Garden Party & Photography Lessons

If you follow my blog, and remember that I posted an Invitation about this event; then you will remember I stated I was getting photography lessons from someone who attends my Cultural Art Expression- Open Mic I host each week. Owen Shapiro plays the saxophone, but kindly said we would trade 'food' opportunities for my lessons, but he will own the rights to any photos taken in his presence.

Here are the photos of food styling plates, guests, table, and other random stuff as Owen instructed me. I still have a lot to learn!



















Owen let me have a smaller DSLR Canon to roam around and take random shots of guests and the buffet table...



















I would have been happy with a plate full of this salad, and the toasted pumpkin seeds if you asked me!















While we sat and enjoyed our meal, the Princeton String Quartet played beautifully for our enjoyment!




















~~~~~~~~~~~ The Menu ~~~~~~~~~~~


Spiced Chilled Carrot Soup with Yogurt and Ginger- I added a flower petal..














Frisee and Bibb lettuce; Radishes; Spring Onions, and toasted pumpkin seeds...













Fresh Pea Hummus Crostini with Pea Tendril Garnish...Psst I added another petal...



























Grilled Asparagus with Kosher salt, extra virgin olive oil, and edible flowers!
















Grilled Kennett Square Portobello mushrooms; Sautéed dandelion greens with cannellini beans and garlic; Served with grilled flat breads, and a side of asparagus...














The table was set up with brewed green iced tea in carafes; fresh mint waiting in glasses of ice...














Blueberry honey with sprig of mint dessert was originally on the invitation, but many events have to make last minute changes due to availability of ingredients or budget changes. This was a caramel bread pudding, and hubby said it was quite good (I am not a fan).







Everyone is enjoy the beautiful day. My friend Sue is front/left, as I sat in the seat just before her and hubby at my side...






















Honestly, I think I feel more comfortable behind the stove like the chef here...



















...but I did enjoy watching, and capturing his passion as we talked...he was nice enough to re stir for a better photo...















Thank You to all of the volunteers of The Princeton Garden Project for letting us invade their garden and make them pose!














You ( Chef E ) are permitted to use the "web sized" photos for all promotional uses, such as web sites and blogs about the princeton garden project; if you have any other desired uses feel free to send me a note...

----------

Irwin "owen"

Smoke Your Tea! & Vintage Honey/Jelly Recipe Results

I think you know I do not mean roll it, and light up! If you read my 'Rustic French Meatloaf' entry in this week's Monday Mouthful Roundup you would have see this recipe below. I have wanted to smoke tomatoes for years, and just never made it a priority; until I received some tea samples from Karen @ Steep It Loose. I used her Limon Chai packet to see if I could add some flavor to my vintage jelly recipe.















Yes, it gave the jelly a wonderful citrus and smoke flavor, but my first attempt at capturing it was lacking... I am looking forward to using this with several dishes I am making this coming weekend- like Scallops... The onion slices are going on meatloaf sandwiches, and into a wrap as well...

Also, you all know Greg @ Sippity Sup, because I talk about him all the time right? Well he has this 'Tomatomania' post each Monday, and I entered this into the contest...

My grandmother grew beef steak tomatoes all along her acre fenced in yard when I was a young girl, and I looked forward to eating all things tomato when arriving each summer. My family still considers me a 'tomato maniac'! One of the things that probably lead me into the cooking field was her Tomato Honey jars she would pull out of the cabinet and hand me to take home; of course after I ate two or three tomatoes with a sprinkle of salt and pepper she would let me pick about three seconds after that...















Original Recipe- Vintage Tomato Honey

Puree about six or seven vine ripe tomatoes in small food processor, and then strain overnight into a bowl.

Measure the strained juice – it should be about one cup – and pour into a saucepan; then add a little salt, 1 cup sugar and a few dashes of Tabasco; boil all together half an hour on medium fire until it becomes a thick jelly; then put it into glasses, and lay double tissue paper over the tops, or beeswax to seal out any air.

