A Visit From My Cousin Sherri (And her boyfriend Silvio): Long Lost Relatives

I have but two first cousins.  Sherri and Danny.  As a child I had heard tell of them but we were never given the opportunity to meet. Distance was a factor since they grew up in Toronto and I, New Jersey. Such a shame since Sherri and I  were born only a month apart and it would have been nice to have had a relative, so close in age.  We finally met, quite briefly in our late twenties but our meeting didn't amount to much.

Last year, things changed.  Sherri, feeling the need for some familial connections, made an effort to get in touch with me and we began a correspondence, via email and phone.  We made plans for a visit and then I became ill.  We put the plans on hold until I recovered.

Little did I know what I was in for when we arranged to host Sherri and her boyfriend Silvio, this past August.  We agreed to spend half of their visit on Long Beach Island (at my dad's) and half the time in Jersey City doing New Yorky stuff.

It all began with picking them up at the airport.  Izzy, A. and I went to Newark airport to greet them and it was only then I realized that I had no idea what they looked like.  I tried contacting their cellphone but to no avail.  Instead I found myself approaching strangers with suitcases, while trying to surmise which ones resembled my cousin.  They eventually found A., who found them at customs.   We all piled into the taxi and were on our way to the shore.  Turns out that Sherri looked pretty much the way I remembered her from our one meeting so many years ago.

Thankfully, we got along swimmingly, catching up on our entire lives along the way.  Instantly apparent was that we shared many physical similarities, primarily body shape and size.  We also seem to share an immense fondness for cats, both of us calling after them in incessantly high-pitched tones.  Of course you won't ever find me referring to my cats as "pussies" and therein lies one fundamental difference between us.  Not to mention the disturbing fact that my cousin must rank in the top 3 pickiest eaters I know, far pickier than even some toddlers I have encountered.

Now while we were at the beach, my cousin's picky habits were of little consequence as she selected her breakfast from the options available in my dad's gigantic pantry and we dined out the rest of the time.   When we got back to Jersey City, her food issues became glaringly apparent.  I didn't really comprehend the extent of it until I noticed that she had been eating the same thing for breakfast every day, toast with either peanut butter or almond butter.  When I offered French toast, pancakes or waffles she declined.  Now really, who can decline a fresh waffle?

Now despite her picky ways, my dear cousin managed to find a beau, Silvio, who is quite the gourmand. He is game to try most anything and comes from a family of cooks.  In fact he showed us photos of his family and their sausage and cured meat cellar.  He regaled us with tales of the wondrous foods his family cooks up and we we also discovered what a fantastic cook he is.  One Saturday we went to Union Square and shopped together for dinner.  We bought lamb chops from 3-Corner Field Farm,  along with some purple potatoes to complement other ingredients we had at home.  When we got home, I became his sous-chef while he prepared dinner.   We had grilled lamb chops with herbs, tomato-basil salad, potatoes with rosemary and a platter of radishes.

lamb chops `a la Silvio

Everything was lip-smackingly delicious.  Having Silvio around provided an important counter-balance to the pickiness factor and kept us well-fed and content. From seafood feasts on Long Beach Island, to dinner at ABC Kitchen and a night at Bin 14, overall we ate quite well during my cousin's visit.  At least I know Izzy and I did!  And I do hold out hope that Silvio's eating ways may one day rub off on my cousin!

They Coined A Name For MY Job: Hunter-Gatheress

In reality, the term was recently used to describe Annie Myers' job. She is the official forager for the Spotted Pig. A friend who read the article, immediately thought of me and said, "I found the perfect job for you."

An enviable job indeed! One that that I already do. In my position, I work for my family and friends, instead of restaurants. I develop relationships with farmers and food purveyors, continually on the lookout for what is new and noteworthy. I bring my finds back to our table instead of back to the chef.

The key difference? She gets paid and has to be at the Union Square Market at 7:30 a.m., whereas I have an unpaid gig and am just awaking at that hour.

Still and all, I wouldn't mind getting paid for my work so if any other restaurant is seeking a Hunter-Gatheress, look no further. I have all the experience required!

A Puddle Of Camembert And Other Market Day Mishaps

Wednesday is market day. The day I go into the city and attempt to cram as much as I can into my granny cart, insulated backpack and various bags which dangle from my person. I ought to know by now, that when I over-stuff, wackiness ensues. Once at the market, the urge to buy everything I need in one outing prevails . Some days I manage to make it home, purchases unscathed. Other days I am not so lucky. Today was one of those days.

