yuletide dream
perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progressThe holiday season brings a house full of joy – and hungry guests. When your dining table is packed for the big feast, chances are your spare bedrooms are too. Suddenly you're not just planning that showstopper holiday dinner, but a parade of breakfasts and lunches too. What started as holiday cheer can quickly spiral into hosting overwhelm.
But I've discovered a lunch combination that's nothing short of magical, perfect for greeting travel-weary guests or feeding a crowd between festivities. It all started with a New York Times recipe that caught my eye: cheese dreams. These little wonders are what would happen if a grilled cheese sandwich, Welsh rarebit, and pimento cheese spread got together and created something entirely new and utterly delicious.
These cheese dreams truly live up to their whimsical name. Imagine a perfectly toasted sandwich, slathered with a savory cheese spread that's been transformed in the oven into a bubbly, golden blanket of comfort. The best part? You can prepare them a day ahead and keep them in the fridge, or even freeze them for longer storage. When hunger strikes, they're just minutes away from perfection.
But what's a dreamy sandwich without its perfect partner? Enter the simplest, most satisfying cream of tomato soup you'll ever make. This isn't your standard canned affair – it's a homemade soup that requires barely more effort than opening that can but delivers infinitely more flavor. Like its sandwich companion, this soup is make-ahead friendly. Prepare it a day or two in advance or freeze it for future comfort food emergencies.
When the doorbell chimes and familiar faces arrive at your door, you'll be ready. While they're settling in and catching up, you can transform these pre-prepped ingredients into a warm, welcoming lunch in minutes. Watch as their faces light up at the sight of golden, bubbling cheese dreams alongside steaming bowls of rich tomato soup.
The beauty of this combination lies in its delicious simplicity. This is comfort food at its finest – both for those eating it and those serving it.
Your holiday hosting just got a whole lot dreamier.
choosing sides
perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progressWell, the holidays are almost here. If the idea of putting together an elaborate meal for a tableful of perhaps differing minds seems daunting… have no fear!
Here are some of my tried-and-true side dishes that are sure to please both sides of the table. The best part many can be made or prepped way in advance. Giving you ample to time to take a deep breath, go for a walk, have a glass of wine, hide in your closet and eat that leftover Halloween candy, whatever you need to do to find your happy place before the doorbell rings.
My grandmother’s sausage stuffing is to die for. I double the sausage because let’s be honest who doesn’t love more sausage. And don’t get jazzy trying to upgrade, you are going to want to use Jimmy Dean. Make this recipe weeks ahead of time, divide into two large Ziploc bags and pop in the freezer The night serving before defrost the stuffing in the refrigerator, place in a buttered casserole, drizzle with chicken broth, toss and bake for an hour in a 350 degree oven.
My mom’s best friend Carol’s cranberry sauce is out of this world. And it must be made at least a day ahead of time. At first this sauce looks more like a cranberry soup but overnight in the refrigerator it gels perfectly. It also freezes beautifully, so go ahead and make this one now.
What holiday spread is complete without Brussels sprouts with bacon? This incredible combination can be prepped and partially cooked earlier in the day. All it needs is about a ten-minute flash in a pan and it is table ready.
My sister’s recipe for mashed potatoes is amazing. Added bonus you can make this a day (or two) in advance.
My mom’s whipped sweet potatoes are beyond simple to prepare. Do it the day before then top with mini marshmallows before baking for a toasty retro touch.
So rest easy, your stressless holiday awaits. And if things get heated just remember that cardinal rule of table manners… no talking when mouths are full.
eye on the storm
a moment in timeMy dad is truly a wonder. 92-years-old, living alone, and thriving. We talk almost every day, mostly about what he’s making for dinner. But two weeks ago the conversation pivoted to the brewing storm that was projected to make a direct hit to the Gulf coast of Florida. With each passing day the news grew more dire.
Months earlier I had made plane reservations to come visit. As my dad prepared to go into a shelter before the projected cat 5 hurricane, he told me to cancel my trip. I said let’s just wait and see as my trip wasn’t scheduled for days after landfall.
It was a tense week, my stomach in knots as I watched the pending storm. Then waiting to hear how my dad was faring in the shelter, a second floor of a parking garage near the waters’ edge. Happy news, he weathered that experience, then anxiety as we waited another day before he could leave to check on his home. It appeared he had truly dodged a bullet. His house was intact though the entire region was out of power. The first 24-hours his spirits were high and he seemed to enjoy the adventure and imminent tale he was going to tell. But with each passing day everyone’s mood began to dim.
