“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Is There Anything More Beautiful...

                                                             at this time of year other than a tomato?

I think not.

My Homegrown Tomatoes
We have been feasting on tomatoes the past couple of weeks. Eagerly waiting for them to get completely ripe before we pick them. This has definitely been a test of our patience!

First we started with the BLT sandwiches and then the tomatoes went  into basic lettuce salads. Of course we both love the caprese salads, so we had to have those. Then it was back to more BLTs. After I thought we better cut back on all the pork, I also made a pineapple-tomato salsa that was excellent on some grilled salmon. Eating them plain with just salt and pepper is great but I wanted to add a few new recipe ideas to my cookbook folder.

Hunting through Pinterest for fresh tomato recipes, I came across the one below. It was still very refreshing and the grilled onions gave it a unique and interesting flavor. I will be making this again soon. I changed the recipe slightly for my own taste and ingredients on hand, if you would like the link to the original recipe, click on the picture below.




Fresh Tomato Salad with Grilled Onions
A summer side dish with grilled onions adapted from a recipe by chef Rob Rainford.
Yield:
6 servings

Ingredients:
1 red or yellow onion, sliced into 1" rings
2 tbsp canola or grape-seed oil
salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
6 medium homegrown tomatoes

Vinaigrette
1/4 cup grape-seed oil
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup white vinegar
3 tbsp finely chopped fresh tarragon
1 tsp Dijon mustard
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions:

Step 1: Two hours before grilling, whisk the vinaigrette ingredients together in a bowl and add onion rings, tossing to coat. Marinate at room temperature.

Step 2: Fire up your charcoal or preheat your gas grill. Grilling temperature should be around 325°F to 350°F. Prep the grill for cooking over direct heat.

Step 3: Core the tomatoes and cut them lengthwise into quarters. You want large, chunky pieces for this rustic grilled salad.

Step 4: Remove the onion rings from the vinaigrette, reserving the vinaigrette. Brush the onion rings lightly with a little oil and season them with salt and black pepper.

Step 5: Place the onion rings on the grill and cook until lightly charred, 6-10 minutes per side on medium-high heat.

Step 6: Remove onion rings from the grill and set aside to cool slightly. Whisk the vinaigrette until nice and thick.

Step 7: To assemble the salad, combine the tomatoes, cooled onion rings and vinaigrette in a bowl and you're done. Serve this salad buffet-style or in individual salad bowls.

For more check out my pinboard....









Have you tried any new fresh tomato recipes this season?


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I Would Ride With You Upon the Wind

This is for all of my bloggy friends who love 'Fairy Tales'. Sometimes you just want to go to that place in your daydreams, if only for a few minutes. Join me please, as we step into the world of fairies and love and fairy tale love...


Illustration by Milo Winter (1886-1956)

OK, they say butterfly, but I say fairy!






 Aoede's First Single 'Fairy Tale Love' from her April 2012 CD: 'Skeletons of the Muse'


A Trip to Fairy Land



Autumn Fairy by M.T. Ross


Fairy bread



A Fairy Voyage



Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the disheveled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame.


                                                                               ~William Butler Yeats, "The Land of Heart's Desire," 1894











Have a great week all!