A Piedmontese Picnic

Piemonte , located in the northern and most western part of Italy has summers are pure perfection at times, especially up in the Alps. Many trek to these mountains to enjoy the fresh air and cool streams. However they're also there to enjoy something far greater - Piemontese picnic dishes.

This is the food my mother and I grew up on. Piemontese food is more like what you'd get along the French Riviera (remember that our cuisine is the origin of French cooking).One of the most famous is cold veal with  tuna sauce - vitello tonnato. The simplest version of the sauce is mashed tuna in water mixed with mayo.Capers and their brine are added along with salt and pepper. The veal is boiled - bollito - along with such vegetables as carrots , leeks and parsnips. The last you can switch it up with subbing in cauliflower and broccoli for the leeks and parsnips. Also you can nix the meat if you feel it's too much trouble to make.Insalata rizzo is another favorite - and a family one too. It's taking a can of peas and carrots and mixing it rice. Again mayo is added to give it creaminess. Capers could be added if you want more saltiness. Another picnic must is insalata di carne cruda,is a minced raw beef or veal appetizer, prepared with lemon juice, olive oil and garlic. It's sort of like steak tatare and served with salad greens.

Salumeria - the Piemontese version of charcuterie - is always a big thing. There's a variety of different cured meats and a large baguette to slice for sandwiches. You could make bagnet verde, a cold sauce made from parsley, garlic, and those Piemontese staple breadcrumbs and anchovies for the meats. It's a nice alternative to aioli and plain olive oil. There is also bagnet ross, a combination of ripe tomatoes, onions, peppers, celery and parsley. Mashed anchovies and mustard are added for texture.All the ingredients are cooked and then pureed. Bagnet ross can be  chilled. Use it for dipping raw veggies or just hunks of bread. A great picnic idea is having the province's many cheeses with sliced rolls or baguettes.Tuma is a very strong, almost Limburger type cheese that would pair well with a hearty Barolo., the region's famed red wine.A less  - overpowering - fromage is Robiola, a Brie type cheese that would pair with grissini, the ultra thin bread sticks first made in Torino.

A Piemontese picnic is a sophisticated and delicious way to enjoy eating outdoors.There's a 's variety of refreshing and chilled dishes that make for good eating. Plan one and enjoy the flavors' of one of Italy most beautiful provinces.

Discovering A Culinary Gem

Doreen Gamboa may not be known to many American chefs, yet she was a force majeure in Filipino cooking.  She was not a chef or a restaurant owner. She was a food writer who not only helped fellow Filipinos fighting for a better government but also one who captured the best of her country's cooking.

Ligaya Mishan, a regular contributor and restaurant critic for The New York Times food section wrote this informative piece in yesterday's Food section. Ms. Gamboa was , in a way, unusual for a food writer.She helped the National Democratic Front, the anti- Ferdinand Marcos government in the 1980's, tending to their bullet wounds and letting them recuperate in her yard. She also fed them elaborate meals in a lush , art filled dining room as she wrote amazing descriptions of all sorts of native.Even though she came from money and always had chefs and cooks at home , she wrote about all aspects of Filipino cooking. She was no snob as she rhapsodized about a wide variety of dishes. Some put her on a par with another great food writer, M.F. K. Fisher, Her writing style could be considered poetic and direct. Ms. Gamboa once described as having "a distinctive rasp and whisper" while in another essay she cataloged the textures of the giant fluted clam. Sadly she died relatively young at the age of 67 in New York City.

Even though she wrote for Filipino newspapers and magazines Ms Gamboa is still not widely known among Filipinos here and back in the Philippines. Yet a new generation of Filipino-American chefs are looking to her writings for guidance. There's only problem. Many of Ms. Ganboa's books are out of print. Luckily, one, Tikim is coming back into print. It offers a compilation of all sorts of Filipino cooking, from home recipes to traditional street food from vendors. The book can be found on Amazon and expensive (the hardcover is $198 on Amazon while the paperback is a whopping five grand!!!!). Her works were only published in the Philippines so finding them in the States is a rarity.  ,Filipino-American chef and owner of Bad Saint, Genevieve Villamora scoured used books sites to buy up every book that Ms. Gamboa wrote. Another chef, Charles Olalia of Los Angeles' Ma'am Sir found imported copies at No Serving, an LA cookbook store. There will be  a new printing of Tikim by the Danish publisher , Brill, thanks to lobbying from Filipino chefs.