Again, he said I should cancel my trip. I told him we should sit tight and that I didn’t need to cancel until right before my flight. Miraculously the night before his lights on. At dawn I drove to the airport and made my way across the country to the shores of Fort Myers.
We celebrated that evening with grouper sandwiches at the Sunflower Café, its sign boasting “home cooking and cocktails”. Upon arrival I could use a bit of both. The waitress brought me a very large overflowing glass of one of the cheapest white wines I’ve had since my college days. It tasted divine.
That night in my dad’s house I woke to a huge bang. I jumped up thinking my dad had fallen out of bed. Then noticed all of the ceiling fans were still. Power was out again. The next morning they began to whirl. I finished cleaning out my dad’s frig and headed out to the grocery to replenish and get the ingredients for a requested triple batch of my famed chili. As I chopped and chopped the power went out again. A few hours later it surged back on.
I opened the refrigerator and the much-improved bottle of wine that I had purchased at the grocery and stowed in there was sadly warm. His frig had died. I took a partially frozen therapeutic icepack out of the freezer and wrapped it around the bottle and started making phone calls. Amazingly at 10pm a cold loaner refrigerator was delivered. I transferred what I could and threw out the rest.
The next morning I went back to the market and with the power back on once again started to make my chili. As it simmered two amazing appliance repairmen, Leo and Daniel, arrived to check on the state of my father’s refrigerator. The culprit was a blown fan, due probably to the continuing power surges. Not only had the surges burned out his frig but also his TVs, internet and the WIFI transformer from his house to the street.
Incredibly they found a replacement fan in their shop. By the time my chili had cooled to room-temp, the refrigerator and freezer were cold.
I spooned individual portions into Ziploc bags.
Smoothed them out and froze them flat.
Once frozen solid they were stored vertically, ready to go any time my dad had a hankering. Here’s the recipe for my chili, a true family favorite.
Day 4 for me, Day 7 for my dad another guardian angel arrived, Patrick, from Blue Stream Internet arrived. He entered our ever-quiet house and within hours replaced the entire transformer panel, reinstalled all of my dad’s TVs, and even reprogramed his plethora of remotes so each TV only needed one and in titles my father could easily understand as he punched the buttons. The next day I phoned Patrick’s supervisor to sing his praises.
With the power on, refrigerator stocked and running, internet connected, my father's news friends filling the house with their once familiar voices, it was almost time for me to leave. That last night we went out to dinner with my dad’s best friend Sam.
I adore meals with these two, the conversation is always lively as we delve into all of the world’s problems. Uppermost this evening were the issues on the upcoming Florida ballot. Sam wanted to know what I thought about each and how I was going to vote. I told him that I wasn’t a Florida resident so I wasn’t familiar the stated issues, but that I would happily take a look and let him know. With that Sam and dad declared it was time to go and that I could review dad’s ballot at his house, call Sam on speaker phone, and let them know my thoughts.
An hour later we had reviewed the issues, engaged in another animated exchange, and created a “cheat-sheet” the two could use when they went to the polling place. Another one of those southwestern Florida glasses of wine please!
Oh and here’s an added bonus- on the way back I watched the most wonderful film. “Thelma” is about a 93-year-old grandmother who is scammed out of $10,000 and her true story quest to get it back. Along with a can of Delta Airlines chardonnay it was the perfect ending to this eventful trip.
memories in the making
a moment in timeIt’s funny the things that stick in our minds from our youth. The simplest of events, common objects we’ve elevated, certain sounds or smells, cherished foods. When it comes to things we absolutely loved to eat, when revisited in adulthood do they ever taste as good as we remember?
While some dishes are best left on memory lane, there is one that has haunted me in relentless pursuit. Macaroni and cheese. Perhaps the simplest of comfort foods is incredibly difficult to replicate. Crispy brown on top, crackling on the bottom, creamy dreamy in the center.
I can’t tell you how many versions of mac and cheese I’ve made over the years. Some start promising then once baked become grainy and tasteless. A few months back I stumbled upon a recipe promising to replicate Stouffer’s.
