'AND SPRING AROSE ON THE GARDEN FAIR' ~ MEDITERRANEAN TORTA / CHOPPED GREEK SALAD

"And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."

~Percy Bysshe Shelley

"The Sensitive Plant"

Siberian Squill

(Scilla siberica)

Yoshino Cherry, Forsythia, Lungwart

____________

MEDITERRANEAN TORTA

~ Simple layered loaf of mouth-watering goodness

______

1 large round bakery loaf of sour dough, boule, or peasant bread

2 large sliced roasted red peppers*

2 large sliced roasted yellow peppers*

(short cut ~ 16 oz. jar fire roasted yellow & red peppers)

8 oz. sliced provolone cheese

15 sliced in half sun-dried tomatoes

8 oz. sliced mozzarella cheese

14 oz. jar drained and halved artichoke hearts

1/4 cup pesto (homemade or quality store bought)

• Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Slice off 1/4 from top of bread. Hollow out leaving 1/2-inch shell. (Use inside for breadcrumbs. Toast and freeze for later use.)
• Layer ingredients inside shell in the following order: roasted peppers, 4-oz. provolone cheese, sun-dried tomatoes,mozzarella cheese, artichoke hearts, pesto, and remaining 4 oz. provolone cheese.
• Wrap in foil and bake for 30-40 minutes, until cheeses are melted. Uncover and slice into wedges. (6-8 servings)

Note: Roasted peppers. Broil on baking sheet until skin is charred, turning as each side blackens. Remove and place in paper or plastic bag for 10 minutes. Remove, rinse and slip off skins. Core, seed and slice.

View from Upstairs Window

Shadblow Serviceberry

(Amelanchier canadensis)

__________________

CHOPPED GREEK SALAD

~ Simple salad coated with a simple dressing of olive oil and lemon

_______________

1 chopped yellow pepper

1 chopped red pepper

1 chopped orange pepper

1 chopped and seeded English cucumber

1 cup chopped red onion

2 cloves finely chopped garlic

4 seed and chopped Roma tomatoes

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 Tbsp. fresh chopped oregano (2 tsp. dried)

pinch of sea salt

freshly ground pepper to taste

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice & zest

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 cups shredded red leaf lettuce

3 cups shredded romaine

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

• Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice & zest.
• Toss chopped peppers, cucumber, onion, garlic, tomatoes, olives, parsley, oregano, salt & pepper in large bowl with olive oil dressing. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour to allow flavors to mellow.
• Combine both red leaf and the romaine lettuce. Divide among 8 individual chilled salad plates. Spoon vegetables over top. Sprinkle with feta and additional cracked pepper. (8 servings)

April Blues

Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica)

Lungwart (Pulmonaria)

Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica)

Hyacinth, Tulip Tarda, trillium, tulips, pansy, lungwart, blooming pachysandra, forsythia, Siberian Squill, primrose

________

Click on all for enlarged photos :)

MONDAY MAY MUSING ~ MEDITERRANEAN CHOPPED SALAD

"My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view."

~ H. Fred Ale

May Garden Flowers

(Petunia, Sweet Potato Vine, Alpine poppy, Autumn fern, Gerbera daisy, Columbine, Centaurea, heuchera ~ Key Lime Pie - Creme Brulee)

_________________

MEDITERRANEAN CHOPPED SALAD

~ Garden fresh and colorful ... like May

_______

1 large red bell pepper

1 large pocketless Greek pita

1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 minced garlic clove

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1 cup finely chopped romaine lettuce

