Brown Butter Pecan Granola

Yogurt was not a food in my diet until three years ago. I didn't understood what all the fuss about. And then one day I got it and it became a daily must have. Sometimes I would add dried fruit or nuts to it and sometimes not. But then after two years of having a yogurt a day, I woke up one day and decided I had had my fill of yogurt. Or rather I decided to consciously uncouple yogurt from my life. Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I was standing in line at the grocery store and a woman in front of me was buying a brand of yogurt (or should I say yoghurt) I had not seen before. I couldn't resist asking her about it. Based on the opinion of a complete random stranger (who for all I knew she thought things like soy milk and almond milk tasted blissfully delicious) I left my place in line at the grocery store, headed to the dairy section and added some of the made in Colorado yoghurt to my cart. Learning of where it was made for some unexplainable reason suddenly took all the risk out of buying this yoghurt and before even tasting it I was convinced it would be the best tasting yoghurt on the planet (if you have ever been to Colorado you might understand this thinking, I mean before the proliferation of microbreweries and better food distribution systems didn't people who lived east of the Mississippi drive hundreds of miles to buy that Colorado made Coors beer?)

All I will say is that after my self-imposed year long hiatus from eating yogurt, I seriously think I could eat this made in Colorado yoghurt for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And oh by the way the name of this insane deliciousness it is called Noosa. But this blog posting isn't an advertisement for a specific brand of yoghurt even though up to this point it may seem like it is. No it is about making granola, although admittedly I am taking a rather long time getting there. Just bear with me a little longer.

Although yoghurt has now returned to my life, I wasn't certain I wanted to go back to only adding dried fruit and nuts to it every now and then. As if the universe was listening, I came across a granola recipe I knew I had to make. This yoghurt deserved something more than a store bought granola added to it. It was one homemade granola worthy. More specifically, only a Brown Butter Pecan Granola. One created by the critically acclaimed Cassandra Shupp, a pastry chef working at the Topping Rose House restaurant in the Hamptons, would be. Fortunately for me (and you) she shared her granola recipe. But let me clear about something. This granola isn't just for topping yoghurt. It is a cereal, it is an ice cream topping, one of the layers in a yoghurt parfait, and it is a snack food.

This isn't one of those overly sweet granolas. The combination of dark brown sugar and honey create just the right amount of sweetness. Coconut flakes, raw pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries make it feel almost like a health food.

Browning the butter adds to a depth of flavor you don't get with just melted butter. To brown the butter melt a stick of unsalted butter in a medium sized saucepan, allow it to foam and then while stirring constantly allow it to brown (about 5 to 7 minutes of total cooking time). Transfer browned butter to a medium sized bow and whisk in the dark brown sugar, honey, and vanilla.

This granola recipe calls for placing the pecans in a food processor and processing until they turn into a fine powder or are finely ground.

I love the hint of flavor the orange zest adds to this granola. It combines perfectly with the flavor of dried sweetened cranberries and cinnamon.

Once the pecans have been finely ground and the orange zested, add them to the unsweetened coconut flakes, raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas), old-fashioned oatmeal, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Drizzled the butter mixture over the dry ingredients, stirring this mixture until all of the dry ingredients are coated. Spread the granola out on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

In a preheated 275 degree oven, the granola is baked for 40 to 50 minutes (baking time for me was 45 minutes). Stir the mixture frequently (for me this was every 10 minutes). When the granola is a golden brown remove from oven and allow it to cool on the baking sheet. The baked granola will still look wet when finished baking, however, it will dry as it cools.

When the granola has cooled, break into pieces and add a half cup to three-quarter of a cup of dried cranberries. Or you can mix in dried cherries, whatever your preference. The granola should be stored in covered jars or a sealed bag. I bet that after you make this granola you won't be buying the store bought version anymore. And your yoghurt parfaits and breakfast buffets will become legendary ones.

