johnny appleseed festival.

Many west coasters and even east coasters cannot appreciate the midwest enough, we have more festivals than both coasts combined! Once the snow melts and the trees start sprouting, Indiana has festivals practically lined up for the summer and fall. This year we attended the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne. As depicted above, this is where the famous "Johnny Appleseed" (aka John Chapman) is buried. No joke. Johnny Appleseed Park is taken over for a weekend by antiques, farmer's markets, games, arts, crafts and fair food. And folks, this fair definitely celebrates the apple. I ate my first apple dumpling and Paul had some apple cider. This place was hoppin'! Most people were dressed up from the era that Johnny Appleseed was alive and if you've never had REAL kettle corn made over a hot fire, you don't know what you're missing! This kettle corn was sweet nut not overpowering likewhat most of us are used to and the apple dumpling really let the apple speak for itself encased with sugar and cinnamon in a pastry envelope. We thought it was better than Kendallville's Apple Festival which we attended last year.

what's in a name?

What's in a name? A name unlike any other by that name? Here in Fort Wayne, people have the misconceived idea that a bagel is a bagel. If it looks like a bagel and tastes like a bagel, it's a bagel. How poorly misguided my dear friends have become. Thank God, this 1/2 Jew is around to introduce you to what is known as the "bagel". There is much debate and scrutiny over this carbohydrated creature, but the truth is the best bagels are bagels from the East Coast. Many have spent hours, perhaps even years, researching and researching the science behind the bagel and the truth is....it's all about the water.

What your eyes are feasting on in the picture is an "The Works", the perfect culmination of salt, sesame, garlic, poppy seed, onion and plain all wrapped into this beautfil piece of bagel art. Toasted or untoasted, the delicate, chewy crumb of this bagel requires a spread of whipped cream cheese and a couple of pieces of smoked, cured salmon a.k.a. lox. However you top your bagel is your choosing, but if you're ever on the East Coast, make sure you try this phenomenon. The truth shall set you free.

cravings.

The night before I headed to Washington state to visit my mom and stepdad I made chicken enchiladas. As I was planning my meals for the week, I had this major craving for enchiladas. It was as if the enchilada mummy awoke from its deep slumber and attacked my taste buds! When this craving beckons, I heed it's call! Years ago I pulled an enchilada recipe off the Food Network and ever since it's been my "go to" recipe for enchiladas. Of course it calls for making a red sauce which as far as I am concerned is the deciding factor in a dish of enchiladas. This particular recipe calls for New Mexican chile powder - its flavors yield a very mild, smoky and complex chile. Though enchiladas require some leg work, it if definitely worth the time invested. But doesn't anything good in this life require investment?

NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH!

I have some very exciting news to share with you dear readers! I have accepted an offer to write restaurant reviews for a local free magazine here in Fort Wayne called Whatzup. This is literally a DREAM COME TRUE!!! I am so excited. Keep your eyes open, my first review will be published in the October 9th edition! Even if you're not in Fort Wayne, you will be able to view the magazine online, it's published on a weekly basis (every Thursday). I will be one of the featured columnists once or twice a month. I will make an effort to post the reviews here as well.

Lupa.

On a recent trip to NYC to attend a Yankee's game with my dad, we jetted over to Lupa for a late lunch. Dad and I have been long time (okay perhaps semi-addicted) Food Network junkies. Over the years, we have gained appreciation for certain celebrity chefs and have had the privilege of visiting a few of their restaurants. We have visited Emeril's (fish house in Vegas), Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill in Vegas and Emeril's Delmonico's Steakhouse in Vegas. This time we visited Lupa, one of the many restaurants Mario Batali is a owner of and Lupa's focus is Roman cuisine, served familia-style. Located in the "Village" (Greenwich Village, for those who aren't so hip to the NYC lingo), Lupa is a small restaurant fitted with heavy wooden tables and a beautiful bar encased with blood red bricks. The menu offers a nice selection of antipasto, salads, soups, pasta courses and main courses including steaks, fish of the day, veal, chicken and pork.

Our neighbor seduced us with ordering the "special" appetizer - prosciutto croquettes. Spinach, ricotta encrusted with deep fried salty prosciutto, laid on a dot of spicy tomato sauce. They were to die for, I could've eaten a bowl of those little suckers. We shared the ricotta gnocchi with mild sausage, tagliatelle with chicken and olives and saltimbucco (a slab of pounded veal with a prosciutto and sage crust). The gnocchi was out of this world - they were like little pillows in my mouth, light, feather-like. Simply scrumptious. The saltimbucco was tasty, the warmth of the sage and the saltiness of the prosciutto complimented one another and the taglieatelle was simple and fresh.

