Punch it!
Sometimes you have to take a risk! So, I took a risk. I made myself this sandwich with a fish that I can't say I love. So, I am taking a risk. In posting photos of a whole fried fish, in all its possibly repulsive possible awe-inspiring glory. The first time in tasting was a worthy risk. This one, in posting, you tell me...! :)
I chose Sardine. I have said it before, they are not my favorite fish to eat as is, because of their rather pungent flavor; Like chicken liver. Actually, exactly like chicken liver!! I just had an Epiphany as I was typing this! That is probably why I like both of them in pates diluted with large amounts of butter and masking spices! Give me the fat and smooth spread without the stick-in-my-palate flavor.
Long story short, it was a success, which, is why it is here. What I found was that....
Savor the Tart!
Well, it was to be expected after all... Sometime during this season, the tomatoes makes themselves felt on blogs around this part of the world.
May I present, the solace of mine soul - Tomato Tart! Pure and simple.
It does have a gluten free crust and before you gluten snobs wrinkle your nose about it, I ask you to give it a chance. The millet and moong flours have just the right boldness to man up to the saucy fullness of the tomato. It is almost a needed intervention, lest you get ungrounded by the fatal attractiveness of the sun kissed slices.. Trust me, I speak from experience...!
A Chicken Story and A Summer Salad
It is natural that as the Summer haze sets in, there is less and less inclination to spend in the kitchen. Yet, the desire for tasting the splendor of the season does not abate. So, we all find ways to get around it - from barbeques to salads, outdoor fun and rooftop joys to easy dinners, cooking big and making the most of leftovers. Summer offers the best chance for making magic with mere leftovers.
Recently, I have taken a partiality to whole roast chicken.
The chicken giveth in spades and every bit of edible or can be made into something edible. A farm, pasture raised chicken typically weighs about 3.5 lbs and you can get a fair bit of meat from it, even though not as much as its larger industrial cousins. What I like is that the leg and thigh is about the same size as the breast and I have always the darker and juicier meat from here! The first meal from the roast is always the thigh with a side of vegetables.
Then, I peel every bit of the meat off the carcass and use it over a week in several dishes, from salads to tarts to sandwiches to curries to rice toss, oh, endless...! The carcass itself becomes ideal for stock with a bunch of vegetable scraps. The jus, becomes gravy or vinaigrette based on what I am making. All savored, nothing lost.
Not Your Ordinary Pasta Primavera
There is almost a feeling of full circle with this dish for me. As I have waxed a lot on Instagram, the last two summers have been very good in terms of nurturing a green thumb and my budding confidence in growing things.
Do you remember the cover of the Spring issue of my magazine? No? Look below and to the right, you have it there. By the way, you can also download it for free and access 20+ recipes for all meals. (Well... I could hardly overlook that native opportunity for self-promotion ;-)).
Anyway, the original pea shoots made the cover! And, now I have the mature plant that has been sending sweet, juicy, oh so tasty pods my way every so often. I planted about 5 of the sprouts and each one gave me approximately one plump pod a week. I collected, nay, hoarded them carefully in my fridge, warning everybody away from daring to nibble on them. When I had a handful, I decided it was time to feast...
Sour Green Shakshuka
Simply put, it is a twist on the Shakshuka, with the basic ingredients of onion, garlic and tomatoes. And, then taken to the next level with fresh swiss chard and the tang from tamarind! Fried eggs on top and a sprinkle of fresh basil, it is not only soulful but decidedly unique as well! I love dishes that have a strong tradition and yet can be easily adapted to what is on hand. That is typically how people cooked. The original is always beloved but the new spins are just as exciting...