From the Garden to the Table

My sister's garden is not only practical, fenced to keep out the nimblest fence jumpers and other uninvited tresspassers, but simply lovely to look at as it blooms and grows. Raised beds of vegetables and flowers, yellow buds and blossoms are well cared for and I look forward to the day I am invited to share in their harvest. (I believe this behavior among sisters is acceptable, with a wink and a nudge.) Ah, but I wanted to share the experience of our celebration of America's Independence...

Food shared with family, what could be better? Food shared with family on an extra day off for a holiday weekend? Healthy and flavorful food shared with family on an extra day off for the Fourth of July!

Chicken has somehow climbed the ranks in our families as the most agreed upon protein of choice. These lean breast cutlets were beautifully grilled and quickly landed on nearly everyone's plate!

While whole wheat pasta may not be on everyone's menu, it does help give the classic macaroni salad enough of a spin to add a minimal amount of nutritional value, a smidge more fiber and while this version still included mayo (which can now be found with a bit of olive oil to lighten things up), diced carrots and celery added a welcome crunch.



The treat of the meal was the slow cooked ribs. In the crockpot since early morning, the meat was fall off of the bone tender with a marinade mellow enough for the most sensitive taste buds - not too sweet, not too spicy.

Corn on the cob is a timeless classic. As far as I am concerned, this American side can be served at every dinner. The crunchy snap, the appeal of finger food, butter dripping, salt licking, bits of kernels stuck to your lips and perhaps a squirt of juice on your table neighbor... For those who prefer to eat with a bit of dignity or have suffered through years of orthodontics, scraping a knife down the ear to relase the kernels into a mound of sweet corn is an alternate option.



Tossed salad - before or after the meal, that is the question. When I first began dating my husband, I learned his family serves the tossed salad at the end of the meal. This order of the meal is believed by his parents to aid in digestion, some may agree and argue it is also a palette cleanser. Sometimes, I may want my salad as part of the main course and since many traditionally offer the salad as a first course, you may see the salad on the table or sideboard throughout the meal for our families. I also prefer my salad without dressing, this is not a dietary concern, but rather an appreciation for the ingredients on their own. Another nod my sister gives to those who may not enjoy every vegetable in their salad is to serve some ingredients separately, a veritable salad buffet!

Greeting guests after a smooch and a hug are fresh veggies from the garden (which can also be used in the tossed salad) with a dip. Modern tradition once again.




Shrimp. To me, they are as addictive as potato chips but arguably one of the most versatile foods available. They may be served cold as a cocktail, in a salad, grilled, sauteed, scampi, in soup, Jambalaya, tacos and nearly any other application you can imagine. At times, I must simply move away from the platter and put my hands in my pockets.

My contribution was not just my healthy appetite, I did provide a well scooped and melon ball shaped fruit salad from canteloupe and watermelon with a few grapes both red and green and blueberries. It was a lovely celebration and good for us in more ways than one!

Imagine the Lasagna

Once again, it is time for the Book Club to meet. A hot night after a series of rainy days. Everyone is grateful the rain at least is not snow, but we ache for a bit of sunshine. One of the book club members has planned our meal and though it is a hot night, she remains cool and conversational as she presents her friends with a fabulous meal.

A glass of Prosecco adds a bit of sparkle to any event, but with a few cubes of watermelon, the decadence is also refreshing. Bubbles, sweetness, an opportunity to chew the perfectly ripe fruit and we catch up on life.




I regret that I have come to our meeting without my camera and have to rely on my cell phone camera. Apologies for the lack of clarity. The smells of shrimp, butter and garlic greeted one of the members as she walked down the grassy path to the front door and when the heaping bowl was placed on the table with a bowl of bread, our salivary glands kicked in.

We spooned the succulent goodness onto our own plates so we could sop the juices up with our bread without shame or concern for decorum.




We talk a bit about work, a bit about traveling and vacations, a lot about life and seek each other's opinions and thoughts. As the meal progresses and our conversation twists and turns, it is understood that after the main course we will eventually talk about the book. This month, "Where the Heart Is," a story about Novalee who gave birth to a baby girl she named Americus in a Wal-Mart. Of course the story is a slice of life, a bit of her background and a portion of her journey.

First, a fresh mixed green salad with watermelon, fresh berries and toasted walnut pieces. Cleanse the palette and savor the season.