One thing my dad and I noticed throughout all the dishes was attention to the simplicity of the flavors - the chef really let the ingredients speak for themselves. It was almost as if, they were restraining themselves from "showing off". Often Italian restaurants attempt to satisfy diners with exuberant, complex sauces and it was a pleasant surprise to enjoy not only the simplicity of the sauces but the divinity of homemade pastas.

Of course, then there was the dessert menu. Repeatedly, we saw the same dessert coming out of the kitchen, Lupa Tartufo (truffle). Dad ordered that one and I ordered the Black Pepper Panna Cotta with Stone Fruit. Now here's the catch, now I know why everyone in that stinkin' restaurant ordered the huge chocolate truffle sitting on a warm chocolate sauce, because it was so delicious and yet wasn't overwhemlingly rich. Inside its shell, there was ice cream, hazelnuts, truffle and cherries. You should probably wipe your mouth right about now. The panna cotta was creamy and spicy, very refreshing. Lupa was a real treat, I look forward to visiting some of the other restaurants Batali is affiliated with....one day.

the island life.

So I am settling back in my Midwest habitat after a relaxing and enjoyable week's vacation visiting my mom and stepdad in Whidbey Island, Washington. We visited two wonderful farmer's markets while there and I whipped up a batch of late summer squash soup for my mom. The pics above show some of the lovely produce and flowers available for sale at the markets. We also played with my mom's puppies, Vallyn and Trey, and I learned how to sew! I made two pillows!!! We also painted ceramics, saw Mamma Mia, went to flea markets, toodled around Queen Anne's district and Ballard in Seattle, oh what fun! Of course, I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies and Getrude Armstrong Cake for my stepdad. It was a wonderful time and I wish I lived closer to my mom, she's a joy to be around. My boyfriend caught a sinus infection, so last night I made some matzo ball soup for him, it was comforting and soothing, a sign of the cooler weather and heartier meals to come as fall beckons.

rural markings

This isn't particularily related to food at all, but I want to "plug" my boyfriend's new blog: www.ruralmarkings.blogspot.com He creates stencil/graffiti art and yesterday he posted his first blog! Check it out and send it to all your blog-addicted friends!

xoxox

flowers for you (and roasted zucchini soup)

This morning I woke up early (even though it's a Saturday). The Barr Street Market is on Saturdays and I needed to pick up some fruits and veggies for the next week or so. So I bought these "mini" bouquets at the farmer's markets for a mere $2. What a bargain for some loveliness in my apartment, something I've decided to do as often as I am able to, I just adore flowers. They bring a smile to my face. And I thought they might bring one to yours. So enjoy the beauty. In addition to going to the farmer's market, I was given some rather large zucchini earlier in the week and set aside some time to make a roasted zucchini soup from scratch. A few weeks ago, I had lunch at the Dash-In Cafe and they served a roasted squash soup. It was delish and the more I thought about it the more I wanted to make my own. So thanks to a co-worker's neighbor I was supplied with some garden fresh zucchini. I kid you not each was at least a foot in length. I seeded the zucchini and roasted them on a sheet pan drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper. While the zucchini roasted away I diced up 5 or 6 garlic cloves, two white onions and a carrot,and caramelized them in olive oil and butter. The ultimate combination for caramelization. The fruitiness of the olive oil and the creaminess of the butter add a delicate and very aromatic flavor to the vegetables. Once the zucchini was done roasting, I added the chunks to the caramelized veggies and added plenty of chicken stock, just enough to cover the vegetables. I brought the soup to a decent simmer before pureeing the mixture in the food processor. And voila, roasted zucchini soup. It's so tasty, and very satisfying. A nice accompaniment to any salad or chunks of warm country bread. Plenty left for lunch or dinner tomorrow.

** Note I provided a picture of the soup before and after pureeing. Oh la la.

a pictureless post.

