Thursday, February 10, 2022

What's for Lunch? 2/10/22 - And Bonus: a Poem!

 Hello and Good Morning!

Mabel was a little kinder this a.m., not waking me till 4:45 a.m.  And, since I usually get up by 5 or 5:30, I just decided to stifle my yawns and just get up.  It's Thursday and I've my usual reports to run and distribute this morning, plus an additional monthly one.  But first, the more pleasurable blogging experience.  The coffee is hot and I'm slowly waking.

Before I get into my usual Thursday food post, I have some exciting news!  You've heard me speak of my friend Leslie before - an amazing woman and my best friend for 56 years!!  Leslie is a poet and she had one of her poems chosen for the North Carolina Poetry in Plain Sight program.  I've known about this for a little while but was not able to share with you until her poem went up on display.  That happened!  I do love her poem "Big Ears" that was chosen.  Just makes me chuckle:


Click to enlarge.  Currently seen in the window of the indy bookstore Scuppernong Books in Greensboro, NC.  Congratulations Leslie!  Well deserved.

Let's talk food (as I often do on Thursdays).  Last weekend I wanted something different for lunch.  I hard boiled some eggs (though I used the air fryer, so no water) and made some deviled eggs.  Then I decided on this dish from Amy Traverso's "The Apple Lover's Cookbook" - Quick Bread and Butter Apple Pickles

  • 1 unpeeled English Cucumber
  • 1 TBS kosher salt
  • 2 large firm/sweet apples
  • 2 medium shallots
  • 1 Cup Rice Vinegar
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 1/2 Cup Honey
  • 1 TBS sugar
  • 1 Cinnamon Stick
  • 1 Sprig Fresh Tarragon, cut into 4 pieces

  1. Cut the ends off the cucumber and slice on a mandolin.  Place in a colander and toss with the salt.  Let sit for 20 minutes
  2. Cut the apples in quarters trimming out the core and seeds.  Leave the skin on and slice on a mandolin.  Peel and slice the shallots on a mandolin.  Put all in a medium bowl.
  3. In a small bowl whisk together the rice vinegar, water, honey and sugar.  Mix until the sugar dissolves.  Add in the cinnamon stick and tarragon. and pour over the apples and shallots.
  4. Rinse the cucumbers and lightly blot dry (still in the colander) with a paper towel or kitchen towel.  Add the cucumber slices to the apples and shallots and stir well.  Let sit for at least 30 minutes.  Will keep in the frig up to 2 weeks.

I roughly halved the recipe.  The apple I used was a Pink Lady.  I used some ground cinnamon rather than a stick and I did not have fresh tarragon, so I skipped that.


Even though it is winter, this crisp and refreshing salad tasted really good.  Next time I might just slice the cuke, apple and shallot and make the pieces a little bigger.  I can see this becoming a summer staple.

Only making half the recipe still made plenty for the two of us.  I had some with my lunch yesterday and it was still very tasty and crisp.  And, there is still some left!

Here is another wine label for you:


Wines made from organic grapes are typically not my favorite.  Nor are Spanish wines.  But, given the label you know I HAD to buy this one.  And it turned out to be quite good!  A nice red.

OK, time to get to work.  Remember, it is Friday Eve, so in my book that means that really the weekend is starting.  LOL  Make it a good one!


19 comments:

  1. Congratulations to Leslie and thank you for sharing her poem! It certainly paints a detailed picture in my mind. That pickle recipe sounds delightful, especially with the addition of the apple. I'm going to give that a try someday soon. I hope you have a good Friday eve!

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  2. That is a wonderful poem -- congratulations to Leslie!

    I would never have thought to combine apples and pickles, but this does sound like a really refreshing salad, so I'll have to give it a try one of these days. And I'm happy to hear that the wine was good. It would have been a real shame if it wasn't!

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  3. What a GREAT and most perfect wine label! It was definitely speaking to you (and, really, how could it not be???). I'm glad it was tasty, too! And that salad looks really good. I'm saving that recipe to try soon!

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  4. Congratulations to Leslie! (I do hope you will share my thoughts with her... I love her poem! It is brilliant and I could clearly see in my minds eye her vision... and I love her final thoughts... yes, who is listening!)

    That salad looks incredible! I am likewise saving it! Thank you so much! Happy Friday Eve!

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  5. the poem is very cool-glad she won the entry spot. The salad looks delicious! I have only had an appetite for cold things....

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  6. Congratulations to Leslie! I'm so happy for her that she won.
    Your salad looks very good, thanks for sharing the recipe with us.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  7. I like Leslie's poem very much. I love how the last line grounds the poem and makes it so eerie, yet folksy at the same time.

    As I read the salad recipe, all I could think of was "Where in the heck is Vera getting fresh tarragon in the dead of winter?" LOL

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  8. That is so exciting for your friend!
    It's been ages since I've had a good apple. Every time I get one it's sour. I've tried every kind. The last good one I had was at Daughter's and it was a Gala from Whole Foods. I've even had bitter pears lately. I've all but given up on fruit. I wonder how long I can live without it? Lol....

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  9. That salad sounds really good. Congratulations to Leslie! And I love Spanish wine, how fun that you found that label.

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  10. Creating poetry is difficult, and Leslie nailed it! English cucumbers are one of my favorite snacks and if paired with apples (I like Honey Crisp) the salad would have to be delicious.

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  11. Congrats to Leslie. How exciting for her.

    The salad sounds very good. Yum...Pink Lady apples!

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  12. Congrats to your friend! Your salad recipe sounds interesting, but my DH detests cucumbers in any form.

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  13. Thanks to all for your good wishes and kind thoughts about my poem. It is an honor to be selected to participate in this program which places posters in host cities all over NC.

    V, that salad looks great! I also love the wine label! Stash some for my next visit!

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  14. Congratulations to your friend. The salad looks refreshing.

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  15. Love her words, and true! Dish sounds good. I love salads but can't have vinegar, sometimes a little sweet balsamic but that's it.

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  16. congrats to your friend!! I love salads BUT he doesn't like fruit mixed with stuff (!)

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  17. I 1ove when poetry gets pub1ished. It is such a sma11 market. HOORAY

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