Saturday, June 20, 2009

IN THE GOOD OL' SUMMERTIME ~ (PORTABLE PICNIC) PEPPERED ROAST BEEF SANDWICHES with DILL HORSERADISH SAUCE/MITCH'S GREEK SALAD/CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE

"In summer, the song sings itself. "
~William Carlos Williams


Alpine Poppy
(Papaver alpinum)
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PEPPERED ROAST BEEF SANDWICH
with DILL HORSERADISH SAUCE
~ Travels well and always a hit ... adapted from The Totally Picnic Cookbook
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3 lb. tied roast beef
1 Tbsp. cracked freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp. coarse salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. mustard seeds
1/2 tsp. Hungarian paprika
2 Tbsp. butter
good rolls
  • Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Pat roast dry.
  • Combine pepper, salt, garlic powder mustard seeds, and paprika. Press mixture over roast.
  • Melt butter in roasting pan in hot oven. Add beef, rolling to coat evenly and return to oven. Roast 45 minutes for rare, up to 1 hour for well-done. Set aside to cool. Thinly slice. Serve on good rolls with Dill Horseradish Sauce (Combine 1/2 cup fresh grated horseradish, 1/2 sour cream, 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise, pinch coarse salt and 1 tsp. dill weed).

Alpine Poppy & Gerbera Daisy
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MITCH'S GREEK SALAD
~ Those living near remember this classic salad since the 50s from Mitch's Tavern on Cass Lake ... thanks for the memories Tony (Detroit Free Press -Jan 8, 1997)
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Vinaigrette:
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
5 Tbsp. cider vinegar
1 tsp. dried oregano or 1 Tbsp. fresh
1 tsp. dried basil or 1 Tbsp. fresh
1 tsp. dried tarragon or 1 Tbsp. fresh
1 clove minced garlic
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cup good-quality olive oil
Salad:
16 cups mixed greens (iceberg, leaf & romaine lettuces), washed, patted dry, torn into bite-size pieces
12 Greek olives
12 beet slices
1 small to medium thinly sliced red onion
12 cucumber slices
2 cored tomatoes cut in wedges
3/4 cup (about 4 oz.) chunks or crumbled feta cheese in brine (or more to taste)
  • To prepare vinaigrette: In food processor or blender, place lemon juice, cider, oregano, basil, tarragon, garlic and Dijon mustard. Process for 10-15 seconds. Slowly add olive oil in a steady stream. Process another 20-30 seconds until all ingredients are incorporated. Set aside.
  • To assemble salad: In large salad bowl, place mixed greens. Add vinaigrette and toss gently to coat. Top salad with olives, beet slices, red onion, cucumber and tomatoes. Sprinkle with chunks or crumbled feta cheese and serve.
Gerber/Gerbera Daisy
(Gerbera jamesonii)
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CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE
~ Treasured retro-recipe from Detroit's Bob Talbert ...

1 1/2 cups butter
5 eggs
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups sugar
3 cups AP flour
1 cup milk (buttermilk)
  • Preheat oven to 320 degrees.
  • Cream butter and sugar. (Food processor works great). Add eggs on at a time. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk. Beat after each addition. Add vanilla.
  • Bake in greased tube pan for 90 minutes.

Alpine Poppy

9 comments:

  1. Oh I have to go and eat! That all sounds so deliciously scrummy! Time for tea! Val

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  2. Delicious, delicious, delicious...chocolate and roast beef are two of my favourite things (not together, I dont think) so it sounds like good ideas for this week! No picnic in the rain here, though, unless an indoor one.

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  3. Wow, Joey, look at all the wonderful color in your garden--that's just as yummy as your recipes! :) P.S. Horseradish: nom nom nom!

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  4. Joey, what a treat for the eyes to see those wonderful Alpine poppies and the daisys. I especially like the pink one with what like like a ruffle around the dark center. And how could you not fall in love with the peach one!? Graet collages. Will try the choc. pound cake.Sounds delicious.

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  5. Your picnic basket definitely sounds yummy! The Alpine poppy is such a delicate looking flower; I wish I could get any kind of poppy to grow here.
    It's ironic that you posted all these gerbera daisies today, Joey; I have been looking all over for one because they're my Dad's favorite, but they're all sold out!

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  6. Good one...looks delicious.

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  7. Hi Val ... thank you. Hope you enjoyed your tea and Happy Summer!

    Sorry about the rain, jodi, but picnics inside can be fun also ... especially now that it's officially summer ... do hope yours is wonderful!

    Hi Monica! Looks like summer found us ... hot and sticky ... do hope yours is wonderful!

    Thanks Beckie ... do try the cake, it's a favorite of all my guys and travels well, often the most requested when the kids were in college. Happy Summer thoughts!

    Sorry about the gerbera daisies, Rose. Wish you were here since they seem to be everywhere. I love them ... often use them inside before planting outside ... and poppies are also a favorite ... sorry you can't grow them. Happy summer :)

    Thanks Jarlin ... do give it a try!

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  8. wonderful post. love the quote by WCW, your amazing photos, and just the names of the food makes me hungry! have a good day.

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  9. Thanks Wayne ... if reading the recipes makes you hungry, I've done my job :) I've enjoyed blog hopping over to your site ... happy July gardening!

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