The Wonders of Pomegranates

How to start....and warning that this is one of those convoluted posts I sometimes write.

I know that pomegranates are good for us...antioxidant superpower...cardio vascular booster...and the color!...deep dark purpley fuchsia...but I don't like fruits with little pits. Seriously...I buy seedless grapes and watermelons! I don't even eat raspberry jam.

When I was a kid, we would always have pomegranates for the Jewish New Year...that's when we have a "new" fruit on the table. And, frankly, it was the only time of year I remember even seeing them in a grocery store. And although I liked the tart taste, I never knew what to do with the pits. Do you swallow them? Do you hide them in a napkin? What if there are only cloth napkins around?

And the myth....my girls swear I made them eat them naked so the juice wouldn't stain their clothes. Don't believe them, even for a second!

Back to the present....I'm so happy that I can now find pomegranate juice - and no pits to worry about! Especially since they're so good for us.

POM...I even love their site (POM Wonderful) makes some great products and recipes so check them out. I've used their juice in many a dish...pour a little in with citrus marinade for chicken and add to vinaigrettes...delicious. In fact, they have some great recipes to experiment with.

I like my juice right out of the fridge over some ice. And now they have Pomegranate Tea, with a sprig of mint ... a very tasty afternoon pick-me-up... especially when the sun is shining like it's summer, but you still have to wear gloves (4 degrees C/39F).

Yesterday I wrote about my new favorite cookbook - it's awesome! Chocolate for Breakfast . No...I didn't find any pomegranate recipes, but it did make me think about breakfast. I know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day...at least I know that IN THEORY. I know that we're wired to either use or store energy and that if we don't start the day with a healthy dose of goodness, our brain thinks we're starving and then stores our energy, turning what we eat into that lovely fat ring around our waists, just in case we suffer from a drought or something...

BUT.... practically speaking, I'm a brunch person myself. Even though I wake early and am usually at my desk by 7-7:30 in the morning with coffee at my side, my mouth doesn't usually work well until later. All those glorious recipes in the book, made me more aware that, in fact, it doesn't have to take long to whip up some luscious dish, even at the crack of dawn. I'm working at it, but it still seems hard to get my mouth to work at chewing things that early in the morning.

And back to POM...you do know that eventually I get to the point of a story.... This morning I started off my day with a hearty smoothie from POM and threw in some frozen blueberries instead of the ice cubes. Delicious and no chewing required!

And for dinner tonight, I'll be doing a take on POM's Glazed Roast Chicken, using the boneless breasts that are sitting in the fridge.

What do you eat for breakfast?

Romesco Pasta for Presto Pasta Night

Just a very quick reminder that I'm hosting this week's Presto Pasta Night. Don't forget to send me your tasty pasta treats by tomorrow night so I can add them to the roundup. Email me ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

Tonight I made a really special dish that took no time at all....Sacchettini with Romesco Sauce and Broccoli. The sauce comes from my new favorite cookbook...Chocolate for Breakfast ...one word...AWESOME ...and then some! The spicy, nutty sauce was a perfect match to the little stuffed pouches of pasta and the last of my broccoli. I'll be using this version of the sauce often. Besides having a fantastic taste...all that roasted nutty goodness, just the right amount of heat from two kinds of paprika, not to mention, roasted and raw garlic, wine vinegar and really good olive oil to compliment the sweet red bell peppers and ripe tomatoes...it takes 15 minutes to roast the nuts and garlic and five minutes in the food processor!

Perhaps next week I'll make the chocolate pasta dessert from the same book.

And if you're interested in hosting a Presto Pasta Night Roundup, send me a line. There are still spots open in June and July.

Another Great Pasta Week

Obviously, Hillary of Chew on That didn't get enough hosting back in June of 2008. She's back at the helm this week for Presto Pasta Night Roundup #110 and I for one am glad she decided to do it again.

The roundup is awesome and thanks to all of you for contributing...even if you didn't, thanks for dropping by and checking out them out. What are you waiting for??? Next week, I'm hosting and I'm looking forward to it. You can check out the guidelines and then just send me an email ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com. And if you're interested in hosting a roundup yourself, let me know.

Presto Pasta Night & a New Ragu

It's Thursday and I'm almost ready for Presto Pasta Night's 110 roundup tomorrow. The pasta ragu is made and ready to heat up for tonight's dinner with Boaz, his brother (who won't be eating any) and his parents. Of course, I haven't quite written it up yet...hoping to do that before Bo arrives for the day.

Finally, the gang left and the Beef Shank & Sausage Ragu, borrowed from May's Bon Appetit (it was a cover I could not resist, standing in the check out line) was a huge hit.

You still have time to send your own delicious pasta to Hillary of Chew on That. It's her second time hosting and I'm sure she'll do an equally splendid job this time around.