I left the house this morning with a seemingly reasonable list of purchases at Union Square Market and Whole Foods. The catch was that I needed to buy a bunch of plants for an afternoon gardening playdate and also to gussy up the yard for tomorrow's "Jewels In My Garden" Party,* for which I had even planned to prepare homemade clotted cream.

I spent about two hours doing my marketing, and was pleased that my plan to buy the plants last had worked out. I even managed to get the flat of plants to perch precariously atop the cart** so that I could manage to schlep everything home. One of my last stops before the plants was Ronny Brook Farm, where I bought the Camembert and heavy cream for my clotted cream. I was too lazy to remove the backpack from my shoulders so I just tossed the glass bottle of cream and the cheese into a flimsy bag, which dangled from my arm.

As I slowly and daintily (not) made my way along 14th street, I basked in the sunny day and in the fact that I had done all of my errands. As I smiled to myself, one of the bags slipped from my arm and went crashing to the sidewalk. Wouldn't you know it was the one with the glass bottle of heavy cream?!! So there I stood, stunned, as the heavy cream seeped through the bag and all over the sidewalk. Two ladies, one younger, one older stopped to assist me but it became clear I was beyond assistance. What is to be done with a bag of dripping with heavy cream and full of broken glass anyway? The older lady seemed to think that I could cram the soggy bag into a tiny plastic bag but that wouldn't work. The younger lady agreed that I had no choice but to toss the bag (and it was a favorite) and the whole soggy mess into a trash can and get on with it. I did manage to salvage some art supplies I had purchased for Izzy (cream covered tape and glue..perhaps soap and water would help) and then I simply carried on.

Well all was not over yet. I crossed the street and bumped my way into the Path Station, mainly mourning the loss of that luscious heavy cream, since, after all, clotted cream cannot be made with supermarket cream. I also pondered the fate of the Camembert, imagining it covered in heavy cream..

Back to reality, once in Jersey City, I tried to be as careful as ever but I was certainly eager to get home, as every part of my body ached from the excess baggage. One wrong bump and my plants would overturn, I thought to myself. Wouldn't you know that is exactly what happened. Dirt and plants were scattered near the Light Rail station. I did salvage them and they are now safely planted in our backyard.



Oh and the Camembert? Well I found it in another bag and, no surprise, it was unusually soft. I tossed it in the fridge, thinking it might firm up a bit...Plain to see, many hours outside of the fridge did not help it. Izzy was brave enough to sample it and said, "It looks like cream but it tastes sour." Too bad because it is generally a soft, creamy delight.



* If I failed to invite you and you live around here and would like to join, email me and I will give you the details!

**Please note that I do not recommend this mode of transport if you have another one!

Chocolate Pudding At Midnight? Grandpa Made Me Do It!

It is nearly midnight and I am just finishing up the week's purees to bring to Grandpa tomorrow.
I was miserably in the weeds so all I made was a Sweet PotatoTzimmes, Flounder Leek Casserole, and some sort of experimental rice mush. I had hoped for more and after a semi-cleaning of the kitchen I suddenly became inspired to add one more thing...homemade chocolate pudding. Grandpa loves his chocolate so and since he can't chew, this makes a more than reasonable substitute for his beloved raspberry jellies.

Last week I had brought along chocolate pudding from Ronnybrook Farm at Union Square but this week they didn't have any. If you're looking for their pudding, Saturday is the day. If you can't make it, you needn't worry because the stuff that I made rivals theirs.

This divine dessert took less than 30 minutes to prepare and will seriously have you drooling, wondering where it has been all your life.


Chocolate Pudding (Joy of Cooking - 1997 edition)

1. Mix together in a heavy saucepan

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1/8 teaspoon salt

2. Gradually stir in 1/3 cup warm water, stirring to make a smooth, runny paste. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium heat, then remove from heat.

3. Add 1 ounce semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (or chips) and stir briskly.

4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of half and half to make a paste and set aside.

5. Return cocoa mixture to heat and add 1 3/4 cup half and half, then add cornstarch mixture and stir until thickened. Reduce heat to low and continue to simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla.

Pour pudding into a large bowl or individual serving cups. If you do not want a skin to form, press plastic wrap directly on top. Otherwise, chill and just mix skin part in and nobody will notice the difference. To really gild the lily, serve with whipped cream on top.

