careers, families, friends, etc., why is it so difficult to take time to plan healthy, nutritious meals and some time to exercise?

I know, easier said than done. To that end, here are two new products I've found that I adore, along with two super-simple, healthy recipes to ring in the new year. Here's to good health and prosperity in 2010!

Gardein Products - These are meatless meals that heat up in the microwave in minutes and are very yummy considering they are made from tofu. While I like most healthy foods, tofu has been a bit tough for me to warm up to...the texture and flavor can range from decent to downright disgusting, so for me to actually enjoy eating this stuff really says something. They are starting to crop up in most grocery stores in the produce section (usually near the tofu-type stuff) or in the frozen food section. My favorite is the Santa Fe Good Stuff - basically a tofu "chicken breast" stuffed with corn and black beans in a slightly spicy red sauce. Microwave for 2 minutes for a quick and easy lunch that is meat-free but has 19 grams of protein. Tastes like chicken - I swear! http://www.gardein.com/products.php?t=fresh

Cedar's Fresh Mediterranean Salads - I LOVE the Black Bean and Chick Pea salads. A mix of beans and veggies that can be used as a salsa on crackers, tossed with whole wheat pasta, or straight out of the container on a spoon. http://www.cedarsfoods.com/taboulesalad.html

Here are new recipes to ring in a healthy New Year (both courtesy of Bon Appetit - Jan 2010 and Dec 2009, respectively):

Arugula Salad with Oranges and Caramelized Fennel

2 large fresh fennel bulbs, trimmed, each cut vertically into 12 wedges with some core attached
6 fresh thyme sprigs
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/4 cup Sherry wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 oranges, all peel and white pith cut away, halved vertically, thinly sliced crosswise
2 5-ounce packages baby arugula

Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine fennel wedges, thyme, and 4 tablespoons oil in large bowl; toss to coat. Arrange fennel, cut side down, on large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until fennel is tender and brown, turning once, about 40 minutes. Discard thyme sprigs. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
Whisk vinegar, mustard, and 2 tablespoons oil in large bowl. Season dressing with salt and pepper. Add fennel, orange slices, and arugula. Toss to coat. Transfer salad to large shallow bowl.

My Tips:
I skipped making the fancy dressing and just tossed the greens, fennel and oranges with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and some salt and pepper and it was quite good. Very nice combination of flavors.

Barley Stew with Leeks, Mushrooms, and Greens


1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 1/2 cups chopped leeks (about 2 small stalks; white and pale green parts only)
1 8-ounce container sliced crimini (baby bella) mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, pressed
2 1/4 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
1 cup pearl barley
4 cups (or more) vegetable broth
1 bunch kale (about 8 ounces), trimmed, center stalks removed, leaves coarsely chopped (about 8 cups packed)

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add leeks; sprinkle with salt and pepper and sauté until leeks begin to soften, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, garlic, and rosemary; increase heat to medium-high and sauté until mushrooms soften and begin to brown, stirring often, about 7 minutes. Add tomatoes with juice; stir 1 minute. Add barley and 4 cups broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until barley is almost tender, about 20 minutes. Add kale; stir until wilted, about 1 minute. Cover and simmer until kale and barley are tender, adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls as needed for desired stew consistency, about 10 minutes.

My Tips:
I love love love this recipe. It is so great for cold winter nights...healthy and so hearty you don't even miss the fact that there is no meat in this dish. And - bonus!!! - you only use one pot which makes clean up nice and easy. Here are some of the tweaks I've made (I've already made this 3 times since I found the recipe in mid December).

• I use less rosemary than called for because I find that the flavor of rosemary can be quite overwhelming sometimes.
• I use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth. I like the flavor better and the amount of fat and calories it adds is negligible.
• It takes longer and more broth to cook the barley until tender than indicated in the recipe, unless you prefer your barley waaay on the al dente (aka crunchy) side.
• You can use whatever greens you like - I've used kale, broccoli rabe (the greens, not the florets), and spinach.

Favorite Fall Side Dishes

As previously posted, I missed most of the fall due to my crazy travel schedule. This was very sad for me because I love fall in New England - the crisp-cool air, changing leaves, and bright blue skies...perfection. Not to mention the transition to fall foods! Apples, pumpkins, squash, greens, potatoes, brussels sprouts...yum!

We had great success with our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program at Arrowhead Farms in Newburyport this summer, so we decided to purchase a late-season share, which basically runs through the winter. Therefore, I now have various types of winter squash, brussels sprouts and other root vegetables coming out my ears.

Here are two of my favorite fall recipes for brussels sprouts and squash. They are both based on recipes from Ina Garten - aka Barefoot Contessa. I have personally nicknamed her the Bacon Contessa, as that seems to be a favorite ingredient of hers. I have added in my tips below the recipes. Both of these recipes have become family favorites so I make them quite often. The brussels sprouts recipe will convert even the most die-hard brussels sprout opponents. Enjoy!

Brussels Sprouts Lardons
From Ina Garten's Barefoot in Paris Cookbook

2 tablespoons good olive oil
6 ounces Italian pancetta or bacon, 1/4-inch dice
1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts (2 containers), trimmed and cut in 1/2
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup golden raisins
1 3/4 cups Homemade Chicken Stock, recipe follows, or canned broth

Heat the olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan and add the pancetta. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the fat is rendered and the pancetta is golden brown and crisp, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the pancetta to a plate lined with a paper towel.

Add the Brussels sprouts, salt, and pepper to the fat in the pan and saute over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Add the raisins and chicken stock. Lower the heat and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sprouts are tender when pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes. If the skillet becomes too dry, add a little chicken stock or water. Return the pancetta to the pan, heat through, season to taste, and serve.

My Tips:

• I use less pancetta than is called for to make the dish a little lighter.
• I use higher heat when I first add the brussels sprouts to the pan to sear them and give them a nice, golden, crispy crust.
• I use very little salt - the pancetta adds quite a bit of salty flavor as it is, so make sure you taste the dish before adding more salt.
• I omit the raisins.
• I add the cooked pancetta back in towards the end and serve it with the brussels sprouts.
• I use a TON of chicken broth and cook those little sprouts until they are very, very soft.

Butternut Squash with Pancetta and Sage
From Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics

1 large butternut squash
1 head garlic separated but not peeled
2 Tbsp. good olive oil
2 1/2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces thinly sliced pancetta chopped
16 whole fresh sage leaves
French bread for serving

Preheat oven to 400°. Peel and seed butternut squash and then cut into 3/4- to 1-inch cubes. Place squash and whole unpeeled garlic cloves in a baking dish or sheet pan large enough to hold them all in one layer. Toss with olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper, and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until squash begins to brown, turning once during baking.Sprinkle pancetta and sage leaves evenly over squash and continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, until squash and garlic are tender and caramelized. Season to taste and serve hot with French bread for guests to spread with the roasted garlic.

