Sizzle, Sizzle, Bubble and Trouble

It arrives at the table sizzling and bubbling and steaming and brings to mind a scene stirring the cauldron from Shakespeare's MacBeth. Perhaps I exaggerate but everyone is wowed! No kidding!

I confess, I love bringing the uninitiated to the Rancho Market in Salt Lake City for a sizzling, bubbling Molcajete! No one gets out unmoved/unchanged. There are several reasons for enjoying the experience. Many have said they never liked a corn tortilla 'til that very moment. Of course there are flour tortillas, too! For others it's the salsas. Regardless, the star of the show is the double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and caldron bubble MOLCAJETE! The only real trouble is that it's sooo good , you'll eat more then you ever thought you could! They're huge; we ordered two!

Man, this is fun! Hank and his father Ted Scheffler - SLCity Weekly food critic agreed wholeheartedly. Along with our companions (Gourmand Nancy Fillat, Singer Joy Tlou, and Mad Guitarist Rich Daigle) we ate, laughed, told stories of great Mexican meals, restaurants and locations which in the past had pleased us most. In other words, it was a great meal with enthusiastic eaters. At the Rancho Market you'll be an enthusiastic eater, too. Give it a try. Provecho!

An Autumn so Bright you'll need Shades!!!

Not quite September and I have yet to begin thinking about an encroaching autumnal equinox. No doubt, I'll come to terms with the change of season but not just yet. The gardens are bumper crop perhaps due to the ample rains of June, years of prepping the soil or a combination of all of the above. No explaining it really. It's just time to revel in the garden and the kitchen.

I received a hefty hook-neck squash from my gardening brother Joe and matched it with the tomatoes growing at my house. The colors combined pop like a tropical flower, full of life and urgently vibrant. Oh, how I love this time of year.

OK, this recipe is so simple, I feel a little shy in sharing it. But give it a try with a gift from your squash fairy (everyone has at least one), you'll love it. So will your family and guests!

2 cups Squash
One hand full of Cherry Tomatoes
Splash of Chicken Broth
Splash fresh OJ
3 Tbls Puree of Roasted Red Peppers (or Ajvar)
Mince of garlic & onion
Salt & Pepper
And a pinch of Herbes de Provence, if you like.

Cook over med-high heat 'til the squash softens. I've been serving this over Crostini slices smeared with goat cheese. Add a salad to the side, dinner's done quickly. I find a dry Spanish Rose Wine (Rosado) is perfect to round out this offering.

P.S. I love using a Mandoline. It makes veggie prep simple and the clean-up is fast!

Paella Session - Atlanta GA

I spent a long weekend recently with the Antista family (cousin, aunt & uncle) in Atlanta. I made paella while primo Tom shot the process with video and stills. Some of the images are stupendous. Salad and conversation added, our meal was sublime.

Lunch Frittata - Time Saveur

A few left-over items in the fridge, add pesto or other sauce, cherry tomatoes (grown along side the house) and a clip of Basil for garnish and today's lunch is a Time Saveur.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Heat a splash of olive oil over medium-high heat in an oven-safe skillet and cook a mince of onion and garlic until translucent. Beat eggs, add pasta, pesto, red or bechamel sauce, salt & pepper. Pour mixture into the skillet. The "Sizzle" indicates you'll have a nice brown crust once done. Reduce the heat to medium-low, allow eggs to set, about 10 minutes. Transfer skillet to preheated oven and cook fully, about 15 minutes. Nota Bene: The center is the problem spot. When center is solid, cool, cut and serve with soup, salad and a hunk of country bread. Any and all will do nicely! Garnish with tomato and basil. Serve with a Sauvignon Blanc.

"Windows on Baikal"

While indulging in a bit of reminiscing and reviewing fotos taken in Siberia, I found a series I shot of the windows of homes around Lake Baikal.

Please note, the houses themselves are without paint. Oddly, only the windows receive paint and a splash of creativity and fanciful flourish. I was so taken with this novel approach to home maintenance, I broke out the camera just to shoot the series, "Windows on Baikal". I share five of the many taken that day!

Being this principally is a food blog, I should add that we consumed mostly black bread, smoked fish, the caviar of Omul (a fish found only in the waters of Lake Baikal) and the Cup-O-Potato-Buds re-hydrated with boiling hot water from many a samovar. Russian Standard Vodka, was the tipple of choice - sometimes mixed with Schweppes' Bitter Lemon (more readily found in Siberia then in North America it seems). Ah, Siberia I love you well!