Makes 3-4 servings

p.s. I just found this great link at The Kitchn for other wonderful puddings. I see more pudding testing in my future..

Pasta With Broccoli Rabe And Spicy Turkey Sausage

This dish has been a mainstay of our diet ever since I discovered the amazing turkey sausages from DiPaola Turkey Farm, in Hamilton, N.J. (sold at Union Square on Wednesdays and Fridays). It is definitely a one dish meal though a salad would make a nice accompaniment.


Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Turkey Sausage

1. 1/2-3/4 lb. excellent quality sweet or spicy turkey sausage (DiPaola if you can get it) cut into chunks or casings removed, broken up into small pieces.
2. one bunch broccoli rabe, washed and roughly chopped.
3. 4 cloves garlic, slivered
4. 1/4-1/2 cup olive oil
5. 1 lb. box of pasta

1. Boil broccoli rabe in salted water for 4-5 minutes until tender, drain.
2. While broccoli is simmering, place 1/4 cup olive oil in large saute pan with garlic over low heat. Saute a couple of minutes, then add sausage and break up into smaller pieces.
3. When sausage is cooked through, add broccoli rabe, cover and simmer 2-3 minutes.
4. Toss with 1 lb. cooked pasta, using a bit of the pasta water if it is too dry, or adding a few drops of olive oil.
5. Serve with grated cheese.

Have You Ever Lost A Bra While Food Shopping?

Well guess what..I did!

What I would most like to know is where I left it. Did I leave it with the Sheep Lady while purchasing my fix of Brebis Blanche? Or was it left hanging by the egg stand? Did some fortunate Greenmarket shopper come across my lovely, lacy black number and wonder what to do with it? If not, perhaps it is resting by the checkout counter of the Whole Foods on 14th Street.

If you have any information leading to the recovery of my lingerie splurge, wrapped neatly in a bag from Journelle, please do let me know. If not, I urge you to check out this store yourself for a truly sublime lingerie-shopping experience. They have robes to wear and disposable thongs so that you can try everything on... Whatever you do, don't lose your bra on the way to the Greenmarket, which is around the corner!

n.b: If you needed yet another reason to go to check out Journelle, aside from the fact that they have gorgeous bras (sexy nursing ones too!) this is it: I sent them an email with a link to this story and the owner herself replied with these generous words:

That is a charming - and sad - story! We frequent the greenmarket a lot, too, but we didn't happen to see your lovely bra. We do, however, have one more in stock, and we've put it aside for you, our compliments. You can come pick it up anytime.

Hard To Believe But...

I shop at Shoprite... Granted it is not my supermarket of choice but it is a five minute walk from my house and if you are without a car, as I am, that means a lot.

I share this with you because this afternoon,, while wandering the aisles of Shoprite with Izzy, I bumped into a woman I know from exercise class. She was genuinely shocked to find me grocery shopping there, knowing what she does of my blog and food obsession.

Indeed I am maniacal about grocery shopping, trekking to the city at least once a week for my fix of Union Square, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. On those trips I stock up on local produce, cheeses, meats and items not found at an ordinary supermarket. No matter how much I want to buy, there is only so much my granny cart will carry so I inevitably need to shop for staples closer to home.

Shoprite sure is close and as I have pointed out before, it does have a decent organic section which has grown over the few years that we have lived here.

They carry many organic staples which allows me to reduce my granny cart load from nyc. I count on my weekly excursion to Shoprite for things like bananas, milk, canned goods, pasta and other odds and ends.

So next time you find yourself at Shoprite, don't be surprised if you bump into me, just rest assured, I'm not buying any meat there.

The Wonder Of A Blue Egg: Local Eggs, At Their Best

Imagine the wonder and surprise in my little boy's eyes when he opens a carton of eggs to find that they are all just a little bit different, with one blue egg and one speckled egg nestled in amongst the others, each a different size.

Intrigued by the prospect of a blue egg, Izzy immediately reserved it for himself. I told him we would save it for a "fried egg day", to savor its goodness.



Today turned out to be the day Izzy requested his egg for breakfast, heretofore unheard of. He happily burst the bright shining yolk with his bread, dunking it in, savoring its flavor as it dripped down his chin.




Egg bliss.