My Tips:

• This is a super-simple recipe (once you have gone through the exercise of peeling and chopping the squash) so I don't change much.
• Sometimes I leave out the garlic, or the maple syrup depending on my mood.
• You can really use any type of sweet winter squash or pumpkin in this recipe.

A Homesick Nurnberger

Well, this trip hasn't gone exactly as expected.

To start, I had a kissing incident. As you may well know Europeans shun the low class American hand-shake in favor for cheek kisses. What you may not know is that there is a whole unspoken etiquette to the cheek-kissing thing.
1. You aren't really supposed to touch lips to cheeks; it is more of a cheek to cheek thing.
2. You can't make the "MWAH" lip smacking kissy sound too loud. It is considered tacky and would be loud in the person's ear.
3. You always go right cheek first, and then left cheek.

I've been working in Europe for several years now and when I travel outside of the US I am always very sensitive about local customs. I thought I had this one nailed, then on my first night in Munich on this trip I was thrown a total whammy - one of my colleagues went for a triple kiss!!!!! That's right folks, just when I thought I was the master of sophisticated European elegance, I was humiliated.

It started out perfectly....hellos, hand shakes, everyone was happy to see each other and to be sitting down to a nice Bavarian feast....then it happened. Right cheek kiss - fine. Left cheek kiss - fine.....then he went to go back to the right again, and I didn't know the custom or what was happening, so we wound up bumping heads quite hard and I am fairly certain I kissed him smack on the nose. My face lit up like an old-fashioned, red, Christmas bulb. I was horrified. For the next 1/2 hour at dinner the phrase "you're an idiot" kept resonating through my head on replay.


In researching places to go in Munich, I hit Frommers – one of my most favorite travel web sites. This restaurant jumped out at me for very obvious reasons, and the description of the restaurant had me in stitches. That’s me, the homesick Numberger. I had lunch there today. I did not, however, eat sausage.

Nürnberger Bratwurst Glöckl am Dom
Frommer's Review
The homesick Nürnberger comes here just for one dish with those delectable little sausages: Nürnberger Schweinwurst mit Kraut. You can also find such items as crispy roast pork with bread dumplings and cabbage salad, veal breast stuffed with a potato-and-cucumber salad, or boiled ox with diced vegetables and fried potatoes. This restaurant first opened in 1893. It was rebuilt after World War II, and it is now the coziest and warmest of all local restaurants. Chairs look almost as if they were hand-carved, and upstairs, reached through a hidden stairway, is a dining room hung with reproductions of Dürer prints. Tables are shared, and food is served on tin plates. Last food orders go in at midnight. A short walk from Marienplatz, the restaurant faces the Frauenkirche.Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/munich/D42986.html#ixzz0WrkSar8o

"One The Road Again"...but hoping to be "Home For the Holidays" Soon!

I have been a delinquent blogger. I really do enjoy blogging and had a great time blogging-away this spring and summer, but towards the end of the summer my life took an interesting turn. My normally crazy job leapt from crazy to certifiably insane and I embarked on 3 back to back months of insane travel. Since September, I have slept in my own bed around 6 nights or so. Where in the world has the Nurns been? Well, all over the world basically:

Hong Kong - Week 1
Thailand - Weekend
Singapore - Week 2
Atlanta - Week 3
Munich - Week 4
Spain (paradise) - Weekend
Paris/Amsterdam (without luggage) Week 5
Shanghai (also without luggage) Week 6
Orlando Week 7
Atlanta Week 8
Munich again Week 9....and next week I will be in Munich Mon/Tues, but then possibly Paris the rest of the week. Still up in the air.
And for next week I will be in Munich

I obviously haven't been doing much cooking lately, and I know I owe you guys a few recipes before Thanksgiving so I will definitely get those posted. But in the meantime, I thought I'd share a couple articles from another blog that I came across that pretty much sum up my life recently.

Last week I found out that all this travel has qualified me for United Airline's 1K club. This means that I have officially sacrificed family, friends and a normal life for living on planes and in hotels enough to warrant some recognition from my new family at United. I have flown roughly 90,000 miles this year and a United promotion is going to kick me over the 100,000 mark. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at this news, and then I came across the article below that summed it up quite nicely. The articles are from http://blogspot.mutedonkey.com/category/travel/

The 1K Letter (frequent flyer’s delight)

October 29th, 2007 by Bob

I achieved a milestone on my latest trip to SE Asia, I became a 1K member in my “preferred carrier’s” frequent flyer program. Even if they send the obligatory “Congratulations!” letter, I won’t get to read it for the next couple weeks because this is a long trip. But that doesn’t stop me from imagining what the letter might say. I think it will probably be something like this:

Dear Mr. Bob,

Congratulations on becoming a 1K member in our frequent flyer program! First, lets us say that we apologize for the name. We realize that 1K really means “1,000” and not “100,000.” This is a marketing ploy to make this status level seem more achievable.

Second, let us state for the record that you must be a hearty soul. If you are reading this letter (and not your executor), you have avoided an ever increasing host of airborne pathogens that we keep in our planes, ranging from the common cold to such exotics as SARS and Tuberculosis. Yes, we have a policy that states we will not let you fly while you are sick, but we don’t ever enforce it. That would eat into already waning profits, would make use enormously unpopular, and would really mess up our scheduling programs.

Finally, let us be the first to offer our condolences on the status of your relationships with family and friends. On a positive note, just think of all the chatty relationships you have developed with your seatmates during those 16 hour international flights. For 16 hours, you can be anyone you want to be because you will never see your seatmate(s) again!Some privileges you will enjoy with your new status:

You will get to board future flights with only 25% of your fellow passengers. No more waiting in line with the other 75% of the travelers who, apparently, are all part of our other frequent flyer programs. **NOTE: We are currently investigating the phenomenon of 100% of the passengers claiming to be a frequent flyer and the fact that 25% of the passengers always claim to be in First Class.

You will receive two bags of peanuts during domestic flights (please show your membership card when requesting the second bag).

We will send you even more unsolicited credit card applications in the mail and we will kindly submit your name to our growing list of partners. Now, even your family pets are eligible to receive a credit card (and 20,000 frequent flyer miles!). The double-upside: When you get home from your travels, you will have plenty to read.

You will receive more spam in your email from us and our partners, but we will make it look like something you better read or risk loosing your status. We will also send you lots of emails to allow you to claim your “rewards.” After flying 100,000 miles, you deserve a magazine subscription!

Some privileges you won’t enjoy with your new status:
Courteous treatment on domestic flights, or return flights to the USA for international travel.
Courteous treatment at international security checkpoints by TSA agents (i.e. LAX). We have no control over them.
Departing on time.
Arriving on time.

Again, congratulations! We look forward to delaying you sometime in the very near future.

The Airline

I can hardly wait…

And then there was the follow up.....apparently being 1K officially gets you....well, nothing.