Now the difference between my grandmothers recipe and what I did-















I used an old canning pot/soup pot. Line the bottom of pot and ramekins (I had a hard time removing the burnt candied tea later) with foil. Mix equal portions loose tea to raw sugar, and sprinkle it around the foil. Taking any steam insert from another pot; place a piece of foil inside, and place it on ramekins. With it lifted up you will get even distribution of the smoke all around the vegetables.

Any smoker will do, I also have cast iron smoker, but had read about a few other cooks using tall pots like this, and wanted to try it.

Vintage Smoked Tomato & Onion Honey

I smoke the onions and tomatoes in a ORGANIC MATE LIMON CHAI tea and sugar mixture, equal portions that I sprinkle on the bottom of pan (in between ramekins); begin a medium low heat, and when you begin to smell the tea mixture place steam pan to rest on ramekins; add double lids and clothe to cover tightly for at least a half hour. You should be able to see smoke slowly rising from pot edges. Karen @ Steep It Loose had contacted me about trying some of her teas, and I have been wanting to try smoking with tea, and what a great way to add flavor to fish, poultry, and tomatoes!















Once they are cool place them into the food processor and pureed them along with a few of the onion slices, and following the rest of my grandmothers recipe for the honey. With one more exception- I used to 'Natural Brew' coffee filters that do not contain bleach placed inside a large strainer, and it worked beautifully. The liquid results really does look like honey, taste and smells smokin!

I have a question, and could not find a real answer out there, but does adding sugar to the tea act as a buffer? I bet Buffalodick would know this answer...

Rustic Mini French Pate Loaves & Vintage Smoked Honey

You have until midnight tonight to send me the post for this weeks 'Monday's Mouthful' feast...Rustic French Meatloaf that was posted last week, and includes a recipe for the authentic version. I am like many people out there that did not have good experiences with 'meatloaf' per se, but I was willing to give it a try. I have chosen not to serve it with the traditional mustard side, but make a vintage tomato jelly my grandmother made when I was a girl.

Rustic Mini French Pate Loaf

1 cup fine fresh bread crumbs (preferably from a rustic loaf)
1/2 cup whole milk
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 pound duck liver- Foie gras (thanks to a chef friend)
3/4 pound ground veal
1/4 cup chopped prunes
1/4 cup shelled pistachios
2 teaspoons thyme leaves
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 package low sodium bacon; 4 slices per small loaf

1 package Braunschweiger- I topped off the mini loaves with Braunschweiger, a Bavarian Pate popular her in New Jersey and is made from pork liver. This is my German influence. New Brunswick is the English translation, and also a town just about half an hour north of my home here in Jersey!

Preheat oven to 475°F with rack in middle.

Soak bread crumbs in milk in a small bowl.

Cook onion, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in oil in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Cool slightly.

Purée goose liver in a blender, then transfer to a large bowl. Add veal, prunes, thyme, eggs, bread-crumb mixture, onion mixture, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and gently mix with your hands until just combined.

Form into rectangular shares and set aside. Take a round mixture of the Braunschweiger and press pistachios into liver; top off rectangles, and then wrap up in bacon slices.

Bake in 425 degree oven for about 30 minutes, or until bacon is crisp. Remove from drippings and set aside to drain.














Hubby was out, so I got away with the bacon smell in the condo, as he hates bacon, but in the name of 'French Cooking' he will eat this creation. I do agree with what Mindy said about this dish being the most expensive meatloaf I have ever heard of!















Since I decided to do a New Jersey (New Brunswick) twist on the mini loaves I asked a few people who grew up here what kind of sauce they would eat with this. They all said a brown mushroom gravy over my tomato idea, so I did both. Taking the drippings from the loaf pan and sauteed mushrooms- adding a dash of red wine.















'If you look closely at my vintage style photo I tried to create you will see the plate, onion, and dots of foam almost seem to be a part of the pattern'

My grandmother grew beef steak tomatoes all along her acre fenced in yard when I was a young girl, and I looked forward to eating all things tomato when I would arrive each summer, and still consider myself a 'tomato maniac'!

Original Recipe- Vintage Tomato Honey

Puree about six or seven vine ripe tomatoes in small food processor, and then strain overnight into a bowl.

