In my last post, I shared with you my experiences at my home in California. I mentioned that home for me doesn't necessarily mean one single place. It's more of a feeling, really. After this summer, I've never felt more at home in New York City. Sure, it's tough sometimes, and I for one don't need the kind folks over at the Onion to remind me why this city is miserable. But it's summers like this one that make me fall in love all over again.
It all started with a couple of concerts, a botched picnic, and an immense love and anticipation for summer in the city. Slowly but surely, the days grew hotter and the summer progressed, but I remained motivated in the kitchen with an abundance of CSA vegetables and the A/C running on full blast. I participated in my first ever food co-op with my coworkers. My closest friends and I started a weekly Tuesday night dinner tradition. And then it got hot. Really hot. Not quite hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk, but hot enough to keep me away from my stove and oven for a while. I went camping. Then I went back to California for an escape from work and city life, and for a much needed dose of fresh California air. I came home to New York City. I spent Labor Day weekend in Cape Cod. My good friend Allison from Dallas came to visit, and we never ate so well. In fact, that seems to be a common theme of the summer, never eating so well.
And now, here we are. Summer is coming to a close, and I'm so ready for fall. I'm ready to carry the traditions of Tuesday night dinners and my work food co-op into the next season. I'm ready for apple picking, pumpkin carving, soups, stews, butternut squash, spiked apple cider, and Thanksgiving feasts (oh yes, there will be more than one this year!). I'm ready to continue the theme of never eating so well.
Of course, none of these experiences mean anything without the friends, family, and loved ones with whom I share them. Food is better shared, and I've realized this summer that home is, too. Maybe Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros say it best:
Laugh until we think we'll die
Barefoot on a summer night
Never could be sweeter than with you
...Oh, Home! Let me come Home!
Home is whenever I'm with you!
Oh, Home, yes I am Home!
Home is wherever I'm with you!
And in the spirit of sharing, I've got some amazing recipes that I can't wait to share with you, including a feast for Allison (the friend from Dallas I mentioned earlier) and some baked goods that I meant to post a couple of seasons ago.
For now, I have a backlog of food porn that definitely needs to be shared. So, without further ado, a brief food photo roundup of summer:
Homemade Pizza with Mozzarella and Prosciutto (made back when it was cool enough to turn the oven up all the way)
Homemade Pizza Crust
Cooking at the campsite - super easy when you have a camping stove!
Campfire Chili
Lunch at the Black Bear Diner in Sonoma, CA
My cousin's famous Mexican beef and potato tacos
Purple Potato Hash with Braised Escarole and a Tomato/Corn Salad
Purple Potato Hash
Tomato and Corn Salad
Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce (even though it requires use of the oven, you can just walk away from it and come back after an hour or so to tomatoey goodness)
Tomato Sauce over Rice
Oven Braised Leeks
When I braise leeks, I use the whole leek, dark green tops and all. They come out of the oven all melty and buttery and soft - great as a side or smeared onto a baguette!
My second turn with the weekly food co-op: Roasted Pork Loin and Orzo with Tomato Sauce
Pasta with Homemade Vodka Sauce
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. there is nothing more to say.
ReplyDeleteherro. can you post the vodka pasta recipe
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