new potato, garlic scape and peas

5-31-2012 Thu. warm, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with spicy cabbage
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---strawberries
BEFORE-CONCERT-DINNER --- pan-fried new potatoes | sauteed fresh peas with garlic scape | wine 

 

• all new summer crop from farmer's market

new potatoes

5-30-2012 Wed. warm, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta with spring vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- stir-fried spicy cabbage with fermented fava bean sauce | new potatoes  stew with sausage and tomato | drunken chicken with cucumber | radish and fennel salad | wine

 

• new potatoes start to show up at farmer's market this week.

peas and beans

5-29-2012 Tue. hot, sunny, evening shower.


BREAKFAST --- coffee 
LUNCH --- seasoned rice with shrimp and beans
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- pasta with roma beans, snow peas and fresh peas | simmered baby squid with ginger and scallion sauce | fennel and avocado salad | wine 

 

 

• snow peas and shell peas are from c. garden.

Hainan chicken rice

5-28-2012 Mon. hot, sunny.

  
WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | scallion pancake | strawberries 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- Hainan style chicken and rice | lightly pickled cucumber | sauteed peas with cubed beef | wine 

 

• a free range and locally grown chicken from Farmer's Market.

Mediterranean dinner in the garden

5-27-2012 Sun. hot, sunny. evening shower.



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | scallion pancake | mango | strawberries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---sauteed fresh peas from garden
DINNER --- ( in the garden ) mojito | wasabi peas | homemade pizza with three toppings: pepperoni  with homemade tomato sauce and asiago cheese, porcini mashroom and zucchini blossom; sweet onion and asiago cheese | paella: shrimp, mushroom, Roma beans and roasted red pepper | beer | grand marnier cake

fresh peas from garden

paella

 pepperoni pizza

porcini mushroom and zucchini flower

• peas, pizza, and paella. drinks and chats with Rafael and Angela.

Gangs All Here

5-02-2012 Sat.  hot, sunny.

  

WEEKEND LUNCH --- ( at Alchemy, Baltimore) Maryland soft shell crab sandwich | Spanish chorizo burger | pudding and wiped cream |  Belgian saison beer | espresso  
BEFORE-CONCERT-DINNER --- boiled Shang-dong style dumplings 

 Gangs all go to the show at Charles

 in Jan's designer pad: lamp shade, speaker box, and closet door

 

• takes an insider to see a city. 
• Gangs All Here,  Busby Berkeley's dream-world like Dali's paintings came alive, with sappy music. 

Rib eye steak, frozen, seard, roasted at 170

5-25-2012 Fri. warm, hazy. 


BREAKFAST ---
LUNCH --- ( at H. G. ) kung pao chicken | house noodles 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple
DINNER --- rib eye steak, frozen, seared and low-temperature roasted| boiled greens | pan-fried potatoes | fennel and radish salad | wine 

 

•   time-control for rare and tender texture: 1 inch thick,  45 min. in oven.

from garden to table, in 30 minutes

5-24-2012 Thu. warm, sun to rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- seasoned rice wrapped in reed leaves 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple 
DINNER --- sauteed fresh peas with roasted red pepper and shallots | stir-fried shrimp with baby zucchini and snow peas | rice | fennel and radish salad | wine 

 

a  harvest from garden just before dinner

 

snow peas and zucchini

 

fresh peas 

 

  newly acquired Swedish design set

• green and  fresh, sweet and crisp.

duck confit

5-23-2012 Wed. warm, rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed bean sprouts 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- duck confit | pan-fried sliced potato with rosemary | sauteed pea leaves | wine 

 three days ago...

add  plenty sea salt and herbs

 rub in smashed garlic and pimenton

wrap it up and cure in fridge for 2 days

 slow cooked in duck fat or oil (8 hours, 170 degree)

seared before serving

 

• error free duck confit, delicious.

stuffed gluten puffs

5-22-2012 Tue. warm, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with garlic scape and eggplant 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- stew of stuffed fried gluten puff with minced chicken and onion | sauteed bean sprouts and pea leaves | rice | fennel and radish salad | wine 

 

 

•   a quick Chinese meal for busy Tuesday evening

with rain in spring

5-21-2012 Mon. warm, rain.

  
 BREAKFAST --- coffee
 LUNCH --- rice with asparagus and baby artichokes 
 AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
 DINNER --- stir-fried garlic scape and smoked tofu | simmered Chinese eggplant with tomato | rice | fennel and avocado salad | wine

 rain brings mushroom along the path to the tea house

 

• light and homey.garlic scape is one of the special spring vegetables,  sweet and garlicky. 

risotto with green vegetables

5-20-2012 Sun. warm, sunny. 

  

WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | strawberries | mango 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- beer | guacamole and chips
DINNER --- parboiled pea leaves | pan-fried baby artichokes | asparagus risotto with fresh peas and shiitake | wine 

 

 flowers from garden 

the  first pick of peas from garden

•   busy time to have green fingers in the garden. 
• risotto requires 45 minutes of stirring and slow cooking.  Asparagus stems are simmered and pureed before hand, then mixed in the rice at the end.

Zucchini blossom and Branzini

5-19-2012 Sat. warm, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | baguette | blue cheese | strawberries | mango 
 AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
 DINNER --- pan-fried zucchini blossom stuffed with shiitake, zucchini and roasted piquillo pepper | roasted branzini with  ginger and olive oil | sauteed asparagus | bread | avocado and radish salad | wine 

 zucchini and blossoms harvested from garden

 

• the first harvest of zucchini blossoms, incredibly  delicate and delicious.

greens from the community garden

5-18-2012 Fri. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pasta with clam sauce 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- Chinese taco steamed buns with roasted pork shoulder and spring onion | stir-fried noodles with fresh spring greens and tomato | wine 

 

• harvest greens in the community garden

fresh peas just in

5-17-2012 Thu. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- water
LUNCH --- ( at G.J's Deli ) pastrami  sandwich | twist fries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple
DINNER --- sauteed fresh peas with twice-cooked pork | linguini with garlic & clam sauce, served with tomato and arugula | boiled spinach with citrus sauce |  wine 

 

• very tender and sweet fresh peas from farmer's market.

roasted pork shoulder buns

5-16-2012 Wed. warm, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- rice with chive flowers and smoked tofu 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple 
DINNER --- Chinese taco steamed buns with marinated roasted pork shoulder and sauteed spring onion | sauteed radicchio with tofu skin and wood-ear | wine 

 

•   Chinese taco pork buns.  the pork shoulder was marinated for two days. tied with string and brushed with sauce,  roasted (350 degree) for 40 minutes, then broiled for 20 minutes. cooled to room temperature, wrapped in foil and chilled in fridge.  good flavor and excellent texture.

bitter melon

5-15-2012 Tue. mild, rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- spicy pickled cucumber salad | sauteed bitter melon with tofu skin roll and wood-ear | stir-fired chive flowers and smoked tofu | rice | wine 

 

• taste the spring in fresh bitter melon

steamed dumplings

5-14-2012 Mon. mild, rain.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | fennel and mango salad | wine

 

• homemade dumplings with mustard green filling.
• sowed pole Roma beans and fava beans.

farmer's market and art fair

5-13-2012 Sun. warm, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- ( in the garden ) coffee | milk | croissant | mango | strawberries | scallion pancake 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  beer 
DINNER ---  sauteed pea shoots | sauteed tofu with spring onion | Thai style hot and sour shrimp | rice | fennel and bib lettuce salad |  wine 

 fresh vegetables from the farmer's market this morning 

the photographer Andy's booth at the art fair today

• a busy day out and in