Recipe
Brown Butter Pecan Granola (inspired by the granola recipe created by Cassandra Shupp) 

Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup pecans, ground finely
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon Saigon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 to 3/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries (or dried cherries)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Melt butter in a medium sized saucepan and cook (stirring often) until butter foams and then browns (approximately 5-7 minutes). 
3. Transfer browned butter to a medium sized bowl. Stir in brown sugar, vanilla and honey. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, orange zest, cinnamon and salt.
5. Drizzle butter mixture and stir to combine.
6. Spread granola out on the parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake until golden brown (40-50 minutes). Let granola cool on baking sheet. Note: Mixture will be golden brown but will still look wet. Not to worry, it will dry as it cools.
7. Break cooled granola into clusters. Stir in dried cranberries and store in an airtight container.

I have been fortunate to have a circle of women friends who are wise, insightful, kind, non-judgmental, funny, beautiful, and thoughtful. Individually and collectively they have influenced me in so many different ways, have pushed me to think and reflect (never giving me the answers to my questions or solving my dilemmas), have accepted and helped support me in all of the life choices I have made, have nurtured my spirit during those times when it was wounded, and have unselfishly given of themselves with no expectation of receiving anything in return. I often pinch myself for being so blessed as to have this amazing circle of friends in my life.

Last week I had the chance to spend some time with one of these friends. Sitting by the fire (this has been a cold spring) and having a glass of wine, she listened to me reflect on something that I have been struggling with for a very, very long time. The light bulb finally went on in my head as I listened to her questions and her observations. If it wasn't for the wine I drank I am not sure I would have fallen asleep  that night as I had so many thoughts running through my head. When I woke up in the morning, I realized she captured perfectly what I it was I had been struggling with or rather I should say not dealing with. Unbeknownst to her, her words resonated with me on many levels. They also served to remind me how incredibly blessed I am that these women friends of mine have always valued me in their life as much as I have valued them. I cannot think of a moment when any of them were indifferent to me or my issues even when they too were balancing so many plates in their own lives. The absence of indifference is what has enabled these friendships to grow and strengthen over time. I hope all of you are lucky enough to have friends in your life who show you in both their words and actions just how much you matter to them. Because those are the friends you need, should have, deserve, and want in your life.

Polenta Cake with Honey Mascarpone Icing

Just looking at the boxes filled with recipes I have collected over the years (or rather over the decades or for that matter over the scores) is what could only be described as heart racing overwhelming. Of course, organizing these recipes into files when I first started collecting them would have been made it so much easier and less time consuming to sort through them. Hindsight as they say is 20/20. Yet, rather than dwell on what I coulda, shoulda did, I would like to think there is an upside to this organized chaos (the proverbial glass as half full view of the world). And that upside would be the euphoria I experience when I find a recipe I didn't remember I had or thought I had lost. This euphoria is akin to finding the perfect four inch black heels (for those of you with shoe obsessions you will understand this). So it was one of those 'four inch heel finding euphoric heart racing in the best of ways' days when I rediscovered the Polenta Cake with Honey Mascarpone Icing recipe, a recipe I thought I had lost.

The Polenta Cake with Honey Mascarpone Icing is one of those rustic cakes as well as what I will call one so deliciously flexible you can enjoy it for breakfast (come on, have you not eaten cake for breakfast before?), at lunch, at dinner or just served with a glass of Moscato. The honey mascarpone icing has a creamy, rich but not too sweet flavor, complimenting perfectly the taste and texture of this cake. The combination of the polenta cake with honey mascarpone icing on your palate is enough to keep you from leaving any crumbs behind. It is possible this cake will have you abandoning your good table manners when you use your fingers to get every morsel off the plate.

What makes this cake a little different than most other cakes is that in addition to all-purpose flour, it contains both instant polenta and almond or almond meal flour. When I first made this cake eons ago almond flour wasn't easily accessible. Nowadays I can usually find it my local grocery store (Bob's Red Mill is my favorite brand). 

The dry ingredient base for this cake is made up of instant polenta, almond flour, all purpose flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 3/4 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. All of the dry ingredients are combined in a bowl, mixed and set aside.

