summer flowers, some edible!

7-08-2018 Sun.  beautiful day 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread and cheese | fruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea and fruit 
DINNER ---  zucchini flowers in clam broth with dumpling and basil |  burrata salad with tomato, basil and zucchini flowers | steamed artichoke | sauteed sweet corn with shallot and chili  

** glorious garden before sunset ***

• a beautiful day in summer 

soup of zucchini blosssom and zucchini

6-02-2018 Sat. 



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | homemade dark rye bread | fruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- zucchini flower and zucchini in clear vegetable broth (garlic, theme, leek and kind mushroom)  | open face sandwich: toasted homemade dark rye bread, Icelandic yogurt, roasted beet, avocado, radish, Russian pickled herrings | steamed sweet shrimp | homemade Russian ring biscuit 

• very pretty and tasty, all party collaboration 

mini crab cake stuffed in zucchini blossom

7-09-2017 Sun.  



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread and cheese | fruit 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  guacamole
DINNER ---zucchini blossom stuffed with seasoned crab meat and herbs, in zucchini, beech mushroom and herb broth | braised whole rock fish in rice wine and sweet soy with ginger and scallion | sweet corn  | wine

 

• rare find at farmer's market,  truly in season. the blossom soup is remarkable, fresh, sweet, tender and flavorful.

ravioli of zucchini and its flowers

7-03-2016 mild, rainy.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread and cheese | watermelon 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER ---  homemade zucchini blossoms and crab meat ravioli in garlic sage broth, with zucchini | corn on the cub | salad  | wine 

crab meat, zucchini blossoms, pecan and shiitake 

• fancy filling, homey shell 

tempura of zucchini blossoms

8-29-2015 Sat. hot, sunny. 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee  | croissant | bread and cheese | water melon | grapes 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- watermelon 
DINNER ---  tempura stuffed zucchini blossoms | wine and soy braised short ribs | sauteed mustard green with fermented black beans | salad | wine 

• explored a new farmer's market, got much better squash blossoms, just right size and tight shape. 

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.

Pizza with Uncle Vanya

8-04-2011 Thu. hot, broken clouds.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- new potato stew with cod
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plums
BEFORE-THEATER-DINNER --- (at 2amys pizza) house pickled herring | duck prosciutto | zucchini blossom pizza | beer

• impressive pizza crust, thin and toothy. house pickled herring is sweet and sour with nice texture.
• Uncle Vanya was in love with Cate Blanchett who wears Prada or McQueen.
  

under Tuscan sun: zucchini blossoms

6-12-2011 Sun. hot, cloudy, thunder


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | baguette | lychee | cherries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at Textile Museum, a gathering for Sidney) wine
DINNER --- pan-fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with fresh herb and fresh ricotta | Armenian cucumber salad sauteed pea shoots with spring young garlic | sauteed fresh peas with summer savory | baked branzino (Mediterranean sea bass) with fresh ginger, lemon thyme in olive oil | wine

zucchini blossoms from farmer's market

stuffed with ricotta, battered and fried

light, crispy and creamy

Armenian cucumber salad

branzino and pea shoots

• first time found zucchini blossoms and pea shoots at a farmer's market locally. the tempura-like stuffed and fried zucchini blossom is superb, a special Tuscan treat.
  

stuffed zucchini blossoms

a delicious treat of Tuscan summer, if you are lucky to have these delicate golden flowers in garden or at local market.

• 20 fresh zucchini blossoms, with stems. carefully rinsed

for the stuffing

• 1/2 cup fresh ricotta cheese
• 2 spring onion, white part, or shallots ,chopped finely
• 2 tbs finely chopped fresh herbs (sage, summer savory, oregano, basil, thyme)
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• salt and pepper

for the batter:

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 egg
• salt

1. mix the ingredients for the batter a hour ahead and chill in refrigerator
2. mix the ingredients for the stuffing.
3. cut a slit near the base of each blossom, remove the stamen.
4. use a small spoon to carefully stuff the blossom with the ricotta mixture, not too much. then slightly twist the blossom petals to close the slit.
5. heat a frying pan to high heat, heat 2 tbs oil to medium-high
6. dip each blossom in the batter, then place it in the frying pan. fill the pan but not too crowded.
7. fry the blossoms both sides about 3-4 minutes total, till golden.
8. serve immediately