July 9, 2012

 MENU FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 9,   2012

Cats are perverse.  On a cold winter night when one could appreciate a warm fuzzy beast in one’s lap, they are no where to be seen. On an evening when temps are still in the high 80s – then they want to get up close and personal… I swear she stays up nights planning ways to annoy us.

Our grape tomatoes on the deck are finally ripening and we’ve had several salads off of them.  They have wonderful, fresh flavor and our colors range from red to orange to yellow.  I just wish our main crop tomatoes would come along faster.  However, there are lots of young tomatoes developing and lots and lots of flowers.  Lots of flowers on the squash and cucumber plants too – but only one sex.  We’ll have to bring Dr. Ruth in to talk to them, I guess.  And we’ll get another double batch of pesto this week. The basil is really going nuts this year.

This afternoon I got a new cookbook in today called The Farm.  It looks to be quite interesting – I love settling down with with a really good new cookbook. I guess that is why I have so many of them….I think we’re about at 800 now. So enough already.  A book has to have something special now before I pull out the old credit card…

Mon. AM             Cold Cuts

Mon. PM              Catfish a la Creole LBC 

                             Steamed Rice

                             Sautéed Zucchini

Tues. AM             Beef Salad Larcon GM 6/84

Tues. PM              BBQ Chicken 

                             with White BBQ Sauce Served Cold

                             Julia Child’s Classic French Potato Salad JC1

                             Roasted Beet Salad 

                             with Orange Vinaigrette WSPT

Weds. AM            Grilled Burgers

Weds. PM            Dinner with Peter and Angela

                  

                             Boiled Shrimp & Dipping Sauce of Mayo,

                             Tomato & Cognac CCI

                             Julian Child’s Turkey Tonnato FW &/94

                             Giada’s Orzo Salad with Orange, Grapefruit 

                             and Red Onion GK 81

                             Haricots Verts a la Grecque JCI

                             Fresh Fruit Salad with Mint 

Thurs. PM            Spicy Chorizo and Shrimp Kbobs FW 2006 206

                                    Sliced  Tomato

Fri. AM                Cold Cuts

Fri. PM                 Bobby Flay’s Grilled Chicken Thighs 

                             with Green Olives 

                             and Sherry Vinegar Sauce BFGI 74

                             Pasta with French Tomato Sauce

                             Steamed Corn CCI

Sat. AM               Grilled Sausage

Sat. PM                Cold Cream of Carrot Soup CCI

                             Herbed Shrimp and White Bean Salad 

                             w Watercress & Arugula CL 8/12 24

                             Focaccia 

                      

Sun. AM              Shrimp Burritos FW 6/87 92

Sun. PM               Chaarcuterie Platter with Rosemary Salami

                             Grilled Filet Mignon 

                            with Roasted Red Pepper BT

                             Curried Quinoa Salad with Mango

                             Cucumber Mousse GMMCB 488

July 2, 2012

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 2, 2012

This week I harvested my first tomato – only a grape tomato, but it’s a start.  And several of the squash plants I recently acquired show promise of flowering, so I am hopeful.  The annuals are bursting with color and my gardenia standard is blooming as well.  So pretty, and such a lovely fragrance.

We are in yet another heat wave, so we are well into our summertime repertoire. Cold and grilled dishes as well as things that can be cooked early in the day and served at room temperature.  Anything to avoid heating up the kitchen. Plus the heat leaves us wanting lighter food – no stews or braises this time of year.  Good for the waistline as well.

Our local farm stand is celebrating its 300^th year today. A reminder of what this area once was. And they are now selling “local” corn and tomatoes. I don’t think they are theirs yet, but it is a start.  Their corn is the best – yellow, white or bi-colored.  Towards the end of the season I will parboil and refresh several dozen ears and freeze kernels. It’s easy to do and wonderful to do a corn pudding for Thanksgiving with “fresh” corn.

Tues. AM             Grilled Bratwurst with Sauerkraut

Tues. PM              Thai Chicken and Shrimp Noodle Salad 

                              with English Cukes, Grape                             

                                Tomatoes and Bean Sprouts BA 5/07                            

                               Rosemount Chardonay 

Weds. AM            Cold Cuts

Weds. PM            Jasper White’s Warm Green Salad 

                             with Lobster, Navel Oranges and

                             Citrus Vinaigrette LAH 156
                             Lindiman's Bin 65 Chardonnay 2009

Thurs. PM            BBQ Chicken with White BBQ Sauce

                             SLBRG 127

                             Julia Child’s French Potato Salad JC I
                            La Postolle Carmenere 2009

Fri. AM                Salmon Loaf Salad CCI 145

Fri. PM                 Pierre Franey’s Cold Pork Loin 

                              with Tuna Sauce CR 200

                             Orzo Salad with Mandarin Oranges, 

                             Orange Zest, Cukes, Feta,

                              Black Olives and Red Pepper

                             Green Beans a la Grecque
                              Rosemount Merlot 2010

Sat. AM               Cold Cuts 
                             Delicately Thin French Crepes 

                            with Fresh Blueberry Syrup T MSB 68

Sat. PM                Jellied Consume

                             Grilled Standing Rib of Beef BB 115

                             French Potato Salad

                             Mozzarella and Tomato Platter 

                             with Mint and Basil
                             Shingleback Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Sun AM              Salmon loaf

Sun. PM               Crackers and Cheese

                             Cold Pork Loin with Tuna Sauce