If my walls could talk, their words would be sad. Last Saturday a 21-year old man lost his life while climbing nearby Capitol Peak. Among Colorado’s 58 fourteeners, peaks that rise more than 14,000 feet above sea level, Capitol, at 14,130 feet, is acknowledged as the most difficult.
JUST MARRIED and WAITING for the AUGUST SOLAR ECLIPSE
ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY ASPEN LOCALS HELD THE BRIDE’S BOUQUET WHILE SHE PUT ON GLASSES to WATCH THE ECLIPSE.
Devastating as one hiking death can be for our community, six days previously a young Aspen couple met the same fate in the same area on Capitol. That area, called the “Knife Edge” is an 1800’ ridge which includes a razor sharp 100-foot section with abrupt drops on both sides. There is one route, one route only across the “Knife Edge”. The three victims had taken what appeared to be an easier path. It is not.
PEACH CRISP, IOWA STYLE
Earlier this summer, two others died while climbing Capitol Peak. Combining those tragedies with the devastating flooding in Houston and also Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Niger, leaves me thinking of people in need, grieving and dying. Writing about our Cook-the-Book-Fridays recipe choice, a Tian of Baked Provencal Vegetables or a scrumptious Peach Crisp, Iowa Style, seems kinda inappropriate.
TIAN OF BAKED PROVENÇAL VEGETABLES
Like you, I have Texas friends dealing with this tragedy. Every summer my birding buddy, Susan Brisbois Foster, and her husband spend eight weeks in Aspen. Two weeks ago they returned to their home in Rockport which became ground zero for Hurricane Harvey. They evacuated to Laredo. While most of Rockport is devastated, without power or running water, their home is still standing. The last I heard from Susan, they were loading up on critically-needed supplies for first responders and returning home briefly to view the destruction firsthand. Because of the curfew, they have to leave by 7pm.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT’S FLEET FITS OUR COMMUNITY, BY DESIGN.
THE HOOD of EACH CAR HAS a DIFFERENT THEME.
MUSIC at the TENT
It’s gratifying to watch generosity and kindness rise up as volunteerism in every worthy form. Our fire station is drop-off central for essential supplies, to be hauled to Houston by transport. A local Valley businessman is already headed south with 4 flat-bottom duck boats, outboard motors and an experienced crew to “stay down there as long as we need to,” he says.
IOWA CHOPS and COLORADO CORN WERE on the MENU WHEN KAREN’S ST. LOUIS FRIENDS of 50 YEARS VISITED. WE WENT TO ASTRONOMY NIGHT at ACES AND THEY HIKED UP TO CRATER LAKE WITH ME at the MAROON BELLS.
Houston has caused me to re-think my community, the effort and safety nets put forth to keep our Valley safe. Have you thought about that at all? Although Aspen has a population of only 6,900 people and the Roaring Fork Valley, 32,200 residents, we are a resort destination with a responsibility to the thousands of visitors who come here every year. What I now realize, even more, is how we rely on the volunteer efforts of those who live here to keep this Valley’s motor running (powered by 100% renewable energy, of course).
OUR SUMMER VISITORS INCLUDED THESE TIBETAN MONKS
Our White River National Forest is the most visited national forest in the nation encompassing 2.3 million acres. It’s an overwhelming responsibility for the understaffed USFS personnel already dealing with dramatic budget cuts. Last summer we wilderness ranger volunteers who monitor our trail system contributed 9,000 service hours, an in-kind donation valued at $233,730.
THE NEW C.B. CAMERON RESCUE CENTER, HOME of MOUNTAIN RESCUE ASPEN. In 1977, a plane crash involving the C. B. Cameron family occurred in the Capitol Creek drainage. Mountain Rescue Aspen performed the rescue of the family, but unfortunately C.B. Cameron did not survive the crash. The Cameron Family recognized Mountain Rescue Aspen to say thank you for actions taken so long ago that were never forgotten. With their help and that of other donors and the Valley community, this new facility was recently dedicated.
Without question, Aspen Mountain Rescue, 50 volunteers with no paid staff and on duty 24/7, is the most valuable asset we have for backcountry search-and-rescues. Our Valley has the utmost respect, almost a reverence, for this organization. These are men and women with day jobs and families who spend countless hours training, preparing and then heading out on dangerous rescue missions. They are our friends and neighbors and often put themselves in harm’s way to pull others out of harm. This year they’ve already answered 47 calls and will likely respond to more than the 66 missions in 2016. For them, it’s been a rough week.
The Aspen Skiing Company has purchased 34 3-bedroom units, 400 square feet, to provide affordable housing for the seasonal workers during the winter ski season. Located at the former KOA Basalt Campground which Skico now owns and is upgrading, the monthly rent will be $450 per person. That’s a bargain, for sure.
While our thoughts will be with Houston and Texas for the many perilous months ahead, just a reminder to remember those who are minding the store in our own backyards. And, aren’t we lucky?