These Upper Meadows Farm eggs (from the Hamilton Park Farmers' Market) were a delight to behold, even for me. I imagined a diverse bunch of hens clucking around, contentedly laying them. It is for that image and many other reasons as well, that I will only purchase eggs from a farmer I know and trust, which sometimes means a trip to Union Square, in the freezing cold, with eggs on my brain.

I have been buying local farm eggs for the past 10 years or so and often hesitate at the idea of buying eggs at the supermarket, even when desperate times call for desperate measures. When I have no choice, I look for organic, free-roaming eggs that are as local as possible (say Pennsylvania instead of Wisconsin for example). For more in-depth egg-selection criteria, check out this article in today's New York Times. And keep in mind that eggs are most incredible when fresh from the farm.

A little egg poetry...

Carton Surprise

Different sizes.
Different colors.

One blue.
One speckled.

One brown.
One freckled.

What have the hens gone and done.
Magic is within each one.

Bright yellow yolk.
Smooth white

True eggy taste
in every bite.

My Love Affair With The Sheep Lady Continues

It's been too long. Every year, the sheep lady goes on hiatus during lambing season, generally mid-March until sometime in June. Then she only shows up at the Union Square Market on Saturdays. It isn't until September that she appears Wednesdays and Saturdays. So when I finally saw her this past Wednesday it was the first time in months.

She showered me with samples of her wonderful cheeses, instantly reminding me of how I loved them so. Izzy and I adore the Brebis Blanche (sheep's milk farmer's cheese) and I also bought some of the firm Tomme-like cheese as well (A. ate the entire hunk).

I also picked up some of the new fatter links of lamb sausage available. Seasoned with fennel, these grilled up quite nicely. Everything is already gone (Izzy had a sandwich with Brebis Blanche and Artichoke Hearts) and I am already looking forward to this Wednesday. I am not sure how I managed all these months without.

I'm Sorry I've Found Another Goat: Two-Timing Cheese Lover

Last year I professed my love and undying devotion to Sprout Creek Farm's Do Re Mi Fresh Goat cheese. The flavor and texture is exceptional and I once thought, beyond compare. I still am a devotee but the problem is, Sprout Creek Farm has gone and done me wrong once again. They no longer have a stand at Union Square this year and I have been feeling forlorn.


Then last week I had a chance encounter with a new goat cheese. In honor of dairy week, Consider Bardwell Farm a Vermont farm, had a stand at Union Square, one day only, There artisanal goat cheeses, both fresh and aged, are excellent. The Metowee is a must try. Luckily they are sold at Thompkins Square Market on Sundays which may just warrant a detour.

Radishes Rethought: Greenmarket Inspiration

Cooked radishes? Not on my radar. It was always my understanding that radishes are to be served raw with butter, black bread and a bit of salt.

Dina Cutrone, a personal chef (not mine!) has taught me otherwise. I have stopped by her booth at the Union Square Greenmarket for two weeks in a row and each time have come home with an idea for a side dish. Each week she prepares something to showcase market ingredients and hands out samples. Last week it was asparagus with spring garlic, this week, radishes with spring garlic and chives.

Last night we had the diced radishes with spring garlic. Sauteing the radishes mellows their flavor substantially and making them kid-friendly. They are pretty to look at too. I paired this dish with grilled steak and potatoes. While I was cooking, Izzy was eager to sample it. Once on his plate, he ate his steak and potatoes and left the radishes.

I noticed them sitting there, all lonely on his plate, and managed to entice him to finish them. Which he eventually did, happily at that. How did I do it? That is a story for another day. For today I say, buy radishes and dice them, you will not be disappointed.


Radishes with Spring Garlic (serves 4-6 as a side dish)

1 bunch of radishes
1 bunch of spring garlic
olive oil
raw apple cider vinegar
agave
salt
pepper
chives

1. Dice radishes and finely slice white and light green parts garlic.
2. Saute garlic in a tablespoon or two of olive oil until soft, then add radishes and saute 5-10 minutes until softened. Season with sea salt and pepper to taste.
3. Whisk 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 3 teaspoons agave, then add 4-6 tablespoons of olive oil or to taste. Pour over sauteed radishes, sprinkle with chopped chives and serve.

Party Garden: Izzy Inspired

Deciding how to celebrate Izzy's fifth birthday was no easy task. You see he had ideas pertaining to outer space whereas my ideas leaned toward mud. I was not at all inspired to transform our yard into a planet so I came up with the gardening idea, knowing how much Izzy and his friends love to dig in the dirt.

