The Ideal Garden

 All home chefs and home owners dream of the ideal garden.it can be bursting with tomatoes. Have stalks of corn. Rows of asparagus.

Here's the question - what would be in your ideal garden? (Mine would be tomatoes and asparagus , possibly spinach.) Let us know and if you want include pictures of past harvests

A More Susrainable Catch

 Seafood restaurants can be snobbish. They serve fish from everywhere in the world yet ignore the ones from the local waters. Thankfully that's changing. People are discovering a more sustainable way fo enjoying fish.

Regulr conteibutor melissa Clark wrote about this in roday's New York Times Food section. Many waterfront restaurants likethe ones in East Hampton will have pasta topped with red shrimp from Argentina or fish counters will feature imported salmon filets rather than locally fished mackeral and black sea bass. THis sort of favoritism is not good. A catch could wind up changing hands three to four times and being trucked hundreds of miles to centralized dealers. Thanks to this the meat is in far worst shape. A whopping sity-five to eighty percent of seafood consumed in the US is imported.Strangely enough the US ships out around five billions dollars in seafood.Joshua Stoff, an associate professor of marine policy at the University of Maine and a founder of the Local Catch Network feels that sending seafood overseas shifts a significant portion of profits away from communities that desperately need it.

Thankfully that's all changing thanks to Professor Stoff and people like him.Their website Local Cathc Network is guiding home chefs to local sources for their seafood choices.Now even large retailers like WHole Foods have even started programs in coastal towns where they buy a portion of their seafood directly from  fishing boats.In New Orleans Porgy's Seafood Market buys all its;seafood from local fishing boats.It;s one fo the local shops that is devoted to buying from the locals. Even its name Porgy's reflects the local catch . They  are plentiful and sweetly flavored yet hard to filet and cook.This is where deep frying them comes in handy which makes the fish more desirable to eat.Nearby there is Mermaid;s Market in Brooklyn that regularly sells locally sourced seafood. Fish lovers can buy easy to filet and cook hake and golden tilefish.Long Island also has some excellent clams and limpets along with sea bass and mackerel. Use these for your seafood dishes. Ms. Clark even includes a rrecipe for filoets with tomatoes , mushrooms and bacon.

Think local when  buying seafood. It helps local fisheries along with the environment. Sourcing and buyign local is not only good but also delicious too

Your Culinary Footprint

 With yesterday being Earth Day, it's time to reevaluate what  being done food wise for the planet. Are home chefs being conservative? Are they being thoughtful?

One of the best ways is cutting down on your meat consumption. Meat consumption increases the amount of carbon dioxide methane and nitrous oxide> WHat can you do? Try meatless Mondays where you can have a good pasta with just a marinara sauce or better yet any plant based meat.Impossible Meats and Beyond Meats have excellent burgers that taste like the real thing. Now that i's coming into barbecue season, think about grilling these for a fun evening meal. You could also have more veggie dishes like  the Irish classic .This also uses up leftover  mashed potatoes by mixing them with butter garlic and any green, such as cabbage spinach and or kale. Eat more potatbella mushrooms too. These are an excellent source of protein and they're just downright delicious when fried in an air fryer.They actually do taste like steak. You can also just go completely vegetarian or vegan too. It may take some getting used to but once you switch over cooking and eating plant based foods will become easier.

Do you wash dishes or pop I=them in the dishwasher? Hand washing them is environemntally safer just don;t waste water. Many a home chef is guilty of this. Use what you have Leave the super dirty dishes , pots and pans to soak overnight instead of using gallons of water to clean them. Soak them with a mix of baking soda and white vinegar. This will loosen any tough greasy bit. If you're thinking about getting plastic plates both for indoor and outdoor dining, you may want to think about buying ones made from recycled plastic. Composting is big and it's a great way to help the planet.Use those garbage to grown lush fruits and veggies. What makes for a good compost heap? Have plenty of brown material for carbon and green for nitrogen. These make for a rich soil and lush plants.There should also be plenty of water and air too. Keep in mind that even tea bags and used towelettes like Burt's Bee;s make up wipes can also be tossed in. Rake up all those grass cuttings and also make them part of your compost heap.

