Baked Zucchini & Orzo or Courgette & Orzo Baked Dish

 

 

With the holiday weekend approaching, it was time for me to start making those grocery shopping lists to prepare for the barbecue or whatever plans are on tap.  Although I love the stand-bys like potato salad and s’mores, sometimes I feel like we fall into the usual rut of side dishes.  With so much fresh produce coming into season, it seemed appropriate to try to find something new to make.

 

Fulton Stall Market Visit

 

This summer has not only meant the reopening of the New Amsterdam Market on a weekly basis, it has also given us the revived Fulton Stall Market.  I’d written about this historic market (there’s been a version of it more or less in the same place since the 1820s) back in 2009.  Last summer, I noticed that the area where it usually took place was empty.  I don’t really know the whole story behind its absence, but I’m glad to see this market back in action again.

The juices from Red Jacket Orchards were perfect to combat the heat from a day walking around the markets.

as were these gorgeous strawberries

They also sell these yummy jams and preserves

Sisterhands Syrups was another beverage option

Brewla Bars (at Smorgasburg too) had several refreshing options to cool you down

I went with the Root Beer Pop – sort of like a really great root beer float in frozen form

Another option would have been to go with Coolhaus and their ice cream sandwiches

Eating choices included this collaboration between two of the market’s vendors:

NY Farm 2 Door‘s meats and cheeses

plus Sour Puss Pickles wonderful preserved items

There were also sandwiches by GranDaisy Bakery

and these great-tasting, flavorful pizza squares, which I’ve enjoyed on several occasions.

To keep you going on your visit, Yummy Coffee had samples to try.

Before you leave, however, don’t forget to grab a jar of hearty-tangy, delicious Sunday Gravy

They had this great meal pack, pasta and cheese included, on offer today

Perhaps to pair with a salad or some veggies from Migliorelli Farm

Accompanied by a bottle of wine from Brooklyn Winery‘s own label, maybe?

and finished up with some sweet treats from The Groovy Baker

Don’t forget this cute bag (there are others, too) from Bugged Out in which to take it all home!

Buon appetito!

Arugula Salad with Cremini Mushrooms and Grana Padano

I first had this salad when I was a student in Bologna, Italy.  Scaccomatto, one of the restaurants that we would treat ourselves to sometimes, had many traditional dishes on the menu but, boldly, for this town, often had more imaginative fare, all made with top-quality ingredients that could easily stand out on their own.  This Insalata di rucola con funghi e Grana Padano (Arugula Salad with Cremini Mushrooms and Grana Padano) has a bit of snap and bite to it and is the perfect kick-off to a great meal or can stand as a light lunch or dinner all by itself. 

A Visit to The Brooklyn Flea’s Smorgasburg

Smorgasburg!

It was a long overdue trip, I know, but I’ve either been out of town or just plain busy every Saturday since Smorgasburg, the food fair put together by the folks who also run the Brooklyn Flea, kicked off.  Knowing several vendors who sell at this Williamsburg, Brooklyn waterfront location, I was keen to get out there to support their efforts at this new market venture.  Today, with sunny skies and the free ferry service running between Manhattan and the landing dock right near Smorgasburg, I didn’t have any more excuses not to visit it.

Sweet Potato Cakes from Ottolenghi’s “Plenty”

After I made the Endive with Sweet Potatoes, Bacon, Chives, and Sour Cream a week ago, I still had one uncooked sweet potato left over.  So, I cracked open Yotam Ottolenghi’s cookbook “Plenty”, for which I’d been at a book signing last week, and started reading the directions.  I had the pleasure of eating at his Notting Hill restaurant when I was in London earlier this year, thoroughly enjoyed it, and wanted to try my hand at making one of his recipes at home.

Hester Street Fair Sunday Picnic and Egg Rolls & Egg Creams

 

This year, the Hester Street Fair is only on Saturdays, so the Sunday Picnic theme of today’s event was built around local food, games (ping pong, badminton), and lively music, with tables down the center of the market space to encourage hanging out and enjoying being outside while eating some great treats.

After that, a few short blocks away, the folks at the Museum at Eldridge Street were holding their annual Egg Rolls & Egg Creams festival, which celebrates the cultural diversity of the neighborhood.  Chinese and Jewish foods, games, and activities were available for families along with tours of the museum itself.  Seeing an egg cream on the side of a table of folks who were playing Mah Jong, just reinforced how amazing it is that all of these groups of various immigrants were thrown together over time and have created their own traditions.

“The Food of Spain” by Claudia Roden

When I saw that Claudia Roden would be coming to talk to the Culinary Historians of New York about her new book The Food of Spain, I blocked off my calendar immediately.  I’ve been an enormous fan of her work ever since I was introduced to Italian cooking via The Food of Italy back in the mid-1990s.  Her Bolognese sauce recipe is my go-to version and the cornerstone of my lasagna bolognese.

Endive with Sweet Potatoes, Bacon, Chives, and Sour Cream

One of the sponsors at the Eat, Write, Retreat conference I attended last month in Washington, DC, was the Discover Endive! folks.  At the reception that opened this weekend event, they served tasty bites of Endive with Sweet Potatoes, Bacon, Chives, and Sour Cream.  These were a delicious balance of crunchy, chewy, sweet, salty, meaty, and creamy.  With the hand-held leaf serving as an edible platter, they were a perfectly sized nibble and easy-to-serve appetizer.

Shortbread, Strawberries, and Cream for Teatime

“The best ideas always arrive after a glass of wine or two …”

This was said to me in response to an email that I’d sent to a friend in England, after telling him that I’d made my first-ever batch of shortbread.  Last night, I’d met up with a friend who now lives in New Jersey at a Greek restaurant in Midtown for wine and mezze.  As we were parting ways after said eats and drinks, I invited her for tea today to continue our catch-up session.  The crazier part of this story is that I also had a former roommate coming in for a visit this afternoon.  What would I serve everyone?