The 1K Letter - An Update

November 8th, 2007 by Bob

As I stated in a previous post, I have achieved the glorious distinction of being a 1K Frequent Flyer. I am currently sitting in the Narita, Japan Star Alliance lounge and wanted to give you an update of the differences between flying as a non-1K member and a 1K member. There is almost no difference. I am still in the back of the bus, the flight time from Singapore to Japan is still 6 hours, and the time remaining to home is still 16 hours away. I have decided to start taking pictures of the folks on the plane that probably should not be flying, with my cell phone. Unfortunately, my cell phone doesn’t work in Japan, so that will have to wait until I am back in the States.There was once improvement, I did not wait in any lines before getting onto the plane (OK, there were lines, but they were very short). But I have to say, that time saved (maybe 15 minutes) compared to the 23 hours it is going to take home, is like “a fart against thunder” to use a phrase of the day.

Super Easy Summer Salads for Supper

I love love love these two new salad recipes for a light, healthy summer supper. So, I thought I would share. Enjoy!

Pepper Grilled Steak with Chopped Summer Salad from August's Bon Appetit

• After making this a couple times my recommendation is to omit the jalapeno pepper unless you like A LOT of heat. I like spicy foods but this dish was so light that the jalapeno really overwhelmed all the other flavors

2 large garlic cloves, pressed
1 3/4 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1 2-pound 1 1/2-inch-thick top sirloin steak
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 cup baby arugula or chopped regular arugula
1/2 cup (generous) diced red onion
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 tablespoons chopped pitted Kalamata olives
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 jalapeño chile, seeded, finely chopped (about 4 teaspoons)

Mix garlic, pepper, and 1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt in small bowl; rub all over steak. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
Spray barbecue grill with nonstick spray. Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill steak until charred and cooked to desired doneness, about 7 minutes per side for medium-rare. Let rest 10 minutes.
Mix tomatoes and all remaining ingredients in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Thinly slice steak; arrange on plate. Spoon salad over steak and serve.

Roast Chicken and Mango Salad from August's Bon Appetit

• I omitted the nigella seeds. Why over complicate things.

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons mango chutney, large pieces finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 1/2 teaspoons (or more) water
1 5-ounce package arugula
1 3 1/2-pound purchased roast chicken, boned, meat coarsely shredded into bite-size pieces (about 5 cups)
1 large mango, peeled, pitted, sliced or 2 large peaches, halved, pitted, sliced
Plain nonfat yogurt
1 teaspoon nigella seeds* or cumin seeds

Whisk first 4 ingredients and 1 1/2 teaspoons water in small bowl to blend. Add more water by teaspoonfuls if dressing is too thick. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place arugula in large bowl. Add half of dressing and toss to coat.
Divide arugula among plates. Scatter chicken and mango over each serving. Drizzle with remaining dressing. Top each serving with dollop of yogurt; sprinkle with nigella seeds.

15 Minute Meal - Thai Grilled Lemongrass Shrimp

Life has been super-busy lately (hence the lack of blog posts!) so it has been more of an effort than usual to cook up healthy meals at home vs. taking the easy path of take out or pizza delivery. I am trying really hard to take the high road. Recipes like the one below make it a bit easier.



This recipe (from Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman's Simple to Spectacular) took a total of around 20 minutes. I made the marinade and skewered the shrimp early in the day and that took around 10 minutes, then cooking the shrimp, veggies, and rice took about 10 minutes right before dinner. It was very tasty and easy. Here are my notes:

• The lemongrass is the trickiest part of this recipe. It isn't always that easy to find, and then trying to manipulate it into a skewer took a few minutes for me to figure out. I think it is worth the difficulty though, it imparts a flavor that is impossible to replicate.


• Nam pla (Thai fish sauce) is actually VERY easy to find these days in the Asian section of almost any regular grocery store. Despite the name, it doesn't taste fishy at all...it just adds some depth and savoriness that is hard to describe.


• I used regular canola oil instead of the grapeseed oil.


• I was considering skipping the dipping sauce but was glad I didn't. It was quite good.


• I broiled the shrimp for about 3 minutes a side vs. grilling them because it was raining.


• For the first side dish, I sauteed sugar snap peas and sliced button mushrooms in sesame oil with a splash of soy sauce. I tossed the finished product with toasted sesame seeds. I could have eaten the veggies alone with some brown rice as a meal, they were that yummy. The sesame oil really makes the difference here...it imparts a distinctly Asian flavor. I also served Trader Joe's Thai Style Rice with Coconut Milk. This was delicious, and I love the fact that all you have to do is cut the corner off the plastic bag and microwave it for 3 minutes...couldn't be easier.

Ingredients

24 Medium to large shrimp (peeled and deveined)

5 Stalks lemongrass

2 Teaspoons minced chiles

1 Teaspoon minced garlic

2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons nam pla (Thai fish sauce)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 Teaspoons grapeseed oil

2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 Teaspoons sugar

• Peel and mince one of the lemongrass stalks then toss it and the shrimp in a bowl with 1 teaspoon of the minced chiles, the garlic, 2 teaspoons of nam pla, a little salt and pepper, and the grapeseed oil.


• Remove the outer sheath from the remaining lemongrass stalks and trim them so they are about 10 inches long and less than 1/4 inch thick at the thin end. Bang each of the stalks several times with a knife. Skewer the shrimp onto them and marinade in the lemongrass mixture.


• Start a charcoal or gas grill or preheat the broiler; the fire should be hot and the rack 2 to 4 inches from the heat source. Combine the remaining 1 teaspoon chiles, 2 tablespoons nam pla, the lime juice, and sugar to make a dipping sauce and set aside.


• Grill or broil the shrimp for about 2 minutes per side, until lightly browned. Serve immediately with the dipping sauce.

Great Picnic Snack - Macaroni Pizza

This recipe takes me right back to being a kid, and whenever I make this dish it disappears in minutes, especially around my family. I know the concept of macaroni pizza sounds kinda gross, but it is actually a very yummy snack and I've found that kids love it. Plus, it packs and stores well, so it is a great option for picnics and beach days. In fact, every single time my family would and I would set off for the 8 hour trek to take me down to Gettysburg (College), my grandmother would make a batch of macaroni pizza to take on the trip with us. Eating this always reminds me of her.



Ingredients

12 eggs

3/4 cup of grated romano cheese

1 stick of butter or margarine (I usually use only 1/2 stick and it still tastes great)

1 pound of angel hair or vermicelli pasta

Optional: Chopped ham or pepperoni, parsley flakes



Heat oven to 350 degrees. Make pasta according to package directions until al dente. Strain the pasta and put it in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the eggs, butter, cheese, and any optional ingredients until well blended. Pour into a 9x13 greased baking dish, and bake 30-45 minutes until the texture is firm and it starts to look golden in hue.

Take a Trip to the French Riviera...Without Leaving Home!

