Somehow I found a variety of uses for it. And at less than $3 a can (or less than a dollar at some places), its hard not to give this ingredient a shot.
Sometimes recipe inspiration comes on a walk home from the grocery store.
Not someone who usually buys premade things, I'd seen these cornmeal gluten free pizza crusts at the farmers market earlier in the day. The vendor selling these is situated next to one of three Blue Bottle coffee outposts, so its easy to check these crusts out while waiting. Seeing them for a second time at the grocery store made me immediately think "savory" with tomatoes and basil appearing everywhere. Bellwether's ricotta cheese went into my basket thinking the evening's dinner would be a vegetarian pizza.
On the walk home, I remembered the morning's Dirty Girl Farm strawberries, three day old mint, and thought "dessert"!
There really isn't a recipe, more like assembling and then a quick bake in the oven.
I cut a quarter of a cornmeal crust and spread some ricotta on it. Use more or less depending on how much you want. I could have used a little more. Thinly slice enough strawberries to cover the cheese, then crack some black pepper over the fruit. Slide onto a sheet pan and put into a preheated 425 degree oven (says so on the crust's package) and wait for 10-12 minutes. When the crust is golden brown and the berries are juicy, sprinkle some torn mint leaves.
I ate this before eating dinner.
Oops.
Rhubarb is a sign of spring. Living in the Bay Area, I've seen it for
several weeks hanging out near the strawberries, its culinary partner.
When I lived in Chicago, it was for sale for a mere week or maybe two if
we were lucky; and in Boston, I don't think I ever saw it.
I was inspired to just cook it solo and have dolloped it with my morning
yogurt and granola. It would pair with butter on bread or on a slice of
cake or between shortcakes and whipped cream. Just go with it.
Rhubarb Compote
7.5 oz rhubarb or 2 meaty stalks, remove the ends
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 Valencia orange, juice & zest
scant 1/4 cup sugar
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
Cut
the rhubarb into 1/4" pieces. Place pieces in a bowl with the vanilla
extract, orange zest and juice, and sugar. Toss with your hands and let the pieces
hang out in the bowl while the oven warms up.
Pour the rhubarb into a baking dish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve with plain yogurt, ice cream or crème fraiche. Or spoon on toast, scones, or, really, anything.
The calendar says February which means cooking and eating heavy meats, stews, and braises. Meals meant for winter days. Or like my New England friends, staying indoors while the snow piles up outside.
In San Francisco, the weather isn't exactly frigid with snow on the ground. Looking for something still hearty, full of flavor, and that doesn't require an oven (my kitchen doesn't have one), this chili fits the bill. I also had (almost) every ingredient on the list and made substitutions for what came up missing. In lieu of jalapeno, use one chipotle in adobo (which is really smoked jalapeno in a can). And I didn't have celery or a red onion. My adaptation makes enough for two big meals with leftovers; the original serves eight to twelve. Pro tips: Even though the chili is vegetarian, I added ground beef on a second go of this for Super Bowl supper, but chorizo or another spicy sausage would work just fine. After browning the meat, keep the fat in the pan, add a little more oil if needed, and then proceed with the rest of the recipe. Make the chili in advance, and it gets better after a day. Black Bean + Sweet Potato ChiliSome recent snaps of places visited and things eaten in San Francisco.
Of course, there are plenty of things not included. The totopos (chips covered in red chile sauce, cilantro, cheese, and white onion) from Nopalito. The Josey Baker toast of the day from the Mill. The olive bread from Tartine.
Or the sunets at Ocean Beach - there are too many of those. But then there are many scenes that a camera can't capture because the landscape has just too much fog or too much sunshine or just meant for remembering. #SoSF.
yogurt + pear + granola at brunch at Nopa
tomato, mozzarella, basil pizza from Pizza del Popolo - a pizza truck on wheels with a wood oven
my first ramen - Hapa Ramen's fried chicken version - Ferry Building on Tuesdays
beverages at Chocolate Lab by Recchiuti: lillet + soda water + orange and a hot chocolate - liquid dessert
a map of San Francisco inside Trouble Coffee
a PBR, a Polaroid land camera, and a smartphone: Sunday instant camera walking tour by Photobooth
Late last week, I attended one of the thank you dinners for folks who contributed money to ForageSF's Kickstarter campaign. All the funds raised will help build a cooking co-working space called Forage Kitchen. Food makers of all kinds will use the incubator space to launch businesses or can or jam whatever is in season, but cooking classes, events, and parties will also take place in the building. The brainchild behind this project is Iso Rabins, a guy who hopes the space will be a model for other cities to create.
Below is the menu of the evening's dinner - thanks to Meghan for making this happen!Radishes with Nasturtium Butter and Hand Harvested Jacobsen's Sea Salt (not pictured)
Crispy Fried Lake Smelt with Tempura Fried North Bay Seabeans
Eucalyptus and Wild Huckleberry Popsicle
Day five of San Francisco living. The sun shines a different shade of blue. Not to wax rhapsodic or pile on the romanticism, but the air is a bit different out here. The biggest adjustment is the time difference. Three hours. Football is the first thing to air today. Not a terrible thing, its just not something I'm used to, especially when a beer used to be involved. Now its coffee or tea.
Nopalito's red chile chips + lime + crema (along with the rest of their menu) is crave worthy. And very welcoming and friendly service to boot. Its dangerous and delicious to be living around the corner.
above: picture of a favorite Boston cafe, 3 little figs.
Today is my first full day in San Francisco. The weather is warm, the sky is blue, and there are new sights and smells.
Main to-do for the day was hitting the grocery store. With all of my kitchen tools/pantry items in storage in Boston, its tough to think about what I need, what I can live without, and what could work.
Here's what I bought at the Haight Street Market, a friendly local store that offers a membership. The exact rules seem to be in a grey area, but a discount is much appreciated.
above: tortillas, tortilla chips, yogurt, milk, avocado, cheddar cheese, oats, granola, arugula/spinach mix, eggs, iced coffee
When you moved to a new city, what did you buy on your first grocery store run?
Two weekends ago I visited some farms in Sonoma County. Its rare to find farms in this area as most of the land is used to grow grapes.
The 100 year old barn houses a store, open to the public to buy seasonal produce, flowers, and handmade wreaths. Oak Hill sells to restaurants, grocery stores, and at local farmer's markets.
Specialty and hard to find varieties of fruits and vegetables are grown. Bi-Rite employees (and excited customers) are encouraged to harvest and help out lead farmer and produce buyer, Simon. The crops that come from this farm are sold in the market.
That mini chicken sandwich can't be beat. You know a place is a winner when the lady working the register says she comes to eat dinner on her days off.