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...

Business in Maryland

A 2 1/2 day business trip to Maryland will of course mean finding a way to combine business with pleasure and cooperate with 2 other women. For the most part, flexibility is key. I knew I wanted Crab Cakes in Maryland and luckily, it was not a difficult task. Crab was featured at 95% of our lunch and dinner options and I wonder if I would have asked if I could have had it as an ingredient in an omelet at breakfast.

We drove down on a Sunday afternoon and by late evening were seated in a "world famous" restaurant that featured a claim in the menu, "We have the best crab cakes and we ship anywhere."


Starting with a calamari appetizer, I loved the gentle and crisp coating on the fresh rings. The marinara dipping sauce was a comforting hug around the squid but with a frisky pinch of heat in the background.

Though our salads were somehow forgotten until the waitress brought out our main course and we reminded her, but the service was friendly.

You can check them out online: http://www.gandmcrabcakes.com/ and see what you think. The crab cake was succulent large lumps of crab meat with just enough breading to bind the meat. A forkful of the crab cakes tasted like crab, not stuffing or filler and one crab cake was more than enough as an entree. With a choice of sides, I tried the french fries and vegetable of the day which was a stewed zucchini in tomato sauce.

After a night's attempt at sleep which included a bit of tossing and turning, then a shower under the double shower heads, it was time for breakfast.

While it may seem odd to discuss double shower heads when we are discussing food, this feature would lead to discussion among my colleagues and reveal that one of them has a "car wash" assortment of shower heads and jets in her shower. I was fascinated.

Breakfast buffet at the hotel. I was worried until I saw the omelet station and then it was as if the clouds parted, the heaven's opened and the angels were singing, "Ahhhh." I looked among the toppings though I knew I wanted tomatoes, I added onions and peppers (I would have preferred spinach, but compromise, compromise) and a luscious bowl of fresh fruits and berries. For me, this is how breakfast should be!

On to the conference...fast forward to lunch. An orzo salad with bits of ham and feta cheese, a tossed salad with more feta cheese and a lot of raw onion and tender chicken skewers with layers of onion and peppers. After this meal I realize I have met my quota of onion, peppers and feta cheese for the day. The lunch is full of flavor on its own, but after having a softly baked cookie with cranberries and chunks of white chocolate, I am ready to finish the day's work.

Anyone I spoke with before the trip asked where I was going in Baltimore and insisted I must see the Inner Harbor. At the end of the seminar, our speaker also advised everyone to take in the fairly local sights. We took a shuttle to a light rail and with a bit of hesitation, we were off. A mix of popular chain foods and sidewalk cafes, museums, shops and street vendors, we checked menus and decided on M and S Grill. http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/

The only culinary request I had was for a cup of Maryland Crab Soup. I was served a hearty cup and for those who may be new to this crab-a-licious soup creation, it is similar in many ingredients to Minestrone (in vegetable content) and the broth appears to be tomato based, but add in some large shredded crab meat and a healthy kick of spicy heat.




Bring on the main course - a huge platter sized serving of cavatappi pasta with bay shrimps and scallops that has been generously bathed in a garlic cream sauce and sprinkled with parsley.

Yes, always room for dessert. A chocolate chip ice cream sandwich served with a swirl of whipped cream in a puddle of chocolate sauce. I never said I finished or cleaned my plates, but everything tasted divine.

Day 2 of the conference yielded a similar omelet and since the speaker was sitting with us for lunch, I felt about taking pictures of the meal. A Cesar salad, a side of grilled chicken and a ziti pasta in a creamy sauce with split cherry tomatoes and lumps of crab meat were our midday meal. Yes, I was able to have a second soft cookie with cranberry and white chocolate chunks. While I can tell you what the conference was about - it is the food that I choose to remember.

*Note about photos: without my camera, all photos were taken with my camera phone and I apologize for quality, but will not be stopped by lack of equipment. Additionally, the shot of the dessert could not be included due to low lighting, but it was still fabulous to eat!