Who doesn’t decorate their bear-proof trash cans? The bears are hungry. In July there were over 70 reports of bears trying to get into homes.
This week’s recipes are delicious and self-explanatory, dishes for you to enjoy during the holiday weekend. Happy Labor Day, Everyone. Be safe.
8-10 fresh ripe peaches, peeled and sliced
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
A few grates of fresh nutmeg (optional)
TOPPING:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (one stick or 4 ounces) cold butter, cut into cubes
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Mix peaches with sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and place into a 9 x 9-inch baking dish or something of similar size and shape.
3.In a medium bowl, mix together topping ingredients using pastry blender or fingers until butter is incorporated. Crumble topping over peaches.
4. Place baking dish on sheet pan. Bake for about 35 minutes OR till topping is golden and filling is bubbling.
Serve with vanilla ice cream if desired.
TIAN of BAKED PROVENCAL VEGETABLES by David Leibovitz, My Paris Kitchen
Ready for the Oven
Serves 6 to 8 as a side
INGREDIENTS
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 onions, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
3 tsp minced fresh thyme
2 Japanese eggplants or 1 globe (12 ounces)
1 zucchini (8 ounces)
2 firm tomatoes (12 ounces)
Sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, Comté or Emmental
DIRECTIONS
Special equipment: a 3-4 quart shallow baking dish
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. And the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes or until they start to wilt. Add the minced garlic and 1 teaspoon minced thyme, Season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the onion is soft and translucent, about 3 minutes more.
3. Spread the onion mixture in a shallow baking dish.
The Bottom Layer of Onions and Garlic. I also had some Roasted Hatch Chiles from the Farmer’s Market so threw some “heat” into the mix.
4. Trim away the ends of the zucchini and eggplant and cut them into 1/4” slices. Cut out the stems of the tomatoes and slice them thinly also. (If you are comfortable with a mandoline slicer, use it to slice the vegetables.)
5. Arrange the sliced vegetables in a overlapping, circular, concentric pattern, alternating the sliced vegetables and fitting them tightly into the dish.
6. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the vegetables and and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tsp of thyme. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 35-45 minutes.
8. Remove the foil, strew the cheese over the top and bake uncovered for 20 to 25 more minutes until the veggies are completely cooked through.
9. Serve warm or at room temperature the same day you make it. If reheating the leftovers, stick in a 325 degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes.
Cook-the-Book-Fridays is an international group cooking its way virtually through David Lebovitz’s My Paris Kitchen. To visit our home page or join our group, here’s the link.
“Everyone has a story, the air is full of stories.” Isabelle Allende
COQ AU VIN (chicken in red wine sauce)
Do you realize January 2017 has packed its bag, left the house and won’t return? Already two days into February, it’s Groundhog Day. Punxutawney Phil saw his shadow. Looking ahead, (or, not,) Super Bowl Sunday, the Oscars and Presidents’ week-end are in the line-up. Oops, Valentine’s Day. Forget that at your peril.Like most of you, this Life of mine has never seen lazy days. Whatever time I have, I fill up 100%. If you’re honest, don’t we all?
I discovered a very large NAPA (Chinese) CABBAGE in my Talley Farms box this week. It was the size of a football.
SWEET and SOUR ROASTED NAPA CABBAGE WEDGES (The cabbages you’ll find in the markets are smaller, a more appropriate size).
Just as when it snows in the Rockies, the rains have lightened the hearts of Central Coast residents. California still is water-deprived but there’s been relief. And, Mother Nature, responding to the slightest of care, is blooming and going green.
This Great White Egret is a frequent visitor to Estero Bluffs. When I saw him, he was just finishing “something.” He has a neck that would have madeAudrey Hepburn envious.
I stood quietly for 15 minutes before the egret flew off.
For birds it’s all about food and safety.
LANDING IN GREENER PASTURES
Last year, during my four months in Cali, I got a sense of this remarkable state. Thankful for the opportunity with a car that was willing, I traveled its length and breadth. If I qualify as a lifetime learner, that 7,500 mile journey was a graduate seminar.
LAST WEEK I PACKED A LUNCH AND SPENT SEVERAL HOURS AT THE SAN SIMEON BAY WHARF AND SS STATE BEACH PARK, BOTH ADJACENT TO THE HEARST PROPERTY AND ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THE HEARST CASTLE.
AS I WALKED OUT ON THE WHARF, THIS CALIFORNIA GULL WAS PARKED ON THIS POST AND NOT ABOUT TO MOVE. I GOT RELATIVELY CLOSE. HE DIDN’T CARE. RIGHT BELOW THE GULL IS A SINK WHERE FISHERMEN CLEAN THEIR CATCH AND THE GULL WAS NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP HIS SPOT.
HERE’S THE REASON …..A SHORT TIME LATER,THIS FISHERMAN, A REGULAR ON THE WHARF, ARRIVED. HE HAS STORIES TO TELL AND ROCKFISH TO CATCH. THE GULL WANTS THE REMAINS.