1 large chopped English cucumber

1 (14 oz.) can rinsed chickpeas

4 seeded and diced Roma tomatoes

1/2 cup chopped scallions (green onions)

freshly ground black pepper

2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

• Preheat broiler. Place pepper on foil lined sheet and broil abut 15 minutes, turning once or twice until blackened evenly. Remove to bowl: cover with plastic wrap and cool. Peel, seed and dice. Set aside.
• Brush pita with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Broil about 3 minutes per side or till edges begin to curl and bread is firm. Sprinkle with pinch of coarse salt and let cool. Break pita into 1/2 inch pieces.
• Dressing: Combine garlic, parsley, mint, basil, lemon juice in small bowl. Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil.
• In large salad bow. combine romaine lettuce, cucumber, roasted bell pepper, chick peas, tomatoes and onions. Add dressing; toss well. Add pita and toss again. Season with salt & pepper. Top with feta and drizzle with oil. (4 servings)

WANING THOUGHTS of YESTERDAY ~ AUTUMN TETRAZZINI with ROASTED RED PEPPERS & ARTICHOKES

"The thinnest yellow light of November is more warming and exhilarating than any wine they tell of. The mite which November contributes becomes equal in value to the bounty of July."

~ Henry David Thoreau

~ Out the window (waning colors)

____________

AUTUMN TETRAZZINI with ROASTED RED PEPPERS & ARTICHOKES

~ Though similar, this rich and colorful dish (adapted from April, 2005 Southern Living) with a slightly different twist is a tasty change from traditional tetrazzini (Archives: November 24, 2006).

*

1 (12-oz) package 'straw & hay' (green & white) fettuccine or all spinach or regular

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1 coarsely chopped sweet yellow onion

8 oz. sliced mushrooms

3 Tbsp. flour

1 tsp. coarse salt

1 tsp. white pepper

3 cup milk or half & half

3 cups chopped turkey

1 cup chopped roasted red peppers

1 (14-oz) can drained and chopped artichoke hearts

1 cup white wine

2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese

(or 1 cup shredded Parmesan & 1 cup shredded white cheddar)

1 cup sliced almonds or pine nuts

3 Tbsp. chopped parsley

• Preheat oven to 400-degrees.
• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
• Melt butter in large skillet. Add onion and mushrooms and saute 7-10 minutes over medium-high heat or until tender. Gradually stir in flour, salt and white pepper. With whisk, add milk (half & half), stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until thickened. Whisk in wine. Remove from heat. Fold in turkey, artichoke hearts and roasted peppers.
• Lightly grease 9 x 13 in. pan. Layer with half of pasta, half of turkey mixture and 1 cup of cheese. Repeat layers with remaining pasta, turkey mixture and cheese. Sprinkle top with almonds and parsley.
• Bake 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. (6-8 servings)

SIMPLE SUNDAY NIGHT SUMMER SUPPER (A Taste of Provence) ~ GRILLED SKIRT STEAK with ANCHOVY-OLIVE BUTTER / OVEN ROASTED RATATOUILLE

~ Early August garden

______________

GRILLED SKIRT STEAK with ANCHOVY-OLIVE BUTTER

~ Delicious bistro-style steak known as 'onglet' adapted from

PEDALING THROUGH PROVENCE COOKBOOK

*

2 lbs. skirt steak (or flank steak)

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp. herbs de Provence

1 Tbsp. finely chopped rosemary

sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste

Anchovy-Olive Butter

8 Tbsp. room temperature unsalted butter

8 drained and coarsely chopped anchovy fillets

1/4 cup pitted and coarsely chopped imported black olives

1 1/2 tsp. fresh thyme blossoms (in bloom) or finely chopped leaves

• Prepare grill.
• Place steak on platter and rub on both sides with olive oil. Sprinkle evenly on both sides with herbes of Provence, rosemary, salt & pepper. Let stand 10-15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare anchovy-olive butter. Place butter in small bowl. Add anchovies and mash with fork. Blend in olives and thyme.
• Grill steak roughly 3-4 minutes per side for fare to medium-rare. Divide steak into four servings and top immediately with generous dollop of anchovy-olive butter. (4 servings)

