in the grove.....

The May/June edition of 'In The Grove" just came out, and I'm on page 3! Be sure and pick up a copy when you're in Seagrove. Rhonda McCanless is the young lady responsible, and I thought she was doing a great job, and service, even before she featured me. I have just uploaded the latest edition to my new page on posterous, the only place I've found that allows me to post .pdf files. Here's the link.

american pie.....

Several years ago, after Ron Philbeck turned me on to American Pie: My Search for the Perfect Pizza, I began my own quest. I didn't go all over the USA, or Italy, trying to find the best pizza pie, but kept my search within my own kitchen. I have found a couple of dough recipes that work well for me, and am constantly discovering new ingredients and combinations, while staying within the fairly traditional realm. Having used basil pesto for some time now, I was interested in seeing how garlic scape pesto (a recipe I linked to last week) would taste. I made some earlier this week and froze it in ice cube trays for use whenever I need it. Last night I thawed out a couple of cubes, spread it on the dough prior to adding cheeses, tomatoes, ham and mushrooms, and it was pretty darn tasty. For those of you that want to give it a try, here's the recipe---

---Garlic scape pesto---

10 scapes, chopped roughly

1/3 to 1/2 cup of grated parmesan or pecorino romano

1/3 cup slivered almonds

1/2 cup olive oil

salt to taste

Combine all in a food processor and blend until it's a consistency, and taste, you like. Add more cheese if you like it cheesier, more oil if you like it thinner, etc. I have yet to try it with pasta, but I'm sure it would be excellent. Search out your local farmer's market for the scapes.

---Give pizza chants---

remembering mom...and dad.....

Sixty years ago my mom was waddling around Enfield, NC, pregnant with her first child--me. She was a thoughtful person, t-h-o-u-g-h-t-f-u-l, full of thoughts. She was a good listener, for those that would sit still long enough to share, and loved to read. She was quiet by nature, giving thought before speaking, and thought that being a follower of Jesus meant feeding, comforting and sheltering people. She could be instructive too, and like I've said many times, she didn't teach me how to cook, but taught me how to taste. She was curious and taught me to be curious. With this in mind, I've been re-reading The Road Less Traveled recently, a landmark book of the late '70's by M. Scott Peck. It was a gift from mom, one of many that I'd like to think has changed my life. In remembrance of mom, and my dad, who never threw anything away, I celebrated them this morning by cooking breakfast in their old, crusty cast iron skillet. Probably older than me, my sister graciously allowed me to keep it after our dad died. I have no idea how many meals were cooked in that old pot through the years, but am thankful for it's owners and users who sheltered and nurtured me, and taught and loved me into who I am today.

pots, scapes and pie.....

I made a few of these stretched platters a few days ago. I think they're way cool, in spite of the fact I have to give up so much control!

Garlic Scapes, the stem that reaches up and curls around, from the center of a garlic plant. By cutting them off, the plant's energy goes into the bulb instead of the flower. They are much milder and more mellow than garlic cloves. Here's a link to garlic scape pesto, something I hope to try next week.

Saturday night pizza mise en place---scapes, Vidalia spring onions, Roma's and soppressata.

Ahhhhhhhh.

Our Silkie roosters prefer roosting on the front porch, but as it's not safe, I gather them up and return them to the coop around sunset.

The just-now-budding Persian Silk Tree in the front yard.

breakfast.....

Breakfast still-life at the Gray abode. I'm closing in on another firing, business is good, my garden is going well, and school will soon end for Slate, meaning no more dragging my butt around the house at 6am for a while. Yee ha! BTW, the mug is one of Ron's.