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Indian Summer Panzanella

Tomatoes for Panzanella

Summer’s Bounty

“Tom got up and went outside. He looked at the summer stars, at blue Venus and red Mars.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Often when we eat at a restaurant I am inspired to recreate a special dish from our dining experience. My recipe may only resemble the fantastic food we enjoyed at the restaurant but that doesn’t quell my food memories or the drive to be inspired by professionals. Or the final outcome of creating a great new recipe from the inspiration. This panzanella recipe is one such inspiration from Chef Brendan Jones of Lokal in Carmel Valley. Voluptuous with the over abundance of late summer in California this panzanella shouts with vivid color and sumptuous flavor. It’s just the the right mix of acid, sweet and crunch. This panzanella salad is Indian Summer on a plate. The salad ingredients of watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, basil and toasted bread are similar to the Panzanella served at Lokal. I only wish I had the recipes for the Chef’s dressing and foam that graced my spectacular salad. If you visit the Carmel area Lokal would be a phenomenal dining experience. All offerings are fresh, seasonal and locally sourced. READ MORE . . .

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Tomatoes with Bread Pudding and Roasted Carrot Salad

Tomato Bread Pudding

Looking for John Steinbeck

“You can see how this book has reached a great boundary that was called 1900. Another hundred years were ground up and churned, and what had happened was all muddied by the way folks wanted it to be–more rich and meaningful the further back it was.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

East of Eden is a work of fiction that also includes real Steinbeck family history. Which makes for a very fascinating story. While John’s family history in the Salinas Valley unfolds the biblical parable of Cain and Abel is told with (mostly) fictional characters. John Steinbeck includes his mother’s, Olive Hamilton, family members as main characters in the novel. Olive’s parents, Samuel and Liza Hamilton are featured prominently in the novel. He wrote very little about his father’s family, the Steinbeck’s. I visited the San Benito County Historical Society to learn more of John Steinbeck’s paternal family history. READ MORE . . .

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Indian Summer Orzo Salad

Orzo salad

Late Summer Tomatoes

“The afternoon was golden, for the yellow dust in the sky gilded the light.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The last shards of summer are heaped in a pile waiting for my attention. I have made excuses. Not enough time, out of town visitors, trips north and south along the coast, a migraine and it’s flattening aftermath. I could make a longer list; but truly it’s all about summer. The months of September and October are traditionally what we call our Indian Summer. The dismal grey fog disappears mid morning and we are blessed with the glorious warmth and sparkling light of sunny days. The fog stayed late this year and our Indian Summer was just a mirage the entire month of September. How can we be ready for fall when summer just arrived? I marvel at pounds of ripe tomatoes, harvested inland, in the heat. Like shards of broken pottery, I hold onto the remnants of a greater thing, a summer almost missed. READ MORE . . .

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Chicken and Bread Salad with Heritage Blend Lettuce

Chicken and bread salad with heritage lettuces

The easy recipe

“Now in the cold parts of the country, don’t you think people get to wanting perishable things in the winter—like peas and lettuce and cauliflower? In a big part of the country they don’t have those things for months and months. And right here in the Salinas Valley we can raise them all year round.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Living in the Salinas Valley has piqued my interest in learning more about the local agricultural community. Since World War I, the economic growth of the Valley has been driven by agriculture. With changes in technology, food safety and consumer preferences Athena and I wanted to learn more about our local food sources. Matt Lyons, of River Ranch Fresh Foods graciously shared his knowledge about about growing lettuce in the Salinas Valley. READ MORE . . .

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Lake Tahoe Autumn Salad

Lake Tahoe Autumn Salad

Sierra Nevada comfort

“And summer passed into a hot and fragrant autumn.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Each summer we vacation at the north shore of Lake Tahoe, staying at my husband’s family place at Northstar. Northstar is between the town of Truckee and the north shore of Lake Tahoe. This year we vacationed in early September, rather than in August. Most of the other vacationers had returned home. Tahoe was stunning in it’s beauty, serenely quiet. Autumn had found its way into the bright sunny days interspersed with days of Sierra Nevada thundershowers. A crispness was already in the air, especially at night. The trip was bittersweet for us, as it may be our last vacation at the family place. In anticipation of its sale, Mr. R spent time on repairs and logistics. The possibility of our last stay remained with us. We quietly savored each day, imprinting the memories of our favorite places. We lingered over breakfast and coffee, before spending an afternoon at the pool or venturing out for a day trip. It sounds quite overdone, and full of hype, but one must see Lake Tahoe on a sunny day to grasp the intensity of its color. I am drawn by Lake Tahoe’s irresistible pull to return again and yet again. READ MORE . . .