Be more alert and conscientious about your culinary habits. Treat the Earth well. The results will be a cleaner, happier place to live.

Barbecue Ready

 The days are getting warmer and that means one thing - grilling! Yes, it's barbecue time and that means getting the grill and the yard ready for fun and relaxed dining.

The first thing to consider is the grill. How is it? Do you need to get a new one or just clean it? Almost every store from Wal-Mart to DIcks sell them. What you buy is up to you. If you're not into elaborate cookouts then go simple. Wal-Mart has some good ones that sell for around $96.00.THese are perfect for easy grills like ribs, hot dogs and hamburgers.There are also smaller ,  portable ones if you have a tiny  or small backyard. These can be taken out when needed and then stored  after cooking.A fun idea is adding a pizza oven .LIdl has those for under $100 and they can be used not only for pizzas but also flat breads and calzones. For those foodies and dedicated home chefs, there are more elaborate grills.These come with extensive work stations to prep salads and meats along with shelves to store foods and utensils. Keep in mind these are very expesnive with some going as high as $16,000 .This is because the work tables are usually made of Travertine marble which costs. If you decide to keep your grill remember to clean it/ You can easily buy a cleaner called Good Gone Grill and Grate from Amazonb.It's only sisteen dollars and an easy spray on. You can also use Dawn's Power Wash too along with a good scrub brush easily bought at Home Depot or Lowe;s/

What about seating? The one you have will probably need a good scrubbing and airing.Again Dawn Power wash works wonders here .It'll just get any accumulated dust off in seconds. Most with removable covers can be tossed in both the washer and dryer. THe last will leave them fluffy.This is also the method for ones with removable covers too.What do you do with those table umbrellas?Again Dawn and a good power wash will get rid of anything from those lovely bird "gifts to any rain smudges. If you are looking to replace or add to your set then look no further than your grocer store. Acme has some nice sets for as low as $78 dollars. They along with sotes like Stop and Shop also have tables and chairs for eight; perfect if you;re expanding your patio area. For more elaborate seating think Wal-Mart or even Wayfiar for wicker chairs and a wicker based table. LIdl has Adirondack chairs for $1600 and a porch swing set for around $79.. The store also has a nice selection of outdoor rugs  perfect for that final touch to your outdoor dining area. As for plates, think Target for sturdy melanine plates that are selling for only $5 a plate. You can also buy an entire set for only $21.95>This comes with utensils, cutlery and salad plates along with bowls and glasses. 

It's times to reassess your backyard eating area. Have it ready for that first all important barbecue .Be ready for a lovely meal cooked and eaten  outdoors.

The Perfect Kitchen Shower Gift

It's shower time and that means trying to find the right gift for the couple who are big on cooking and entertaining> Do you go for the classic ?Or the practical? Something fun or long lasting?

Most couples do have a registry but most of the lsited items are usually picked up by the bridal party or the parents.What are some practical gifts for the couple? You can never go wrong with an air fryer. There are several different types, from the smaller ones to the larger ones that you can even bake cakes in. Power Air Fryers, which Target sells, are the best brand They last a long time and cna hold up to many washings. You could also consider giving the Dash brand one which is much smaller and is perfect for two people. Both Target and Kohl's sell them Another gift that is very practical is an immersion blender. This is  a must especially for those duos who love to make soups and sauces.Kitchen Aid is a good brand and makes for  creamy textures in both soups and sauces. It;'s also great for purees. Crock pots and Instapots are also good gifts to give. These are perfect for couples who work long hours and need a hot meal to come home to. Go with the Classic brand for this. They last a long time and are perfect for cooking up small batches of chili and tomato sauce.