AS I WAS LEAVING THE PARK, I SPOTTED THIS ZEBRA NEAR THE HEARST PROPERTY FENCE LINE. THERE ARE STILL ABOUT 24 ZEBRAS THAT DESCENDED FROM THE HERD HEARST HAD FOR HIS EXOTIC ANIMALS ZOO. USUALLY THEY GRAZE UP IN THE HILLS. THIS GUY WAS 10′ FROM ME AND IS QUITE A BEAUTIFUL CREATURE.
This year, because of self-imposed deadlines for writing projects, I decided to wander in my own backyard. I was reminded by those daily adventures that everyone has a story. Granted, not all are cliffhangers but each carries a whiff of charm, mystery or ya-gotta-hear-this.
I’VE NEVER SEEN A BLUE-AND-WHITE COW, I NEVER HOPE TO SEE ONE BUT I CAN TELL YOU ANYHOW I’S RATHER SEE THAN BE ONE.
The key, for me, at least, is to slow down, look and listen. Two of those traits I’ve never mastered successfully! This winter I am blessed with the luxury of Time which, for me, is a gift, something to embrace and not squander. January was squander-free, every day filled with a gem or two for the memory bank.
SO SIMPLE. SO PERFECT.
It’s Cook-the-Book Fridays and this week’s recipe is french deliciousness, Coq au Vin. One of Julia Child’s signature dishes and included in her 1961 Mastering the Art of French Cooking, she often made it on her PBS cooking show. I served this braised stew with a baguette and Sweet and Sour Roasted Napa Cabbage Wedges (recipe below.)
SWEET and SOUR ROASTED NAPA CABBAGE WEDGES adapted from Cooking Light magazine.
Yield: Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon whole-grain Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 head napa (Chinese) cabbage, cut lengthwise into quarters
Cooking spray
PREPARATION:
1. Place a large roasting pan in oven. Preheat oven and pan to 450°.
2. Combine first 7 ingredients in a small bowl.
3. Coat cut sides of cabbage with cooking spray. Place cabbage, cut sides down, on preheated pan. Bake 6 minutes. Turn cabbage onto other cut side; bake an additional 6 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Heat broiler to high. Brush cabbage liberally but evenly with honey mixture. Broil 3-5 minutes, until browned and caramelized.
COOK-the-BOOK-FRIDAYS is an international cooking group making its way virtually through David Lebovitz’s MY PARIS KITCHEN. See our group’s efforts here.
Tom Turkey has been roosting outside my balcony the past two weeks. Since he doesn’t want to turn into dinner next week, he’s playing it safe near the deserted D building at The Gant.
COOK the BOOK FRIDAYS.
SCALLOPED POTATOES with BLEU CHEESE and ROASTED GARLIC
A winter storm warning is in effect today. We’re expecting 4-8 inches which is good news for Aspen.
Tomorrow (Friday) I’m headed West. First stop, Anthem Country Club in Henderson, Nevada where I’ll drop my bags for six weeks. Michael and I lived in ACC the last 8 years of our marriage. What I positively know is I wouldn’t have survived those difficult years without the small cadre of strangers who became our friends and my lifesavers. This six weeks is an opportunity for my heart to hold tightly to those friendships and memories. And, it doesn’t get any better than Thanksgiving and Christmas with my kids in Bishop.
Popping some garlic cloves into the oven, ready to roast. The aroma is sublime.
Preparing for my trip West is an energy-buster. I pack for a 5 1/2 month journey but also clear my condo, handing it off to The Gant for ski season rental. Everything personal moves to storage. #%@&% Of course I’d rather it be turnkey but this opportunity supports the turf, allowing me to remain in Aspen. (Warning: Now, here I get personal. You may want to skip to this week’s scrumptious recipe, Scalloped Potatoes with Bleu Cheese and Roasted Garlic)
The cheese is bleu.
These weeks of packing gave me time to reflect on my past 6 1/2 months in Aspen. The High Country has been my safe paradise since 1988. To my despair, this year I’ve clashed up against personal limitations and been forced to sample dependency. First Time Ever.
During my birthday celebration long ago, my daughter, Melissa, entertained guests with remarks about me. She mentioned two of the more exasperating qualities: 1) “Mom is ferociously independent.” 2) “Mom never gives up. Never.” To my mind, those two qualities are fantastic. To a daughter and friends, at times, not so much.
Layer #1 – sliced potatoes, bleu cheese and seasoning.
The saving grace of this discouraging six months have been my friendships, both local and virtual. Luckily my besties love me unconditionally and back at ‘em. In this Life, aren’t they the kind to treasure? It’s been a scary season of patch, patch, patch, requiring medical maintenance which translated into dependency and care. To everyone’s credit, friends stepped up, took over, never asking permission and only needed thank you’s.