Unfortunately, the camera phone simply did not capture the main course and so perhaps it is best to imagine its appearance from description. Lasagna. The sheets of pasta are perfectly al dente, firm yet yielding to the bite and between the layers are a flavorful tomato sauce, luscious, smoothly melted cheese and a mix of hot and mild crumbled turkey sausage for a modern light twist. Each bite brings the group closer to the end of a wonderful meal and the conversation does eventually turn to the book. Until next month...at another member's house, a different menu, more about life and a new book - what will it be?

Judgment Day on the Hudson River

We weren't planning a Judgment Day or end of the world activity, but rather like most of our dates, fell into one. Saturday, May 21 was slated by a few religious zealots to be the Rapture and so we set out for the Walkway on the Hudson for a walk. The span is just over 1 mile and on this cloudy, mostly cool day, was filled with a variety of folks from all demographics and some with a wide variety of canines. A perfect sampling of our population.

From the Walkway, which is noted as the world's longest pedastrian bridge, it is an easy view to the Mid-Hudson Bridge on one side and an arial view of the famed, "Mariner's Harbor" restaurant on the other. We remember my sister's graduations from Marist College and having lunch with my family to celebrate her accomplishments. Not very end of the world-ish.

So after our walk, we decide to venture down to the restaurant of our memory and though we are a bit put off by the sewer service truck on the side of the building, we are seated fairly quickly and prepare to dine al fresco. From our table, I take a photo of the walkway and the Mid-Hudson bridge.








I watched a waitress bring a couple a pina colada and a beer and I felt a twinge of jealousy. My stomach wasn't behaving and alcohol would probably have finished our date faster than judgement day so I had a ginger ale. Looking over the menu, I tipped back and forth between not being sure what to order for the way I was currently feeling physically and wondering if the menu simply did not have as many items to offer as I thought. My husband seemed a bit hesitant as well and finally decided on the Airline Chicken with the New England Clam Chowder to start. I asked for a seafood salad (no not the processed fake seafood drowned in mayonnaise, but a salad of greens with real seafood) as an entree.

The chowder arrives and we agree to share though I am concerned about the heaviness and creaminess of the soup and how well it will be received by a stomach that is already a bit "put off." The flavors are unique, but satisfying and as the breeze blows and the water laps against the sides of our outdoor dining terrace, everything seems blissfully as it should be.

I am most pleased with my dinner choice. The greens are slightly bitter and lightly dressed. If given my choice, I prefer no dressing even on a good day as I would rather taste the ingredients. I was also relieved the shrimp, lobster and crab meat were not tartly drowned and though chilled maintained their individual sweet notes.

The beauty of the Airline Chicken lies in the cut of the breast to include the wing. My husband's first thoughts were concern that the plate simply did not hold enough food to fill him. However, he politely offered me tastes and I must say, each component of the dish was succulent and tasted purely how it suggests it would from eye to taste buds. The carrots may have been pushed aside by some but we sincerely appreciated the tenderness, the potatoes were not whipped into a puree like consistency, but yet were smooth on the tongue. The chicken itself was moist and flavorful and the sauce, ah, the sauce... When asked about dessert, we both claimed to be full and so the serving size was enough for my husband and I know it would have been more than satisfying for me.

The meal ended and the first problem truly began when I wanted to pay a quick visit to the ladies room. I was told it would be "about another ten minutes" and for me, this represented a pretty big problem. No other businesses are nearby that would offer a rest room. A lady facing the same predicament offered she would watch the men's room for me if I stood look out for her. Not the best situation, but a suitable substitute. After paying the bill and driving home, we realized we had survived Judgment Day and created an entirely new memory of Mariner's Harbor.

Celebrate Food and Blogging

With special thanks to the Valley Table, Janet Crawshaw and the Journal News, Liz Johnson and John Crabtree, guest bloggers who supported Hudson Valley Restaurant Week 2011 were able to gather at Crabtree's Kittle House in Chappaqua.

We gathered to share the stories of our experiences in area restaurants, the food, the service and enjoy a variety of exquisite appetizers, sample local wines and beer.

It was comforting to meet so many other like minded souls. I could shamelessly take photos of food and be understood, maybe even network with others who share my passions - food, words and photography.