Send all your entries to her at chewonthatblog(at) gmail (dot) com with a cc to me: ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

Guidelines for submitting a dish. And if you're interested in hosting - everyone loves it! ...just drop me a line.

Local Smoked Fish Salad for Earth Day

Happy Earth Day Everyone!

When I think of Earth Day, the first thing that pops to mind is reducing consumption of power...so I made this salad. Okay, I can't help it that my mind always turns first to food. But really the salad did more than just save on electricity. The star is locally farmed and wood smoked halibut....so we're also talking about sustainable fish farming.

Smoked Halibut & Baby Arugula Salad

So simple, so delicious and no energy...not even yours!

Happy Earth Day!

Well, it's a cold, wet, dreary day here in Halifax and I'll be "Celebrating" Earth Day at home. On the plus side, that means no driving and while I still can...I'll read. I even have a lovely new book A Good Catch: Sustainable Seafood Recipes from Canada's Top Chefs , by Jill Lambert to browse through. Just flipping through has me drooling...Tomato Anchovy Tilapia en Papillote - recipe from Steve Wall of Whalesbone Oyster House, Ottawa and a slurpingly delicious sounding recipe from my favorite local chef Craig Flinn of Chives Canadian Bistro...Chedabucto Bay Shrimp & Proscuitto Biscuits...with brandy and cream among other things....

So what are you doing today to celebrate Earth Day?

Spring Has Sprung, the Grass is Riz...

The latest Delicious Magazine (UK edition) is out with a glorious looking Chocolate Mousse Cake replete with edible daisies on the cover. Actually, May's issue is already available on line and it looks awesome...especially for us Pasta lovers...it's all about Italy. Remember that Hillary of Chew on That will be hosting Presto Pasta Nights this week. You can send your goodies to her at chewonthatblog(at) gmail (dot) com with a cc to me: ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com

But I digress...as usual. April's issue has some fantastic recipes, including the mousse cake that I will be making, along with some great lamb dishes and a few interesting curries, just to name a few....lots of pages are bookmarked.

The real reason for this post however is about the article on "Grow it, Pick it, Cook it." It has lots of excellent tips on planting your own herb and vegetable garden.

This is one of those rare times that I recognize the one drawback to living where we do. I've shared how awesome the neighborhood is. ...cool foodie friendly shops and restaurants, a view of the harbor and passing ships, O Canada played every morning at 8:00AM sharp from the naval base across the street, squealing children having fun at the primary school next door, beautiful renovated building that once was a convent. Heaven, with the exception of no balconies, no yard and thus, no opportunity to plant a garden...even potted, although I do have some herbs in the window.

Perhaps I'll look into community gardening. I know last year Hellman's (yes of the mayonnaise people) created several around town and their site gives lots of tips for growing your own food.

So my question to you all is...do you have a garden where you live, do you plant in a community garden, or are you like me and live vicariously through others and shop for locally grown food at the market?

Homemade Pizza in a Tiny Kitchen

Whenever I feel frustrated at how small my kitchen is...actually it looks very specious because it's part of an open plan living room/dining/room/kitchen...but it is short on cupboards (I keep half of my dry goods in the front closet sharing space with our coats and jackets) and counters....I love to check out Jill Santopietro's tiny NY apartment kitchen where she does recipe testing for the NY Times and often shares videos. Today it's how to make pizza, and although it's still thicker than I like, it looks awesome. The photo at the top and this one...

are my own creation...and now that I've learned some insider tips, it will come out even better.

Company's Coming and Best Balsamic Apple Cider Vinegar

The sun is shining, the market was perfect...except for one duo that sounded like they were torturing cats...but I won't dwell on that. I really didn't need a ton of things...obviously I had to buy some croissants and just look at this awesome crown of pain d'epi...

...so gorgeous and it probably won't even make it to dinner. I'm envisioning a relaxing afternoon after all the chores and running around....munching some of my favorite Ran-Cher goat cheeses smothered over chunks of fresh bread...but I digress....

We're having good friends over to enjoy some conversation, good wine and dinner. I actually prepared the main course yesterday. Although winter is officially gone and the sun is shining brightly, it's still cold enough for gloves and a leather jacket. So dinner will be a family favorite....

Chorizo & Bean Chili

Jalapeno Corn Bread

and Katherine Hepburn Brownies with some ice cream.

I'm even adding a new dish to the mix...Crunchy Cucumber & Red Pepper Salad with Cumin & Fresh Mint...from a gorgeous new cookbook...Once Upon a Tart ....but more about those in another post.

And what does all this have to do with going to the market and the photo at the top of the page?

