#eatdelicious.us

[suzannekart]

Food memories

As you may remember, my younger daughter, Lily, is quite the gardener. Which means I have an abundance if tomatoes this time of year. So, I had an idea: I’ll try to recreate my Babcia’s tomato soup.

Babcia was my great great grandmother. She was a Polish immigrant and a fantastic cook. I especially liked her soups. Lily’s middle name is Anna, after Babcia.

Growing up in the 1970s, I don’t remember ever having canned tomato soup. And once I did, I hated it. Because Babcia made awesome tomato soup.  I decided to go ahead and give it a shot.

(Yes, that’s Babcia and me below)

First I peeled the tomatoes and them cut them up and did my best to remove the seeds. Then I cooked my tomatoes and some chopped onion in vegetable stock until they all broke down and used an immersion blender to smooth everything out (this is my newest toy and BTW, I love it!). Took it off the heat, added full-fat sour cream as well as fresh dill, salt and pepper, and it was there. Add in cooked white rice and it tasted just like Babcia’s.

A while back I made French meat pie for my husband  and he teared up. That’s how I felt with this soup. Like I was a kid and sitting in Babcia’s kitchen. Eating soup.

[suzannekart]

Travel eating, turning 13, and shell fish

When each of my daughters turned 13, I took them on a girls weekend. The older one and I went to Minneapolis and had the city experience three years ago. My younger one and I went to Chincoteague, VA, last week to the hometown of Misty of Chincoteague (my daughter’s favorite horse book.)

I recommend doing something like this one-on-one with your kids. Those were two of my favorite trips of all time (and I’ve been to Hawaii!). 

Travel and food go hand-in-hand for our family. We eat the local cuisine and experience the local culture for each trip. In Chincoteague, that meant my daughter ate crab every day. Day one - crab cakes at Stingrays. Day two, the fabulous steamed seafood platter in the picture from Don’s. Day three, crab legs from The Crab Shack.  Day four, crab chowder at the airport. 

You probably realize by now my kid likes crab.

But the reason I really wanted to write this post is that she tried oysters. She didn’t like them, but she tried them. I think travel is a great opportunity to get your kids to try new foods. I also think it’s a shame when people travel, but they skimp on the food budget. I think going a day or two shorter and eating fabulous meals is better than staying longer and eating fast food.

Our next trip is to northern Michigan for our annual family beach vacation in July. On the menu this year: fresh trout caught locally. It’s delicious on the grill. Simply salt and pepper the insides, stuff with sliced limes, oil the skin, and put it over a high heat to crisp it up.

Pictures to come next month.

Bon Appetit!

[suzannekart]

I’ve perfected salmon on the grill

Made salmon on the grill - again. Husband says it’s the best he’s ever had. Here’s what I did this time:

1. Soak the cedar plank for a couple hours

2. Put EVOO on the plank and spread

3. Put salmon filet on, skin side down

4. Old Bay seasoning

5. Layer one sliced lemon then one sliced onion

6. Cook for 10 minutes with grill lid down. Then 10 minutes with grill lid up.

Yum.

I paired it with asparagus that I wrapped in foil with a sliced lemon and some butter then grilled along side the salmon. When it was done, I sprinkled with some parm.

My daughter says I should be on Food Network <<blush>>. 

Bon Appetit!