So the weather is cold, many of the days are gray and windy and there has not been enough snow, in my opinion. Pair that with the current state of “things” in our country and I find that I have been spending a lot of more time in the kitchen - not just my usual constant cooking, but rather I’ve been devoting time to cleaning cabinets and drawers, getting rid of unused implements, and things that are broken. I’m also taking stock of the freezer and the larder (now that the holidays are over), and - most importantly - I’m checking on all of the spices and salts and sauces that make cooking so much fun. I offer this to you because, not only should you purge your dry spices once a year, but also because these activities create order, are calming, and offer a respite from all of the disturbing things going on in our world right now.
As a second counterpoint to the challenges of 2017 so far, I also heartily recommend shopping and cooking your favorite Comfort Foods. Now - don’t take those words lightly. Comfort foods are important. Think back to your childhood. Dream about the things that your Grandmother used to cook for you. What do you like most to eat when you are emerging from a bad cold or flu and your appetite is returning? What are those dishes that, when you see them on TV or in a movie, you can’t stop thinking about having? Yes. There you go. Now you are getting it. It’s true that much of Comfort Food is also cold weather food. Perfect. It’s cold. The last step is promising yourself that you will make these favorite dishes with Real Food and you are ready to get going.
Some Tips for Updating Spices and Pantry Items:
1. Obviously check dates on anything that offers a “use by” date;
2. Any dry spice that is a year or more old should go - let's face it, it has lost its bang and will do nothing for your recipes;
3. Start a list of what you have purged and as you shop for replacements, try to buy dry spices in small quantities. Chances are by the time you get through that mammoth plastic jar of dried oregano, what’s left in the jar will have no flavor at all;
4. Make sure that you are happy with your Spice vendor. I find that vendors with huge plastic containers of various spices are not always the best. Not unless they have a really large customer base, because if they don’t you may be purchasing spices that are past their prime; and
5. I strongly suggest that you store your spices in small, glass spice jars. And don't forget to label.
Recipes: A Few Comfort Food Favorites
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| Pappa al pomodoro |
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| Homemade Stock is always best |
“Pappa al Pomodoro” (Bread and Tomato Soup)
This is another recipe from “Cucina Provera” - kitchen of the poor - that I have truly come to love. This is comfort food in all caps. It also makes use of bread that has been around for a few days, so no waste. There are many, many variations of this soup - I prefer not to fool around with it too much. I do use my own homemade vegetable stock, but the original recipes generally use water. I also like a couple of gratings of parmesan over the bowl at service. But that is totally gilding the lily.
Ingredients
Extra virgin olive oil - at least 4 - 5 tablespoons
1 small onion, chopped
4 small garlic cloves minced - If your garlic cloves are large, use 2
Canned tomatoes - I use the tomatoes we can in the Fall (32 oz jars); you can definitely use 1 28 oz can of good tomatoes with their juices
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
Red chili flakes, to taste
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 cups of water - or a low or no salt vegetable stock
Stale bread which has been cut into cubes; remove the crusts; about 7 cups
Fresh Basil, if you have it, slivered - 2 or 3 tablespoons
Note: I use a scant tablespoon of dry Sweet Marjoram as a substitute
Technique
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy soup pot over medium - low heat
Add the chopped onion, stirring, until the onions are softened, 5 - 7 minutes
Chop the tomatoes. You can do this in a food processor but I prefer to use the tried and true “scissor method”. Simply insert the scissors into the jar or can and chop away. You can chop again when you pour the tomatoes into the pot.
Next, add the garlic to the pot with the onions. Cook, stirring, for about a minute - you want to smell the garlic.
Add the chopped tomatoes, the tomato paste, red chili flakes, and salt and pepper
Stir and cook this mixture over medium low heat for at least 10 minutes. The tomatoes should cook down. Remember. This is the time when you can do more chopping.
Stir the bread cubes into the tomato mixture. Add the water or stock, a pinch of salt and stir about half of the basil or sweet marjoram into the soup
Increase the heat to medium, stirring and mashing the bread cubes for about 10 minutes
Stir in the rest of the basil or sweet marjoram, taste and adjust the salt and pepper and chili levels
Ladle into bowls, drizzle extra virgin olive oil over, along with a grating of parmesan cheese if you wish.
NOTE: this soup is even better the next day. You definitely want leftovers!
Enjoy!
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| Sweet Cherry Almond Buttermilk Tart |
Sweet Cherry Almond Buttermilk Tart
Comfort for dessert! I love this simple tart because it is so versatile - and delicious. For me, it is another way to use the wonderful local cherries that we pitted and froze when they were in season. It works with coffee in the morning and with a dollop of ice cream or whipped cream for dessert in the evening. I would advise that if real buttermilk is not available, substitute whole milk. This is “comfort” food after all.
Ingredients
3 large eggs
1/2 cup of buttermilk
1 cup of turbinando sugar - “Sugar in the Raw”
1 tablespoon of good almond extract
A pinch of salt
2 cups of all purpose flour
Softened butter for greasing the pan
1 1/2 cup of pitted sweet cherries
Technique
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
Beat the eggs and the buttermilk together
Add the sugar, the almond extract and the pinch of salt and beat again
Add the flour and continue to beat into a soft batter (add a few drops more of buttermilk if it is too dry)
Pour the batter into a 10 inch greased cake pan
Dot the pitted cherries all over the top of the batter - how you do it is up to you. Have fun with it.
Bake for about 50 minutes, until it is set and browning on the top
Sprinkle with powdered sugar
Before the tart cools, run an off set spatula around the edges to loosen it a bit and then turn it out onto a large plate. Using another plate, turn the tart right side up.
Let it cool.
Enjoy!
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