Measure the strained juice – it should be about one cup – and pour into a saucepan; then add a little salt, 1 cup sugar and a few dashes of Tabasco; boil all together half an hour on medium fire until it becomes a thick jelly; then put it into glasses, and lay double tissue paper over the tops, or beeswax to seal out any air.

Now the difference between my grandmothers recipe and what I did is this-















Vintage Smoked Tomato & Onion Honey

I smoke the onions and tomatoes in a ORGANIC MATE LIMON CHAI tea and sugar mixture, equal portions that I sprinkle on the bottom of pan (in between ramekins); begin a medium low heat, and when you begin to smell the tea mixture place steam pan to rest on ramekins; add double lids and clothe to cover tightly for at least a half hour. You should be able to see smoke slowly rising from pot edges. Karen @ Steep It Loose had contacted me about trying some of her teas, and I have been wanting to try smoking with tea, and what a great way to add flavor to fish, poultry, and tomatoes!















Once they were cool I placed them into the food processor and pureed them, and following the rest of my grandmothers recipe for the honey.

For one of my final presentations I did not strain a small portion of the mixture. You can make a foam by placing it back into the small food processor and whipped it up into a frenzy. Spooning a few drops around one of the smoked onions that served as the throne for my mini loaf! There will be a Vintage Honey/Jelly post next showing you how it congealed over night...

Mindy @ Mindy's Mouthful has already posted her lovely dish titled 'Rustic Alsatian', so go over and check it out- along with next Monday's Mouthful Round Up!

Greg @ Sippity Sup has posted his Terrine de Campagne with pink peppercorns

You still have a chance to post your entry...Check back for more entries, as they will be added as I receive your emails...

Monday's Mouthful...

You have until midnight tonight to send me the post for this weeks 'Monday's Mouthful' feast...Rustic French Meatloaf that was posted last week, and includes a recipe.

Mine will be up later tonight as I have had a million things to do the past three days, and little time to finish my own project and photos...

Mindy @ Mindy's Mouthful has already posted her lovely dish titled 'Rustic Alsatian', so go over and check it out!

Once I get all the post in today I will add the links and photos...please email me your information...Thanks!

Mindy has chosen her German dish for the next Monday-

Flammekueche or Tarte Flambée (French)

from Petit Recueil de la Gastronomie Alsacienne: 75 Recettes Simples by Marguerite Doerflinger

1 recipe Flammekueche dough (See below)

2 large onions, diced

1 2/3 cups crème fraîche (if you can’t find this in the grocery store, you can make your own or use good quality heavy cream)

At least 3 slices thick-cut bacon

1 Tablespoon grapeseed or canola oil

Salt, pepper, nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 450F/230C/Th. 8. Roll out the dough until it is very thin in a rectangular shape and place it on a pizza stone or cookie sheet sprinkled with a little flour or cornmeal to prevent sticking. Season the cream with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Cover the dough with the onions, bacon, and cream. Drizzle the mixture with the oil. When the oven is completely hot, place the flammekueche in the oven for about 10 minutes or until the crust is very crispy and lightly browned.

Flammekueche Dough

2 cups flour

3 Tablespoons olive oil

Pinch of salt

1/2 cup warm water

Mix all of the ingredients together until it creates a dough. Add more water if needed. That’s it!

Moroccan BBQ Short Ribs & A Whole Lot More

Another craving I have had lately is mashed potatoes. So instead of just eating a big plate of them, I decided to make a few other things to compliment them.

Moroccan and BBQ is something I decided would mingle well along with some smoked onion mustard I made. After reading Sippity Sups mustard posts this past week, I thought I would give it a shot. I have made a Chinese Cinnamon BBQ sauce before, and decided on a similar idea with an added twist of mustard with oven baked short ribs. Roasting potatoes, along with a few other vegetables makes for a good potato salad smash and side!















Moroccan BBQ Short Rib Marinade/Sauce-

I smoked the onions the night before the night before...alright'y, did that make sense? Blend equal parts onion/mustard in a small food processor and set aside (thick consistency).

Assemble a mixing cup of-

2 tablespoons garam masala powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon ginger
1/4 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup of red wine (the rest you drink, as I would)

Marinade the ribs in this solution for up to two hours in refrigerator, or overnight.