Just thinking about what I can no longer do is cringe-worthy. Keeping 10 balls in the air anymore? Nope, multi-tasking is over. Gave up biking this summer, erring on the side of caution. I say “No, thank you” more than “Yes” and have 276 emails requiring responses. I don’t pop up at 5 AM anymore, missing birding opportunities. I’m adverse to risk, unwilling to go out on that proverbial limb. My world turns more slowly and, to me, that’s shocking, scary and disappointing.
Layer #2
Some time ago, I stopped to see a friend who had recently lost both her mother and husband. She was, understandably, distraught. “Mary,” she said, tearfully, “I’ve already lost my mother and husband, I don’t want to lose myself.”
This is the first time since Michael died I’m saying that same thing. This blog is about building a courageous Lifestyle following a loss. With a good mind, excellent health and the resources available to me, there have been few bumps until now. Realizing I can do nothing about the aging process and disheartened that I can’t easily adjust to that, I need to change course and figure this out. That, dear Readers,is my winter’s chore.
Layer #3, the topping. Saturate with Cream. It’s ready for the oven.
What I don’t need to figure out is this week’s stunning recipe from David Lebovitz’s My Paris Kitchen cookbook. Scalloped Potatoes with Bleu Cheese and Roasted Garlic may be the most delicious side dish I’ve ever featured. It’s decadent, substantial and plays well with roasted poultry or pork and beef main courses. Quick to make and economical to the wallet.
Recommended for Holidays – Scalloped Potatoes with Bleu Cheese and Roasted Garlic.
SCALLOPED POTATOES with BLUE CHEESE & ROASTED GARLIC by David Lebovitz, My Paris Kitchen
Serves 8
INGREDIENTS:
10 large cloves garlic
Olive oil
3 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt, plus more for seasoning the potatoes
2 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup minced fresh chives
1 1/2 cups coarsely crumbled bleu cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. Trim the hard stem ends off the garlic cloves and put them, unpeeled, onto a piece of aluminum foil that’s large enough to envelop them. Drizzle in a small amount of olive oil, close it securely, and roast in the oven for 45 minutes, until the cloves are lightly caramelized. (You can do this a few days ahead when you are using the oven for something else.) Leave the oven on and adjust the oven rack to the top third of the oven.
3. Remove the garlic from the skins and mash the cloves in a saucepan with a few spoonfuls of the cream to make a paste. Put the saucepan over low heat and add the remaining cream. Heat until warmed through and then set aside.
4. Peel and slice the potatoes into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Generously butter a 2 1/2-quart baking dish with sides at least 2 inches high. Put one-third of the potato slices in the baking dish. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle one-third of the chives over the potatoes followed by one-third of the bleu cheese. Add another one-third of the potatoes, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with one-third of the chives and bleu cheese. Add the final layer of potatoes, then pour the cream mixture over them and press down gently to flatten the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle on the remaining chives and bleu cheese.
5. Put the gratin dish on an aluminum foil–lined baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, until it’s bubbling and well browned on top. The acidic cheese may cause the cream to separate a little bit, which is normal.
TIP: 1) I used my OXO mandoline, set at 1/4”, to slice the potatoes. Slicing them took less than 15 minutes. 2) I didn’t peel my potatoes, leaving the skin on each slice.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE.
A pair of Merriam wild turkeys are roosting in the cottonwoods at The Gant at night. Wild turkeys are cunning, wary birds with excellent eyesight.
FATTOUSH, THIS WEEK’S RECIPE FROM MY PARIS KITCHEN BY DAVID LEBOVITZ.
Can you handle a How-To List? Realizing you’re involved in your own lives, I can hear heavy sighing. Take a deep breath. Grab that leap of faith. Today’s post is loaded with gems of wisdom. Lifesavers. For you. And, loved ones.
ROSE LEVY BERANBAUM’S FRESH BLUEBERRY PIE FEATURED IN FOOD 52’s GENIUS RECIPES cookbook.
It’s also CooktheBookFridays. Our recipe is Fattoush, David Lebovitz’s ingenious salad loaded with ‘a jumble of ingredients.’ This healthy Middle Eastern dish was the opening act of a recent dinner which included Baked Salmon with Parmesan Herb Crust, Sugar Snap Peas, homemade bread and fresh Blueberry Pie. Get this. The blueberry pie is magical and doesn’t seep. No oozing issues.
BAKED SALMON WITH PARMESAN HERB CRUST, SAUTEED SUGAR SNAP PEAS AND HOMEMADE BREAD.
Let’s get started. First, Life on the Safe Side.
Automobiles have never mattered to me. Cars were to go and return. Michael handled the family vehicles. Several years ago the chore became mine. Ignorance is not bliss. My Henderson neighbors helped me purchase cars. The Gant guys showed me how to raise my hood to add window washer fluid. That they did this repeatedly without a smirk, I will always be grateful.
