So lately, pea shoots as a salad green seem to be sprouting up in various magazines, food blogs, etc so I decided to try them.
My method was pretty much the same as this:

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120413/COLUMN1203/304130006/Pea-shoots-make-tasty-addition-salad

Two or three weeks later, I harvested the tops and made a salad with roasted sweet potatoes, slices of blanched asparagus, pea shoots and lemon dressing and it was fabulous. I added chick peas to the leftovers for a main dish salad.

If you love salad greens, you should give pea shoots a chance. It could change your life. So what's new in your food world?

I had to google them. So they are basically alfalfa or bean-type sprouts?

I have no new food to report but I would love to know the lemon dressing recipe

Lately I've become a big fan of Star fruit.

That's all I got.

I would never think of eating pea shoots because I want peas, not the plant they grow on.

True, but actual peas have a very limited growing season in most places.


Arwen, not really like bean or alfalfa sprouts because they are leafy. More like really little baby spinach.

My lemon dressing recipe is more of a guideline:

some grated lemon zest
some lemon juice
a splash of olive oil
a teaspoon or two of mustard powder
a squirt of agave nectar
very finely grated red onion (so it's like mush)
add finely diced preserved lemon if you have it

Wisk everything together, add some salt and pepper

Yum! Thanks!

I will have to try those, PG.

The new food to report this week is coconut milk. I now use unsweetened coconut milk in my coffee, on the rare occaision that I have coffee and I love it.

And I like saying coconut.

There are just some things one should not google, but I digress.

Pad Thai and Fresh Cut Spices

OK, anon just made me LOL

I have an idea for a dinner party of maybe 6 people. I want to get a nice hibachi grill (they're reasonably priced, like 80 bucks) and do a Japanese grill type dinner with the Hibachi right in the middle. We would grill Japanese style kabobs right at the table.

What do you think? Cool or dumb and Arweny (pretentious)?

Super cool!

People love fondue and French people here (talk about pretentious!) do Raclette

That looks very unappealing.

I think that sounds like a very fun idea, Caps.

I googled Hibachi party kebobs just to see what would happen. This guy had a similar idea as your (just throw in a pool) and a very adventurous menu!

Hibachi Party Menu

Indian Lamb Skewers
Sosaties- South African Kebabs with marinated goat meat, apricot jam and dried apricots
Grilled chicken and vegetable skewers
Marinated shrimp skewers in Ponzu citrus sauce
Basmati rice with vegetables
Grilled corn with garlicky aioli butter
Fresh herbs, cucumber and garlic salad in Soy-Balsamic vinaigrette
Indian-style Cilantro Chutney sauce (aka "The Green Stuff)

The recipes herehttp://www.notetoselfexperience.com/2011/06/eat-with-your-hands-hibachi-pool-party.html

I like the Hibachi idea, Caps. It makes me want to host something similar with bulgogi and other Korean barbeque.

Cool. Definitely post if you do it. Let me know how it goes. I want to get a nice hibachi anyway for burgers and steaks. I would save on charcoal as opposed to using my 22 inch kettle grill. So, I'm going to buy one and experiment with it to figure out the logistics and timing of cooking for 6. Could be really good or really bad. I think if I get good with the hibachi first I'll increase my chances of success.

Kumquat. A strange little citrus fruit that's fun to say and sounds vaguely dirty. They taste good too. Kumquat.

OK, I keep seeing that 'pad thai and fresh cut spices' thing and have zero idea what the joke is. Can anyone explain?

To you? No.

Do you get up especially early just to rustle my jimmies, or are you a European anon?

Chia seeds soaked in Kombucha- kind if like fruit flavored sludge.

Seriously, Raclette is awesome! I went to a dinner party where they had that at the center of the table, and it was a complete hit. It was the perfect thing to do, especially when we had a table full of people that just met... it was the perfect equalizer and great conversation helper and with the right combination of stuff, seriously yumbly.

Funk, I would have to agree with the word kumquat. It is my go to funny fruit word when I perform. People always seem to giggle when I say kumquat or pants. Together, it brings the house down.

Ed - to answer your question to the Anon. The title is Random Food Discussion. I think 'it' (and I say 'it' in the most loving way since I cannot tell if it is a boy anon or girl anon), said those two items for the Random Food Discussion.

My work is done. Oh and Ed, if you have any board love for me at all, you will refrain from grammar policing this post.

But I digress.

There are just some things one should not google, but I digress.

Grammar looks just fine, Jude.

The 'pad thai' thing has come up a few times lately - I figured it must have a double meaning or be some kind of in-joke.

No. It's just anon stupidity.