I don’t know about you, but if you started high school in the mid-70’s, Stouffer’s frozen macaroni and cheese was a late-night phenomenon. My best friend’s mother used to drive to the Stouffer’s headquarters in Solon, Ohio and pick up cases to put it in their deepfreeze. Can’t count the number of post-party nights we would convene in their kitchen waiting for our little plastic trays to bubble and brown in the oven. Was it so good, or was it bonding under those turquoise cabinets? A bit of both for sure!
I made this Stouffer’s inspired version over the Fourth of July for a family cookout at our new Utah home, Here’s the recipe for creamy baked macaroni and cheese. Be sure to read the bottom of this post, because this dish wasn’t the only thing to make a lasting memory that weekend.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add one half pound cavatappi or elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions, stirring occasionally until just past al dente. Drain and set aside.
Return the empty pot to the stove over medium heat. Melt one-quarter cup butter and simmer, whisking occasionally. Add one-quarter cup flour and cook, whisking, until smooth, about one minute.
Whisk in three cups milk. Raise the heat to high and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, then immediately reduce the heat to low and continue simmering until the sauce lightly coats the back of a spoon, two to five minutes. The sauce should be smooth and relatively loose. Remove the pot from the heat.
Whisk in a quarter teaspoon mustard powder, one eighth teaspoon onion powder, a pinch of cayenne, a big pinch of kosher salt and several grinds of black pepper.
Whisk in one half pound of grated cheddar, four ounces of torn Velveeta, and two ounces of grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Whisk until melted and smooth.
Add the drained pasta, stir until the pasta is evenly coated in the cheese sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Transfer to an 8”x 8” baking pan or 6-8 cup dish. At this point the pasta can either be baked immediately, covered and reirrigated for a day, or sealed and frozen for up to three months.
Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven until bubbling at the edges and brown on top, 20 to 30 minutes.
And now for a real memory maker. For some reason my 20-month-old grandson in LA thinks I have a firetruck. Not sure where that came from, but every time he sees one, he exclaims “Meemo’s”!
One of the great things about living in a small town is that you can interact and approach people you never would in a big city. Knowing that that my grandson was coming to stay with us I reached out to the Park City Fire Department to see if by any chance I might come by a station to say hi and if they would be kind enough to bend the truth and say that one of the fire engines in the house was mine. They responded with a resounding “of course, come by any time”!
The Saturday after the fourth we jumped into the car and headed off for an “adventure”. When we arrived at Station 37 firefighters Ron and Hudson not only greeted us at the door, they asked Lincoln if he wanted to drive Meemo’s fire engine!
Up the two of us went and with lights flashing we pretended to drive around. My grandson was paralyzed in awe. It was as if he had walked into the bathroom and saw Santa Claus brushing his teeth and the Easter Bunny in the bathtub.
I can’t thank the Park City Fire Department enough! This outing, just like the mac and cheese, is one we will all remember for years to come.
new heights
food detectiveCertain milestones deserve distinct celebration. As our new reality gave way to a new location, I knew I would need to find a proper place to ring in my husband’s 70th. Those who know Dave, know he loves his “brown” liquids. Luckily our new hometown is home to High West Distillery. What I didn’t know was that they have this lovely little cottage that serves an intimate prix-fixe menu curated with whisky pairings. I set a reminder on my calendar to call the moment reservations at Nelson's Cottage would be released.
The evening did not disappoint. We were greeted on the porch with a welcome cocktail and an array of delectable pre-dinner bites. I don’t know what I loved more, the Paper Plane or the adorable handblown glass in which the drinks were served.
As we sat down to dinner, the Cottage’s whisky ambassador kicked off the meal with a lesson on whisky tasting, how to pair whiskey with food, and a brief history of whiskey in Park City, Utah.
The six-course meal was unbelievable. If you’ve ever been to Alinea in Chicago, here’s its western counterpart. First came a chili crisp grissini with a charred scallion and ginger butter. Then ahi tuna with blistered cherry tomatoes, ramps and bonita flakes and a pairing of Bourye ’24. A refreshing palate cleansing heart of palm salad with watermelon relish, cucumber, snap peas with a yuzu chili oil. I slightly swooned over the roasted red snapper with asparagus and this to-die-for miso sweet and sour sauce which was paired with a High Country ’23 bourbon. Next up a bone-in Iberian pork chop with black garlic jus, collard greens, fava beans and yuca paired with A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act II. A savory sweet finish of brioche bread pudding with blueberry ice cream and double rye caramel sauce and the final pairing of the evening a barrel finished Manhattan.
