Quarantine Cooking

The girl needs a project. Really needs a project. Resurrecting "The Taste of the Teagues."

The realization is this. Joyful culinary pursuits continue to inspire and nurture me ; especially during the pandemic. Building the pandemic pantry became an artistic endeavor and a challenge. Planning. Procuring. Organizing. This is anything but the "same old." Instead, the pantry is "Behold...all things new." New ingredients yes; but also seeing all things anew. New Fears. New Uncertainties. New Disillusionments...New Possibilities. New Meaning. New Aspirations. The pantry, fridge, and freezer represent panic and possibility. 

The need for nourishment and comfort during these days seems common ground for all humanity. 

A look back to around April 2020...

Online shopping challenges led to finding new ingredients, flavors, and products. The last really big grocery runs I made were on March 19, 2020. While I have been back inside the store for the occasional Trader Joe fix, I must admit that I am grateful that Whole Foods and Harris Teeter offer splendid service with curbside pickup. Interesting new finds are possible with the online product search. Becky from Let It Grow Produce delivers beautiful local freshness right to the deck with the added bonus of getting to chat with her a bit. 

I wasn't necessarily "afraid" to enter the stores. It's just that I did not "have to" and I have come to prefer the convenience and dare I say that I spend less! Of course, all these outings to pick up my treasures are about 5 minutes from the house so I usually take the long way home, wandering some new streets. Yes, I am that slow poke driver with the cute dog hanging out the window.

"Exhibit A" - Early Pandemic Refrigerator Situation

"Exhibit B" Cataloging Ingredients - The Early Pandemic Way

This is a practice I have maintained for many years and it continues to serve me well since the pandemic began. It is from a master list that I plan menus and keep inventory. Once a librarian; always a librarian. This long-standing practice helped me feel that I had some control over an important aspect of life while the swirling uncertainties "out there" threatened to seize peace and joy. This settled me down. By the way, this photo was taken before I added the typical colorization that so relaxes me.

"Exhibit C"  Let It Grow Still Life Art

Until the next post..."Be Nicely Nourished!"

Sunday Supper

Flavor is popping here at Tanners Run.The Sunday supper menu includes prosciutto wrapped chicken breast, butternut squash risotto and slow roasted heirloom tomatoes.

I am unveiling a dessert secret of epic proportions.

Slice a baguette and place little pieces of dark chocolate on each.

I use Trader Joe's dark chocolate.

Place in a 350 degree oven for a few minutes; just until the chocolate melts.

Smooth the chocolate.

Here is the magic. Drizzle with good olive oil and sprinkle with good quality salt.
Party in your mouth. I promise.
Love, Renee

In praise of tomatoes

I discovered little miniature San Marzano tomatoes at Trader Joe's recently and have been having a stare down with them for several days - "What shall I do with you?" Well, I was inspired by a lovely post from Smitten Kitchen in which the virtue of slow roasted tomatoes is extolled. This is how it went down...

Come here my little pretties.

Here you see the little tomato soldiers all lined up drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. Some rosemary and thyme are thrown on for good measure and some garlic cloves cannot hurt, right? Lovely.

Into a 275 degree oven for 3 hours! Yes, you cannot rush such things.

Here they are in all their shriveled up sweet glory.

Final destination: mingled with slow sautéed leeks fresh from this morning's Cobblestone Market atop spinach pasta. Just a bit of shredded parmesan makes it euphoric. Wish you all were here!

Spring Cobblestone Market

I can travel to the Cobblestone Farmers Market at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts by car in less than 5 minutes. On May 18th, the market will be at Old Salem. Then my commute will be on foot and also less than 5 minutes from the house! This past Saturday I arrived back from the market with treasures! One would have thought I had robbed the bank. I felt like a lucky bandit unpacking the loot.

Feast your eyes...

 Tender baby butter lettuce, asparagus (just harvested), radishes and scallions

 Ready for roasting

 Little radish appetizer in French style...Fresh radish with a bit of soft butter and hint of salt. Yum!

 Preparing the salad - radish greens and all!

Simplest vinaigrette! Thanks Mary Alice! 

Her recipe lived on my Central Street fridge for years and now has taken up residence at Tanners Run! Never fails! Timeless; just like Mary Alice.

 Gentle toss...David bought this wooden bowl for me at a neighborhood yard sale in Waynesville...I use Mother's larger one when we have guests! Wooden salad hands - a gift from sweet Amy Greene; a former library assistant. My goodness, I have been blessed!

Last minute addition. Sunny side up! Keep on the sunny side of life.

How can one go wrong with such special ingredients? 

There you have it...wish you had all been here. 

The accidental gourmet

I bought the most beautiful garnet sweet potato last week and have enjoyed viewing it on the butcher block as art but unlike canvas, vegetables have a shelf life. So, I cubed it up today (the most amazing color), found a piece of  purple onion in the bottom drawer of the fridge to keep it company, sprinkled on olive oil, salt and pepper - last minute thought - some chopped fresh ginger. Roasted this in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Well, actually had to stop the cooking midway to take the dog for a walk. Once back home I am REALLY hungry. Further digging in the fridge landed me some fresh baby spinach so I am thinking of a salad with warm roasted sweet potatoes. This led me to remember a vinaigrette with maple syrup - so whipped that up. I tossed on a few Craisins for good measure and I must say that this salad is delicious. It was just the right ratio of savory, sweet, warm, cold.  I just hope I can recreate it for David. What a lovely lunch - just me, myself, and I.

Yum! I savored each and every bite of my accidental creation. Here's to your culinary adventures!

The view from my kitchen

I spend many happy hours in my Tanners Run kitchen. The Central Avenue kitchen was lovely but I always longed for space to have a little table and chairs. Today I want to share views from my kitchen!

View from the kitchen sink

View from the kitchen table...sign of spring

View of cookies fresh out of the oven (double dark chocolate -  a new recipe!)

View of cookies cooling

View of the cookie jar

These cookies were baked to be shared but I did snitch one and saved a few for David. I am very attached to the chocolate chip cookie recipe from "Taste of the Teagues" but I must say that these are rich, fudgy and perfectly delicious. Wish you were here to enjoy the view (and a cookie) with me! 

if I do say so myself

Monday found me still feeling the celebratory effect of my weekend with Carol Corn. I just didn't want it to end! That translated into a special Monday night meal: Niman Ranch Pork Roast marinated in a ginger and soy marinade, gravy, accordion potatoes, and fresh charred broccoli with lemon. Yum!

I was so excited when these came out of the oven. Notice my little Old Salem tile? Had that for 25 years and here I am!

The dinner platter...minus the gravy.

These little potatoes are so much fun to make with little effort!  I am including a link to the recipe I used. I tucked fresh rosemary in the potatoes. You really do need a fresh herb to make the potatoes sing.
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/laura-calder/accordion-potatoes.html

Love you all!