Thursday, April 23, 2009

'SPRING - EXPERIENCE IN IMMORTALITY' ~ GRILLED ROMAINE SALAD

"Spring - An experience in immortality."
~ Henry D. Thoreau

Flowering Norway Maple
(Acer platanoides)
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GRILLED ROMAINE SALAD
(with Charred Tomato Vinaigrette)
~ Grilled Romaine! Give it a try ... from Chandler's (Petoskey) comes this robust 'gearing for spring' salad.
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4 Tbsp. olive oil (extra-virgin)
4 romaine hearts
1 cup feta cheese
1 cup assorted nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.
Dressing
Preheat grill. Brush romaine hearts with olive oil and char on grill until blackened all over, but not excessively so. Assemble grilled leaves on plate and drizzle with Dressing. (4 servings)
Dressing:
6 tomatoes
1 juiced lime
1/2 red onion
1 rough chopped bunch cilantro
2 Tbsp. srirachi
(Thai-style hot sauce made from sun ripen chilies ground into a smooth garlic paste found in the Asian food section)
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup white wine or Champagne vinegar
3 Tbsp. stone ground mustard
Char tomatoes on hot grill until black. In food processor, pulse tomatoes, lime juice, red onion, cilantro and srirachi until smooth. In separate mixing bowl, whisk mustard and vinegar together, then slowly drizzle olive oil while continuing to whisk. Combine with tomato mixture and store in refrigerator.


"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."
~ William Shakespeare
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Beauty & the Beast ~ BEWARE:

10 comments:

tina said...

You know that Thoreau quote is so perfect. This spring has been wonderful and it really does feel a bit like immortality. Even the old get out there and dance and shake up their heels (that would be me:)

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Now that's a recipe that I can almost manage, and I love romaine lettuce! :) I love the Norway maple flowers--I've seen the red flowers of red and silver maples, but not the yellow of Norway.

Gail said...

We must be aware and not dazzled by beauty...research is good! That's how the south managed to be covered with honeysuckle and kudzoo!

What a great sounding recipe...Now what does it mean to char all over but not excessively! It must happen in a matter of seconds! The dressing sounds like a keeper recipe! gail

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Hello Joey it sounds great as always! You are so good, you really get us all hungry. xoxo Tyra

Brenda Pruitt said...

The plants they are certainly a-growing, Joey! I'm amazed every morning when I go out to look.
Brenda

joey said...

Love it, Tina :) ... and that would be be also!

Great Monica ~ it's easy. I love my Norway Maple in bloom. I see the flowers from my bedroom window, a sure sign of spring! Another stunning weekend in on the way ... enjoy ... we deserve it!

Hi Gail ... just watch while grilling, turning from time to time, removing those that cook before the rest. I don't know how old this tree is but has many parented many offspring around the neighborhood. It's dense shade covers the patio like an umbrella but its roots run havoc with the stone slats.

Oh good, Tyra :) that is my wish! Enjoy the weekend ... everything looks great in your piece of heaven. Our weekend should be wonderful ... hope yours is also! xoxo

The garden changes from morning to night, Brenda ... isn't it glorious!

Kim - Easy French Food said...

Sounds very interesting! Thought if anyone was intereste in learning a little something about champagne vinegar they might like to stop by chez moi for a visit.

I really like your blog. It makes me long for a garden again (currently living in a Parisian apartment). The only thing I disagree with is the ho-hum, because you're obviously not! Happy gardening, blogging and eating!

Marysol said...

I'm suddenly enamored with the flowering Norway Maple; I learn so much through your blog.

And your salad sounds perfect! I'll stash it away, until tomato season. Thank you my friend.

joey said...

Great site, Kim, and thank you for stopping by with the lovely comments. I do love my garden but a Parisian apartment sounds delightful as does a bit of French cuisine!

Enjoy dear Marysol! And where is your epistle? I keep running out of snacks ... waiting :)

Unknown said...

I'm so pleased that although you acknowledge the beauty of the Norway maple's spring flowers you also put up the caveat about their invasive tendencies. I don't like them at all. Some one planted five in front of our house probably 20 years ago, and I CAN'T bring myself to cut down a healthy, living tree. Maybe they'll all be hit by lightning and then I can do it!