While yesterday started off horrible weather-wise (completely grey and overcast but ridiculously hot and humid - Have I mentioned how much I am loving New England weather this summer?), it actually turned out to be a sunny afternoon. Still humid, but with the summer we have had so far I don't care if the air was so wet we were swimming in it, so long as we see some sun. Given the weather, it was a perfect day for a nice, light salad supper. I made the Grilled Nicoise Tuna salad from the August 2009 issue of Food and Wine magazine. Here's what I love, love, loved about this dish:

• It's a healthy, balanced meal all in one. I served the sliced grilled tuna steaks on a bed of fresh picked lettuce, topped with 2 chopped hard-boiled eggs, a handful of chopped nicoise olives, sliced new potatoes that had been boiled and tossed with olive oil and chopped fresh tarragon (any herb would work), and the cherry tomato/green bean salad below. Great combination of lots of fresh veggies and lean protein.



• It is a GREAT party/big crowd dish (provided you have people who like tuna...I'd say keep a few burgers and dogs on hand just in case). I made everything well in advance - the hard boiled eggs, tomato/green bean salad, etc., and then just grilled the tuna and assembled the platter at the last minute. I actually think the tomato/green bean salad and the potatoes taste BETTER having sat around for a while because the flavors get a chance to meld a bit more. Think about it - make all the ingredients in the morning, and then spend 10 minutes grilling the tuna and assembling the dish right before dinner...what could be better if you're hosting a party?



• The marinade for the tuna is delish...I would make the tuna on it's own.

For once I think I followed the recipe almost exactly, except I used fennel seeds in the tuna marinade and the only herb I used in the dressing for the cherry tomatoes and green beans was tarragon. I also made extra dressing to drizzle over the dish when served.

Grilled Nicoise Tuna Steaks

Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 1/2 tablespoons dijon mustard
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped thyme leaves
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground fennel
2 large shallots, coarsely chopped
Ten 1-inch-thick tuna steaks (8 ounces each)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions
In a medium bowl, whisk the olive oil with the wine, mustard, thyme, fennel and shallots. Arrange the tuna steaks on a large rimmed baking sheet and pour the marinade over them. Turn the tuna steaks to coat. Let stand for 30 minutes.
Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. Season the tuna steaks with salt and pepper. Grill over moderately high heat, turning once, for 4 minutes per side, until medium. Thinly slice the steaks, transfer to plates and serve.

Green Bean-Tomato Salad with Herbs

Ingredients
2 pounds green beans
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon chopped tarragon
1 tablespoon snipped chives
1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme leaves
1/2 pound cherry tomatoes, halved

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook until they are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and rinse the green beans under cold water until they are chilled; pat the green beans dry.
In a large bowl, whisk the mustard with the vinegar. Gradually whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add the green beans, tarragon, chives and thyme and toss to coat. Add the tomatoes, toss gently and serve.

Grilled Chicken Salad with Radishes and Cucumbers

So, in my humble opinion, this is a case of a good recipe gone bad. As many of you know, I read cookbooks and cooking magazines cover to cover, but rarely follow the recipe exactly. I use the recipes as inspirations to find new flavor combinations and ideas I haven't tried before. It really, really bugs me when cook books and cooking magazines take something very simple and make it overly complex. I think this alone intimidates a lot of people from trying new recipes because you think you have to make them to the letter in order for them to taste good.

This week we picked up our first farm share from the CSA program at Arrowhead farm. This week's lot included two types of lettuce, green onions, beets, peas (Rob actually had to climb down the hill and pick the peas himself, the visual alone is very funny to me), broccoli, cauliflower, golden cherry tomatoes and radishes. I cannot recall the last time I ate a radish. Quite honestly, my last memory of radishes was when my mother was making little rosettes out of radishes as a garnish for some type of dish at a holiday meal...I think I was about 8. So, I was at a loss for what to do with said radishes. I went to www.epicurious.com, which is an awesome recipe site that pulls recipes from magazines like Bon Appetit and Gourmet that my friend Julie turned me on to. I searched for recipes with radishes, and the salad below caught my eye. I was very interested in the unique flavor combinations....but it all seemed a bit over the top for a simple salad! So, I've included the full recipe here, but I made the following changes and it was still a very tasty, light summer salad:

• Rather than make the tarragon pesto, I made a vinaigrette with olive oil, white wine vinegar, minced shallot and minced tarragon, seasoned with salt and pepper. I skipped the whole pesto step.



• I used leftover grilled chicken from a previous meal.



• I used romaine lettuce because that is what I had on hand.



• I added a tomato because I just happen to love them.



• I used a regular cuke...not the fancy Japanese kind.



• I sprinkled fresh shelled peas on the salad for some sweetness. Fresh peas are great...my new favorite...you don't even need to cook them!

All in all it was a nice combination of flavors that I enjoyed, but I can't say I would have like it so much had I gone to the trouble of making the recipe to the letter.

1/4 cup (packed) fresh tarragon leaves plus 2 teaspoons chopped
1/4 cup (packed) fresh Italian parsley leaves
4 tablespoons pine nuts, divided
5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, divided
2 teaspoons chopped shallot
6 tablespoons (or more) olive oil, divided, plus additional for brushing
4 boneless chicken breast halves
4 1/2-inch-thick slices country-style French or sourdough bread
1 5-ounce package mixed baby greens
1 cup thinly sliced radishes (from 1 large bunch)
1 cup thinly sliced Japanese cucumbers (about 1 1/2)

Place 1/4 cup tarragon leaves, parsley, 2 tablespoons pine nuts, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and shallot in mini processor; chop coarsely. With machine running, gradually add 3 tablespoons olive oil. Season pesto to taste with salt and pepper. Add more olive oil by teaspoonfuls to thin, if necessary.
Whisk 2 teaspoons chopped tarragon, remaining 4 teaspoons lemon juice, and 3 tablespoons oil in small bowl. Season dressing with salt and pepper.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush chicken breasts on both sides with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until grill marks form, skin is crisp, and chicken is cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer to work surface; let rest 5 minutes. Using clean brush, brush both sides of bread with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until dark-brown grill marks appear on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place greens, radishes, and cucumbers in large bowl. Toss with dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide salad among 4 plates.
Cut grilled chicken breasts crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Arrange 1 sliced chicken breast atop salad on each plate. Spoon tarragon pesto over chicken. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons pine nuts over salads. Serve with grilled bread slices.

Super-easy Potato Salad

This could not be simpler and was quite tasty! I don't care for a very mayonnaisey-taste in my cold salad....never been a big fan of mayo. But I also don't like potato salad that is too dry. I thought this combination had just the right amount of creamy-ness plus a lot of flavor and a little crunch.

• Peel 6 large Yukon gold potatoes, place in a pot of cold water (enough to cover the potatoes) and bring to a boil.



• Boil the potatoes until they are soft and can easily be pierced with a fork.



• Drain the potatoes and allow to cool a bit.



• Mash them up a bit - basically to the consistency of very lumpy mashed potatoes - with a folk or other mashing device.



• Add 3-4 tablespoons of light mayo...you want to add enough to bind it together but not so that the mayo flavor is overwhelming.



• Add 6 finely chopped scallions, both green and white parts.



• Add 6 finely minced celery ribs.



• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Goes great with slight spicy ribs or other BBQ!