Place 6-8 large/fat short ribs in baking dish and spread mustard over the meat portion. Reduce the marinade by 1/3 and pour onto bottom of baking dish gently not to disturb mustard. Bake 300 degrees for 2 1/2 hours on bottom rack. Do not over cook. You want meat to remain in tact for slicing.

Roasted Potatoes, Celery Root, and Onions-

In a baking pan place small whole red bliss potatoes, onions, and quartered celery root; drizzle with olive oil, garlic, paprika, salt/pepper to taste; place on the top rack uncovered for about 45 minutes; until fork tender. Once the vegetables are cool seal them in a container, and place in fridge over night. You will use them for mash potato recipe below.















The next day when meat is still chilled, remove solidified fat from ribs and sauce. Holding the muscle area where the bone was removed begin slicing meat and getting as close as you can to the tough part. Remove the remaining edible pieces of meat, and returned it to a pan. Heat sauce and bits on a slow simmer; cook down the sauce by half, and lay whole slices on top to cook for at least 15 minutes covered allowing to steam a bit more.

Roasted Celery Root Mash Potatoes- Smash half of the potatoes; place the other half and ingredients in food processor. Blend together with 1/2 cup hot cream, 1/4 hot vegetable broth (use sparingly), 1 garlic clove, salt/pepper to taste, and 3 tablespoons butter; blend until desired consistency. Mix smash and puree together and stir till well blended.















Moroccan Smoked Onion Mustard-

I have given this recipe out to only one other person, but if anyone wants it just email me!

Sustainability In The Community

'Isle Garden Project in Trenton, New Jersey'

Sustainability, in a broad sense is the ability to maintain a certain process or state...

I have been heading in a sustainable lifestyle direction for many years. In my early twenties, having my first child diagnosed with birth defects that blatantly became 'terminal', or a 'chronic illness' in many medical arenas; I will never look at life the same way again. Having to face the fact that we had no choice but to live and breath in the healthiest way has helped shape me into a more health conscious chef; although I am not claiming to be perfect in any way. I just feel that other children like her and their families deserve to have a better chance at a good and healthier life, and by sharing I somehow hope to help.

In the past four years I have met or become friends with similar experiences. For instance, Maman and Gourmand AKA Mistress of Cakes is also raising her step-son who is just a year younger than my own daughter, and suffers from the very same illness, Pulmonary Artresia! My experience in dealing with the difficulties hopefully have lent support to them and others...

Also, growing up in a large family and being poor was the beginning of my journey to sustainability. If you get it; you begin to learn that every aspect of daily life has to be planned- from lifestyle choices, grocery shopping, meal preparation, recycling, safety and sanitation practices, and eventually even home schooling my children to keep my daughter well. I did find that gardening incorporated science and health education into their studies. Sure I had a full load with tedious monthly doctor appointments, school work, running my own businesses, so that I could be flexible. The joy of watching my children plant seeds, recycle papers and plastics, helping neighbors, and wanting to cook fresh and healthy meals with me in the kitchen using our edible flowers and vegetables that made it all worth the energy I had to put forth.

INVITATION: Enjoy a spring afternoon in the garden with Bent Spoon ice cream and a lecture by Meredith Taylor, Senior Project Commissioner, Isles Community Garden and Nutrition Division. Ms. Taylor will speak about community and school gardens.














'Sage grown in the Princeton Garden Project helped make this ice cream we all shared'!

Much of the garden goods go to the campus 'Dinner Halls' to feed the students...

Location: Forbes Garden Project, 79 Alexander St.
Date/Time: 04/15/09 at 4:30 pm - 04/15/09 at 6:00 pm
Sponsor: The Garden Project

*Due to rain, this lecture has been moved to the pink house next to Forbes.















'Princeton students Eva, Colleen, and Sierra help run and maintain the Princeton Garden Project, and threw great questions at Meredith about how they could partner in the future...'

I attended Wednesdays event with Sue Albert, a fellow Open Mic participant/musician and fellow blog- She and I are partnering on a project she had already begun- a butterfly garden for inner city dwellers of Trenton, NJ. She in return is helping me with starting a sustainable garden for my culinary class at Isle Youth Build Institute of Trenton, NJ.