Miraculously he agreed and Izzy's Papa obligingly created these fabulous raised beds so that we could have an organic kitchen garden, a necessity where we live since the soil is notoriously toxic.

Before the party, I selected a bunch of items from Silver Heights Farms at the Union Square Greenmarket on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Herbs, lettuces and leeks were my first picks for the garden. I also have a few strawberry plants and heirloom tomatoes.

The initial plan was for the party goers to transplant but they ended up having such fun with their seeds and just digging that we never got to that. Instead a few days afterwards, Izzy and I worked to transplant some of the things to our planter and I am still deciding what to do with the rest.

The co-mingling of party and garden has left us with a beautiful kitchen garden which will always remind us of the year Izzy turned five.

Kedgeree At Our House: A Tea and Sympathy Recipe

Have I mentioned how wonderful it is to have a friend who cooks for me?Each time I live from her house marveling at something new which I would not usually have considered making myself.

After our delightful dinner of Kedgeree a H.'s house, I was determined to recreate a similar dish at home. It is funny how something so unlike anything I would normally prepare, became instantly appealing to both Izzy and me.

I looked to one of my British go to books, The Tea and Sympathy Cookbook, where I found something that sounded remarkably similar to what H. had made. I changed the fish around, which doesn't alter the dish significantly and allows for flexibility. H. likes to use smoked and fresh salmon. I chose Hake (which I later discovered was probably not at the top of the healthiest fish list) and Smoked Rainbow Trout.

I bought the trout at Union Square Market from Max Creek Hatchery (from East Meredith, New York. Every Wednesday, Max brings in already-cleaned fresh rainbow and brook trout from his pond. He will proudly tell you that the fish were swimming until 7pm last night. He also sells the trout smoked and has Jerusalem artichokes and Russian potatoes available to match.) It was delicious and worked very well in the dish.


Kedgeree (adapted From The Tea and Sympathy Cookbook)

@3/4 lb. smoked fish (salmon or trout both work well)
1 lb. fresh firm fish fillets

a few black peppercorns
1 sprig parsley
1 bay leaf
1 slice lemon
1/4 stick butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 lb. basmati rice
2 tablespoons curry powder
salt and pepper
4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered
chopped parsley for garnish

1. Put fresh fish, peppercorns, parsley sprig, bay leaf and lemon into a pan. Add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and simmer gently until fish is tender, about 10 minutes.
2. Transfer cooked fish to a large plate and cool. Strain the mixture left in the pan. If you do not have 5 cups of fish stock, add water.
3. Debone the fish and flake it.
4.Melt the butter in a large saute pan and cook onion until soft, add curry powder and saute one minute longer. Add the rice and fish stock, bring to a boil. Cook, covered on low about 20 minutes.
5. When the rice has cooked, add fish, salt and pepper and eggs and toss to combine. Sprinkle parsley over the top and serve.

A Little Bit Of Sunshine

The daffodils have bloomed in our backyard. Izzy ran out to pluck one and I was about to scold him for it when he said, "But Papa told me I could pick one for you Mama. Here. Here's a flower for you." And he lowered his eyes a bit, saddened that I was angry, which of course I wasn't. What more could I ask for than a little boy who picks flowers for his Mama..and also happens to carry laundry down four flights of stairs and vacuums up the crumbs after dinner. All on one sunny day.

It was a long one and we were back to being out in the park past six. Back to the springtime days of trying to rustle up dinner as soon as we get back from the park. Tonight I had a simple but odd plan in mind. In an attempt to use what we have I made Waffled Goat Cheese Sandwiches with sliced cucumbers and edamame on the side.

I used sliced sesame bread from the Grandaisy Bakery, smeared with fresh (well actually frozen from last summer!) goat cheese from Sprout Creek Farm. I smeared the bread with butter and sandwiched it into the waffle iron. Crispy on the outside, oozy cheese on the inside. Pleasing to Izzy and me.

Happy Belated First Blogaversary To Me: Merguez Soup For You

How could I have forgotten to mark this momentous occasion? Better yet how could you have just let it pass by? Never mind a gift, not even a card or a wish came my way and after all I've offered you..

I can't believe that a year has passed since I started this blog in February 2007 . Since then I have posted over 400 times. I write once a day, if not more and I have rarely skipped a day, not for lack of something to write but rather for lack of time.