The Fishbowl 4

The patio project is complete! Well, complete enough for now. As mentioned in a previous post, I would eventually like to put gardens in around the fence, but for this summer the hanging potted plants provide just the right amount of foliage and color to the space. The finishing touches were:

• Two chaise lounges & cushions I bought from Pottery Barn two years ago and have never used. The cushion color is cherry red and matches the umbrella on my outdoor dining set.



• A large, grass-green colored market umbrella on sales at JC Penny for $39 bucks.
  


• A small side table purchased a target.



• Two outdoor throw pillows that bring together the color of the chairs, umbrella and house, also courtesy of JC Penny's memorial day sale.

A huge thank you to Rob who's manual labor turned my little vision into reality :-)

All in, between the fence, the patio supplies, and patio labor, we literally saved over $7K by hunting for the best bargains, doing parts of the project ourselves, and negotiating hard with vendors who are eager to secure business in this tough market. It really does pay to shop around. I highly recommend Reliable Fence in Woburn - they were SUPER-speedy (I think the whole fence took less than 4 hours) and gave us the best price out of 5 or 6 vendors. And I also recommend Landscaper's Depot in Kingston, NH. They really worked with us to help us get the look we wanted, and the materials were much cheaper here than at other local places.

Please stop by to enjoy a mojito on my new patio this summer!!!

Sunday Supper for Winter in June

We had company for dinner yesterday. It's the end of June, so dinner should consist of some sort of meat on the grill, cool, crisp white wine, farm fresh veggies and fruit, and it should all be served al fresco, of course. Except we live in New England, and apparently this means being subject to November-like weather at the end of June. The temperature here yesterday was around 55 degrees, and there was a constant mist, like someone spitting on you. It's a good time. So, instead of the perfect early summer barbecue, I made two roast chickens. Winter comfort food in June.

To try and inject a little bit of summer in the meal, I made a summery appetizer, side dish, and dessert. Here are some tips:

• For the eggplant crostini, you'll need to cook the eggplant longer than specified in the recipe to get it soft enough to mush into the roasted garlic. I wound up sauteing the eggplant for a solid 15+ minutes.
  



• I did not add the parsley or the lemon juice to the eggplant mixture - it didn't need any additional flavoring in my opinion.
  



• I made roasted potatoes, but instead of the typical sprinkling of salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc., I used one of those dried herb dip packages that I always pick up at craft fairs but then forget to use. I used Jump, Chive, and Wail from the Dippy Chicks -http://www.dippychick.com/




• For one side dish, I sauteed slices of zucchini with garlic and cherry tomatoes in olive oil, then topped the dish with fresh sliced basil before serving.




• For dessert I sauteed fresh blueberries with sugar and a little water to make a blueberry syrup, the whipped up some fresh whipped cream mixed with maple syrup in my magic bullet. I topped the whipped cream with the blueberries and their syrup, then covered the mixture with crumbled ginger snap cookies.

The Appetizer - From the July issue of Gourmet.

Eggplant and Sun-Dried Tomato Spread
1 head garlic
6 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 1/2 pounds eggplant
1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes (3 ounces), chopped, plus 2 tablespoons tomato oil
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup chopped basil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Accompaniment: toasted baguette slices

Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
Cut off and discard top of garlic head to expose cloves. Brush top of head with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Wrap garlic in foil and roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool to warm, then squeeze garlic cloves from skins into a small bowl, discarding skins.
Meanwhile, cut eggplant into 1/2-inch pieces and toss with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large colander. Let drain 30 minutes. Squeeze eggplant in a kitchen towel to remove liquid.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté one third of eggplant until browned and tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Cook remaining eggplant in olive oil in same manner (in 2 batches), transferring to bowl.
Add 1 cup cooked eggplant to garlic and coarsely mash together. Stir into remaining eggplant with sun-dried tomatoes (without tomato oil), parsley, basil, lemon juice, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Season with salt and drizzle with tomato oil.

The Fishbowl 3

I'm very excited by the progress made in addressing the fishbowl situation so far this summer. The good news is that we've made a ton of progress, the bad news is that the weather has been SO bad we haven't been able to enjoy it! This week the fence went in, and yesterday we mulched around the patio and transferred one of the topiary trees I purchased for the patio. I will eventually put perennial gardens in the mulched area, but I want to take my time and really plan it out so it blooms through all the seasons and fills out the flower beds.

I purchased chaise lounge chairs and an umbrella from Pottery Barn two years ago that have never been out of the basement, so can't wait for some decent weather so I can finish off this project!

Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Fish?

I will be the first to admit, cooking some kinds of fish and shellfish intimidates me. I've been trying to branch out...I have a recipe for Parmesan grilled calamari that I need to post one of these days, and I've been experimenting with more sophisticated fish recipes, but still, sometimes it is intimidating. I'm especially intimidated by whole fish...something about your dinner staring you straight in the face as you are popping it into the oven just doesn't sit well with me. With the exception of this fish dish. I am telling you this could not be ANY easier and it is delicious. I used to get this dish every time I went to Pesce Blue, and Italian/sea food restaurant in Portsmouth, but they stopped serving it so I had to learn to make it myself. Here it is.....SO easy:

• Purchase whole Branzino (aka Loup De Mer or European Sea Bass) from a reputable fish shop. Ask the guy behind the counter to clean it for you. This gets you out of the scary and intimidating job of having to gut the fish. You can also have him take the head and tail off if you are particularly squeamish.


• Sprinkle the inside of the fish with a little salt and pepper, then stuff it with some herbs (my preference is tarragon, but parsley and thyme also work), and a lemon slice.


• Roast the fish on a bed of kosher salt in a 400 degree oven for 18-20 minutes until the skin is crispy and the flesh feels tender but still slightly firm. You can use a fork to peel back a little of the skin at the tail and see if the flesh flakes, if you're uncertain.

To serve the fish, simply open it like a test book on the plate, drizzle it with good-quality olive oil, and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Simple, healthy and so delish!

Marvelous Marinades and Other Shortcuts

Ever in search of quick and easy weeknight dinners, I have been spending more and more time at specialty food stores looking for tasty marinades to help make my life easier. My latest loves are the marinades from Stonewall Kitchen. Stonewall Kitchen is a specialty food brand that was founded in nearby Hampton, NH. What started as two guys selling handmade jellies, jams, and vinegars at local farmer's markets and craft shows has turned into a huge national business. Despite the scale, I find the quality to be very good, and their sauces, marinades, and mustards are excellent time-savers in the kitchen. While they make recommendations for how to use their products on the label of each product, there is plenty of room for creativity as well. Here are some of my favorite ideas:

• I love using their marinades on shrimp and scallops for a SUPER easy weeknight dinner. My favorite with shellfish are Wasabi Ginger, Garlic Rosemary Citrus, and Sesame Ginger Teriyaki.
• The Roasted Garlic Peanut sauce is great on grilled chicken satay.
• Serve their lemon curd with store-bought pound cake for an easy and elegant dessert.
• I could make a meal on their mustards alone - Horseradish Mustard, Bourbon Molasses Mustard, Champagne Shallot Mustard, Wasabi Mustard, etc. all elevate your burgers and dogs from everday to exceptional. For a quick and easy sauce for roast beef (either dipping sauce or sandwich spread), combine two parts Horseradish Mustard with one part low fat sour cream.
• Spoon Black Cherry Cognac sauce over high-quality vanilla ice cream for a more adult dessert treat.