_________________

OVEN ROASTED RATATOUILLE

~ A simple taste of Provence

*

1 minced clove garlic

3 large thinly sliced onions

4 seeded and quartered assorted colored roasted* peppers

(green, red, orange & yellow)

1 medium 1/4-inch sliced eggplant (Japanese preferable)

2 thinly sliced garlic cloves

3 small 1/4-inch sliced zucchini

2 small 1/4-inch sliced yellow squash

5-6 garden fresh sliced fat Roma tomatoes

coarse salt & coarsely cracked pepper

additional extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme

1/2 cup slivered fresh basil

• * In 450-degree oven, roast pepper halves on foil-lined sheet, cut side down, about 15 minutes or until skin loosens. Cool slightly, peel and chop. Set aside.
• Sprinkle salt over zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplant. Let rest for 30 minutes and squeeze out excess water.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in flameproof casserole or large oven-proof skillet. Saute garlic, being careful not to burn. Add onions and cook until translucent. Lift and set aside.
• Layer following vegetables alternately back into casserole or large skillet until all vegetable have been used. Salt & pepper each layer.
• First, sauteed onions & garlic, then roasted peppers, eggplant, sliced garlic, zucchini and yellow squash, and sliced tomatoes. Drizzle with additional olive oil. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and slivered basil.
• Roast lightly covered with foil at 350-degrees for 1 hour or until paring knife tests tender. Let juices rest at least 5 minutes before serving. (Even more delicious eaten the next day).

____________

Note: For the 'authentic' version of REMY'S RATATOUILLE

(Thomas Keller's CONFIT BYALDI)

featured in the delightful Disney movie, RATATOUILLE, visit:

(http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_6334231?source=most_emailed)

SIMPLE HOLY THURSDAY SUPPER ~ MEDITERREAN TORTA & CHOPPED GREEK SALAD

~ simple tulip

________________________

MEDITERRANEAN TORTA

~ Lent friendly layered loaf of mouth-watering ingredients

*

1 large round bakery loaf of sour dough, boule, or peasant bread

2 large sliced roasted red peppers*

2 large sliced roasted yellow peppers*

(short cut ~ 16 oz. jar fire roasted yellow & red peppers)

8 oz. sliced provolone cheese

15 sliced in half sun-dried tomatoes

8 oz. sliced mozzarella cheese

14 oz. jar drained and halved artichoke hearts

1/4 cup pesto (homemade or quality store bought)

• Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Slice off 1/4 from top of bread. Hollow out leaving 1/2-inch shell. (Use inside for breadcrumbs. Toast and freeze for later use.)
• Layer ingredients inside shell in the following order: roasted peppers, 4-oz. provolone cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, artichoke hearts, pesto, and remaining 4 oz. provolone cheese.
• Wrap in foil and bake for 30-40 minutes, until cheeses are melted. Uncover and slice into wedges. (6-8 servings)

Note: Roasted peppers. Broil on baking sheet until skin is charred, turning as each side blackens. Remove and place in paper or plastic bag for 10 minutes. Remove, rinse and slip off skins. Core, seed and slice.

_________________________________________

CHOPPED GREEK SALAD

~ simple salad coated with a simple dressing of olive oil & lemon

*

1 chopped yellow pepper

1 chopped red pepper

1 chopped orange pepper

1 chopped and seeded English cucumber

1 cup chopped red onion

2 cloves finely chopped garlic

4 seeded and chopped Roma tomatoes

1 cup chopped pitted Kalamata olives

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

2 tsp. oregano

pinch of sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice & zest

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 cups shredded red lettuce

3 cup shredded romaine

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

• Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice & zest. Toss chopped peppers, cucumber, onion, garlic, tomatoes, olives, parlsley, oregano, salt & pepper in large bowl with olive oil & lemon juice.Cover and refrigerate at east on hour to allow flavors to mellow.
• Combine mixed lettuce and divide among 8 individual plates. Spoon vegetables over top. Sprinkle with feta and additional cracked pepper.