"Dreaming of Summer" Salad

“Dreaming of Summer” Salad

Today the high temperature was 24 degrees F with last night’s low going to 14 degrees F. It’s during the dark, cold days of January that summer seems light years away.

So what better way to shake off the cold than with a bright summer vegetable salad? For vegetarians, it’s a complete meal with garbanzo beans, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, celery, carrots, black and green olives and chives. For the meat eaters, it’s just an awesome salad to go with fish, beef or chicken.

If available, fresh cilantro would make a wonderful addition; however, today’s selection at the market was old and wilted – better luck next time. The salad was dressed with Extra Virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar and 1-2 teaspoonful’s of 20 year old balsamic vinegar from Modena, Italy. Freshly ground pepper and salt are all that’s needed. Go generous with the olive oil and use the fruitiest, sweetest oil available to you.

Variations:
Substitute the garbanzo beans with thoroughly rinsed hominy or black-eyed peas. Or you can use a third of each one. Two cups of pasta such as conchiglie (small shells), farfalle (bow ties) or orecchiette (little ears).

As always, Buon Appetito!

Charlie

Pan Árabe con Aceite y Sal

Rainy days breed comfort food. What is it about being at home, hearing rain outside, and wanting to submerse yourself in all things cozy? Pajamas, multiple cups of coffee, hot, sultry jazz...

This morning I woke up to the sound of rain on the street. A gentle tapping, the sound was enough to dismiss my want of walking to the bakery for bread. I very much enjoy the pan integral from the bakery on my street. It is a small, sandy-coloured baguette (perfect for one) spotted with specks of grain. Inside, it is light, doughy, and un-heavy compared to the whole-grain loaves I have had in the U.S. This was what I wanted...but did not dare venture outside, even if it was a mere block away.

Comfort food. And comfort food is where the heart is. Spain has been a gentle friend to me, sometimes sour but more often sweet, and I wanted her hug: Warm, toasted bread with oil and salt.

With my flatmates still away for holiday break, I took full advantage of using the kitchen. My kitchen. Like my previous post, I decided to make flatbread again. This flatbread which I was taught to make hails from Africa, which is a short boat-ride away. It is because of this, I affectionately call this bread pan árabe. I could call it flat bread, pan plano, but today I cooked it properly for the first time: Portions gently rose forming bubbles reminding me of another Moroccan bread I have had, so pan árabe it is.

My coffee is steaming beside me. I am chewing on warm, freshly made bread. My tougue gets that tasty flick of salt is has been craving. I am warm, blogging, and completely content. Yes, the errands will have to wait for another day...

Olive Flatbread with Steamed Artichoke Hearts and Mushrooms

Where on Earth do I begin? The inspiration? The artichoke escapade? There is really too much to say, and before I type more, let me preface this entry with a statement: This post will no doubt be a long one. Get a cup of coffee, sit back, relax, and read. Happy New Year, by the way. ¡Y Felices Reyes a mi vecinos español!

The inspiration: My dear friend Jenny. Does she know how proud I am of her? Probably not. But in her blog (and you guys should check out sugarspeakbaking.com) she writes a statement that really stuck with me: "I love gifting cookies and cakes to friends and family on special occasions or just because it’s Tuesday". The last part, "...just because it is Tuesday", really hit me for some reason. Why not? And "why Not" happens a lot here in Spain. A lot of things here don't logically make sense. But, like all things in life, you get used to certain things. After a while, one really gets used to the Spanish mentality. And the more you get used to it, the more you just relax, shrug your shoulders, and embrace the "well, Why not"?

At the market, I saw alcachofas and cringed. I love artichokes. Adore, actually. About three years ago, when the Piccolo Gourmet was in the back of my head, my friend Jenny and I decided to "make artichokes" in my kitchen. That kitchen was smaller than the one I now share with Charlie, if you can believe it. Ah, Manhattan. "Why not"? The artichokes 'made' that day were, shall we say, an experiment in the culinary arts. Were they edible? No. Did we try? Yes. I have been petrified of artichokes since then. I gulped hard and said, "Quatro ciento gramos por favor. Sí, alcachofas". Gulp.

I then reference Bon Appétit online on how to properly steam an artichoke. I start sweating. It was the warmest I have been in my stone-cold flat since the start of December. I did everything they said. Did I forget to check the water level in the bottom of my pan? Of course. Is that pan burnt black like Vesuvius? Absolutely. But the artichokes were heaven. Shear heaven. I have not tasted one like it. Ever. The flavor, I am sad to say, cannot be described. One of my favorite culinary memories from New York City is ordering the artichoke at Jean Georges' Nougatine. It arrives in front you simply grand: cut perfectly, steaming hot, and all for you. Ready to be plunged in a dish of melted butter... I am not going to lie: what I made tonight was better. The artichoke needed absolutely nothing. It was earthy, concentrated...like all artichokes should taste like.

And now on to the "Why Not"? My friend Ben taught me how to make this flatbread before he moved to Germany. I loved it. Charlie knows how petrified I am of baking, especially working with doughs. He's the scientist: He's a dough expert. As is Jenny. This flatbread, I am happy to say, is easy. Real easy. So easy, that I make it in less that ten minutes. That's right folks. Have I been wanting to make variations of this recipe? You bet.

Living in Andalucía has really changed my look on food. Everything is fresh here. Bread is baked daily. (You smell it down the street.) Vegetables are sold fresh in open-air markets. Labels of origin are displayed proudly on products. (Please reference the post I wrote on "Thanksgiving". Since then I have changed completely.) I am all about making things from scratch. "Why not"?

Whole-Wheat Olive Flatbread:
5 olives of your choice, pitted, chopped
(I used garlic-marinated green olives)
1 cup of whole wheat flour
(Ben uses local, all-purpose flour. I am in love with the harina integral.)
5 (or so) Tbsp of cold water
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of sugar

Add your dry ingredients together. Add enough water so that the dough holds together. Add Olive Oil and chopped olives. Knead until everthing is combined. Add more flour as needed to you have a clean, well combined ball of dough. Break into meatball-sized balls and roll these out flat on a flour-dusted surface with a flour-dusted rolling pin. Toast on Medium heat until you see those yummy, toasted brown spots. Flip and do the same to the other side.

Topping:
3 freshly steamed Artichoke hearts
200 grams of minced white mushrooms
50-100 grams of freshly soaked, and boiled dry beans (white beans are excellent)
2 cloves of garlic, sliced thin
Salt
Half of 1 large lemon
your best olive oil

Sautee your garlic slices in oil until you smell them and they are toasted golden brown. Add your mushrooms and beans. Sautee. While still warm, chop your artichoke hearts and add to the mixture. Sprinkle with salt and squeeze the lemon over everything combined.

Infused Oil for your artichoke leaves:
your best olive oil
Half of 1 large lemon
1 clove of garlic, sliced.

Coat the base of a small sauce pan with a good amount of olive oil. Add your garlic and sautee. After garlic is toasted, splash the juice of the lemon over all. Mind the seeds. Garnish with a lemon slice.

In closing, yes, this meal is extravagant for one dining alone. I recall Deborah Madison's What People Eat When They Are Alone. There were single men who ate pasta and ketchup. There were others who took the time to rub, marinate, and grill a steak. This meal is all about Jenny's "...just because it is Tuesday". Today, I did some chores and walked around a lot drawing in my sketchbook. Was I starving when I got home? Absolutely. Did I not savour my meal as much as I should have? I did not. Was I glad I went through the effort? Without a doubt. "Why not"? Happy cooking and happy new year!