This cake batter comes together well using a hand mixer (no need to pull out the standing mixer). I like to take the eggs and butter out of the refrigerator the night before so they are at perfect room temperature when I begin to bake. After the butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar are mixed until light and fluffy, the eggs are added in one at a time just until blended. Lastly you will mix in the vanilla. The batter might look a like curdled but this is how it should look, not to worry.

The dry ingredients are blended into the butter/sugar/egg mixture using a spatula until combined. Be careful not to over mix.

Transfer the batter to a prepared 9 inch pan (pan is buttered and floured as well as lined with parchment paper also lightly buttered). Smooth the top of the batter using an offset spatula. Other than my ice cream scoops, my next favorite nice to have kitchen tool is an offset spatula. It makes the making and frosting of cakes so much easier.

In a preheated 325 degree oven, the Polenta Cake is baked in a nine inch cake pan for 35-40 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. I suggest you begin checking on your cake at the 30 minute mark so you don't over bake it. The finished cake has a beautiful golden color.

The baked cake remains in the pan for 15 minutes before it is unmolded and transferred to a wire rack to continue to cool. The cake needs to be fully cooled before you begin to slather the honey mascarpone icing on it.

I used an Acacia honey for the icing because of it is mildly sweet, light in color and has a hint of vanilla. Because this is a mild honey I used three tablespoons of it, however, if you use a darker or much sweeter honey I would recommend you begin with one tablespoon, taste and then decide whether or not your icing needs any more.

The honey mascarpone icing is one of the easiest, simplest to make. And who does not love easy and simple? Just three ingredients blended with a hand mixer create an incredibly delicious icing. The kind of deliciousness that makes you want to lick the beaters and the bowl. Mascarpone is sweeter than but not as dense as cream cheese. In spite of its' creamy texture you can might want to remove from the refrigerator at least an hour before you begin mixing with the honey and lemon juice. This honey mascarpone icing is also a great alternative to cream cheese frosting.

One your cake has cooled it is ready for the insanely delicious Honey Mascarpone Icing. Again because this is a simple, rustic cake you need only a spatula to lather on the icing. In other words, this is definitely not one of those cakes calling for the use of a either pastry bag or a cake decorating tip. The finished cake may look and should look homemade, but it tastes like it came from one of those Italian bakeries you would be willing to out of your way to get to. 

Recipe
Polenta Cake with Honey Mascarpone Icing
Serves 8-10

Ingredients
3/4 cup instant polenta
2/3 cup almond flour or almond meal flour (recommend Bob's Red Mill almond meal flour)
1/4 all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar, separated (1/4 and 1/2 cup respectively)
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
10 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla

8 ounces mascarpone cheese (remove from the refrigerator about an hour before making the icing)
1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2-3 Tablespoons honey (I used 3 Tablespoons of an Acacia Honey, use less if you are using a darker honey)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Prepare a 9 inch cake pan and line with parchment paper and set aside.
3. Put polenta, flours, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder and sea salt in a large bowl. Whisk ingredients and set aside.
4. Using either a stand mixer or hand mixer, mix together 1/2 cup sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
5. Beat in eggs, one at a time until just blended.
6. Add vanilla (note: mixture may look curdled).
7. Add in dry ingredients stirring with a spatula until combined.
8. Transfer batter to prepared pan, smoothing top with an off set spatula.
9. Bake until tester comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes.
10. Allow cake to cool for at least 15 minutes before removing. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
11. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the mascarpone cheese, lemon juice and honey using a hand mixer. Spread on top of cooled cake and serve.

The sky has been blue and the sun has been out for the past two days. What is it about seeing and feeling the sun that can make one feel downright giddy? But if the weather forecasters are accurate all of this giddiness will be replaced with a bit gloom if they are right about there being snow coming next week.  But that is next week, so there is no point in spending any time worrying about what might or might not be. Besides, the weather is way outside the sphere of my influence. And these days, my time is better spent on what it is or who I really can influence. Not all attempts to positively influence can be seen immediately, sometimes it is years before we see (if we are lucky) the impact of our efforts. But whether or not we receive any acknowledgement or reward from the investment of our time and energy we give to our communities, to our professions, and even to those we care very much about shouldn't be what determines how much of ourselves we are willing to give. Hopefully the intrinsic rewards that go with the gift of giving should be enough to sustain us. Although to hear a 'thank you' every now and then, well that can make one feel beyond downright giddy. If you haven't made someone giddy lately, what are you waiting for?

