Summer's Bounty

Last weekend my husband and I took our daughter to Foster's Market in Durham for lunch - Sara Foster has created the ultimate oasis for food lovers like ourselves.  The place was packed both inside and out with friends and family enjoying each others company and conversation.  You can find it all here.  I saw delicious sampler plates from the cold case, casseroles, homemade soups, cookies, homemade, fresh fruit Popsicles, etc.  I, myself, had the Cobb Sandwich which was simply amazing, my husband enjoyed the Cuban sandwich and Kate quite liked the squash bisque.  Our visit reminded me of a favorite, Sara Foster, cookbook, FRESH EVERY DAY, a wonderful resource for the summer months (all year long, really!)  Our visit to Foster's Market has inspired me to make weekly trips to our state farmers market to take advantage of all of the wonderful, local, fresh fruits & vegetables (as well as fresh pastries & fresh bouquets of flowers) that the summer months produce.  I have also included a few additional cookbooks that are on my shelf and one by Gwyneth Paltrow that I will soon be adding to my collection.  While My Father's Daughter is Gwyneth's first cookbook she certainly is not a newbie in the kitchen.  One of my favorite picture cookbooks, Spain, by Mario Batali features Gwyneth Paltrow - the two take you on a culinary road trip, meeting old and new acquaintances along the way.  The book is a true feast for the eyes.  And last but, certainly, not least...what screams summer more than fresh blueberry pie & lobster rolls - YUM!  Lobster Rolls, Blueberry Pie is a gem of a cookbook offering three generations of recipes + stories from summers on the coast of Maine.  I cannot wait to plan my menu for July 4th.  The coast is calling my name!  Happy Wednesday!
Best,
Helen

entertaining

peek inside: my father's daughter

peek inside: my father's daughter, gwyneth cooking with moses and apple

peek inside: my father's daughter cookbook: sweet potato ravioli

from gwyneth's, my father's daughter cookbook: duck ragu

Easy Breezy Weeknight Cooking

I must have fifty cookbooks in my kitchen but Helen Chen's Easy Chinese Stir-Fries has to be one of my top tried and true favorites.  One might not think that a restaurant quality Chinese dish would be the quickest and easiest weeknight meal.  Think again!  If you love Chinese food like my family does be sure to add this wonderful book to your collection and keep it at the top of your stack as I know you'll be resourcing it time and time again.  Easy Chinese Stir-Fries is a fantastic collection of traditional favorites as well as non-traditional.  Chen offers substitutions for making healthier ingredient choices in many of her family favorite recipes too.  I was amazed when my husband and I prepared our first meal from Chen's cookbook.  It was so easy and actually looked like the dish pictured in the book or a dish that would be served at your favorite Chinese dive.  Minus all of the bad stuff.  YUM!!! 

I recommend a trip to your local Asian market to stock up on some basic ingredients like dark soy sauce, Chinese rice wine, oyster sauce, fermented black beans, bamboo shoots, etc.  These ingredients are all very easy to find at your local Asian market, you will not have to spend a fortune on any of them and most can be stored in your pantry or fridge for your next recipe.  Have fun cooking & enjoy!

easy chinese stir-fries cover - photo by jason wyche

 

Here I Go...

...So one can imagine my delight while perusing through my latest issue of Vogue that I came across the lovely spread of Sandra Lee - TV cook and lifestyle guru...not to mention girlfriend of New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo.  In these images Sandra Lee makes it seem so natural and effortless to combine the two passionate worlds of Food + Fashion.  Check out the article in its entirety online:  http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/sandra-lee-the-woman-in-white/ or pick up your own copy of the latest issue of Vogue on newsstands now.

Vogue - March 2011 photographed by Norman Jean Roy

Queen of the Kitchen - Vogue March 2011 photographed by Norman Jean Roy