Each dish was brought out before being passed for service and placed on a table so it could be photographed. The best part - no one thought this was strange. The next best part - the food was amazing. Amuse -bouche ~ bite sized appetizers, happiness for the mouth!

Figs wrapped with prosciutto, a perfect balance of sweet and savory with an added syringe of flavor. Visual, taste and a toy...a reminder of a happy meal, for grown-ups!

Another confession, I had three, yes three, of the softest, sweetest, most tender lobster bites. If I were in the privacy of my own home, I would have likely liked the spoon!

Oysters and sliders, oh my! The sliders were on toasted brioche, buttery and crispy and of course, everything was presented with great care!

And the sweets...ah, the sweets!

A chocolate bit of heaven with a Kit Kat bar crust, a perfect pecan pie, the freshest and smoothest of lemon bars!

And so, will I return? I think so, if I'm ever in the neighborhood. As for the Hudson Valley Restaurant Week experience, I am counting the days until 2012 and hope to be invited back for more blogging and food adventures.

Beacon

The sign said, "Year Round Farmers Market" and though we were going to the Dia Beacon, a quick detour was not only in order, we had some time before the museum opened anyway...

A table was being set up for hot apple cider and a few other small tables were outside and I worried they were the only vendors, until Kelli brilliantly walked over to the building which serves as the cold weather shelter for the marketers. A low buzz of the shoppers could be heard as they hoovered around the various baskets and barrels of both fresh and prepared foods, dips, salsa and pottery, talking it over amongst themselves and with the individual shopkeepers. We looked over the small sample of wines being offered for sale and returned to the traditional vegetables.

I bought the squash pictured above with the initial sole intention of decorating my Thanksgiving table, but as soon as I started to fish my cash out of my wallet, I realized this was highly impractical, illogical and not like me to simply use food as table art. I asked if I could roast the squash and would they make a good soup. My question was answered with an enthusiastic nod and though I'd like to think she wasn't trying to simply make a sale, follow up about the soup at a later date.

We've made our purchases and are off to the museum!

No photography in the museum, flash or no flash. We walk and talk and wonder about the definition of art. How do you define art? Is a photo or drawing of art, also art? If it evokes emotion, is it art? If it leaves you flat, is it art? I wonder now, what is the equal definition of literary - why can't a comic book be literature? Or is it?

All of our wondering, leaves me hungry. But first, a quick walk...

A garden for all seasons. Colors and shapes, angles and vistas. Rather than sketching a picture, a quick outline for a story may begin to form - who is going to walk around the corner? Were they waiting for someone or walking away from something?

Off to the cafe...and the sausage and kale soup with a slice of pumpkin sage bread and a meyer lemon "Grown Up Soda" (the brand is GUS) and a table next to the window, in the sun.

The soup has a gentle heat from using hot sausage, not too much that you cannot enjoy the soup, but enough you are aware of it. The toasted bread rounds offer a nice toasty texture yet yield and can be broken by the spoon in the broth. The pumpkin sage bread has a crisp and sweet crust, but it is the fragrance of the sage that commands the diners undivided attention. The meyer lemon soda is a bit more carbonated than the popular brands of pop, but has a crisper more mature flavor without the overbearing sweetness of lemonade.









Kelli orders a grilled roasted butternut squash sandwich with goat cheese and arugula with a small side salad. It looked lovely but really did not photograph well, but the Maple Seltzer below seemed to be a bigger flavor hit for her. Feeling it needed a little more zip, she suggests perhaps a bit of pesto would have added that missing something.

Back outside to the sunny warmth of a crisp Autumn Sunday right before Thanksgiving.

The adventure continued after the meal with a trip to a library book sale, but for now the story stops here.

An Artist Date

In the book, "The Artist's Way," by Julia Cameron, the author recommends those who are in "creative recovery" find time once a week to explore something that interests you on your own. Having read the book at the recommendation of a friend, we have bent the rules to include each other in an annual Artist Date. This time, I broke the rules a bit more by bringing my sons and one of their girlfriends along to New York. Combining a love of art, food, friendship and family, a trip to the Museum of Modern Art has become a cherished memory.




