Salad Days..

It’s hot out – so there are two options for dinner.  Throw something on the BBQ or have a nice big salad.  Make that 3 options – have a nice big salad with some grilled components.

This huge salad served 4 for dinner.  A big bowl of baby Romaine, topped with thinly sliced grilled rib steak, grilled green and red onions and corn.  Add to that some sliced, boiled until just done baby potatoes, blanched (or not) sugar-snap peas, cherry tomatoes and an heirloom that I picked up today, and lots of English cucumber.

Dressing made with salt, pepper, fresh garlic and basil, honey, balsamic, Dijon and olive oil.

Salad … and steak and potatoes all in one.  Perfect summer dinner.

Summer’s here…

 

…and there’s fruit everywhere.  Thank God.

 By November every year, I go into a fruit depression.  Living above the 49th parallel, winter doesn’t offer up a bounty of vegetation.  I’m not one of those people who will only buy local ingredients.  It’s not realistic where I live – and I need more variety.  Six months a year with only carrots, apples, potatoes and onions doesn’t cut it.  But even if you’re buying fruit that’s been shipped in from far-away lands, the options are limited during the winter.

Today I found a great assortment at my local Safeway.  Prices have come down in the last few weeks and the produce is looking and tasting better.

Summer in a bowl.  Apricots, nectarines, peaches and plums.  All washed and ready to eat.  As soon as I got home I sampled a nectarine.  I love when you buy fruit and it’s ready to eat right away – there may have been a little juice dribbling down the chin as I enjoyed it.

 Then there are the blueberries:

About 1 1/2 lbs. for $3.95 – just a few weeks ago they were selling 8 oz. for the same price.  I grabbed a container thinking that I could use them in something – but after I tasted one (ok, a handful) I think I’ll just end up eating them on their own.

When I was a kid, my family had a cottage in Northwestern Ontario.  Every summer, we would brave the mosquitoes and potential sunstroke to pick as many wild blueberries as we could find.  And there were lots. Though the ones I bought today were good, and bring back great memories of those other berries – they really don’t compare.  I’ll still enjoy them.

Last but not least for today’s fruit finds:  Lychee!

I have no plans for these – other to eat them on their own.  But I’d love some good ideas for using them.  Maybe a lychee sorbet?  Ice cream?  Beverage?

Have you picked up on the fact that I love fruit?

Other reading..

It’s been a few days since I’ve finished reading Nasty Bits and I’ve been looking for something else to read.  I do enjoy a variety of genres, but I’m stuck in this mode of wanting to read more of the same.  I guess if you enjoy something, you just want more.  There’s nothing left of Mr. Bourdain’s for me to read, so I’ve just ordered a couple of books from his buddy, Michael Ruhlman.

The Making of A Chef and Soul of a Chef  have been ordered and should be on the way shortly.  I haven’t read any of his books yet, but really enjoy his postings across the web. 

 Just in case that wasn’t enough, I’ve also ordered Don’t Try This At Home- Culinary Catastrophes from the World’s Greatest Chefs. 

I’ll report back.