Summertime

I usually have a wonderful recipe for each of the seasons, but this time of the year I think grazing is the way to go.
Opening my refrigerator I nibble on blueberries, strawberries and watermelon. I am thinking of BLT for dinner with the brandywine tomato that I purchased at the market from Nooksack Nine. Maybe replacing the L with arugula from Galatic Farm.
This is the way I plan on spending August!

Summer Treats

Only this time of the year can you enjoy these fab combos of fruit - picture a big spoon of Mallard's Ice Cream on top!
Apricot and Cherry Crisp

Topping
1 cup flour
1cup sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ pound cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

Fruit
1 ½ pound apricots, quartered
½ pound Bing cherries, pitted
Zest of 1 lemon
1 generous teaspoon grated ginger
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons flour

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

To make the topping: Mix flour, sugar in a small bowl., quickly mix in butter until it is like coarse cornmeal.
Mix the fruit, zest, ginger, sugar, and flour in a 9 inch baking dish. Spread the fruit level, sprinkle with the topping.
Bake 35-45 minutes until golden and the juices bubble around the edges.

Japanese pickles

I have a book on traditional Japanese pickling. I thought the sweet and sour shallots sounded like something I might do, so reading the directions I found - "Be sure to get unwashed bulbs, prewashed ones tend to have a hard surface. I make it a habit to sit and peel the shallots in front of the TV and mumble that I need a pet monkey to help at this time of the year. "

Wild West

Okay So…
Driving home from Colorado took us through wide open spaces, beautiful scenery and a look at the history of the Wild West. I am always looking for the culinary bent to towns; we passed through Chugwater Wyoming where they have a chili cook-off in June. We are thinking of entering.
Further along the road a billboard advertising the annual Testicle Festival.
Now those of you know me well - my tendency to exaggerate for the sake of the story, knows even I cannot come up with this stuff.
The “Testy Festy” happens at the end of August in the town of Clinton Montana, the billboard ended with “Have a ball” ! What can I say?

Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder

While imbibing the illegal beverage with brave friends - thoughts of the artists and poets of the nineteenth century contributed to the mystique of the famous beverage. Did Van Gogh really cut off his ear under the influence?
The most dramatic thing that happened is the ceremony involved with the pouring of the smuggled spirit. A shot of absinthe is poured into beautifully etched glass - an ornate slotted spoon is placed across the rim of the glass and 2 cubes of sugar is placed on top. Cold water is poured through the top that turns the spirit milky. It is a licorice flavor similar to Ouzo.
Conviviality reigned!

April Farmers Market

April Market bring…swirling snow

I am impatient; I want the spring greens, the apple blossoms and all that goes with them. Now. Any rational person will tell you, nature rules; it will arrive when it’s time. So enjoy. Now.
I like to taste the Saturday market, simply without a lot of fuss, a market munch, so to speak.

Fig and Anise Bruschetta with goat cheese and honey

Slice a Breadfarm Fig and Anise roll in half, lightly toast under a broiler and slather with Gothberg Farm goat cheese and drizzle with raspberry honey.

Perfect!

I Love Computers

Hello everyone,
I am in recovery mode on my computer, having lost it all. So, if you want to reach me, please email.
If you want to continue to receive the newsletter, please send me your address. I will be back soon!
Ciao, Mary Ellen