Thanks to a vanguard of Filipino chefs, Ms. Gamboa's work is now coming to light. It is a fascinating insight into centuries old recipes and the people who created them. Her light will always shine on in kitchens around the world.

A Cool Rice Salad For Hot Days

It is hard to come up with dinner ideas when the temps reach the 90's and 100's. What is easy to cook and easy to eat? The answer came in today's New York Times Food section. David Tanis' rice salad! Of course .It's a snap to make and a delicious way to beat the heat.

Mr. Tanis' recipe calls for arborio rice mixed with a tahini based dressing. His is crunchy and herby, thanks to the inclusion of currents, pistachios and almonds mixed with mint and chives. I veered off.
First the rice. Arborio does take a longer time to cook. Instant rice is easier. I used Stop & Shop's brand.

I cooked  three cups of it because anything with rice goes quick in my house.

Then I added the veggies,grape tomatoes and one orange pepper.

They were diced into bite size pieces.

I bought already cut celery and broccoli from Stop & Shop's salad bar. I included black

olives into the mix for a Mediterranean vibe.

As for the dressing olive oil and I went for a red wine vinegar instead of my usual apple cider one. Again it gives it a nice dinner in Capri feel.

A sprinkle of sea salt and a quick grind of pepper, mix and you have a salad that takes you through steamy days and nights. As Mr. Tanis suggests you can toss in some chopped hard boiled eggs.Add tuna for a Roman flavor. I'd suggest putting in some chopped roasted chicken to make it more filling.

Thank you David Tanis of A City Kitchen for inspiring

me to create my own rice salad recipe. This is another summer go to recipe that I'll be using in the dog days ahead. It's easy to make and so cool to eat.

Colonel Popper Old Fashioned Goodness

There's nothing like old fashioned popcorn. It definitely tastes better than the boxed, seasoned kind and its' not soaked in preservatives. However there is one problem. You have to stand by the stove and constantly shake the pan or pot to prevent burning. There's a solution - Colonel Popper. This is a silicone popper that gives you microwave popcorn.

I bought this for my brother - the absolute popcorn fanatic - for his birthday. I thought it would be a fun - much more healthier way to enjoy his favorite snack.

It folds within itself and pops out when you want to use it.

Neat huh? It has a cute lid with popcorn embossed on it.

To make the popcorn we bought the Stop & Shop kernels and Bertoli olive oil.

It was three tablespoons of oil and half a cup of the corn.

Three minutes later we had this.

It produced light fluffy and delicious popcorn. If you're going to pop corn, then use olive oil. It adds a sweetness to the flavor along with creating a deeper corn flavor. I sprinkled Celtic gray salt over it and this is by far this best tasting popcorn ever. I will never go back to those packets of microwave stuff. I may add some rosemary or Parmesan cheese next for something different. 

Get the Colonel Popper if you want good , old fashioned popcorn in a new fashioned microwave, then buy this container. You'll enjoy an all natural snack that beyond delicious and super healthy.

Colonel Popper can be bought at Amazon for $14.00

The Most Decadent S'More

This is s'mores season - although every every season can be considered s'mores season. It's just a gooey toasted marshmallow and milk chocolate on a graham cracker. Imagine if you could improve them? I did and here's the result.

It starts off with graham crackers' but they're Nabisco's chocolate ones.The marshmallows are the Stop & Shop brand. The chocolate has been upgraded from milk chocolate to Lindt's 60 % Dark. This definitely elevated it,giving it a more sophisticated vibe.

The only problem was toasting the marshmallow which I did on the stove burner.

I like the crunchy burnt crust. I have tried evenly toasting it but it just doesn't work on a burner.

It's then plopped on the graham cracker. Layer on the chocolate and second graham cracker.

Bite and enjoy!To me, the combined flavors remind me of a Pinwheel cookie.It is a perfect mix of dark chocolate and sweet marshmallow. You could try a layer of salty caramel for a twist or use shortbread as the base. Get creative.

This is the most decadent s'more you'll ever eat. Try it and see. It really is the best.

A Movable Feast

One of the most fun aspects of having or renting a summer house is having people over. It's nice to celebrate bonds with a refreshing dip or hike followed by a meal. It's enjoying locavore dining by  the sea or the mountains. What better way to honor the season.
?

