It’s pouring here, yet another day. The streets are flooded, I just saw a truck go through a major dip, no way our Honda could do it. Emergency vehicles everywhere.
So I’m doing what Julie Andrews did in The Sound of Music. Do re mi fa so la ti do! Thinking of my favorite things.
Cheese: parmigiano reggiano; bel paese; Black Diamond and Cabot sharp cheddar; any aged cheddar from the UK; Romano; Maytag Blue; Gorgonzola dolce; freshly made buffalo mozzarella.
Fruit: fresh Concord grapes picked from the vine; cherries; satsuma tangerines. A perfect pear (only had one, and that was in Italy).
Veg: fresh corn on the cob; homemade ratatouille with a bounty of fresh eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, garlic and onion.
Meat: Lamb Robert (boned and butterflied leg of lamb marinated and then grilled to perfection); a perfect ribeye, NY Strip or filet; pork loin au vin blanc. But most of all Mom’s Prime Rib of Beef with Yorkshire Pudding. Got the shivers on that one. Basic roast chicken with sausage/apple stuffing.
Fish: Salmon with lemon grass seasoning paste from Uncommon Fruits and Vegetables (see my cookbook list); grilled salmon with grainy mustard; coquilles St. Jacques; moules mariniere; real sole “bonne femme.” Grilled shrimp with lime and cilantro and jalapeno marinade.
Cassoulet. Beef Carbonnade. Roasted root vegetables with olive oil and herbs. Roasted rosemary potatoes. Spaghetti alla Carbonara (No, Calvin Trillin, I will not join the campaign to substitute this for traditional Thanksgiving turkey!)
Ask me tomorrow and I’ll come up with a different list! That’s how varied the choices are in our abundant land! This particular storm may be over so I should feed and take out dogma. Even dog Zoe is Greek, for Life.
But during this intense storm I find my choices interesting. Savoring summer’s bounty while aching for cooler weather so I can make stews. Enjoy cooking your meal tonight. Dee
p.s. It’s thundering again and raining so Zoe won’t want to get her precious fur wet. Look at my sous-chef – she’s no pampered purebred, just a runty mutt!