Well folks, I'm afraid I have failed you, I don't have a picture to post of the burger Paul and I created on Sunday evening. Please accept my deepest apologies, but this will give you a chance to use your creative enlarged imaginations! So sometime over the weekend, Paul and I were talking about Sunday dinner, told him I had some hamburger meat. I was going to make my usual Emeril's Essence burger, but Paul was feeling adventurous and I followed suit. One of the few chain hamburger joints we are fans of is Red Robin, now pick your jaw up and slap your mouth back together. I know, I know, it surely isn't Father's Office but they do a burger justice for a chain restaurant. Plus we can't get over the fact that they make their own ranch dressing which is divine for dipping their steak fries. Anyway, I digress. It was the inspiration of Red Robin's burger with pineapple that we started tossing around the idea of doing a burger with pineapple, bbq sauce and I threw in my two cents with homemade lime mayonnaise. We debated as to whether to add pineapple into the burger or use it as a topping, I won that one. I added crushed pineapple into the meat along with finely chopping red onion, grated garlic, salt and freshly ground pepper. For toppings, we added tomato, romaine lettuce, pepperjack cheese, Sweet Ray's bbq sauce and the homemade lime mayonnaise I whipped up. It was delish! however, we did agree that next time we will use the pinepple as a topping/condiment. I'm afraid even after draining the crush pineapple, it left the meat rather juicy. Overall, it was a success. Our bellies were satisfied and so were our creative culinary minds! Cheers.

the best damn chocolate chip cookie.

I didn't think it was possible to surpass my Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookie recipe from the 1950's but alas I must surrender to Jacque Torres' recipe recently featured in the New York Times. It's unfair how richly deserving this recipe is of its championship-title, it's a heavy weight contender at best. After seeing it featured in three blogs I daily visit, I just knew I had to give it an old-fashioned try. While there isn't anything earth shatteringly different about the ingredients used in this recipe, the key lies in allowing the cookie dough to "rest" in the fridge for a period of 24-36 hours before baking. The dough develops its rich flavors and seemingly perfect consistency. Whoever said "good things come to those who wait" wasn't lying. As bruising as it was to my cookie ego, I confess it still the same, this is the best damn chocolate chip cookie I ever made! I will hold onto my cherished recipe from dear ol' Betty and I may test the waters and allow the dough to "rest" before baking those cookies once again, but until then this one is for keeps!

Pasta with Pazazz!

Saturday night, I invited a few girls over from work for some giggles and grub. I really wanted to capture some of the wonderful flavors of the produce at the farmer's markets and I stumbled upon a beautiful recipe from Evan Kleiman for a pasta dish tossed with an arugula pesto and topped with a cherry tomato sauce (pictured above). The garlic bread is courtesy of my grandmother in Oregon and the salad is a simple mixed greens salad with carrots, cucumbers, red onion, dried cranberry and a green-lemon-balsamic viniagrette courest of products from Olivier (which Paul and I picked up while we were in Los Angeles this past April). Accompanied with a lovely slightly sweet champagne and delicate chardonnay, this meal was heavenly, the company too.

Summer.

I just had to take a picture of this farm-fresh summer squash that was being sold at a flea market during the Three Rivers Festival. Bright, colorful, cheery yellow fleshed goodness screaming "buy me, no, buy me"! What a hoot. I love all the farmer's markets and stands around town.

Indian Vegetarian

All I can say is that if I were in fact going to ever fully abstain from eating animal meat, I would probably seek out Indian vegetarian recipes. Bold flavors, warming spices and naan - you had me at hello. Maggie, if you're reading this, this one's for you! what you see before you may includes warmed naan (no folks, I haven't even attempted to make this from scratch, picked up some frozen naan from my local Indian grocery), butternut squash with fenugreek and a dish made of red lentils, dry-cooked, actually. Lentils are a great source of complex carbs as well as protein (I recently found this out) and they taste really good too!

persian anyone?