If you own your summer home, then it's easy to transport some of your kitchen gear to it.Think about packing the blender and food processor along with some of your best knives. Your summer house probably already has pots and pans. Another idea is replicating everything for the summer house. Kohl's , Target and Wal-mart are having sales right now. Get smaller and cheaper versions of what you already have.  Also use them for multi-purposes .Remember that a blender can be used for everything from blending soup and making pesto to crushing ice for drinks and slushies. A griddle can be good for making breakfast pancakes and bacon but also use it for burger and dogs during rainy days inside.If you're renting, then think compact. Bring or buy an immersion blender. This is easy to pack and can be used for making everything from smoothies to dips like hummus and guacamole. A small gas griddle is a good investment. You can cook anything on it and also bring it to the beach. Rented beach houses may not have pots and pans. Try to just bring a large frying or saute pan. This can be used for any meal, from omelets at breakfast to even grilled cheese for lunch and steaks for dinner.

Being in a new town, even though you've been going to it for years , can be daunting when shopping. Get familiar with the times and days of the local farmers' market. These are the best places to go for locavore eating. Take advantage of the stands that sell tomatoes and corn, because these are the most versatile to use. Tomatoes can be stuffed or sliced, used in sauces. Corn  is not only good grilled and slathered with butter, it's also good in chowders and salads. Farmer's markets also sell homemade jams and jellies along with artesanal baked goods and sometimes fresh butter. The cakes and cookies at these may not be overly fancy but they're a nice way to end a dinner party Beach houses are often located in areas where freshly caught seafood is sold. Visit these if you're planning a clambake or entertaining guests hungry for lobster. Sometimes these markets sell already prepared dishes like shrimp cocktail or lobster salad.Buy these for your party if you want no fuss and no muss. The local grocery stores also can create party platters . Another easy idea is just serving a variety of hors d'ouevres and local wines. Many vacation spots have wineries within driving distance. Visit these for locally sourced wines and champagnes.

It's easy to throw together a getaway get together. Just remember to pack the gear you need and take advantage of local shopping. These together can make for easy , breezy parties after a day of sun and sand.

Summer Stock

Preparing the summer can be easy if you make everything ahead. It saves you from cooking during a heat wave which can be brutal. It's just pop into the microwave or toaster oven, serve and eat. Just that simple as a summer day should be.

One of the easiest recipes is hummus. You can make a lot of this tasty Middle Eastern dip and then use it a variety of ways. It's taking two cans of chickpeas (I use only one can and sub in cannellini beans for the other - it makes for a lighter taste)  and a heaping tablespoon of tahini paste.Olive oil and lemon juice are added for smoothness and tang. Then it's a quick blend. Double the amount and freeze it. It can last up to six to eight months and can be thawed out in the microwave. Have pita on hand to make crunchy pita chips or stuffed sandwiches with hummus, tomatoes and spinach. It also makes for a great dip for parties and movie nights too.Another stock up is salad. Yes salad. Many think that chopped greens only have a shelf life of two days tops. No! Use the paper towel method and your greens can last a full seven days. It's just first chopping the lettuce then rinsing it. Run it through a salad spinner to get the leaves completely dry. Drape a couple of paper towels over the bowel so absolutely no moisture gets it and tightly cover the entire bowel with Saran wrap. Take it when you need it.Add anything, from roast chicken from the store to a variety of chopped and sliced veggies.

Tomato sauce is not one of those recipes you make when the temps hit 100 or the high 90's. Let's face it , who wants to stand by a hot stove , stirring sauce. Yet you can have delicious homemade sauce and even chili if you just use your crockpot or Instapot. Again make double the amount and use it when you want. The same goes for spaghetti.It can last for a week in the fridge or up to eight months in the freezer. I discovered this when  I made too much pasta. It was easy to store - just put it in containers. Since I had no desire of even taking out the crockpot, I just bought already made sauce from Stop and Shop's Nature's Promise line and mixed the two. It was then seven minutes in the microwave and to be honest it tasted as good as any fresh made pasta. Add a salad and sliced Italian bread  and you have a filling meal, despite the heat.I plan on doing this more often , seeing how easy it is. The same applies to cooked rice. Make a lot of it and you can use it for hot dishes like chili or ratatouille (which also can be premade and stored) or a tasty rice salad loaded with peas, onions and peppers.

Stock up on creating basics for dishes. It saves you time in the kitchen during these hot, sweltering days. It's an easy way to cook and an easy way to eat.