This gathering is part of the "Ethics, Politics, and the American Food System" lecture series that was hosted by The Garden Project of Princeton University, Eva Marie Walsh, and presented by Meredith Taylor, Senior Project Commissioner of the Isles Community Garden and Commission. In helping with awareness and ideas for their sustainability projects this was organized to help educate local college students. Meredith talked about how in her job with Isles she is the Senior Project Manager for the Environment & Community Heath division. The Isles Organization was founded in 1981 in New Jersey is a nationally recognized community development and environmental nonprofit organization in Trenton, New Jersey. Isles- Fostering Self-Reliance...

Meredith told the students how she helps a school locate spots on their property; developing, building, and maintaining sustainable gardens for teaching purposes. She also teaches cooking classes that provides family members with nutrition, simplistic cooking instruction, as well as how to shop for the ingredients in a budget conscious minded way. Isles provide the tools, education and skills that enable families to help themselves and improve their neighborhoods, over the long-term.

Meredith and I took a few minutes discussing how I could possibly benefit her program through my own education and experience. The conversation opened up so many possibilities for us. I can give back even more to community, as others helped me through my childhood and parenting difficulties. I know many of you are looking forward to starting your gardens soon, but if you live near a community garden...please take a few hours out of your schedule to volunteer. You too can make a sustainable difference!

Sites I found Useful for gardening/cooking from the garden, and other cool sustainable gardening reads:

• Kitchen Garden International, Non-Profit in MA
• Slow Food
• Sustainable Organic Gardening
• An Accidental Gardener- Sustainable Garden Blog

As you are reading this I am already on my way to help set-up, and get so lessons in food photography and more! Here is what everyone will be enjoying...

Hello Garden Diners!

Everyone at the Princeton Garden is excited to welcome you tomorrow, Sunday, April 19th! Chef Alex from Forbes will be serving up a tasty local meal while the Princeton String Quartet plays live! During dessert our Garden Manager will be giving you all some information on garden activities and answer any questions you may have. We are hoping that this is the start of a garden tradition!

Time:

Dinner will be served promptly at 5pm. Plan to get to the garden early to meet new friends and enjoy the live music which starts at 4:45pm. Dinner will be leisurely and you can enjoy a brief overview of the garden by our current Garden Manager over dessert!

The Menu:

Spiced Chilled Carrot Soup with Yogurt and Ginger

Frisee and Bibb lettuce with Radishes and Spring Onions

Fresh Pea Hummus Crostini with Pea Tendril Garnish

Grilled Asparagus with Kosher salt and extra virgin olive oil

Grilled Kennett Square Portobello mushrooms

Sautéed dandelion greens with cannellini beans and garlic

Served with grilled flat breads

Brewed green iced tea with fresh mint

Blueberry honey with sprig of mint dessert

Monday & Friday Activities

'Photograph by Romulo Yanes, as seen on Gourmet Magazine.com and Epicurious.com'

1) Mindy @ Mindy's Mouthful noticed I posted Monday Mouthful, and asked me if I minded using that. Of course I did not even realize I was using her catch phrase, so after talking we decided to open it up to other blogs through June 1st with a German-French theme.

We will list each weeks theme at the end of our 'Monday Mouthful' post. This coming Monday Mouthful post theme is 'Rustic French Meatloaf' (a recipe to follow is listed here). You may make it in any shape or form; such as a semi-homemade technique, traditional, or get as fancy as you wish along with a link to this post. You may resubmit a past post if you have one. Part of the fun will also be adding a French or German experience, along with a word from the language to get us a little more familiar with the culture. Email Chef E, moi @ elizabeth@cookappeal.com with your information once you have posted, so that we can all link together on Monday.





















Mindy and I will be alternating French and German recipes each week to advance our lack of cooking it in our homes. She lives on the border of France and Germany, and is moving back to the states in June, and admitted a failure to produce some of their delectable foods. I myself admit I use many of the techniques in the professional world; then only until recently have desired to revisit them at home. We both agreed our husbands would love it!

2) Any of you out there feel like you want to use that camera that is laying around... come join me at Friday Shoot Out, there are quite a few blogs you all know that are doing this with me, so if you interested go over to my other blog and see what I shot; it is a Jersey food related post, so I cheat and get two in one day!

These are not contest! Anyone who is interested does not have to participate each week, but let us know here if you want to be on 'the list', lol, sounds like an elitist-list...just a fun way to link up with each other and discover new fun food!

Oh and do not forget to pencil in your Food Art entries for Alchemist Chef, her deadline is June 1st, and I already have mine planned into a birthday surprise!