Pickled Red Onions

There are condiments and then there are condiments. There are store bought condiments and then there are homemade condiments. If you have never had (homemade) pickled onions on top of an egg salad sandwich, on top of a bite of pate, on a fish taco, in a salad, or on a burger, you haven't lived. Yes, I know this may sound a little dramatic, but your palate is missing out on a seriously delicious taste of drama. And if you have eaten but have never made pickled onions before, you might be surprised to learn how easy it is to make something I would call the game changer condiment.

In the weeks ahead when you will most likely be eating more egg salad sandwiches than normal (all of those hard boiled Easter eggs need to be put to good use) or grilling outside more frequently (especially by those 'non-grill outside year round diehards'), you will definitely want pickled onions to be 'the' must-have, must-serve condiment on your table. I will show my pickled onion bias and just say you will definitely want Pickled Red Onions as your 'house' condiment. In the onion world, not all onions were created equal.

A few months ago I indulged myself and bought a new knife, a knife I never had before, a Shun knife. This is the sharpest knife I have ever owned and one that had me a little intimidated when I used it the first time. Am I being redundant when I say this knife is sharp or I am just trying to let you know that this isn't your ordinary knife? Okay, yes I know I am asking a rhetorical question here. But fear not all of this talk of sharpness, as I have learned to respect this knife as well as greatly appreciate its' ability to slice vegetables so perfectly one can't help but feel you are channeling an inner five-star restaurant chef when you are using it.

Two large red onions are peeled and then very thinly sliced crosswise so that you end up with beautiful rounds of onion.

Either before or after the onions are sliced, you will mix together the red wine vinegar, cold water, Kosher salt, sugar, and a few dashes of hot sauce. This mixture is then poured over the thinly sliced red onions. The pickling process does not take long but the pickling flavor is enhanced the longer you allow the red onions to marinate. At a minimum you should allow the red onions to marinate for one hour (not a minute less) before using or serving. But if you can wait a little longer and allow the red onions to marinate overnight, your patience will be rewarded. Isn't patience almost always rewarded?

I usually allow the red onions to marinate in the bowl for an hour before transferring them to covered jars. This recipe makes enough for two half-liter jars, one to keep and one to give to a friend as a gift. It just might be one of the best gifts you can give to a friend, particularly if they are ones who love pickled red onions.

Recipe
Pickled Red Onions

Ingredients
2 large red onions, sliced thinly
1 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup cold water
4 Tablespoons Kosher salt
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
4-6 dashes of hot sauce (recommend Cholula Hot Sauce)

Directions
1. In a small bowl, mix together the vinegar, water, Kosher salt, sugar and hot sauce. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, place thinly sliced red onions. Pour vinegar mixture over. Stir gently.
3. Allow onions to marinate for at least one hour before using. (Note: Onions are even better pickled when allowed to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.)

It has been years since I went to the monthly antique/flea market near where I now live. The fairgrounds where the market is held have been renovated over the years resulting in a smaller number of booths and tables to take in. However, there are still enough dealers there to keep one there walking for hours. And so on Sunday my best childhood friend and I walked the market for hours looking for treasures we either needed or didn't (sometimes its' finding the things you didn't think you needed as are much fun as finding as the ones you really did need). I went to the market with a mental list of those things I 'needed'. Having a list sounds like a good plan but it isn't always a good thing for me as I can become so focused on looking only for those things that I don't see anything else. I mean I see them, but I don't see them. In other words I see only what I want to because I can filter everything else out. Which honestly, describes how I can sometimes 'want' to see the world and everyone in it. We all do this to some extent, either we over focus on the positive and minimize the negative or over focus on the negative and minimize the positive.

