City Peeps

Over the weekend, I went to One Straw Farm for a picnic. They have these really fun gatherings with music and food out on the farm in White Hall for all of the CSA members a few times each season. I've known the farmers - Joan and Drew Norman - a long time now. They are good peeps. Which brings me to my new peeps. But first...take a look at this goodness I made for the picnic.

At the picnic, I was talking with Joan about keeping chickens and she said, "Do you want some chicks? We have some!" I immediately said, "Oh, yes - that would be so great!" Yes? Am I insane? Well, not really. I'd been thinking about keeping chickens for a while..did some research last year and just never did it. So, when she offered the chicks, it was the perfect opportunity to jump in. Full on. I picked four chicks out of the brooder - each one looks different which not only means they are different breeds, but also I can tell them apart very easily. As my friend drove us home, I called my Mom to tell her the exciting news and her reply was, "You got WHAT?"

Even though I've lived in the city for a long time, I don't really consider myself a total city person. I grew up in the country...not on a farm, but surrounded by farms in Kingsville, MD, which is a gorgeous place, even now with many more houses than farms. My Mom grew up on a working farm in Harford County and my grandparents, Clark and Mary Fitzpatrick,  ran the "County Home" in Bel Air, a very early homeless shelter. The house is known as the Aquila Scott Home and had many interesting characters staying there - I've heard so many great stories of that place from my Mom over the years. My grandfather was a farmer and my grandmother was a fabulous cook. Everything was fresh, of course...milk and butter came from the cows, fresh eggs and meat from the chickens, etc. She was really known for feeding people and I like to think that's where I got my love of cooking. She made fabulous cakes and usually didn't follow recipes. I love that about her, but no recipes = I can't replicate her stuff! My grandparents' home is still there on Tollgate Road and houses the Harford County Park + Recreation Offices. Just look for the duck pond.

So, as I enter the land of city chicken keeping...I'm finding that my roots are beginning to really come into play and it makes me think of the generations that came before me. Sadly, I never knew any of my grandparents. My Mom's mother, Mary, whom I described earlier, was our last living grandparent for many years. Every time my mother would become pregnant, she'd buy dresses and dresses. And, each time...six in a row...Mom delivered a boy and the dresses just piled up. Then, she finally had me. But my grandmother died on May 16, 1967...one month to the day before I was born. Everyone said Mom should name me Mary, but she named me Amy from the book, Little Women. I would have been happy to be Mary, Amy, Margaret (after Mom) whatever...it doesn't really matter to me. I've got my grandmother in my blood. I'm a cook. It's just so funny that I didn't realize it til I hit 40.

...Back to the Langrehr chickens of 2011. They are growing fast, so i'm hoping to document their progress weekly. Today, I'm heading to Kingsville to borrow a rabbit hutch, which will be the chicks' home over the summer, until I get a proper coop built.

I love this coop...sadly, I can't swing this one. Isn't it gorgeous?

Right now, the chicks are in my dining room in an old lobster crate I picked up at an estate sale - it's perfect. My labrador Henry is interested, but knows "leave it" and "no" pretty well...and when they get big, I'm pretty sure they will show him who's boss. That, I can't wait to see. Here he is meeting the chicks that first night.

Thinking about keeping chickens at your place? Here are some good sources of info:

My Pet Chicken

Backyard Chickens

Urban Chickens

p.s. I will still buy fresh eggs from Andy at the Waverly Farmers Market, but eventually, just not as many!

what's your pleasure?

my dad was not a big drinker, but he did enjoy a cocktail every once in a while. when i was about twelve, he let me take a sip of his manhattan and of course, i thought it was completely disgusting. definitely not ready for brown liquor at that point. [can you imagine if i was ready? rehab at 13 like drew?] fast forward 30+ years and i am in LOVE with bourbon. in moderation.

i blame two people. first my great friend and fellow blogger, chip mortimer. he makes a mean cocktail and first introduced me to bourbon + ginger beer last summer. it is one of the most refreshing drinks ever. ever. love it so, so much - especially when b'more gets hot and oh-so-humid.

second culprit, nelson carey, owner of grand cru. [my fave bar in charm city.] they make the '1792 old fashioned' with bourbon, bitters, sugar, orange and...these amazing, amazing cherries ($20/jar - sadly, not in my home drinks budget...)  muddled drink heaven.

wanna learn how to make an old fashioned? watch this video.

do you have a favorite drinky drink? what's your bourbon of choice? mine is bulleit -yummmm.

enjoy. responsibly, please.



