the arugula files

Peach and Blackberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing (Plus Tips on How to Make a Gorgeous Summer Salad)

You know what impresses me?  When someone creates a delicious, Natalie-Cole-style salad.  As in: unforgettable.  Yes, that unforgettable.  Unforgettable, in every way.  The lettuce.  The dressing.  The little gems of fruit and beads of salt.

An extrodinary salad is not something one throws together at the last minute.  It takes great care and attention to detail.  It also costs a few bucks.   If you have a garden, then you are on your way.  Otherwise, make your way to the local farmers market.  It's summer.  Get.  Out.  Side. (Or, as my favorite writer would say to me:  Mary, leave your natural habitat-- the couch--behind).

Canned Peaches

 

I don't like being the bearer of bad news, but you know those peaches you are enjoying from the farmers market?  They won't be there for long.  By all means, buy as many as you can.  Stuff them in sandwiches and put them on pizza.  What about saving some for later?  Canned peaches are certainly not as tasty as fresh peaches, so don't eat them side by side.  But in the dead of winter, when snow has blanketed the streets, there's nothing better than eating a bowl of peaches with light, sweet syrup.  You can top them with chocolate sauce, or add more wood to your fireplace and serve them over vanilla bean ice cream. 

Grilled Corn and Peach Salad

If corn and peaches were at a cocktail party, I would walk up to them and say, "grilled corn, meet peaches, you guys go great together."  Then I would step back and let them come together magically.

I know.  You wouldn't think corn and peaches go together.  Both do so well on their own.  Corn is perfect on the grill, dripping with butter, salt, and lime.  It stands alone.  And peaches, well, you can eat them right off the tree, stuff them in pies, grill  them with a little balsamic and honey, or make  peach and bourbon  ice cream.  In other words: they get with everything.

Let's state the obvious: one is a fruit and one is a vegetable; would people talk if we put them together?  "They are so different," they would whisper.

But together, corn and peaches are a perfect match made in my kitchen.  Add some onion, lime, jalapeno, cilantro – which makes everything taste better – and corn and peaches come together deliciously.  

Peach and Cheddar Sandwich with Arugula, Actually Grilled ("Real Grilled Cheese"?)

I love me some grilled cheese.  So when Mark Bittman boasted to the rest of the internets that he was actually making real grilled cheese, I felt intrigued, goaded, and hypnotized at the same time.  Real grilled cheese?  Yes, I want some.  I will make some.  Today.  

Instead of using a frying pan or griddle, Bittman actually cooked his grilled cheese on a grill.  Sounds good, right?  Although I love grilled cheese, I don't eat it often, mostly because of the high fat content.  So, the idea that "it was not frying in a lot of grease," as Bittman points out in this video, was quite appealing. 

Working to turn convention totally up side down, I substituted peaches for tomatoes.  See you later, boring old tomatoes and cheese, I'm making peaches and cheese (and arugula).  For the bookends I used my favorite: olive bread from Atwater's.

Peach and Blackberry Jam

I'm really enjoying having homemade jam around; it transforms boring breakfast toast into a wonderful morning treat. I turned my white peaches into pink jam by adding a few handfuls of blackberries, some lemon juice, and sugar.  

Peach Galette

This is my first galette and, let me tell ya, it's way easier than making a pie.  I skinned five medium size peaches, cut them each into eight pieces, added 5 tablespoons of granulated sugar, a dash of ginger, a dash of cinnamon, mixed them together, rolled out the pie dough, added the fruit mixture to the center, and folded the edges.  How's that for a recipe in one sentence? {p.s., place the galette on parchment paper and cook at 400 degrees for about 35 minutes (or until golden brown)}

I'm in love with the rustic look of this dessert.  I've decided that I love fruit desserts.  Forget about chocolate chip cookies, I want crumbles, buckles, and slumps.

I made it with the peaches we picked at Good Country Farms.  My only critique is that I think white peaches are too mild for pastry.  This tasted good, but more like apple pie than peaches. 

Peach and Blackberry Picking at Great Country Farm

Just a 90-minute drive from DC, a little bit past the Target and Leesburg Outlets, you will find Great Country Farms, a 200-acre farm that sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Bluemont, VA.  Marcus and I made the drive so we could pick peaches and blackberries. 

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.