This past winter I took a 5-month solo road trip, traveling 7,500 miles in a 2008 Lexus. My entire trip was accident free, no police encounters and no on-the-road unpleasantness. Chalk that up to first-timer’s luck but also preparation and a vehicle that purrs.
A CAR IS JIUST A MACHINE BUT THIS LEXUS WAS MY BEST BUDDY THIS WINTER. IT’S AGING WITH SOME BUMPS AND BRUISES BUT SO AM I. WE ARE A GOOD TEAM.
My car now matters to me. Since purchasing it I have methodically maintained 5,000-mile maintenance check-ups. Everything that’s ever happened to my Lexus is paper-filed in a folder underneath the driver’s seat. My Life on the Safe Side List begins with confidence in your transportation. Whether a new or experienced driver, traveling alone or on long road trips with others, here are safety reminders to enhance your ride:
1. Be sure your car is ROAD READY. Check your glove department for up-to-date documents, Swiss Army knife, flashlight, power bar, pen, paper and meds, if necessary.
2. For emergencies, think about buying a AAA 76-Piece Excursion Road Kit (my choice) which includes car and first aid needs. Add a blanket. My hiking backpack includes survival gear.
3. Buy a can of Fix a Flat Tire Aerosol. If you are not comfortable with a donut tire, throw a spare in your trunk.
4. Pack water, snacks and foods of choice. A cooler, if you wish.
5. Join AAA or another road assistance program.
6. Wanderlust is romantic but planning and mapping your travel, especially if alone, is responsible. I own a Garmin. I program it, mark a map and also print out directions.
7. AAA’s planners helped me plot my presidential library research trips. They will assist with your journey and send you TripTiks, free personalized itinerary books.
8. Two-digit Interstates often go directly through cities. Three-digit Interstates go around them. Odd-numbered highways run north to south and even-numbered ones run east to west. (Go Nomad)
THE GREAT HORNED OWLET IS GROWING AND CAN EVEN FLY. MOM AND DAD ARE INTO TOUGH LOVE AND ARE SLOWLY WEANING THE BABY AWAY FROM THEM.
9. If your gas tank is 1/2 full, think about a fill-up. Never go below 1/4. Every night fill your tank, clean your windshield and toss any accumulated trash in your car. Just do it.
10. When driving, lock your car. Fasten your seatbelt. Drive only 5 miles over the speed limit, no more. Do not drink and drive. Not one drop.
11. Charge your cell phone at night and keep a car charger available. If you must text, pull over. When I’m on the road, I text my daughter 3 times a day.
12. I just started checking in with a “Guess where I am now?” cell photo text. Even if she cannot guess the locale, she knows I’m safe.
13. I do not have Satellite radio so entertain myself with Book CD’s. The downside is I become too engrossed. On a recent drive, I was fighting the 1781 Siege of Yorktown, pitting George Washington against General Cornwallis, and completely missed an exit. That added 28 additional miles to an already weary day.
14. Don’t neglect the many signs noting nearby photo opportunities, historical sites and important places. Every state is proud and touts them. Keep your phone and camera handy for an unexpected adventure.
I EXPERIENCED MY OWN MEMORABLE ADVENTURE THIS WEEK ON MY FIRST VOLUNTEER USFS RANGER DUTY. I HIKED THROUGH SNOW AND FALLEN TREES BUT FINALLY REACHED BEAUTIFUL WELLER LAKE.
15. I start early in the morning, about 7 or 8am, and stop in late afternoon. Keep track of pesky time zones. No to night driving.
16. I always have a destination in mind and make reservations. Try to choose motels/hotels in safe, secure locations. Park your car near lights. Rely on the clerk and on-line assistance for restaurant choices.
17. Remember where you park. Whether at a mall, tourist attraction, hotel or parking garage, recognize where you’ve left your car. Take a picture as a reminder.
18. Notify your credit card companies of your travel plans.
19. Do not overpack (my downfall).
20. This year why not leave your political bumper stickers at home. Especially when traveling alone, you don’t want to attract attention nor court comments.
(Thanks to Solo Traveler, Road & Travel and Go Nomad for on-going road trip advice.)
DESPITE HUNDREDS OF HIKERS/BIKERS ON SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN, THIS TINY WREN IS BUSY BUILDING A HOME.
When making this salad, don’t leave out the ground sumac, a tart spicy powder used in Middle Eastern cooking. If you can’t find it locally order it from Pensey’s, The Spice House or other on-line sources.
FATTOUSH by David Lebovitz, My Paris Kitchen cookbook
Makes 6 servings
INGREDIENTS:
2 large or 4 small rounds of pita bread
1/2 cup olive oil, plus extra for brushing the pita
1/3 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
8 cups torn or wide-cut ribbons of romaine lettuce
4 scallions, white and tender green parts, thinly sliced
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into large dice
20 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
1/2 bunch radishes, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons ground sumac
Freshly ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Put the pita breads on a baking sheet, brush them evenly with olive oil, and toast for 10 to 12 minutes or until crisp. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
3. In a large serving bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, salt, garlic and mustard. Whisk in the 1/2 cup of olive oil.