When I first began posting, I didn't have a decent camera so my first few posts didn't have photographs. One of the first dishes I wrote about was what we now call Merguez Soup. We all love this dish and it is incredibly simple to make. Tonight we added chopped kale to the recipe and other greens would also work well. It is definitely a meal in a bowl, easy to make in advance and a simple dinner, perfect with salad.

Tonight Izzy helped prepare the soup. He stirred the onions and merguez while they browned, stirred in the tomatoes, added the water and watched it simmer. He also helped tear up the kale which he insisted he didn't like. He told me he would pick it out but then just slurped up three bowls of it, kale and all. The merguez makes the soup special and it comes from 3-Corner-Field Farm a stand at Union Square that I can't rave enough about.

A year later, I marvel at the good fortune I have. I never want for things to write about or eat! Right now I live close enough to all the best foodstuffs the world has to offer. I have the Union Square Greenmarket within 30 minutes from my house and a great farmer who delivers pesticide-free produce to my doorstep (to share with the other members of our CSA) in the warmer months. There are great neighborhood shops in Jersey City and Hoboken and I can take the Path into the city for shopping at some of my other favorite venues.

The icing on the cake? Izzy goes to school half days which gives us more time for cooking, baking and shopping together. Here's looking forward to more years of Izzy Eats, as his palate grows and my pleasure in sharing all that we eat and cook, grows along with him.

A Plague Of Brown Fruit

After last week's snack complaints, I sent Izzy off to school this morning with snack for the class, a box of wheat crackers and a lovely basket of Empire apples, fresh from Monday's Union Square Market.

Last night he told me that he wanted to cut the apples himself and serve them to his classmates, the way his teacher had taught them last year. He explained that he wanted to do this so that the apples didn't turn "brown and yucky." Sounded like the perfect solution to me so I mentioned it to his teacher and watched as he carried the apples off to his classroom.

On our way home from school, when I asked him how the apples were, I was more than shocked to hear this. "They were brown and yucky and nobody ate them." Was I missing something? Had I purchased rotten apples? How could perfectly lovely apples, cut to order, have turned brown?

According to Izzy's version, "I don't know what the teachers were thinking." As he told it, they cut the apples long before snack, and then set them out, where they promptly turned brown, making them decidedly unappealing.

From what I understand, the children know (or maybe I assume too much) how to cut the apples with a little apple cutting gizmo. Wouldn't it make sense to have them use it just before they are about to eat one? How can we expect children to eat fruit if it is unappetizing?

Obviously I am overly sensitive to these things (otherwise I would not be writing this blog) but I am saddened by the waste of beautiful fruit. Last year, snack had its proper place in Izzy's classroom. This year I am not sure what to think. Until I get to the bottom of the apple injustice, if I send any fruit again, I will be sure to bathe it in lemon juice.

Local Pasta: Fresh Fast Food For Four Bucks

This box of pasta is my latest, greatest food find. It is a steal for four bucks, made with Knoll Krest Farm eggs, sold at the Knoll Krest Farm Egg Stand at the Union Square Market.

Fresh pasta like this cooks up so quickly that you can have dinner on the table in the time it takes to boil the water plus four minutes. Tonight's theme was green.


Spinach Fettucine With Spinach, Scallions and Garlic

1 container Hudson Farmhouse Pasta

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 bunch scallions sliced in thin rounds

1/2 bag chopped, frozen spinach or 1 bag fresh baby spinach

1/4 cup olive oil

salt, pepper to taste

chili oil to taste

Parmesan for grating

1. Boil water and salt.

2. While water is boiling saute garlic and scallions 3-4 minutes.

3. Add spinach and cover until wilted.

4. Add salt and pepper to taste, chili oil if desired.

5. Boil pasta for four minutes and drain (reserve one cup of cooking liquid).

6. Add drain pasta to sauce and place over low heat until ingredients are melded, adding water if sauce seems too dry.

Serves 3

Fairway Fancy

Today was one of those rare weekend days, when I found myself without Izzy. He was being entertained by his Papa and so I had the afternoon off. And where did I find myself? Food shopping on the Upper West Side. First at Zabar's and then at Fairway, not the smartest places to be on a Saturday afternoon but the pull was simply too great to deny.