Stonewall Farms has several retail stores in southern Maine and New Hampshire, sells it's products in many specialty stores, and also has a nice website: http://www.stonewallkitchen.com/default.aspx

Strange But True: Tomatoes + Watermelon = Amazing!

I've been eating a lot of salad lately, so I was on the hunt for new variations when I came across this recipe. Quite honestly, I thought the recipe was a bit "out there"....I mean really, tomatoes with watermelon? With avocado? Yes, I was seeking variety, but this was quite a leap from your everyday garden salad. However, it just so happened that I had ALL the ingredients on-hand...so I thought it was fate. After eating the salad I am even more convinced it was fate. It was SO good - a light, refreshing, medley of textures and flavors that combined sweet with salty, crunchy with creamy...it was so delicious I didn't even wait until dinner was ready to eat it. Yes, that's right folks, I ate the whole bowl standing up before the rest of dinner was ready. Embarrassing but true.

I've included the "official" recipe here (courtesy of the cookbook "Pintxos: Small Plates in the Basque Tradition"by Gerald Hirigoyen), but the version I made was a scaled down, simpler version of the recipe. Here is what I did differently:

• I used 1 1/2 regular vine tomatoes and 1 thickly sliced piece watermelon, both chopped into cubes.
• I only used 1/2 an avocado and I omitted the cucumber. I am glad I left the cucumber out, I would do it again.
• I didn't use any herbs.....this may sound strange since I have an abundance of basil, mint, tarragon, etc. in my herb garden, but I tasted it without the herbs and loved it so much I decided not to mess with it. I'd recommend you try the same thing - test it without the herbs, then figure out if you want to add them. I will likely add herbs next time around, but even without them the recipe is spectacular.
• I totally skipped the coriander....didn't miss it AT ALL.
• Instead of balsamic vinegar, I used white wine vinegar and loved it.

I will be making this all summer....I honestly cannot wait to eat it again!

3 or 4 small to medium heirloom tomatoes, in assorted colors, cored and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1 small English or regular cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 cup 3/4-inch-cubed yellow or red seedless watermelon flesh
1 Hass avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 tablespoon chopped mixed fresh herbs, in any combination: basil, tarragon, chives, and cilantro
1/4 teaspoon coriander seed
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, watermelon, avocado, and herbs. In a spice grinder, grind the coriander seeds to a fine powder. Add the ground coriander to the tomato mixture and toss gently.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Pour over the tomato mixture and toss to coat evenly. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.

Community Supported Agriculture - CSA

Community Supported Agriculture (or CSA) is my latest obsession. While CSA programs will vary, the basic premise is the same. You pay up front for a "share" in the farm for the season. You share the rewards, and the risks, of farming for the season. In exchange for your financial support, you get your portion of the harvest delivered weekly. The produce varies based on what is available for harvest each week. Some of the pros and cons:

Pros:

• Super-fresh, locally grown produce all spring, summer, and fall, delivered to your home each week.
• Since the produce varies by farm and season, you are likely to get new fruits and vegetables that you wouldn't ordinarily purchase, encouraging you to branch out.
• You can feel very good about supporting your local farming community.

Cons:

• You assume all the cost of your produce up-front.
• You assume the risks of farming, along with the rewards. If there is a flood or a drought, or a certain crop has problems that season, you are out of luck along with everyone else tied to the farm.

I have to do more research, but it appears to be a solid value for the investment. Here are a couple local farms I am looking at. I might be too late for the 2009 season registration but I will definitely be looking into this next year!

http://www.arrowheadfamilyfarm.com/shares.html

http://heronpondfarm.com/content/398

http://heronpondfarm.com/content/1426

Flank Steak - A Break From the Norm

This morning I was depressed. The weather was miserable (more like April than June), the weekend was slipping away quickly, and I was uninspired with regards to Sunday supper. I love to cook, but there are times when I get really bored....how many roast chickens can a girl make? And I am only 30?!?! How will I feel about cooking in another 30 years??!?! Chicken, beef, pork, cod, haddock, swordfish, mahi mahi, shrimp, scallops, lobster, clams, flounder, tilapia, sea bass...yada, yada, yada...how in the world can I make a lifetime of good eating when the world of proteins is so limited! Sigh.

Anyway, in my quest for something out of the ordinary, I was intrigued today by the flank steak at the farmstand and recalled a recipe for beer-marinated flank steak in the June issue of Bon Appetit. I have never made flank steak, and a lot of grocery stores don't sell it, so I decided to give it a whirl. The menu included:

• Roasted garlic and feta dip with grilled pita toasts - I modelled this after a recipe from Seablue at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, which is probably my favorite restaurant in the world. I roasted two heads of garlic by chopping off the top, drizzling them with olive oil, sprinkling them with salt, then wrapping them tightly in tin foil and roasting at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Once cooled, I squeezed the garlic out of the papery skin, mixed it into some good-quality feta cheese, doused the mix in olive oil, sprinkled it with salt and pepper, then let it sit in the fridge for a few hours. Before serving I warmed it gently on the stove and grilled the pita bread. I could have made a meal out of this - I will definitely be making this one again and again.


• Arugula, watermelon, and feta salad - I tossed arugula with cubed watermelon, feta cheese, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and fresh ground black pepper. It was very light and refreshing, and the combination of flavors, particularly the watermelon with the balsamic vinegar, worked quite well.


• Zucchini - I sauteed sliced zucchini with olive oil, garlic, and julienned basil.


• Beer-marinated flank steak with Chimichurri sauce - I followed the recipe from Bon Appetit below, then served it with my own simple Chimichurri sauce. To make the Chimichurri sauce, chop two cloves of garlic, two large handfuls of parsley, olive oil, salt, and a pinch of crushed red pepper together in a Magic Bullet or food processor until smooth.

Although I am married to someone who rarely compliments my cooking (how spoiled is he?!?!), tonight's comment was, "this was a meal you could make for company and it would be very impressive." I think we have a winner!

2 1 1/3-pound flank steaks
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
Coarse kosher salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11/4 cups thinly sliced green onions (about 6)
1 12-ounce bottle dark beer
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce

Using sharp knife, lightly score flank steaks about 1/8 inch deep on both sides in a crisscross pattern at 1/2-inch intervals. Place steaks in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle steaks on both sides with oregano and cumin and generous amount of coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Drizzle olive oil over both sides of steaks, rubbing oil and spices into meat. Add green onions, beer, and Worcestershire sauce, turning steaks several times to coat both sides. Cover and chill at least 3 hours, turning occasionally. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush grill rack lightly with oil. Grill steaks to desired doneness, 3 to 4 minutes total per side for medium-rare, turning steaks 1/4 turn after 1 1/2 minutes to form crisscross grill marks, if desired. Transfer steaks to cutting board; let rest 5 minutes. Thinly slice steaks across grain.