Well, the secret ingredient to this chili is the Balsamic apple cider vinegar from Boates farms. I usually buy a couple of bottles in the Fall when we go to apple picking in the Annapolis Valley and the chili used up the last of my supply. This vinegar truly makes the best salad dressing ever. Drizzle a little with some almond oil over mixed spring greens and you'll have everyone licking the bowl clean and asking what you did to make it so tasty.

This morning, I was a little worried when Mr Elderkin himself (it's at his orchard that I usually buy the vinegar) told me he had run out...although I did buy a bag of beautiful honey crisp apples from him. Fingers crossed and breath held, I headed directly over to the Boates Farm stand and lo and behold...the last two bottles were sitting on the counter. I even was nice enough to leave one bottle behind for someone else to enjoy.

Now it's on to the rest of this glorious day, but what's your favorite "secret" local ingredient that you can't live without?

It's Friday and Another Great Presto Pasta Night

I love Wednesday for the NY Times and Mark Bitten. I love Thursdays for my day with Boaz, who now says "Hi 'ya!" to everything and everyone with a big wave.

But Fridays....well, what's better than so many fantastic bloggers sharing their awesome pasta dishes with Presto Pasta Nights. This week, the lovely Katie of One Little Corner of the World did a wonderful job hosting. So thanks a million, Katie and every one of the fantastic contributors. Now I just have to choose a starting point....perhaps I'll just close my eyes and let my finger blindly choose.

Next week, Hillary of Chew on That is hosting Presto Pasta Night #110 for the second time! So make her proud and share tons of delicious dishes.

Send all your entries to her at chewonthatblog(at) gmail (dot) com with a cc to me: ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

Guidelines for submitting a dish. And if you're interested in hosting - everyone loves it! ...just drop me a line.

It's Wednesday and Hooray for NY TImes & Mark Bitten

It's Wednesday, it's sunny and life is grand! What have I been smoking or drinking you ask? Coffee from Starbucks, which also adds to my good mood, but that's not really the reason. It's the day that the NY Times has its Dining Section and my favorite food writer...Mark Bitten and his blog. I'm sure I could read his blog any other day, but I usually start my Wednesday morning ritual with him.

This week he wrote a great article about TV chefs. It brought back two memories ( I always love it when that happens):

• the professional painter my mother hired years ago to paint our kitchen (my father had a great many skills, but handyman was not one of them). The painter made the job of papering the kitchen look so effortless that I decided to paper one straight wall in my bedroom. It probably would have taken him 10 minutes to do what took me the entire day with much sweat, cursing and lots of bubbles and pleats in the finished job. TV celebrity chefs do the same thing often. How come my kitchen doesn't look nearly as organized during cooking?

• and my first TV appearance on CTV's national morning show Canada AM. It was to promote the annual Hadassah-WIZO fundraising bazaar. Our chapter, among other things, made cheese blintzes (typically sold out within an hour of the doors opening), and I was to make some on Canada AM while talking about the bazaar. I didn't know how much time I'd have so I went prepared with ingredients - in case I was to start from scratch; filling and batter; ready made crepes; and finished blintzes. I didn't realize that the set is not like my own kitchen where appliances are fixed to the wall and floor...funny thing how they move around. Even funnier was the fact that, although I brought everything (at least I thought I did) I forgot to bring water to add to the flour and eggs for the batter. I was prepared to "pretend" that I was adding the water - it was live, after all and I only had 10 minutes in the end - but magically, a stagehand placed a jug of water on the counter without being seen! Ahhhhh, the magic of television.

So what stands out...i.e. frustrates you when watching the "experts" cook?

The Halifax Farmers' Market

I've mentioned many times about how lovely the Halifax Farmers Market is...this time I wrote about it for Foodtv's blog.

It might be smaller than the St Lawrence Market in Toronto but it's packed with delicious and delightful things...like musicians at every turn....

the freshest of fresh fish & seafood....the locally grown, free range & grass fed meats (I love, love, love Nova Scotia lamb)....

award winning cheeses (My son-in-law's favorite is the Dutchman's Dragon Breath)...

and even though these aren't food...aren't these the most delicious baby hats and booties from Granny's Garden delicious?

But read the article for yourself and let me know which makes your mouth water most .

Finally Started...My Cookbook Inventory Indext

And how many ways can you find to put things off? I have a million. But I finally did start my Cookbook Inventory Index. I just couldn't figure out how to organize it, and naturally it was much easier to just ignore it all together.

In the end, I decided to organize it like my bookshelves...by category (they do overlap, but...it's the best I can do) and then alphabetically by author...although some authors actually fit into more than one category...SIGH.

The newer posts talk about the book and link to recipes, but what about the older recipe posts where I just mention the book's title. Should I link to every recipe?

Anyway....it's a start but I'd love your ideas. Check it out and let me know what's a keeper and what's missing.

