A Busy Weekend

This was a busy holiday weekend! I didn't get to the grocery story like I said I was going to, but I did get a new current menu uploaded to the site, and I have a list in place! I finished up a lot of the leftovers from the shower...it was the last days for those things, so I enjoyed a lot of gazpacho on this lovely, hot weekend in the Boston area.

from Flickr - by Dorian Susan

I spent a lot of time outside this weekend, and not a lot of time in the kitchen, so I don't have much to report. However, I went out for a few good meals...and dining al fresco is now IN SEASON! Good company, good food, and an outdoor patio are my definition of a good time! Tomorrow, it's back to work, and back to the everyday grind. My laundry hamper is calling my name and I will get to the grocery store, I promise! Stay tuned for a whole new list of recipes, with a strong focus on crisp veggies, fresh herbs, and spring inflections.

from Flickr - by Wild Wend

Gone are the turnips, parsnips and celery root...and good day to the spring ramps, crispy cucumbers, fresh mixed greens...and some fried clams thrown in for good measure...because it's not Boston in the summer time without some fried clams!

P.S. I think the Farmer's Market by my office has started up again! I will report back after tomorrow - I can't wait to see what they have to offer!

Cold Soup?

So, we're working our way through the leftovers from the bridal shower, attempting to yet again clean the fridge out before going grocery shopping. I was so busy on Saturday that I didn't get to enjoy half of the things I worked so hard to make! Tonight, I had a nice big bowl of the Chunky Gazpacho with Piquillo-Scallion Relish, and oh boy, I was inspired to write!

Gazpacho is one of my favorite things about summer. According to Wikipedia, gazpacho is a cold Spanish tomato-based raw vegetable soup. That's right, you heard correctly - raw. There is no cooking necessary here, and that's why it's a great summertime meal. No added heat, fresh, crunchy veggies in a cool tomato base...sounds refreshing, doesn't it?

There are many gazpacho recipes out there, and I urge you to try many of them before settling on your favorite...but this one, from the Stonewall Kitchen Favorites cookbook, well, it's pretty darn good! Lots of tomatoes, crunchy peppers in all colors, cool cucumbers and the bite of red onion make for a burst of flavor with each spoonful!

from Flickr - by Melissa Prado Little
(I don't think I could've found a better picture to depict the process)

The way I describe it, I guess it sounds like more of a salad then a soup, but let me explain. Once you've cut up all of your fresh veggies, and they are all combined with some lime juice and whatever else your specific recipe calls for, you blend about half the mixture in a food processor, until it's a juicy puree. This is what turns it from a salad, to a chunky soup. Don't get me wrong, you'll still be chewing each bite, and experiencing that nice crunch of cool cucumber and peppers! Who'd have thought you'd want to eat soup during the summer!

Be on the lookout for gazpacho on menus in your area! If you find an exceptionally good one, be sure to share it with all of us here on Mise En Place (A good place to start). I don't want to speak for all of us, but I love hearing about restaurants, and menu items that hold a special place in one's heart! Can't wait to hear your stories!

There's a new menu in the works as well - coming very soon! If you have requests, get them in ASAP!