Hand’s down it was one of the top meals I’ve had. I knew I needed two things. First the components of that heavenly miso sauce and some of those killer little glasses so I could craft my own welcome cocktail to greet guests in our new house. I succeeded on both counts.
After a brief but relentless rendition of “food detective” I got what I needed for that ethereal sauce. Turned out the base was coconut cream not butter. And I discovered that the distillery had a little store that sold its bourbons, ryes and their collection of signature glasses. Score!
Unpacking boxes and trying to make those first at-home dinners is a real challenge. Thankfully I found enough utensils to replicate that sauce. The first time with grilled scampi and asparagus with a cilantro rice. It was phenomenal but I was so tired I forgot to take a picture. Next up grilled salmon, roasted Yukon gold potatoes with asparagus drizzled with what is sure to be my go-to sauce of the summer.
Here is my rendition of the Cottage’s miso coconut cream sauce.
Melt a tablespoon of unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium/medium-low heat. Add the finely chopped shallot and sauté for two minutes until softened.
Whisk in a tablespoon of white miso paste.
Cook whisking occasionally until it starts to caramelize about one to two minutes.
Whisk in a tablespoon of dry white wine and simmer for a minute.
Stir in a half cup of coconut cream.
nd one-quarter teaspoon mirin rice wine.
Simmer for two minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Off heat stir in one tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
A perfect accompaniment to so many dishes.
If you’re ever in Park City, come on by- your Paper Plane awaits.
change in perspective
a moment in timeIt’s crazy how an unforeseen event can turn your entire life in a different direction.
At the end of February, I had to jump on a plane to attend to a family matter. Five days there I received a hysterical phone call that our apartment in Chicago was ruined. I had trouble understanding the urgency of what might have happened. I tried to reassure the person on my cell, picked up a landline at my father’s and called our building’s super. A minute later he entered the apartment and then I heard them both screaming.
It's very surreal to be on the phone trying to envision the distress the people are experiencing on the other end of the line. I knew I needed to get up there and see what was going on. I also knew I was in great hands with our wonderful superintendent, Eddie, who I knew would immediately put a plan into action.
Turns out an old, galvanized pipe from the boiler system to our living room radiator had broken off. For at least ten days every time the boiler blew during those chilly February days and nights in our 1920s building overlooking Lake Michigan, are apartment filled with steam. When the door was finally opened, it was as if our entire apartment was a Turkish steam bath. It was a complete loss.
I loved that apartment for so many reasons- the view, the location, being back in an urban setting which really fed my soul. But living in downtown Chicago was never a good fit for my husband. He is a true country boy, one of his many charms. Driving in the car New Year’s Day we started discussing where we might both want to live when our lease was up this coming summer. Turned out- the universe had an accelerated timeframe.
Ever since my youngest moved to Park City, Utah she would periodically text me Zillow listings saying she thought we should move there, and that we would really love it.
Standing in my apartment with a N95 mask on and tears in my eyes I knew we had to move, and right now. If anyone needs a moving company in Chicago, Hollander Movers was truly beyond amazing. I made a phone call, and the owner, David, came over first thing the next morning. He reassured me that he could have me out of there the next day. Looking around at the chaos felt so overwhelming. With the seventeen ServPro fans blaring I thought it might be better if waited two days for everything to have a chance to dry out. We agreed on Monday. Sunday night the plaster ceiling in the living room fell in.
As the moving truck pulled away with more boxes than I could have imagined, I made my way to O’Hare. My husband and I waited for the truck to head west, then grabbed our dog and drove north to Utah to meet the van.
We were beyond lucky that our Park City rental was empty and when I asked if we could move in immediately, the reply was certainly.
One would think moving from an apartment in downtown Chicago to a house in Utah would have more square footage. Ironically the house was a little over half the size of our apartment, with no basement or attic. The dwelling-Jenga began.
Guardian angel number two arrived the same day as our moving truck. Allen from Cleanville in Salt Lake City met us to take all of our oriental rugs off the truck. Turns out he is an antique oriental rug buff, instantly recognizing where I purchased some of my rugs in Turkey. He whisked them away to be repaired, cleaned and restored. In the driveway I asked him if he knew of anyone who could clean and potentially demold all of our newly upholstered furniture. He said he was a restoration expert and arrived the next day. Can you hear Clarence’s bells ringing in “It’s a Wonder Life”?
Then came the unpacking, repacking because of the downsized space, insurance adjusters, antique furniture estimates. It all might have seemed too much if it wasn’t for that view.