Passover Pasta...An Oxymoron

Jews around the world who observe Passover will tell you that pasta is NOT allowed on Passover, unless you can find special noodles prepared with Matzo meal - regular flour is out of bounds. That said, we are, if nothing else...inventive.

So for this week's Presto Pasta Night, hosted by the the fabulous Katie of One Little Corner of the World I'm actually sending in three "pasta" recipes that are Passover friendly. And if you're not worried about Passover, I'm sure you will still find them delicious.

Saturday's lunch was an awesome Sweet Potato & Mushroom Lasagna which used the sweet potato as pasta (photo at the top of the post). It's from Norene's Healthy Kitchen which I've written about and shared many a great recipe.

Last year I made this Spinach Lasagna taken from the Houston Chronicle but originally from Joan Nathan (one of my favorite Jewish cookbook authors)'s The The Foods of Israel Today, which is still on my wish list.

And the year before I made this Eggplant Lasagna...more for doing The South Beach Diet Supercharged , Phase One. It uses the eggplant slices instead of lasagna noodles.

Personally, I can't wait until Friday's roundup when real pasta is back on my table, to get some tasty treats.

You still have plenty of time to send Katie your entries. Just email your links to sprange (at) hometel (dot) com with a cc to me: ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

And remember if you're interested in hosting, just drop me a line.

A Diary of Passover Meals

I was just doing a little instant messaging with a friend in Toronto and telling her what we've been eating so far this Passover. She was impressed so I thought I'd share with you...after all, there are still four days to go.

Thursday's Seder at Joanna & Ezra's (daughter & son-in-law, or as they are usually known here...Boaz & Dov's parents).

Chicken Soup & Matzo Balls (still hard even though we tried to make them soft and fluffy)

Salmon Gefilte Fish

Joanna's Chopped Liver (sorry no recipe. One of these days I'll have to get it down on paper)

Stuffed Roasted Leg of Lamb (same story)

Potato Kugel


Gingery Carrot Tsimmis


Mixed Greens with Strawberries & Balsamic Vinaigrette

Date Cake, melon slices and macaroons from a box

Friday Night Dinner here - so many courses for the two seders that I thought to forgo appetizers and soup....no one complained. (Photo at top of post)

Farfel Stuffed Chicken Breasts in Blackcurrant Sauce

Wild Mushroom Potato Kugel

Roasted Asparagus without cheese or herbs

Passover candies for dessert

Saturday

Breakfast was Fried Matzo or Matzo Brie ( no recipe really but per person... 2 sheets of matzo crumbled and soaked in hot water and then squeezed dry, 1 egg and season with salt, pepper and some grated onion. Saute in some oil in a hot pan, like you would make scrambled eggs).

(Joanna called it Lupper, since we actually ate at around 3pm)

Sweet Potato & Mushroom "Lasagna" - the sweet potatoes are the "noodles"

and some Passover Rolls

Supper...snacking on leftovers.

Now I'm hungry...good thing there are still some containers in the fridge.

Presto Pasta Roundup #108

Wow! Another fantastic week of mouth watering Pasta Dishes for Presto Pasta Nights. Marye of Baking Delights did a super job hosting and everyone sent in the most wonderful dishes imaginable....which is all I can do for the next week. It's Passover so no noodles for us!

Next week Katie of One Little Corner of the World will be hosting and I might even try a Passover Lasagna with no pasta! Send all your entries to her at sprange (at) hometel (dot) com with a cc to me: ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com.

And remember if you're interested in hosting, just drop me a line.

Passover's Coming

Short post, because I'm up to my neck in cooking and baking for Passover Seders and visiting in-laws. But I thought I'd share my contribution so far...okay, that was from 2007, but doesn't it look awesome? The lamb is about to go in the oven and everything else is ready.

For years I boycotted making gefilte fish...I love to eat it, don't get me wrong, but it's so smelly to make...at least it was until I found this recipe last year. It's delicious and the house will not smell very fishy either.

Salmon Gefilte Fish Balls with Horseradish Sauce

Tunisian Style Date Cake
(and no flour at all!)

One or two more desserts coming...maybe...depending on when I poop out and then I'm done except for the helping. I used to have 20-25 people for Seder dinners (Often, I would even do both of them), but it's been a while and now I simply contribute to other people's Seders.

Here's the menu for 2007 Seder at Joanna & Ezra's. Boaz was a baby and we (including my other daughter, Sharron) came to Halifax for the holidays.

Passover Seder Menu

ENJOY!

And to all my Christian friends....have a very Happy Easter.

Don't forget that this week's Presto Pasta Night roundup is being hosted by the wonderful Marye of Baking Delights. Send your perfect pastas her way at maudet8816 (at)aol (dot) com and cc me ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com Guidelines to share your pasta dishes.

Who knows, maybe I'll even get in a pasta dish for dinner tonight...nothing does leftovers better than pasta.