4. Add the lettuce, scallions, cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, mint and radishes. Toss the salad, adding 1 teaspoon of the sumac and a few generous grinds of pepper.
5. Crumble the pita into irregular pieces that are slightly larger than bite-size and gently toss until the pieces of pita are coated with the dressing. Sprinkle the salad with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of sumac and serve.
TIP: I only used half of the lemony garlic dressing.
FRESH BLUEBERRY PIE by Rose Levy Beranbaum, from FOOD52 Genius Recipes cookbook
THE MORNING AFTER, FOR BREAKFAST I ADDED SOME LEFTOVER WHIPPED CREAM AND FINISHED THE PIE. HERE’S PROOF THAT THE JUICE REMAINED IN THE BERRIES AND DIDN’T SEEP OUT ONTO THE TART DISH.
INGREDIENTS: (little sugar and thickeners are used in the filling)
1 tablespoon egg white, lightly beaten
4 cups blueberries, rinsed and dried
1/2 liquid cup and two tablespoons water, divided
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
The PASTRY
1. Preheat the oven to 425°F at least 20 minutes before baking.
2. Make your crust of choice or buy a pre-made product. Roll the pastry to fit into a pie or tart pan. Cover it loosely and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 24 hours. To bake it, cover with parchment so it fits and fill it with rice or dried beans. Bake for 20 minutes. Carefully lift out the rice or beans with the parchment. With a fork, prick the bottom and sides, and bake 5-10 minutes more, or until the crust is pale golden. Check after 3 minutes and prick any bubbles that may have formed.
3. Cool the crust on a rack for 3 minutes, so it is no longer piping hot, then brush the bottom and sides with the egg white — this will help keep the bottom crust from getting soggy.
The FILLING
1. Measure out 1 cup of the blueberries, choosing the softest ones. Place them in a medium saucepan together with the 1/2 cup water. Cover and bring them to a boil.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and the remaining 2 tablespoons of water. Set it aside.
3. When the water and blueberries have come to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, stirring constantly for 3 to 4 minutes or until the blueberries start to burst and the juices begin to thicken. Stirring constantly, add the cornstarch mixture, the sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Simmer for a minute or until the mixture becomes translucent. Immediately remove it from the heat and quickly fold in the remaining 3 cups of blueberries.
4. Spoon the mixture into the baked pie shell and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours before serving. When set, the berries will remain very juicy but will not flow out of the crust.
5. Serve with whipped or ice cream if desired. This pie can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Baked Salmon with Parmesan Herb Crust by Add a Pinch (linked here)
CooktheBookFridays is a virtual international group making their way through David Lebovitz’s My Paris Kitchen cookbook.To see what others have mixed up this week or to join our group (it’s fun), go here.
CHICKPEAS and SPINACH served over SPAGHETTI SQUASH
My end-of-month post is often a favorite since I’m meeting unique recipes and buying ingredients that have never graced my pantry. Michael was a meat and potatoes, Oreo cookies, chocolate marshmallow pinwheels and Häagen-Dazs guy. If there was a bag of Snickers around, hip, hip hooray. He did love spinach, if it was creamed, but other veggies, not so much. And, pass on those salads.
Hundreds of Black-Necked Stilts find the food plentiful at the Merced Wildlife Refuge , part of the San Luis Refuge Complex.
It was food blogger Andrea Mohr, The Kitchen Lioness, who suggested I look at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage Veg. Hugh’s cookbook contains 200 inspired vegetable recipes simple enough for beginners but sophisticated in their flavoring and spices. I’ve been cooking this book with Andrea’s monthly group, Cottage Cooking Club, for almost two years.
Moroccan-spiced Couscous
This week’s CCC recipes include Chickpeas and Spinach served over Spaghetti Squash. Cumin and chile (fresh or dried), provide the kick. Using Cumin again, I added coriander and cinnamon to pull together Moroccan-spiced Couscous. Dried fruits, toasted nuts and chickpeas mixed into couscous is a delightful lunch or lovely side. Spaghetti squash, to me, may be the Jim Carey of the squash world. It’s hilarious and we’ll return to it later.
It’s always thrilling to spot Bald Eagles. Morro Bay Marina, 1/15/16
Over the Martin Luther King holiday week-end I attended the 20th annual Morro Bay Bird Festival. Although rain dampened some field trips, this is a wonderful year for Central Coast birds. Thank you, El Niño. With a predicted two-day sunshine break, I jumped in the car last Wednesday and headed for the San Joaquin Valley, the state’s top agricultural producing region. It’s also where the San Luis Wildlife Refuge complex, 45,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands and riparian habitats, as well as over 90,000 acres of private conservation easements for the protection and benefit of wildlife, is located.