Perfectly Julienned Basil

One of the things I constantly work on in the kitchen is perfectly my knife skills. Knowing how to properly chop, dice, mince, etc. can make or break you in the kitchen. I found this tip for perfectly julienned basil extremely helpful:

1. Stack clean basil leaves on top of one another.

2. Form a tight roll.

3. Slice the roll into thin strips.

Perfectly julienned basil every time! Looks elegant scattered over just about anything!

The Fishbowl 2

The patio was completed this weekend and I am thrilled with the way it looks and how quickly it was completed! I was most nervous about the layout of the stones because they are all different shapes and sizes, so I had to be very thoughtful about their placement or the edges would not have finished cleanly. Plus, the whole exercise was like putting a puzzle together with 50 pound puzzle pieces, so I certainly didn't want to have to move things around too much. It is rainy here today so the stones are wet in these pictures, but I will post some of the patio when it dries so you can see the true color of the stones. The area around the patio will be dug up to make flower beds once the fence goes in. I can't wait for it all to be completed! When I was getting patio estimates from the landscaping companies there was one man in particular who was extremely rude and condescending to me. He has since been harassing me weekly to find out if I am going to give him the job. I can't wait to call him back this week and tell him the work is DONE and for about 5K less than he would have charged me!

New Farmers Market in Newburyport!

While heading to Joppa (a gourmet food, cheese, and wine shop in Newburyport http://www.joppafinefoods.com/) to pick up some fresh feta for a salad I am making tonight, I came across an AMAZING discovery - the new farmers market in Newburyport!!! I am so excited! Today was the opening day and it is scheduled to be held every Sunday now through October!!! The market is a mix of local farms selling the most delectable looking produce, local artisans, and gourmet foods. The highlights for me were:

• Didi Davis Foods - Gourmet finishing salts and sugars, like salt blended with Aleppo pepper, lemongrass, sage, etc. And the name is cute too (Davis)!
  
• Copper Moon Studio - Handmade pottery - beautiful, creative pieces featuring natural themes like seashells and different leaf patterns. I didn't purchase anything today but I plan to next time! I wish she had a website so you could check out her work!
  
• Kellie Brook Farms - Free range beef, pork and veal. Their beef will be the star of dinner this evening so I will report back on that later.


• Produce, produce, produce - Lots of different farms selling all kinds of locally grown early season crops, like strawberries, ramps (kind of like a scallion but more garlicky in flavor and very hard to find) spring onions, and more!

Here is the link to the Newburyport Farmer's Market website http://www.thenewburyportfarmersmarket.org/ and to a recent article on the launch of the market http://www.newburyportnews.com/pulife/local_story_162232604.html.

Now you know exactly where to find me on Sunday mornings now through October!!!

The Art of Simplicity

While in Atlanta on a business trip this week I had the pleasure of dining at Kyma, a Greek restaurant in the Buckhead area. My meal there really got me thinking about straight-forward, simple cooking, and how the best meals (in my opinion) rely more on super-fresh, high-quality ingredients prepared simply vs. fussy, over-complicated recipes. The meal was so simple it could easily be recreated at home, yet it was entirely elegant. To start I had warmed pita bread with a spread that was made from roasted red peppers, roasted garlic, feta cheese and olive oil pureed in a food processor. My main course was a wonderful whole roasted loup de mer (white fish, basically the Greek equivalent of a Chilean sea bass or branzino). The fish was roasted in the oven, then topped with a simple drizzle of olive oil, some chopped herbs (tarragon and parsley), a few capers, and some lemon juice. The fish was served with greens sauteed in olive oil with garlic. I rarely order dessert, but at Kyma they serve each guest a small dessert serving free so everyone leaves the restaurant on a sweet note. It was spectacular - and yet, how simple is this??? High-quality Greek yogurt nestled in honey and topped with a candied pecan! Delish! I've already begun thinking about how I can recreate this meal at home!

Quick and Easy Pasta with Tomatoes, Spinach and Italian Chicken Sausage

I'd say that this is a "recipe", in quotes, because it doesn't provide specific measurements. I figured it out based on taste from a meal I had in a restaurant recently, so use it as a guideline and adjust each flavor to your liking. Want more heat? Add more red pepper flakes. More protein, less carbs? Use less pasta, more chicken sausage. Need to get in an extra serving of veggies? Add more spinach.

Here is how I made it:
Slice 8 garlics cloves as thinly as possible. Saute the garlic in olive oil until tender and translucent. Add several hand fulls of baby spinach and saute until wilted. Add one large can of whole, peeled plum tomatoes (I like San Marzano) and their juice to the pan. Use a spoon or other utensil to break up the tomatoes and stir into the garlic/spinach mixture. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, a splash of dry white wine, and red pepper flakes to taste and let it simmer until the tomatoes start to lose their juice and the mixture becomes saucy (about 7-10 minutes). Add 1 package of sliced spicy Italian chicken sausage. and simmer until the sausage is cooked through.

Meanwhile, while making the sauce, boil water and cook your favorite type of pasta per the directions on the package. When done, drain the pasta, add it to the sauce, mix it up a bit, then serve it with grated pecorino romano or Parmesan cheese.

The Fishbowl

When we were house-hunting a couple of years ago I fell in love with my house on the first visit - I knew it was the one. I loved the open floor plan and spacious kitchen,and it had everything I was looking for. The ONLY thing that gave me pause is the way the house was situated on the lot. It's on a large lot, but the builder set it on the lot in a way that makes the majority of the yard completely useless....I have a HUGE side yard and front yard....what the heck am I supposed to do with that? Our yard is a giant fishbowl - zero privacy.

So, this year I've embarked on a mission to make my backyard usable. Well, ok, I actually want it to be better than usable - I want it to be cozy, private, and look like a terrace in the English countryside. High hopes. Very high hopes. Small budget....very small budget.

We started by planting a row of arborvitaes along the side of the yard that runs along the street. We did this early in the season when we found the trees on sales at Home Depot - instant privacy for 400 bucks. Next we mapped out where we wanted the fence to go because in Amesbury you have to have the town survey your fence if it runs along the property border. I plan to install the fence in stages due to the cost - focusing on the back property line and the side along the street first. While I wait for the fence activity to fall into place, I've started work on my patio.

I decided on Pennsylvania Bluestone. The palettes available were in gorgeous tones of grey-green, grey-blue, and grey-lilac. I purchased all the materials directly from Landscaper's Depot and, rather than hire a landscaping company, hired a local tradesman to do the heavy lifting, then Rob helped lay the stones. Doing it this way is literally saving us $4-5K vs. what the landscaping companies were quoting. The final result is TBD, but so far I am really pleased on the progress and design.....more to come!