This tiny gem of a home had a huge backyard that backed up to the Swaner Preserve with the Kimball Creek flowing right below. This past winter, I saw a recipe for ranch water in the New York Times. Never in a million years would I think come spring I would be drinking one in my very own backyard in Utah.
It’s a really great cocktail. And I have a feeling this is going to be a really good chapter in our lives. It’s interesting how one change can spark so many others. So many new beginnings, and holding all the older chapters lovingly in my heart.
Here’s the recipe for ranch water, adapted from Naz Deravian.
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add two ounces blanco tequila and one ounce freshly squeezed lime juice. Top it off with Topo Chico sparkling mineral water. Gently stir to mix. Serve with a lime wedge.
The recipe says to keep topping it off with Topo Chico to dilute to your liking and extend the life of the drink. Given all that’s been going on, I’ll probably pass on that top off.
shelter from the storm
food detectiveA series of atmospheric rivers have been pummeling the west coast of California and barreling into the Inland Empire. Our once sunny, dry oasis has become wet, drank and frigid.
Sweaters donned and fireplaces lit, it’s time for some good old fashioned comfort food. I adore shepherd’s pie, but it’s been eons since I’ve made it. So I poured myself a big mug of tea and set out to create a recipe that was sure to soothe.
This version comes together quickly, especially if you pick up “homemade” mashed potatoes from the prepared food section at your grocery’s deli.
On the way back from Jensen’s Finest Foods the view of our typically majestic Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountain range is completely obscured by the system rolling in from the south.
For shepherd’s pie begin by dicing half of an onion, a carrot, and a stalk of celery. Add to a high-sided skillet with one tablespoon melted butter along with two minced cloves of garlic and two sprigs of thyme.
Cook over medium heat, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the onions are translucent, and the carrots are just tender, about ten minutes.
Add three quarters of a pound of ground beef, breaking the meat up with a spoon, continue cooking until it is no longer pink. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add two tablespoons tomato paste and stir, cooking until it’s well combined, for another two minutes. Stir in one and a half teaspoons Worchester sauce and a teaspoon whole grain mustard.
Sprinkle one tablespoon flour over the mixture and cook for one minute.
Add three quarters cup beef broth and cook, stirring, until the liquid has thickened slightly. Remove the thyme stems and stir in two tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Place the meat mixture in a 1 ½ quart oven-proof casserole dish.
Top with dollops of mashed potatoes then spread them out over the top.
Drag a fork over the surface of the mashed potatoes.
Place in a 375-degree preheated oven (if the mixture is at the top edges of your pan, set a foil-lined baking sheet underneath the pan to catch any drips). Bake the pie until the potatoes have begun to brown and the edges are bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Generously serving two, this dish is as comforting as a cashmere throw on a chilly eve.
no baloney
food detectiveMortadella, an emulsified pork sausage that’s been a staple for centuries in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, has become a recent rage. You’ll find it gracing charcuterie boards, elevating every sandwich it’s tucked into, and even whipped to create a transcendent canapé.
One of my favorite spots outside of Los Angeles is Milkfarm, an artisanal cheese shop in Eagle Rock. Not only do they have the most amazing array of cheeses and cured meats, but they also have what has to be the best sandwich board north of DTLA. My go-to is their mortadella muffuletta. A pillowy focaccia slathered with garlic aioli, spicy olive salad, slices of cheese, piles of paper-thin mortadella and a handful of baby spinach. To call it an ethereal eat would be an understatement.
To make two mortadella muffulettas, split a 5x7 square of focaccia in half through the middle. Spread each cut surface generously with a tablespoon of garlic aioli.
Top with three to four tablespoons of muffuletta mix to cover.
You can make your own, but this jarred version by Marconi is excellent.
Layer with three to four thin slices of mozzarella.
Then a third of a pound of thinly sliced mortadella.
Top the bottom piece with a handful of baby spinach.
Carefully place the top on the bottom. Cut on the diagonal to create four triangular wedges.
I finally finished the second season of “The Bear”. I was thrilled to discover that the show’s last episode featured a savory cannolo filled with a mortadella mousse on its opening menu. What a trifecta- savory, mousse, and mortadella. This piqued my inner food detective, and just like fate a recipe for a mortadella mousse appeared in my NYT feed.
For the mortadella mousse canapés begin with a quarter pound piece of mortadella with the rind removed.