The Tule Elk, a non-migratory elk found only in California, went almost extinct in the early Seventies. Today a herd is protected, lives at the San Luis Wildlife Refuge and is thriving.
Thousands of Snow Geese and the smaller Ross’s Geese winter in the San Joaquin Valley
Not knowing what to expect, I was unprepared for this natural world theatrical extravaganza, The Refuges play host for 6 months to more than 20,000 lesser Sandhill cranes, 60,000 arctic-nesting geese and swans who migrate along the great Pacific Flyway to mingle with thousands of other visiting waterfowl and shorebirds. My, it’s noisy! I stayed in nearby rural Los Banos and, surprisingly, enjoyed some of the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted at M&M Restaurant owned by the six Munoz brothers.
Sprinkled throughout my Central California coast driving adventure last week were thousands of stacked and nondescript white boxes which are visible from the highway. They contain honey bees.Though not image inspiring, I found their story to be incredibly inspiring. The bee hive boxes are trucked here to spend a warm winter before almond pollination begins. In total, 1,800,000 hives are estimated to be in California (54 billion bees) now. These beekeepers allowed me to take pictures and ask questions. Since bees were swarming outside the boxes also, I didn’t linger.
Hopefully you will not only enjoy these recipes but also some photos from my last two weeks’ adventures.
A Trumpeter Swan. The “rock” in the background is a juvenile swan eating.
SPAGHETTI SQUASH
Aren’t you surprised that spaghetti squash isn’t more popular? Yes, it’s difficult to entice kids to willingly try different vegetables but sometimes we raise their expectations. At first bite, peas aren’t delicious. They’re mushy and stick to the roof of your mouth. It’s not really necessary to ever like cooked carrots if you prefer raw. And, spaghetti squash is not pasta although it looks like pasta. Throw Marinara sauce and a juicy meatball on top and it still tastes like squash. Start slowly, with butter, salt, pepper, a squirt or two of lemon…..
It may be magic but it’s still squash!
DIRECTIONS:
1.Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Put the whole spaghetti squash into the oven.
3. Bake for 40-45 minutes. When it is easily pierced with a fork, remove, and let cool enough for handling
4. Cut in half, diagonally.
5. Using a spoon, remove the seeds. Then, with a fork, scrape the flesh under the seeds
CHICKPEAS AND SPINACH served over SPAGHETTI SQUASH, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, River Cottage Veg
Chickpeas and Spinach served over Spaghetti Squash
MOROCCAN-SPICED COUSCOUS, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, River Cottage Veg
Moroccan-spiced Couscous
If you want either of Hugh’s recipes, let me know. MH
ROASTED ACORN SQUASH with GARLIC BUTTER and BURRATA
Last summer when we finished cooking through Dorie Greenspan’s Around My French Table, I seriously considered signing off. The major reasons I began LightsonBright. as I’ve often said, were not only to bring structure to a chaotic time but also to chronicle the journey of rebuilding a life. Besides completing the cookbook, I also felt I’d accomplished my task and brought order, stability and balance to myself. I was unsure if I had anything left to say.
RADICCHIO with PINE NUTS, CURRANTS and AGED BALSAMIC
Okay, hold on. I already know that with that last sentence many of my dear friends who loyally read my post every week just fell on the floor laughing. Now get up, compose yourselves and let’s be serious.
The conclusion I finally reached is that this lifestyle I’ve structured will never again be as orderly or constant as it was for most of our 25-year marriage. It will invariably need tweaking. Compromises will be required and trade-offs made. Michael was the guy who kept my playing field level, always steady-eddy, unruffled and calm. I’ve had to jump into those voids plus all others now to keep the Hirsch household humming.
MISE en PLACE ( the necessary ingredients) for ROASTED ACORN SQUASH WITH GARLIC BUTTER and BURRATA
So, surprising as it may be, perhaps I have more to say! It’s also true that I eat well because of this blog. Why mess with that? Since February 2011, I’ve tried a new recipe every week. Hits and Misses. The two recipes for this week, Radicchio with Pine Nuts, Currants, and Aged Balsamic and Roasted Acorn Squash with Garlic Butter and Burrata are definite HITS.
MISE en PLACE (the necessary ingredients) for RADICCHIO WITH PINE NUTS, CURRANTS AND AGED BALSAMIC
What I know for sure is if I wasn’t writing this blog, that wouldn’t happen. I love to cook but who really enjoys the alone part of mealtime? For me, cooking has become purposeful. That’s why it works. This whole blog thing brings me Joy. My web host provider who sends me weekly e-mail updates on site visits reported last week’s post climbed to a 4-year high for Hits. Clunk my head with the Joy Bar.
Never in a million years… Wiggling in is easier than negotiating yourself out of a wetsuit. Necessary in the Galapagos for not only warmth while snorkeling but my friends also insist it will provide buoyancy.
