Lemongrass Squid with String Beans and Basil

By popular demand...

ingredients:

1/2 lb. fresh squid
small bag fresh green beans
3 shallots
olive oil
homemade chicken stock
1 stalk lemongrass
1 small bunch basil

In a big stainless pan, over med heat, sautee shallots in the olive oil to brown them. Add green beans and sautee for 5 minutes. Add chicken stock and lemongrass to pan and cover to braise beans for 8 minutes. Uncover and add the sliced squid, which will steam cook in the pan on top of the beans. When squid is ready (5 min or so) add the chopped basil to the top, mix, and serve. Yum.

Fiddleheads!

More shoots for spring! Eating spring shoots gives you the kind of energy that you can only get from eating plants that gather the seasons first rays of sun and first rain showers. Good for preparing for a long cycling tour! These were sauteéd and eaten with a light chicken broth soup, with baguette and garlic aoli on the side.

Sunnyside up

Creyde is at home today, sick with a head cold. What better comfort food is there than Tello's fresh eggs and some local spring asparagus? This was a mosaic inspired breakfast.

Ramps!

My favorite way to prepare them is simple... saute in butter and add a little salt. They can be mixed with sauteed asparagus and accompanied by brown rice.
Later this month I will try a ramp/asparagus tart. Stay tuned...

Moore Brothers Winetasting

I am hosting a benefit winetasting at Moore Brothers Wine Company in NYC on April 8th,2008. All are welcome! This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the best wine shop in NYC, try great artisanal wines, and support a great cause! All donations go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For more information please see the INVITATION

Please contact me at wandringa@gmail.com if you have any questions! Hope to see you there!

Goat Cheese Chocolate Truffles

These truffles are truly divine! But you should follow the times in the recipe closely. Creyde left the mix to chill for over an hour in the fridge and went to yoga. When she remembered the mix four hours later, it had solidified to one big truffle!

Gourmet | October 1993
Servings: Makes about 25 truffles.
ingredients
6 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
6 ounces (about 3/4 cup) fresh goat cheese (also known as goat
fromage blanc, available in bulk at specialty foods shops)
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon pure lemon extract
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted, for coating the truffles

preparation
In a metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water melt the chocolate, stirring until it is smooth, remove the bowl from the pan, and let the chocolate cool slightly. In a bowl whisk together the goat cheese, the confectioners' sugar, the vanilla, and the lemon extract until the mixture is light and fluffy, whisk in the chocolate until the mixture is combined well, and chill the mixture, covered, for 1 hour, or until it is firm. Form heaping teaspoons of the mixture into balls and roll the balls in the cocoa powder. Chill the truffles on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper for 30 minutes, or until they are firm. The truffles keep in an airtight container, chilled, for 3 days.

Sardines!

"Sardine" means small fish, and most of the sardines we buy in this country are young herring. These wonderful little creatures go totally underappreciated. In Spain they are commonly found in the fish markets...

but in this country we buy them in tins. I try to look at the bright side of this...all you have to do is open the tin and they are ready to go with some bread, cheese, and olives! Perfect for when you don't want to leave your reading chair to cook dinner.

Sardines are small but mighty. They live in huge schools and practically the whole ocean-predator food chain depends on them for its diet. When under attack, they swarm into a big racing ball to create a more formidable shape and minimize the chance that they are gobbled up by their predators.
Since they are low on the food chain they are not high in contaminants. And they have a very high level of heart-healthy omega-3 fats. Make sure they make it into your basket next time instead of those fish oil capsules!