Dice the mortadella and place in a food processor.
Pulse into a paste.
Add two tablespoons of mascarpone, three tablespoons grated parmesan cheese and a grind of nutmeg.
Pulse until blended.
Cover and chill in the refrigerator.
With a melon baller, scoop out a small ball of mousse and lightly press onto a toast round.
Preheat broiler. Dust each canape round finely grated parmesan cheese. Watching carefully, run under the broiler briefly, for about one minute, to lightly brown the top.
Jump on the mortadella bandwagon. You might just find yourself hot for this cold cut.
sealed with a kiss
dinner for twoOne of the ways I show love is by making meals for others. It’s such a gift to have a full table with everyone gathered around. But now with our children’s lives progressing and families expanding I often find myself traveling to their homes. This fall I had back-to-back weekends visiting my daughters in LA and Park City. Lucky Meemo got to babysit and during naptimes I decided to fill my daughters’ freezers with some of their favorite dinners so that they could feel my loving embrace for the weeks and months to come.
Certain dinners are made for the deep freeze. The best ones have their main component frozen then a quick fresh prep brings them to the table in minutes. What’s key is knowing how to store them in the freezer. Plastic containers can easily turn your freezer into an unwieldy game of Jenga. I learned this trick from one of my sons-in-law, he freezes everything in flat plastic bags. Once frozen, the filled bags stack vertically like books in a bookshelf.
At my daughter’s in LA, I used her Anova vacuum sealer. I cut squares out of the roll of plastic and then sealed the ends to make little bags. In Utah, I used Ziploc freezer bags. Both yielded excellent results. The only advantage with Anova sous vide bags is that you can place them directly in boiling water. But both defrost quickly, either overnight in the refrigerator or on the countertop because they are frozen flat.
A kitchen scale is key in portioning servings.
My pistachio pesto has a special kick thanks to the added mint, splash of soy and dash of tabasco. I prep several batches.
Give each a whirl in the Cuisinart.
Then pulse- vacuum and seal the bag.
Penne with sausage is a family favorite. I make a double batch and portion it out.
Then freeze with a printout of the serving instructions for added ease.
While the sauce warms, chop fresh tomato, scallions, parsley, and basil with shredded parmesan and some toasted pine nuts to toss with the sauced penne.
Be sure to make a double batch of this wonderful chili.
Then freeze it into servings for one and two.
Make a double batch of roasted Italian meatballs.
They are light and airy and freeze like a dream, simply defrost and warm in the tomato sauce.
Basic tomato sauce is so easy.
You will never open another jar.
I like to serve my chicken pot pie filling in individual oven safe baking dishes and top with rounds of pie crust.
My favorite is Trader Joes rolled frozen crust.
I thaw the pie crust on the counter for several hours, then unroll and use my baking dish as a “cookie cutter” to make discs.
Layer in between wax paper and freeze.
To serve, thaw the filling and two dough discs and pop in the oven.
Naptime has never been more delicious.
ear today…
food detectiveLast week it seemed like summer might just be here to stay. Then mother nature took an about face. Temps plunged, skies darkened, and freezing rain arrived as the cold winds began to blow.
Sadly, that meant summer’s bounty was soon to hibernate. I don’t know why I am always surprised when the stalls at the farmers market dwindle. While you might still be able to find a stray tomato or sprig of herb, sweet corn departs abruptly with little notice.
Spicy corn and coconut chowder was one of my summer stables. Each Saturday I’d pick up a half dozen ears to make this satisfying soup.
Cut the corn kernels off the cobs and transfer to a bowl.
Using the back of a spoon, scrape the cobs to release the milky juices into the bowl with the kernels. Set aside. (If using frozen kernels, skip this step.)
In a large stockpot over medium heat, heat two tablespoons olive oil. Add two shallots cut into rings, three cloves minced garlic, one 1-inch piece ginger minced, and one minced jalapeño pepper.
Sauté́, stirring occasionally, until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the corn kernels and juices to the pot, sauté́ for 3 minutes more.
Add the diced potatoes, and stir to coat, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the chicken broth and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
Using an immersion blender, roughly puree the soup. Season with lime juice and salt.
Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro leaves and chopped scallions.
And while it’s not quite the same, this chowder can also be made with high quality frozen corn kernels. Opening your freezer drawer with its blast of chilly air a forebearer of what will soon happen when you step out your front door.
Watch out Willie!