We begin in the Museum at Cafe 2 for lunch. Who can appreciate art on an empty stomach? Guests wait on line and review menus or simply read the large print version on the wall. After placing your order, you find a place to sit with your party and are given a numbered place card - the food will find you. Our orders range from baked salmon, rigatoni, 3 cheese pannini and my selection of mushroom tart. I also ordered a Bellini as a celebratory treat. I simply love the way things are done in New York - we are brought our drinks by an aproned man holding a round tray and it somehow just feels special. Lunch arrives and though I am normally not a fast eater to begin with, today is a day for appreciation and enjoyment and so food is to be savored and truly tasted.




The mushroom tart is served warm, not hot next to a small salad of mixed greens and cheery cherry tomatoes. The tart crust is light enough that it almost disappears on the tongue and though the tart is rich and creamy, somehow, it is not heavy or too dense. I have made my friend Michelle's fabulous tomato tart recipe and am now wondering if I will add mushroom tart to my repertoire - could be a wonderful appetizer or brunch offering.

At the end of the meal we begin our separate journeys. My friend and I are off to the woman's photography exhibit, then photography of 2010 and the Abstract Exhibition. My older son and his girlfriend can be seen breezing through the photography then they are off and on to their own adventure. My younger son makes no attempt to disguise that for him, this trip means he can immerse himself in his love for custom sneakers by visiting Flight Club and the Nike Town stores. To him, these sneakers are more than footwear, they are art.



Discussions about art and life, walking and photographing some of the exhibits, my friend and I decide it is time for a sweet bite and head to Terrace 5. This cafe offers an exhilarating view of the garden and I am further intrigued by a tree which seems to be strung with papers. My friend first pointed it out when I was photographing the Warhol's and we made a list of the sights we still wanted to see after our break. What to order? Simple seasonal fruits, a warm apple tart? No, indulge and have the chocolate tart with sea salt and vanilla ice cream.

The tart shell is chocolate then a layer of creamy caramel topped with chocolate. The sea salt is sprinkled on top to add not only depth of flavor, but it quenches the desire for sweet and salty snacks much like a chocolate dipped pretzel with a more gourmet flare. The lush ice cream rests on a bed of chocolate crumbles reminding me of the crunchy bits that separate the layers in a Carvel ice cream cake. Bliss and decadence.






We weave through the crowds and our day is almost over when we make a wish on the Yoko Ono Wish Tree.

The wishes are simple and loving left by people who mostly want love and happiness. In this Artist Date, I found it long before I left my wish...

Ken's Favorites

I remember grocery shopping as a little girl - it was quite a family affair. My mom loaded her full size blue station wagon with her 2 daughters, 2 sisters and mother and off to the only grocery store I knew for most of my childhood. We could pretty much plan on spending the morning as my grandmother would wander up and down every aisle and we would find her in the half of the store that sold toys and clothes. It was the 1970's version of a Super Wal-Mart, but locally owned and operated with locally grown produce because it was practical, not fashionable. The best part? The next day when you opened the pantry and refrigerator and could have almost anything you could imagine to eat. By week's end, our small family of four would of course need to repeat the entire process.

Today, I am surprised by how happy my family is when I bring home their favorites from the grocery store. This week seemed to be centered around Ken and at 22, you might think he wouldn't be that happy to see some fresh fruits and vegetables, but I sometimes wonder if his childhood dreams were filled with luscious produce...

A centerpiece of Clementines - and he grabs one almost every time he walks by...




If melons are whole in the fridge, he will push them out of the way to get other things, but if I take a few moments to cut up watermelon and use the melon baller on the cantelope, he could eat it in one sitting!

Today, he is meeting his new girlfriend to go apple picking and I guess it's a good thing since his favorite apples are Red Delicious, but Mom went for Gala.




So, while the cutting board and knife are out from cutting up fruit, it takes just a moment to put a tossed salad together. He comes in from an early morning at work and we talk for a minute. He samples the melons, tells me he has already had a Clementine and a banana then reaches for a slice of cucumber. Salad with dinner for him is almost a requirement. Ken heads to the couch for an episode of Top Gear on BBC.

A chicken salad sandwich for lunch is a top 3 choice and while I poached the chicken, I was cutting up those veggies for the salad and thought, "It would be pretty easy to simmer a pot of soup at the same time..."

Had a few extra chicken breasts I sliced into cutlets, breaded and sauteed that are now in the freezer. Ziti has been boiled and waits in an oven dish with sauce, ricotta and mozzerella so it may later bake into a delicious main course he loves and his new vegetarian friend may also enjoy.

One Saturday morning puttering in the kitchen...