Being objective is usually easier when you are not invested in something or someone. And it is definitely a little harder when you are. Like walking through an antique/flea market, having either tunnel vision or being distracted by little things, you could miss something, something important, or something (or someone) you might need (but didn't know you did). And if you ever walked down the condiment aisle in the grocery store and saw pickled onions and thought 'don't need or want them', well maybe the time has come for you to reconsider your opinion of them. Only I would suggest you pick up the ingredients for making them. And you might just experience the euphoria that comes with experiencing something you really didn't think you needed (or wanted).

Bacon Deviled Eggs

I must confess something here. I have always viewed the making of deviled eggs as 'difficult'. While I am one who usually does not like 'difficult' to get the best of me, from my perspective there were just too many devils (in the details) in the making of these eggs. Up until now that is. The tipping point for the making of these deviled eggs isn't because Easter is around the corner, nor is it because I have several dozen eggs in the refrigerator. No, the reason for the making of these eggs is because of a texted photo of deviled eggs sent by one of my friends while she having dinner in a restaurant. I can't really explain why that photo was enough to get me to overcome my trepidation of the making of deviled eggs, but let's just say I was grateful for the inspiration.

There are many versions of deviled egg recipes out there. They differ in both ingredients and in technique. The inspiration for these Bacon Deviled Eggs came from the cookbook Bon Appetit Y'all. Not so much for the ingredients but for the technique. By just reading this recipe all of the angst I had created for myself over the making of deviled eggs seemed to disappear and simultaneously made me wonder why I had been avoiding making them. It was that simple. So for all of you who have both known and unknown reasons preventing you from making deviled eggs, let me push you to think differently.

I chose to top these deviled eggs with bacon, but the topping possibilities are endless. For some added variety a chunk of cooked lobster, a slice of avocado, or crisped prosciutto would go perfect with this deviled egg recipe. So depending on when and who you are serving these to, you just might find yourself making them often. Two dozen eggs will yield 24 bites of deliciousness at a brunch, at a cocktail party or at a holiday gathering.

In a heavy saucepan, a dozen large eggs are covered with cold water (the cold water should cover the eggs by an inch). After the water is brought to a boil, remove from the heat, top with a lid and allow to rest for 12 minutes. Once the twelve minutes has lapsed, drain the warm water and fill the pan with cold water to allow the eggs to cool. I don't know where I read that (or maybe made this up) by laying eggs on their sides for at least a day before making the hardboiled eggs, the ring of white will be more evenly distributed. Whether this is a myth or culinary secret, it worked. And always to remember to use eggs that you have had in your refrigerator for at least a week (versus immediately using ones you bring home from the grocery store or farmers market).

When I have made hard boiled eggs in the past I have struggled with removing the shells without removing any of the white. But I am happy to share that this will not happen anymore. Why? Well it's all in how you crack and remove the shells. First tap the egg on the counter until it is crackled all over. Then gently roll the egg in your hands to loosen the shell from the egg. You can then peel under cool running water or peel on a cutting board, rinsing the peeled egg when finished so no bits of shell remain.

The traditional way of slicing eggs for deviled eggs is slicing them lengthwise. For a chance of pace you can certainly cut them in half crosswise.

After you carefully remove the yolks, place them in a fine mesh strainer pressing with the back of a spoon until all of the egg yolks have gone through the strainer. This process makes for a much creamier filling and it is definitely not a step to skip. Remember, the devil (of these eggs) is in the details.

To the strained eggs you will add the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, white pepper, sea salt and room temperature unsalted butter. Yes, there are two tablespoons of room temperature unsalted butter in this mixture. Not only does it make for a creamier, tastier egg filling, it balances out the flavors. Once you have blended this mixture until smooth, stir in the freshly chopped herbs. Chives are my favorites as I love their mild onion taste.

You really only need two slices of a thick cut bacon fried crisp, however, you might want to fry up three slices so you can reward yourself for making these deviled eggs for your family and friends.

