Illuminations: July 2012

Saturday, July 28, 2012

a storm is coming!

Food: Summer Fare

Avocado, muenster, cucumber, and yogurt sandwich

Avocados are the type of produce we've grown accustomed to seeing in stores year-round, typically of the small, dark green and imported variety. I delighted to find an actual American avocado on the shelves last week. It's much larger than its' South American cousin. Instead of a dark green, it's a vibrant, bright green/yellow with lots of creamy pulp inside. I've had that same one since last week, and I'm still finding dishes for it.

My "Dagwood" creation

Given the propensity for hot humid days in the summertime, any meal that doesn't require the heat of a stove or an oven rules the day. This sandwich was the epitome of coolness: creamy avocado, muenster cheese, some cucumber slices with the peel left on for snap and crunch, and plain probiotic yogurt as a dressing, in lieu of a heavy mayonnaise. The flavors were clean, simple and cooling to the palate, a refreshment we strive for during the "dog days" of summer. Stay cool!

a garden grows where it can

Friday, July 27, 2012

a pitcher of light

With summer storms come blackouts that those of us in NYC are blessed to have infrequently, but they do happen. When I was growing up, candles and flashlights were always on hand for occasions like hurricanes and thunderstorms. They became breaks from the norm that I loved as a kid. How pretty a house full of candles looks! It was such fun carrying one around to the bathroom and then to bed, their wicks flickering like fireflies in the night.

I like candles around all the time for their light and scent. Part of my routine every morning while writing and posting is to light one. When I got some nicely scented candles on sale, I had to improvise a holder for the melting wax. Many years ago, I was gifted with a complete set of dishes, most of which I never use. This little creamer became the picture perfect container for my little light to shine, with a hand hold for me to use while walking around, in case of sudden squalls like the fabulous Ghostbuster storm we had last night.
Weather the storm beautifully.

clouds bring rain

Easy like a Brooklyn morning

Robot Invasion

Thursday, July 26, 2012

storm

Cucumber in season

Summertime is the the season for cool, easy dishes that don't use the stove or oven. The produce is bountiful, local, and fresh, making each meal simple to prepare. I downloaded a seasonal app that allows me to see what is available during the growing season in my region. Still, given variables like climate and weather, my stores may not have it on hand just yet, or the produce doesn't look up to stuff.

Soaking in salt water

For example, asparagus was in season beginning last month but my local grocer had Peru imported, a definite no-no. For one, other countries lack the federal standards that American produce undergoes before it hits the shelf. It's also a huge waste: there's the labor, trucking, and air shipping for it just to get to the US, then there's the unloading and shipping to get it to your grocery store! Think about how much jet fuel and gas that expends for something as easy to grow in your area as a vegetable. Not worth it. Your asparagus just traveled much farther than the average tourist to wind up in your stomach. It costs your wallet and the environment dearly.

Marinated overnight

I take care to note many things: whether or not the fruit or vegetable is in season, and where it comes from. I did a survey in my fridge of dairy products to check myself, and I did fairly well. My muenster cheese and yogurt is from New Jersey, my Romano is from Brooklyn, and my half and half is from Arizona, which bothered me because we have such great dairy farms here in the Northeast, but it was on sale. I'm not immune to high prices at the store either. I also take my time to asses freshness. A tomato should have a definite tomato smell. If you don't smell a scent off your produce, it's mass-produced and not local. I tap and lightly knock vegetables to see if they're fresh on the inside. I use my senses when I shop; I look, touch, and smell. It's not just a matter of buying in season either. I buy what passes the test, taking price into consideration, too. Local produce is not only better for the you and the environment, it's fresher and cheaper.

Lunch!

I may have a list and a game plan plus a budget for my week's shopping, but I change that all around if what I want isn't up to snuff. Cucumbers were not only in season and local, but they were at a great price of 3 for $2.00. That's a lot of healthy eating. Add in a sale for NJ probiotic yogurt and the ideas start while I shop. Back at home, I googled "yogurt" and "cucumber" to see what I'd get for recipes. I went for a Greek-style version of a cucumber salad that couldn't have been easier, plus I added some sliced white onion. Get out there and get yours! The shelves are bountiful in the summer.

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/cucumber_yogurt_salad/