About those tweaks. My December Galapagos trip is still a GO although I’ve hit a snag with the swimming/snorkeling challenge. I’ve nailed the snorkeling (thanks Carol Kurt) but learning to swim may be more difficult. Last Monday the local newspaper reported that our INDOOR community pool is closed for renovation. Say what? I was all set to move indoors and learn to stay afloat. Not happening: Snorkeling, check; Wetsuit, check; Floaty, available onboard the Integrity; Swimming, progress halted. Whether I succeed or not, I think I am brave to try.
Last December was snowy, cold and icy in Aspen. Perfect for this skiing resort community but I found myself wary of driving or falling. A broken hip and my life changes forever. While accidents can happen anywhere, I am gaming Mother Nature by leaving Aspen earlier, at Thanksgiving and returning later, in May. It’s Plan A and I’ll be telling you all about my upcoming adventures. As my daughter, Melissa, my wingwoman for the past 12 eventful years, always reminds me, “If Plan A doesn’t work, Mom, we’ll go to Plan B or C.” (Love that Lady.)
THE ACORN SQUASH, SEASONED WITH GARLIC BUTTER and S/P, IS READY FOR A ROAST.
This week’s recipes are too simple, require too few ingredients and are too delicious. Radicchio with Pine Nuts, Currants and Aged Balsamic is another favorite from Jody Williams’ Buvette cookbook. Radicchio, which is a leaf chicory, has a bitter and spicy taste but mellows in the oven. That’s what happens here. We braise it in olive oil and water, making it soft and supple. After then adding roasted pine nuts, currants and balsamic, it’s good to go.
AFTER DRIZZLING EACH RADICCHIO QUARTER WITH OLIVE OIL AND POURING IN WATER, IT’S READY FOR THE OVEN.
It’s squash season. Tell me something better than Roasted Acorn Squash with Garlic Butter and Burrata by Food & Wine magazine’s Chef Dave Beran. According to The Kitchn blog, ‘Burrata cheese takes the mozzarella one step further — it’s mozzarella that’s formed into a pouch and then filled with soft, stringy curd and cream.’
While Chef Beran insists it is ‘fantastic with a lush Chardonnay’, I found it quite tasty with an Octoberfest beer.
ROASTED ACORN SQUASH with GARLIC BUTTER and BURRATA, adapted from Chef Dave Beran, Food & Wine magazine
YIELD: Serves Four
INGREDIENTS:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves
Kosher salt
Pepper
Two 1 1/2-pound acorn squash, halved lengthwise, seeds discarded
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar
4 cups baby greens (2 ounces)
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced and rinsed under cold water
One 1/2-pound ball of burrata
Cracked black pepper, for garnish
Flaky sea salt, for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°. In a bowl, combine the butter, shallot, garlic and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Season the squash halves with salt and pepper also and set on a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with the garlic butter and roast for about 30 minutes, until the squash is golden and tender.
2. While the squash is roasting,in a bowl, whisk the oil and vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Add the baby greens and red onion and toss to coat.
3. Cut the burrata into 4 pieces.
4. After the squash has roasted 30 minutes, place each burrata piece on the squash half as pictured. Slide carefully under a broiler for between 1-2 minutes to soften and toast it. Watch this process carefully.
5. Top each squash half with salad, as pictured and moving the slightly-melted cheese a bit if necessary. Garnish with cracked pepper and sea salt, serve warm and pass extra salad greens.
RADICCHIO with PINE NUTS, CURRANTS, and AGED BALSAMIC, by Jody Williams, Buvette, The Pleasure of Good Food
YIELD: Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
2 small heads radicchio
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup water
Coarse salt
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
2 tablespoons currants
1 tablespoon good-quality aged balsamic vinegar
Balsamic Vinegar Glaze (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
1.Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2. Quarter each radicchio lengthwise. Be sure to leave the cores intact so that you end up with wedges that are held together at the base.
3. Place the radicchio wedges in a roasting dish or a skillet, anything that will hold them in an even layer and that can go into the oven. Drizzle with the olive oil and pour in the water. Tightly cover the dish with a lid or aluminum foil and roast in the oven until tender when pierced with a paring knife, about 20 minutes.
4. While the radicchio is braising, put the currants in the 1 tablespoon (or, slightly more) of balsamic vinegar to plump.
5. Toast the pine nuts.
6. (Optional) When the radicchio is cooked, I also put it under the broiler for 2 minutes for an ever-so-slightly charred effect.
7. Transfer the radicchio to a serving dish and sprinkle with a large pinch of salt. Scatter the pine nuts and balsamic vinegar/currants mix over the radicchio, and drizzle with a tiny amount of glaze if you wish.
8. Serve warm or at room temperature.
I WENT ON MY LAST ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES BIRD CLUB HIKE THIS WEEK. ALTHOUGH MANY BIRDS HAVE ‘FLOWN THE CHILLY COOP’, THIS FEMALE KINGFISHER IS STILL HANGING AROUND.