My best friend from Los Angeles is married to a Persian man and for wither my birthday or Christmas she sent me a Persian cookbook. I have made several recipes from it and have throughly enjoyed the flavors and characteristics known to Persian cooking. Last week, I made this dish (the Persian name escapes me at the moment) - an eggplant, tomato and lamb casserole topped with onions and a dash of paprika. The meat is seasoned with nutmeg and cinnamon and when all is said and done, topped with a little yogurt and some rice, this meal is to die for. Hearty, even for a summery meal.

leftovers

Wish this picture wasn't so "flashy", I'm still getting used to the various flash choices available to me on this digital camera. I truly intended to take a picture of the blueberry-lime cobble with ginger-cornmeal biscuits before biting into it, but completely forgot. Hope you had a pleasant 4th, ours was very low key. In fact, we didn't have "plans" until Thursday evening. We spent most the day watching a movie, going to a garage sale and eating pizza. As the evening drew near, we headed up to Kendallville to have a mini cook-out with Paul's parents and watched the fireworks over Bixler Lake. All in all it was a nice time. As always I offered to bring a dessert and what spells out patriotism more than a blueberry cobbler??? (Pie I suppose, but given the time frame I was not about to go there...). This recipe actually called for lemon zest, but alas there were NO lemons at Wally World the night before the 4th of July. Perhaps all of northwestern Fort Wayne had the same idea I did. :) Maybe not. So instead I used limes and worked out perfectly. All I can say is a little ground ginger goes a long way, faint bursts of ginger in the biscuit topping was a nice touch.

After the Rain

As most you weather-channel addicted folks know, the Midwest has been slammed with thunderstorms and flooding. Thankfully, Fort Wayne has not suffered any flooding nor any devastating damage as a result. Instead, we have seen beautiful rainbows and sunset colored skylines like the pictures I posted above. This is one thing I love about living in Indiana, so enjoy the pics. Tonight Paul and I are going to his sister's for dinner and I'm finishing up a batch of Chocolate-Toffee Smores Cookies. Will post a picture of the cookies next week. Happy Friday!

fathers.

Yesterday was Father's Day and while I wasn't able to spend time with my dad on such occasion, I did the next best thing, baked. Actually I made blueberry muffins for Paul for Father's Day, but would've done the same for my dad! Most who know me can positively affirm that I am not a morning person, it takes alot for me to get up in the morning, especially when I don't have to do so. But yesterday, I got up an hour early and made homemade blueberry muffins for my man since he is a daddy of four, yes, count them four children (i.e. rugrats, munchkins, etc.). They were especially good accompanied by melted salted butter and a cool glass of milk. In Paul's case, accompanied by a nice hot cup of Old Crown Roaster's, Panama Red coffee. Bliss in a cup and in your mouth.

the onset of summer

The rains continue to pour the thunder roars, but in between the outcrys of Mother Nature, we are blessed with the fruit of local farmers labor. This past Saturday I made my local rounds at Cedar Creek Produce in Leo, Indiana to purchase my eggs and behold! the variety is bountiful. The picture above depicts my purchases for the day - farm fresh brown eggs, a pint of rather larger than life cherry tomatoes and thick lucious asparagus stalks. Red potatoes, green bell peppers, strawberries and watermelons were also available for purchase. I made a lovely dish of angel hair pasta with these tomatoes and a few asparagus stalks chopped up. Let the veggies simmer in mounds of garlic, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and red chili pepper flakes. I'm looking forward to more summer goodness in the form of food. It's the simple things in life.

a tribute to bobby flay.

this past sunday, paul and i invited michelle from brew daily's over for a sunday supper. for christmas, my dad bought me bobby flay's latest book, mesa grill, devoted to his new york and las vegas restaurants. a couple of labor day weekends ago, dad and i made the trek to vegas to eat there, so i was totally stoked when this book came out at the end of last year. i used this opportunity to create dishes from this new book and test them out on paul and michelle. the menu included cumin crusted chicken with a mango garlic sauce, creamy green chile rice and a roasted asparagus and wild mushroom salad with bleu cheese, toasted pecans and a red chile mustard viniagrette. overall, i think it turned out splendidly. for dessert (not pictured because i completely forgot to take one) lime vanilla creme brulee. eat your hearts out.

memorial day.

Last Monday was Memorial Day and while I should've been enjoying the "cook-out" and socializing with Paul's family, I was lying on his mother's couch sick as a dog a majority of the time. This was my dessert contribution to the festivities however. Paul loves cheesecake (and I learned so does his sister) and he's been asking me to make a traditional New York cheesecake. The above depicts the results thereof. I have made cheesecake two other times in my life and neither of those recipes were traditional. So I took on the challenge and decorated the cheesecake with half a pint of raspberries from a local farm. I was surprised to find that the recipe not only included softened cream cheese, but sour cream as well as heavy cream. I believe the sour cream is what gives it that smooth and light texture. Everyone seemed to enjoy it as only a quarter of the cheesecake was left. Always a good sign.