Dessert Giveaway!

There's another contest over at Glam Dish today! Win one of three prize packages that each include a signed copy of a Gale Gand cookbook, bakeware and 12 coupons for a product that was named to Time Magazine's list of the 100 greatest consumer products in 1998. It was invented 60 years ago. Do you know what it is? Click here to find out...

Brown bag it

One day a few weeks ago, entirely without prompting, Brandon packed me a lunch for work. Just like that. I opened the fridge, and there it was: a Tupperware containing one of his trademark concoctions, soba noodles with a peanut-citrus sauce, with my name on it.“Oh yeah,” he said nonchalantly, “I thought you might like some for your lunch tomorrow.”With no explanation, just like that, he

Artichoke Time

I love artichokes.  Ever since I was little my favorite answer to "what's for dinner" included artichokes.  My mom always steamed them and served them with drawn butter.  There's something so simple and yet somewhat decadent about eating nothing but the artichoke and pure butter.  The only other thing I can think of my parents eating this way is lobster.  I've also had stuffed artichokes at various Italian restaurants, but these days my favorite way to eat an artichoke is Perla Meyers's Artichokes with Curried Ginger-Lemon Vinaigrette.  Yes, they're that good.  They're so good, in fact, that when I want my favorite vegetarian friend to come over, all I have to do is mention these artichokes and he won't make any excuses.  

The recipe comes from Ms. Meyers's book Spur of the Moment Cook: Spontaneous and Flavorful Meals for the busiest Days of the Week.  Although the topic sounds somewhat hackneyed in the age of Rachel Ray and the 5 minute meal, Spur of the Moment Cook is not your typical dump-some-canned-things-in-a-pan type of speedy cookbook.  Meyers studied baking and confections in Switzerland and Vienna and received a degree from Le Cordon Bleu.  She seems to be most interested in the kind of peasant European cooking that inspired the whole California Cuisine craze lead by Alice Waters.  Two of Meyers's other well-known cookbooks are titled The Seasonal Kitchen: A Return to Fresh Foods and Peasant Kitchen: A Return to Simple, Hearty Food if that gives any indication of her culinary interests. In most of her books, Spur of the Moment included, Meyers focuses on preparing fresh, whole foods simply and in a way that highlights their natural qualities. 

Anyway, back to these artichokes.  It's an easy recipe, and the real star is the amazing Curried Ginger-Lemon Vinaigrette that gets poured into the bowl made from scooping the choke out of the heart. Once you dig out all the vinaigrette with the leaves, you're left with a perfectly dressed artichoke heart to enjoy.   Although Ms. Meyers's recipe includes an option for anchovy fillets, I simply left them out.  It also calls for 1 teaspoon of lightly beaten egg yolk, but if you're uncomfortable with raw eggs, just leave it out as well.

I like how the artichoke looks like a sunflower once it's been filled.

Artichokes with Curried Ginger-Lemon Vinaigrette

For 4 large artichokes

Vinaigrette: 

1 lemon, cut in half, one half juiced

1 teaspoon lightly beaten egg yolk 

1 teaspoon curry powder

* One 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and passed through a garlic press 

1 1/2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 large garlic clove, also pressed

3/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons finely mined scallions or chives (I used three scallions)

Salt and pepper

Get some salted water boiling and cook the artichokes along with half of the lemon for around 25 minutes or until the artichoke is done.  For the vinaigrette, combine the first 7 ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine.  As you wisk begin to pour the oil in slowly until all of it is emulsified. Stir in the scallions and season with salt and pepper.

Once the artichokes are done cooking, place them in a colander and blanch them under to cold water until they are cool enough to handle.  Spread the artichoke leaves carefully, and let it cool until you can handle it.  Once cool, use a grapefruit spoon to dig out the fuzzy choke in the center, which you can discard.  Pour 1/4 of the vinaigrette into the heart where the choke used to be.  

* I found this to be more like juicing the ginger through the press because the fibers didn't really break down.

* * *

I'm sending this post in to Lisa of Lisa's Kitchen for the "No Croutons Required" event.  This month's theme is "dressing" so I thought this recipe would be perfect.  Hope she likes it!

Photo du Jour - Blossoming Prow

Flower boxes decorating a barge on the Canal du Midi.

Culinary Confessions

I'm a thief. First I snagged the concept of Posts of the Week from Too Many Chefs. Now I brazenly bloglift Culinary Confessions from David Lebovitz. But at least I give credit. That counts for something, right?

My confessions:

I have never used my bread machine

I rarely wash mushrooms

I have broken three sugar bowls in under four years

I prefer that mugs match in color or style, but not both

I hate it when recipes call for an uneven number of egg whites and yolks

I consider sour cream a staple item

I believe in the golden rule "I cook, you clean"

I love leftover pasta for breakfast

I have about six open jars of jam in the fridge (and just as many of mustard)

I think cold pizza is gross

I stockpile pasta and canned tomatoes like they're going out style

I love my Le Creuset

I believe most things are improved with bacon and fried onions

I melt chocolate in the microwave

If I drink coffee I get heart palpitations

I would love a big copper bowl for whipping egg whites

I think peanut butter with sugar in it is gross

I think mayonnaise with sugar in it is gross

I prefer whipped cream over frosting on cakes

I love shopping at Trader Joe's

I have five whisks and I use them all

I find sifting anything a bother

I often keep herbs in the fridge until they either get crispy or turn to slime

I prefer cooking alone

I have never successfully made meringue

I don't like to order risotto in restaurants because mine is usually better

If I ever ran out of garlic or onions I'd have to go out to dinner

I use non-stick pans (are you horrified?)

I wish Plugra butter came in 1/4 pound sticks instead of one pound blocks

I have no fewer than four chocolate bars on hand, just in case

I can't eat dates or lobster

My kitchen has been less than tidy ever since my housekeeper moved back to Guatemala (she moved three years ago)

There you have it, my culinary confessions. So, what are yours?

Photo du Jour

Shade
So necessary during the height of summer.

Photo du Jour

Memories of my trip to Paris in April with my sister.
I yearn to go again.
Someday....