If you are not familiar with Fairway, you ought to be. I just stopped in for a few items because navigating its aisles on a Saturday can be truly nightmarish. As I glanced around I began to long for the days when it was my local supermarket. If I could pick only one place to fulfill all of my shopping needs it would be Fairway. Since I moved to Jersey City, Fairway has taken a backseat to Union Square and Whole Foods, which are conveniently located in the same area.

The problem is, I NEED to go to Union Square so I frequent Whole Foods by default. Perhaps I need to rethink my shopping routine. Without Fairway, I have been missing out on so many things; like French vacuumed-packed beets, French soft dried fruits, all manner of produce imaginable, an incredible olive bar, amazing cheese, and all manner of new products, olive oils, soaps etc., not to mention the newly renovated organic section upstairs, and all at the most reasonable prices imaginable. The shelves are crammed with goodies you have yet to hear about.

This afternoon, I entered Fairway with arms already full of Zabar's purchases so I was forced to leave with only the container of dried apricots pictured above and a bunch of organic broccoli for tonight's dinner. As I walked toward the subway, I vowed to somehow put Fairway back into my shopping routine. If you would like to join me, let me know!

What Can You Do With A Smoked Turkey Leg?

For years now I have been eyeing the smoked turkey legs, wrapped two to a package, at the DiPaola Farms stand at the Union Square market. I just could never envision myself doing anything except gnaw on them so I just ignored them. Then I read this and was led to believe that they could have a life beyond just being consumed Flintstone-style.

I picked up a package a few weeks ago and tonight they become an ingredient of our Southernish dinner, which was one of A.'s specialities back in his cooking days. Instead of his usual Black-eyed Peas, Collard Greens and rice. I added diced turkey, omitting the sinewy bits, to the peas. I tossed in the bone to add more flavor while it simmered.



Black-Eyed Peas, Collard Greens and Rice (4 large servings)

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups white rice
2 large onions, diced
2-3 squirts ketchup
fresh thyme
2 cans black-eyed peas
1 smoked turkey leg, meat diced (you can also use sausage, kielbasa etc.)
1 bunch collard greens, cleaned, stemmed and chopped.
2 tablespoons butter

1. Put rice on to boil.
2. Saute onion until golden. Add squirts of ketchup and stir. Add peas and turkey, thyme. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
3. Steam greens with a small amount of water over low heat, for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain water and toss with salt and butter over low heat.
4. When rice is finished, everything else should be too!

Hugged For Kielbasa: Giving Food Advice To Strangers

It happened like this: I was on my way home from my weekly Greenmarket excursion. I sat on the Path train headed for Jersey City, wheeling my overstuffed granny cart, carrots and other produce poking through the slots for all to see. A toddler in a baby stroller caught my eye and began an animated game of peek-a-boo with me.

I exited the train at Pavonia Newport and noted that he and his mother left too. As she walked beside me, she admired the vegetables in my cart. Soon a discussion of food ensued and she lamented the fact that her child did not eat enough vegetables. An all too common scenario, to be sure. She purported to be a terrible cook, blaming his veggie woes on her lackluster kitchen skills. I probed for more info..What did he eat? What did she like to eat, etc...As the facts emerged, I discovered that her son did indeed eat. She said he ate Polish food and Mexican food. Well that is certainly something to be proud of since there are many toddlers who have not even tried those things.

She still feared that something was lacking from her son's diet. She said she was a busy, single mom and didn't have much time to cook. I told her that there are many ways she can improve upon it and that I could help her.
Our conversation continued the entire way from the Path station to my home for about 10 minutes. As we were nearing the end of the walk, I somehow gleaned that the woman was Polish. When I inquired she nodded affirmatively. I then asked if she was familiar with Europa Meat and Provisions, our local spot for pierogi and kielbasa. She said that she hadn't heard of it and that her mother (in Chicago) kept telling her that there must be some Polish food around here somewhere.

She was so thrilled with this news that when I stopped to take leave of her, she said, "I just want to thank you for making my day, or maybe my life. I need to give you a hug." And she did. I told her to contact me through this blog and I hope to hear from her soon. Perhaps she and her son are tucking into a giant platter of pierogi right now.

Europa Meat & Provisions Inc Description - Polish deli, meat Address - 527 Jersey Ave, Jersey City, New Jersey ( NJ ) 07302-2720 Google Map Mapquest MapTelephone - (201) 435-2221