Using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip, fill each of the egg halves. If you don't have a pastry bag or any of the pastry tips, you can always use a ziploc bag and cut one of the corners to create your own pastry bag.

Top each of the finished deviled eggs with a piece of the crispy bacon. Serve over a bed of arugula or in one of those deviled egg platters. Even though I have one of those deviled egg platters, I love the look of serving these deviled eggs sitting on a bed of arugula. And what I love even more is that I no longer think of making deviled eggs as something difficult.

Recipe
Bacon Deviled Eggs (inspired by the Deviled Eggs recipe in Bon Appetit Y'all)

Ingredients
1 dozen large eggs
1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 Tablespoon dijon mustard (recommend Maille)
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
pinch of sea salt
2 Tablespoons of freshly chopped chives (or tarragon or chervil)
3 slices of thick cut bacon, fried crisp

Directions
1. Place eggs in heavy saucepan. Fill pan with cold water, covering eggs with one inch of water.
2. Bring water to a boil. Remove pan, cover and allow to sit for 12 minutes.
3. Drain eggs and place cooked eggs in a cool water bath. Allow eggs to cool completely before cutting.
4. Tap shells gently on counter all over to crackle it. Gently roll egg between your hands to loosen the shell. Peel while holding egg under running cool water.
5. Slice eggs in half lengthwise. Carefully remove yolks, placing in a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl.
6. Press egg yolks through strainer.
7. Blend yolks, mayonnaise, butter, dijon mustard, white pepper and pinch of sea salt. Blend until smooth. Stir in chopped chives.
8. Place mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe yolk mixture into halves of the whites.
9. Top each finished egg with a piece of crisp bacon.
10. Serve immediately on a platter of arugula (or on deviled egg platter) or cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Sometimes our perceptions are skewed even though we might think we are seeing things clearly. Like my perception that making deviled eggs was difficult, I have had a few other perceptions that were misguided. Recently I began going to the local yoga studio. 'Doing' yoga was a first for me. After the first time I went, I wondered what and why yoga was something that didn't interest me before. Well I didn't need to spend to much time wondering because I knew why. I was making a decision about yoga based on my (mis)perceptions. Have you ever really asked yourself why you are outright rejecting or dismissing something without ever trying it? And if your answers are 'I tried it once, didn't like or enjoy it', 'been there, done that, can't do it' or 'ah it's not for me', you should ask yourself just how invested or committed you were to the 'try'. There is a reason the old adage 'all things are hard before they are easy' was created. Persistence, commitment, and the willingness to invest time and energy all play a role in how we ultimately come to view some things. It is always easier to walk away from something when it feels 'hard' or when it feels like a 'difference' we don't know how to manage.

If I stopped my attempt at running years many ago (when I couldn't get a handle on my breathing, when the inclines in the road felt steep mountain trails), I would have never run a marathon. More important, I would have never experienced the exhilaration I felt from the experience as well as the change that occurred in me as a result of the experience. The running thing did not come easy for me and it would have been easy to walk away from it (no pun intended) when it felt 'hard'. The thing is we don't really know how different our life or we can be when or if we 'give up' or 'don't try' or 'think we know'. Like the texted photo of a platter of deviled eggs, there are all sorts of tipping points out there trying to get us to shift our perceptions. We only have to be open to seeing them.

Roasted Pepper Salad, Goat Cheese and Grilled Bread

Last weekend included an excursion to Eataly, an Italian food emporium like none other here in the states (Lidia Bastianich and Mario Batali are just two of the talented individuals responsible for bringing it to Chicago). For me, Eataly has become a place of inspiration (and if I only had my own wood fired oven who knows what bread and pizza making possibilities would be in my future). From the wines, to the cheeses, to the meats, to the pastas, to the pizzas, to the breads, all I can say is that when I leave there my head is usually spinning (and not from drinking too much wine). Although Italian foods and cooking are not in my heritage, they are at the top of my culinary list of preferences.