donna's inspired pasta creation

when i worked at baltimore museum of art in the 90s, i became addicted to a particular dish at donna's at the BMA. it was penne pasta with salmon and peas in a very light and subtle cream sauce. i must have taken it home with me for dinner a dozen times, mainly when i could afford it. this was way before i got really into food and cooking...and it surprised me to have this come back to me so many years later. but...it did.

perhaps having the wonderful fresh shelled peas make their debut at the farmers market last weekend was what did it. all week, i've been thinking...how did she make that amazing sauce? it was so light and perfect, barely coating the pasta. so, i finally tried to make it today, however, no salmon in the house, so i just made it with peas and asparagus, with some fresh tagliatelle pasta [cavanna pasta from the JFX farmers market.]
and, adding bacon seemed like a good idea, of course. duh.

pasta with peas, asparagus and bacon

ingredients:

1 lb fresh pasta
1 tbsp butter
bacon [chopped to 1/2 " pieces = about 1/2 cup]
6 fresh pearl onions - sliced thinly
1 bunch thin asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 cups fresh peas
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

for the sauce:
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 tbsp crème fraîche
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

directions:

sauce:
in a small saucepan, heat broth over medium heat.
simmer for 5 minutes, then add flour to thicken,whisk until incorporated.
[add more flour or some milk depending on how thick you'd like it.]
add creme fraiche. stir well.
add salt and pepper.
reduce heat to low and keep warm on stove.

cook pasta as directed in large pot [remember, fresh pasta takes much less time than dried pasta.]
drain and return cooked pasta to pot.

add butter and bacon to large skillet, cook on medium high for about 5 minutes.
remove bacon and drain on paper towel.
add onions to the skillet, cook on medium for about 5 minutes.
add asparagus to the skillet, mix with onions, cover and cook on medium for about 8 minutes.
add peas to the skillet, mix, cover and cook for about 3 minutes.

add onions, asparagus and peas to the pot with pasta.
add bacon to the pot, stir well.

transfer to serving dish and add freshly grated parmesan cheese. [i also recommend fresh parsley, but sadly, i was out...]

you could actually do this dish sans sauce and i think it would be delish. i just wanted to see how close i could get to that donna's sauce...i got pretty close.

also, i enjoyed a glass of pine ridge chenin blanc-viognier with this...thanks to my friend carey at the wine source for turning me on to this fabulous, affordable wine a few years ago!

yum.

fire up the grill, hon!

when you fire up the grill this weekend, try grilling some foods besides the usual suspects. check out this great list and think outside the box! [i love a grilled lettuce salad.] and...i'm gonna use the last of my limoncello to make this tasty little cocktail!

if you do plan to cook meat on the grill, here are some very helpful guidelines from real simple on safe temps, etc. and here, epicurious offers a great grilling and barbecue guide, while food & wine shares a fun and delicious backyard barbecue party menu.

fancy a drink?

a brief post this time around...all about COCKTAILS!

just wanted to share some great resources for drink ideas and recipes.
(these are not my photos...)

chow

saveur

epicurious

what's your favorite summer drink? do tell!

milk + honey = happiness

visited milk & honey today while running a few errands in mt. vernon. i've shopped there for groceries, but today was my first actual lunch visit. so glad i decided to take a load off instead of taking it to go - the folks who helped me - ally and bolt - were warm, gracious and quite talented!

my sammie: coppa, thinly sliced apples, manchego cheese, fig spread (yeah, we love figs...) on ciabatta.  on a kinda weird, rainy day, it was warm, salty, sweet perfection.

milk & honey was a lovely detour from boring old errands. if you haven't been there, GO!

a chip without the side of guilt...

kale is H.O.T. to quote one of my fave shows, modern family [mitchell to cameron as he gets home from the farmers market...] "do you know what the new spinach is?! KALE!!"

mitchell is right. it's super hot right now and so are kale chips. as i chatted with cinda at gardeners gourmet at the waverly market this morning, she said, "wow, was there some story on NPR this week or something? everyone's talking about kale chips!"

a friend of mine commented on making kale chips a few weeks ago on the book of face. i figured if i could devour a bag of veggie booty [they are no longer allowed in my house], i'd like kale chips...and i was right. so easy, inexpensive and delish. make 'em, you'll love 'em.

there are many recipes out there...but here's one i used from smitten kitchen. [i did mine @ 350 degrees for 12 minutes...they came out perfectly crispy and thin. [sea salt is key to the yum taste.] you can also add a little dusting of parmesan reggiano cheese, too. yum.