Gardening in Small Spaces 4

Here it is....my first ever attempt at a vegetable garden! Here is what I planted:

• Three varieties of heirloom tomatoes: Brandywine, Eva Purple Ball, and Golden Cherry Tomatoes. I left one tomato plant in it's pot (on the right) because it is doing so well and I think it is a type of tomato plant designed to grow in a patio pot.
• Green Peppers
• Zucchini
• Summer Squash
• Cucumbers
• I relocated the basil from the window box herb garden because the mint it was sharing a home with was taking over the whole thing. That stuff is aggressive and grows like a weed....expect to be served mojitos when you visit me this summer!

I checked for slugs today and found that Mr. Slug & Co. apparently hit happy hour a little hard yesterday because they were all floating upside down in a pool of Sam Summer Ale. On the bright side for Mr. Slug, at least his last moments were spent chugging good beer...we should all be so lucky. No new slugs to report (thank goodness) ...maybe the word got out.

Gardening in Small Spaces 3

Today was not a good day for me. My stone planter is complete and the plants have been planted, so today was my first official day of garden maintenance. It did not go well. It started with me touching a slug. Slugs are gross. They are gross to look at, gross to touch, and they leave a filmy, yellow-ish slime on you. Ew. Upon closer inspection of my cucumber plant, I found that Mr. Slug had invited a bunch of friends to the party. Double Ew. I promptly hopped online and found that the only thing I had currently on hand to kill the slugs was beer....good beer. Now Mr. Slug and his friends are enjoying a nice Sam Summer Ale during happy hour.

Mr. Slug & Co. was my first issue. As I was watering the garden my brand new hose/watering wand contraption burst. Not to be deterred I resorted to the good old fashion watering can, and as I was using it the nozzle broke off sending freezing cold water all over me...and my Blackberry resting on the stone wall. I was going to post pictures today but with the way my days is going the camera would probably explode, so I'm calling it a night. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Frittata Pan - Williams Sonoma

For years I have struggled with making the perfect frittatas and Spanish tortillas. Somehow no matter how many different techniques I tried (inverting the frittata on to a plate and sliding it back into the pan, broiling, baking, etc.) I could never mimic the pale yellow, golden crusted works of art in the cooking magazine. Mine wound up looking more like Picasso's interpretation of a frittata....tasty, but certainly not going to grace a magazine cover anytime soon. Then I had a life changing experience...I finally broke down and purchased this nifty frittata pan from Williams Sonoma. WOW. The pan is actually two non-stick Calphalon pans that interlock (bonus! use them seperately too!). You start the frittata one of the pans, then after it is mostly set you interlock the other pan to the bottom pan, flip them both quickly, and continue cooking the other side of the frittata. Magical! I am now turning out the most beautiful frittatas I've ever seen - truly magazine-cover worthy. And, oh yeah, they taste pretty darn good too.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/srch/index.cfm?words=frittata+pan

Cook Once - Three Meals!

After Sunday night's large platter of roasted veggies I had a bunch of leftovers - roasted mushrooms, asparagus, red peppers, red onions and sweet potatoes. I hate wasting food, but I am not very good with leftovers. Yesterday I had a breakthrough and actually used ALL the leftover veggies! For breakfast, I made an omelet with the mushrooms, asparagus, 1 whole egg and two egg whites. For lunch, I picked butter lettuce from my lettuce plants (will go into the garden soon but are growing quite well in pots at the moment), and topped it with the sliced roasted red peppers, red onions, chopped tomato, and tuna. I made a simple vinaigrette of olive oil, champagne vinegar and Dijon mustard for a healthy and filling lunch. Those leftover sweet potatoes? Davis loves them! I gave him a couple as a treat last night and will mix the rest in with his dry food tonight for dinner. I bet leftover roasted veggies would also be great tossed into pasta salad. I will be trying that next time!

Beef...It's What's for Dinner

As previously mentioned I have been working very hard to cut back our intake of animal protein, red meat in particular. In the June issue of Environmental Nutrition (thanks for sending Joanne!) there was an article called Meatless Mondays, about how even cutting meat out of your diet one day per week can have an impact on your health and the environment. Here is an excerpt:

"Why aim to eat less meat? Research shows that vegetarians have lower rates of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers (breast, colorectal and prostate). Plus eating less meat can help control body weight, because the additional bulk produce and whole grains add to your diet helps keep you fuller on fewer calories. Indeed, vegetarians weigh less, on average, than meat-eaters."

Having said that, when you are craving a big, juicy, flavorful steak there is no frittata or veggie burger on the planet that will satisfy you. So today, I gave in to my craving and picked up two fat rib-eye steaks from the farm stand (hey, at least I went with locally grown meat, right?).

Of course, you can always sprinkle them with salt and pepper, toss 'em on the grill, and serve with a douse of A1 and some potatoes, but I've recently been experimenting with preparations that are still very easy, but offer much more flavor. The recipe below is from my favorite cookbook of all time - Simple to Spectacular by Jean Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman. I'll share more on this cookbook at another time because it is truly a must-have for anyone that likes to cook.

I served the steaks tonight with a huge platter of roasted veggies - drizzle olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, and herbs over quartered mushrooms, wide slides of red pepper, chunks of red onion, and asparagus and roast in the oven at 400 degrees until tender (some veggies cook faster than others so keep an eye on them and pull those out as needed). I also made baby artichokes for the first time using a variation of a recipe found on Simply Recipes. I love artichokes but the are an awful lot of work. For the baby artichokes, I trimmed all the tough leaves off to get to the soft, pale green leaves, quartered them, and braised them in about 2 cups of water for 5-8 minutes. I then drained them, put them back in the pan with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and a few pinches of Herbs de Provence. I topped them with shavings of Parmesan cheese. Yum!

Louis Outheir's Steak with Red Wine and Garlic

1 1/2 - 2 bounds boneless rib-eye or sirloin steaks, about 1 inch thick

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 Tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed

5 Tablespoons butter (sorry Deb - this one is most definitely not low cal)

8 Cloves of garlic, peeled and slices thinly

2 Cups plus two tablespoons sturdy red wine

1/2 Cup chopped parsley

1. Sprinkle the steaks with salt and pepper. Put the oil and 2 1/2 tablespoons of the butter in a 10-12 inch skillet and turn the head to medium-high. When the butter melts, turn the heat to high and add the steaks. Cook until almost done, 3-4 minutes per side for rare. Turn the heat off and transfer the plates to warm platter in a very low oven.

2. Pour the fat off the pan and return to the stove over medium heat. Add two tablespoons of the remaining butter to the pan; when it melts, add the garlic and turn the heat up a bit. When the garlic begins to brown (about 5 minutes) add 2 cups of the wine and turn the heat to high. Reduce by about two-thirds until the mixture is thick and saucy. Season with a little salt and plenty of pepper, then stir in the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of butter. When it melts, add the parsley and remaining 2 tablespoons of wine.

3. Add the steaks and any accumulated juices to the pan, turn once or twice, and serve.