the arugula files

Corn Quesadillas

Summer is just about over.  Actually, I hate to break it to you, it is over.  Done. Finished.  Kaput.   While I'm pleased that the weather is starting to cool down, I will be sad to see a few quintessential signs of summer disappear, most notably fresh corn. Nothing beats an ear of sweet corn, slathered with butter and liberally sprinkled with salt.  I would go so far to say that the experience of chomping on an ear of corn is well worth the nuisance of picking your teeth for hours after dinner. 

While I've certainly had my share of corn this summer, I'm not ready to say goodbye.  And taste is not the only reason: you can easily make an affordable meal out of a few ears.  This week my supermarket, the Soviet Safeway ("long lines and empty shelves"), had local corn on sale: eight ears for 88 cents.  Score! I placed eight in my basket, not sure what I would do with them when I got home.   Turns out I had tortillas in my refrigerator.  So I decided it was time for corn quesadillas.

Fresh-Tasting Tomato Soup (Out of a Jar)

Last week, in the middle of the day, my friend Jen and I took a field trip to A. Litteri Inc. a reasonably priced, old-school Italian grocer in DC.  A. Litterari is a small space crammed with cold pressed olive oil, dry wine, capers the size of olives, fresh pasta, and every other Italian ingredient you could imagine.  I could spend hours in those narrow aisles, reading labels, dreaming up recipes, chatting with the deli clerk.  Of course, I didn't have hours (it was, after all, the middle of a work day), so I settled quickly on a few things, one being a jar of San Marzano Marinara Sauce.

San Marzano tomatoes come from a small town of the same name located near Naples, where they were originally grown in the volcanic soil of Mount Vesuvius. I've heard things about San Marzano tomatoes.  How good they are.  How you will never make sauce with another tomato after you have tasted San Marzanos.  Life changing tomatoes is what they are made out to be.  And after I tasted the sauce that came out of this jar, I thought, yup, these tomatoes are seriously delicious.  So instead of making boring old pasta, I made tomato soup.  Let me distill the recipe in one simple word: pour.

Peaches and Cheese Sandwich, Plus What if there Were Farmer's Markets in Office Lobbies?

This past Sunday I had to go into the office.  It was a beautiful day and my only reprieve was a stop at the farmer's market on my way in.  I picked up peaches, creamy feta cheese, arugula, and bread, and, when I got to work, I had myself a little picnic at my desk.  Not an ideal way to spend a Sunday, but, no doubt, better than dining on Subway sandwiches.  As I sat at my desk eating my peaches and cheese sandwich, I thought: when I'm President, there will be farmer's markets in every office lobby.   Yes, we can.

p.s., I'm on vacation this week.  Stay tuned for some photos and scrumptious treats from Boston, including a new dish from Uncle Sonny.

These Buns Are Off the Hook

Like most people interested in food, I read the highly influential perfect burger article in the nytimes a few weeks ago.  I took the tips seriously, incorporating them into a 4th of July cookout at my friend Bridget and Joe's house.  Among other things, the article noted the importance of fat content in the meat patty and baking a worthy bun.  Even though ground hamburger with high fat content scares the heck out of me, I bought meat that was 27/73. Yes, you heard that right, 27 percent fat.  And this was no grass-fed meat (Big Food: score 1,843,98,94) because let me tell you, grass-fed isn't available in these fat ratios at your typical supermarket. 

I also suggested that my friend Joe, a terrific cook and host, make the buns featured in the article.  He did, and, oh man, were they were delicious.  The bun definitely made a difference in the overall hamburger experience, and the fatty beef, with a sprinkle of kosher salt and pepper, purposely under handled, and carefully formed into a loose patty, made a difference in taste too. Add some blue cheese and you have a hamburger that is off the hook.  Observe, there's no final photo.  What can I say, I was so enthralled with eating this masterpiece that taking the time to take a photo was the last thing on my mind.

Atwater's Kalamata Olive Bread: Best. Bread. Ever.

Atwater's, a Baltimore-based bakery that sells bread and other carbolicious items at Dupont Circle Farmer's Market and many other markets around the Washington region, makes the best. bread. ever.  Right now you are thinking, thanks, tell me something I don't know.  As a side note, that phrase was my signature expression when I was a teenager.  Wow, did I have an attitude problem. 

Anyway, I'm going to tell you something you might not know, so pay attention.  Ready?  The Kalamata olive bread is Atwater's best bread.  There you have it.  You can thank me later. (My Mom's favorite expression from when I was a teenager; it usually followed her telling me to do exactly what she said, for example, "I know you hate doing your homework, but you'll thank me later."

There's a New Grilled Cheese in Town

I love me some grilled cheese.  Over time my grilled cheese sandwiches have transformed from white bread and Velveeta cheese wonders to a healthier, tastier version (not that the original wasn't good).  I've just become a little more health conscious.  I also discovered that whole ingredients taste better. 

Here's my take on grilled cheese. Think of it as inspiration, rather than a recipe.

Italian Sausage, Arugula, and Squash Soup

 
Fall, is that you?  I didn’t recognize you since you are wearing sunglasses, a tank top, and sweating like Sarah Palin at a press conference. 

Welcome to DC where there is no such thing as fall.  It's 85 degrees today.  I hate to sound nostalgic, but I miss fall in Boston.  Big sweaters, crisp air, and apple picking are a few of my favorite September things.  Last year I went apple picking in DC.  When I asked where the Macintosh apple trees were, the farmer laughed and asked if I was a Yankee.  I told him I had never played baseball in my life.  Apple picking just isn't the same without Macintosh apples, especially if it's too hot to drink warm cider.

I’ve lived in DC for twelve years and while there is a long list of things I love about this city, I will never stop complaining about the weather. 

Here’s a soup to welcome fall.  It tastes good no matter where you live.