The other way to go is classic and fancy.There is a great site called. Replacements.com that have many vintage sets.Here you can find classic Mikasa and Waterford. They also have very beautiful Christmas sets in a variety of patterns. A twelve piece set called Santa Company can be bought for as low as $59.99.There is also The Night Before Christmas for $69,95 which is a lovely , cheery set that cna be for years. Replacements.com also has beautiful sterling silver flatware sets too. There also also stainless steel sets and various other knives and servers.Try the site for crystal sets too.An elegant gift is a crystal cake stand which definitely be used for holidays and special occasions a brandy decanter is another special and winderfukl gift that will add a touch of class to any home bar. A classic and vintage gift is a hand embroidered tablecloth and napkins. Decades ago this was a cherished and treasured gifts many young's brides prized. You can still find them on Etsy. Embroider it yourself if you';re handy with a needle and thread.If not look to Etsy for beautifully wrought patterns starting at$88. 90.

It's up to you s to what to give at a bridal shower. You can go for practical. You could also try for a classic timeless gift too. It;s your choice and what appeals to you.

The Fluidity Of A Seder.

 Passover starts this Monday, April 22nd and with it comes centuries of recipes and traditions. However like any holiday meal it can be modernized to suit a family's ever changing and growing tastes. It's a perfect marriage for the new and the old.

Regular contributor Joan Nathan wrote about this in Wednesday's New York Times Food section. Passover simply started as a Spring feast>it is thousands of years old with the first one being out lined in the Book Of Exodus. Then the Israelites ate Maror, or what is now known as arugula.This represented the bitterness of enslavement>It;s now dipped in salty water to symbolizes the tears shed during this time. There is also a hard boiled egg, burned in the oven or with a match to symbolizes birth and rebirth. A roasted lamb or beef shank bone and later chicken leg and  roasted beets for vegans and vegetarians symbolize the sacrifuce .Haroseth , gefilte fish , chicken souls and matzoh brittle came later with the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. Ms. Nathan adds her own spin on the meal, with her Polish mother-in-law's take on gelfilte fish, basically fish dumplings made with whitefish, pike and carp. She took the original recipe and reduced the cooking time from two and a half hours to just twenty minutes. Yet a new generation is not into this so she has subbed in a terrine made with salmon or halibut or a white fish salad served on top of matzoh.  She includes this recipe along with one for  brisket and a chocolate hazelnut Schaum torte taken from her son's Danish in-laws

Her family's German influence is there too.She had alwasy ened her seder with her father's chrenslach or a matzog fritter he had while growing up in Germany. There was also another of his favorites a kiss or a Schaum torte. It simply a large meringue with strawberries on top to symbolize Spring. The recipe was carefully written out in German and was made for centuries.It dis get a update thanks to her daughter-in-law's family and with it a new spin.It 's filled with bitter chocolate to cut the sweetness and roasted hazelnuts.What was once was a tradition with a Danish family has now made it to Ms.Nathan's sder where it is a staple.Has her brisket recipe changed this much as well? It's stil cooked with herbs such as thyme and rosemary and made even more flavorful with the addition of crushed or diced tomatoes and red wine.There are also the traditional carrots and celery added as well. Again it;s a versatile piece of meat. For a different spin try smoking it or even barbecuing on the grill. The same goes for her whitefish salad. It can be an original recipe made with mayo, onions and chopped celery. Add dill if you want to or not.

Passover holds traditon but those changed with each generation. Recipes are added. They're improved. It all leads up to a flavorful meal that every generation can enjoy.

Memories Of Spring Holidays

 Passover is coming up. Meethi Eid has just passed . Everyone has favorite memories of these holidays. What was your favorite Seder like? Was it the macaroons? The brisket? 

What about Meethi Eid ? Was it the tabouli eat after a day of fasting ?Or was it the dates to celebrate the first bite of the day? Let us know and include recipes