I have been making roasted red peppers marinated in extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar and served with goat cheese on bread for years. As much as I absolutely love the simplicity of this roasted pepper recipe, I could not help but wonder if I would like even more a version containing Sicilian olives, anchovies, capers, and fresh rosemary created by Mario Batali and Dave Pasternack. Well the only way to satisfy this curiosity was to make it. And what I learned was that I loved both my simple version and what I will call this more rustic version of a roasted pepper salad.

Although the recipe called for two red peppers and two yellow peppers, I decided to use one yellow and one orange pepper (just because) in addition to two red peppers. But whether you use only red and yellow peppers or mix up the pepper choices just do not use green peppers as they are not as sweet.

There are many ways to roast peppers (on the grill, in the oven, or over an open flame), however, I have always leaned toward roasting them on the grill. If there was ever a reason to buy a gas grill, roasting peppers year round would be just one of them. After the peppers have been charred on all sides transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap (or place in a brown paper bag and seal tightly). Once the peppers have cooled slightly, you can peel away the skins and remove the seeds.

Resist the temptation to rinse the peppers when you are peeling and slicing them as rinsing them removes much of their incredible flavor. The peeled peppers should be sliced into quarter inch strips.

Cracked Sicilian olives, drained capers, freshly chopped rosemary and anchovies are mixed into the sliced peppers. In a separate bowl mix together 2 Tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and 4 to 5 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Pour the vinegar-oil over the pepper mixture and stir to combine. Add sea salt and pepper to taste. Allow the roasted pepper salad to marinate at least one hour (but up to several hours) before serving with softened goat cheese and sliced grilled bread. Either a country Italian loaf or baguette works well with this salad. And whatever you do, don't forget to serve with some red wine.

Recipe

Roasted Pepper Salad, Goat Cheese and Grilled Bread (inspired by a recipe for Anchovy and Roasted Pepper Salad with Goat Cheese created by Mario Batali and Dave Pasternack)

Ingredients
2 large red bell peppers
2 large yellow or orange peppers (or combination of both)
10 cracked Sicilian green olives
6 oil-packed anchovy fillets, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons capers, drained
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 to 5 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Italian Country Loaf or baguette sliced and grilled
1 large garlic clove, peeled
8 ounces goat cheese softened

Directions
1. Roast peppers on a gas grill, over an open flame or in the broiler until charred all over. 
2. Transfer roasted peppers to glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap (or place in a brown paper bag sealed tight) and allow to cool.
3. Peel charred skin from cooled peppers, remove seeds and stems and cut into quarter inch strips.
4. In a bowl, combine the olives, anchovies, capers, rosemary and peppers. Set aside.
5. Mix together balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Pour over pepper mixture and stir until blended. Season with sea salt and pepper. Allow to marinate at least one hour at room temperature before serving.
6. Grill bread until lightly charred and crisp. Rub each bread slice with a garlic clove and drizzle with olive oil.
7. Serve roasted pepper salad and softened goat cheese with grilled bread.

After enduring the winter's brutal polar vortex it was nice to be able to experience and remember what sun and warmth felt like. The icing on the proverbial cake of this little vacation was being able to spend time with a very good friend who recently moved to Arizona, permanently. I am fortunate to have some really good friends in my life who are aware and accepting of my quirkiness as well as know me well enough to know the kinds of things I get immense pleasure from. Things like taking in and photographing the historic parts of cities and towns (even when that means standing in the middle of the road to take a photo) and going to restaurants serving great food and/or having great ambiance (when you can take in amazing views food seems to taste even better). Shopping is on the favorite things to do list, however, this was not a shopping trip (probably a good thing although I did manage to find a piece of jewelry I couldn't live without at a street fair).

Being able to spend time in a town or city with someone who knows their way around just makes the experience all the better, all the more memorable. Although there has to come a point when going to the same places over and over again (but with different guests) can get a little old unless, of course, you find redundancy to be a good thing. And you know you have a really good friend when they take you to places they have been before (numerous times), but want you to have the experience of seeing them for the first (and sometimes even for the second) time. And you know you have a really, really great friend when the experiences they plan or places they take you are more about you than they are about them.