Inspiration, enlightenment, and perseverance

Hello dear readers, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover today so get comfy, get a snack or a beverage if needed, and we’ll get started.

We’ve eaten the same meal two days in a row. It was just that good. I can only take credit for preparing it because the inspiration and recipes came from two fabulous food blogs, What We’re Eating and Chocolate & Zucchini. The snapper was the best fish I’ve ever made. I rubbed it down with a mix of garlic, canola oil, cumin, and smoked paprika and then cooked it in a really hot pan with just a bit of canola oil. But it was Amanda’s smooshy dressing/sauce (that is meant for the jicama salad) that really made the snapper pop. I didn’t have tamarind paste so I substituted a few dried berries, some fresh ginger, and a splash of white vinegar. I have no idea how the original tasted but this sauce/dressing was so tasty I could have eaten it with a spoon. Thank you so much Tyler and Amanda, we really enjoyed this.

I didn’t make the jicama salad because I already had beets ready for a salad and when I went to the market there was my favorite…mache! I had read Clotilde’s post about mache/beet salad earlier in the week and I was envious because of my lust for mache. You should have seen me at the market when I realized they had it…I was so thrilled, it was, well… rather embarrassing to be that excited about a leafy green. But that’s me, I’m an excitable girl. Anyway, I quickly recovered, bought two bags and knew we would happily munch on the same salad two days in a row. I didn’t use Clotilde’s dressing because of the aforementioned succulent sauce/dressing which enhanced the salad just as it did the fish. I added a few toasted pecans and we feasted like kings (as opposed to dining in hell)! Oh, and I can’t forget the tender and flavorful artichoke served with an espresso cup of melted butter and coarse French gray sea salt. Delightful and oh so decadent.

Now on to enlightenment…obviously there was nothing local about that meal (either time). In my last post I lamented the lack of Fair Trade bananas and Laura left a comment to let me know there is. When I was at Willy St. today I asked about them and sure enough…fair trade bananas were right in front of me. Thanks go out to Laura for sharing the knowledge. I love it when that happens.

Yes, I’m obsessive and yes, I did make strawberry scones again. This time I used Ina Garten’s recipe. They were denser and more toothsome and very close to the “ideal scone” that I’ve been questing for. Here’s the recipe. Jacob, I guess your going to have to start baking!

Strawberry Scones (I’ve lost count)
adapted from Ina Garten’s recipe

4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 pound cold unsalted butter, diced
4 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup 1/2 n 1/2
12 large frozen strawberries, sliced

Preheat the oven to 400. Sift into your mixing bowl the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and let the mixer work it until it has a coarse texture. Combine the eggs and 1/2 n 1/2 and add to the mixer. Mix it as little as possible to get it combined.

Turn it out onto a floured counter-top and work in the strawberries. Pat the dough out until it is 1 inch thick. Cut on the diagonal and place the scones parchment lined baking sheets. bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through (toothpick test works well). Drizzle with a powder sugar/OJ glaze (see previous posts on scones).

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Whew…that’s it. We’re leaving Wednesday for London and while we’re traveling I’ll post photos and such so check back for that. Cheers!

19 March 2007 | baking, beef, fish, poultry, pork, food, low carb, low cal, quick and easy, recipe, soup, salad, sandwich, sweets | Comments