But, coincidentally, I made pad thai for dinner - my first time ever. Modified, because I'm not buying tamarind paste and then discovering I can't cook pad thai.

I thought it turned out great, if I do say so myself. The guy that posted the recipe swears he learned it in Thailand, but whatever. It was good.

ED

Based on this:
http://www.oddtodd.com/the-freedom-to-throw-away-still-good-food.html

Some anon posted this:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/181413/thread/1327685217/odd+todd+hates+homeless+people+%21

and it was all downhill from there

Aha! Good detective work!

Now I want pad thai.

There are just some things one should not google, but I digress.

I'm more of a Thai yellow curry w/ rice man, myself. drool

Imma let you finish that pad thai, but this taco is the best taco of all time.

Yes, other, you cannot deny the satisfation of finishing a good taco.

There are just some things one should not google, but I digress.

It's about to be the season for Garlic Scapes - look for them wherever you buy fresh veggies and then just sautee with a little olive oil, roast or grill. Fucking delish.

http://gardening.about.com/od/herbsatoz/a/What-Are-Garlic-Scapes.htm

Pad Thai without tamarind... well, I respect why you didn't get any - but it's really available at even the crappiest of international food/ asian/ latino stores anon and isn't expensive - so here's hoping you put some in your next batch.

Fiddleheads will be out soon too

I live in the boonies. But now that I know how fabulous I am at making it, I may order some to have on hand. $5 for an item I might never use again is too much to me, FWIW. I'm frugal with a capital Fru.

LOVE LOVE LOVE fiddleheads too!

Nature's first green is so definitely gold!

STAY GOLD PONY BOY! STAY GOLD!

I have no idea what you just said, but I completely giggled at the Capital Fru.

ETA: Poor pony boy.

There are just some things one should not google, but I digress.

Whoops. Tamarind paste. Harder to get around here. For the pad thai. cough

So this isn't a new food, but it's been big around here lately.

Recently had lunch at a friends and she served a Greek salad with really good feta and grilled naan. It was fresh and good and I totally copied her three times, once for my inlaws, once when I had a different friend in for lunch and once I packed it for a picnic where I met up some people. Everyone loved it, including my husband, and we've had it for dinner once a week, with tuna or grilled chicken... One friend took a picture of it, plus the wine I served to copy it exactly!

I saw that friend yesterday who told me she's been making it for dinner once a week because her husband loves it, plus she made it for a little luncheon she had and everyone raved.

Greek Salad.

Recipe please?

This is what it looks like, no lettuce or greens. I can't paste just a pic from the iPad...
http://www.mediterrasian.com/delicious_recipes_greek_salad.htm

Seedless cucumber in half moon chunks
Ripe tomato in wedges
Red onions in rings or half rings
Green pepper in chunks
Really the best feta you can find, the kind in liquid, cubed
Kalamata olives pitted and halved

Toss in a bowlin any amount that pleases you. I've added grilled tuna, canned tuna and grilled chicken with great success.

My friend used Gazabo Room Greek Dressing, which is very good, but I hate buying dressing so I just made some

Olive oil
Half as much red wine vinager
Glob of diJion mustard
Minced garlic
Dried basil
Dried oregano
Salt and pepper
Speck of honey if you like your dressings a bit sweet or are use to bottled dressing.

SO YUM!

Wow! That's really pretty! Thanks! I'll let you know when I make it.

That salad is exactly what I am eating for lunch right now, except this has a bit of celery and green onion added. I was just thinking about mentioning my lunch here, just because "brisket" seems like a word that Jude would really enjoy.

Well the Greek salad rage is coast to coast.

Anny, will you eat it?

Oh no. I wouldn't eat it. The only things I like in the whole salad are the cucumbers and tomatoes.

But I make things for people all the time that I won't eat.

"Greek Salad Rage"

Really?

Isn't that like saying, "Tuna fish sandwich rage?"

Throw some Cavenders' in your olive oil and red wine vinegar.



Makes any salad as greek as a communal bath-house.

I have been using Cavender's as my go-to seasoning for years. Love it! That, and Adobo.

I do like the word brisket, good call, PG.

You can do a lot with it when you say it...

* you can roll the the r
* you can pronounce the ket like cat and then flounce your hand at the same time
* you can say rubber first, followed by brisket (like rubber bisquit)
* you can hold the s for an exceptionally long time before you say ket

And that's it for now.

There are just some things one should not google, but I digress.

Yes squid, just like it.

OK, so now I have to google "fiddleheads". Two nations separated by a common language and all that.

They are baby fern fronds. (fiddleheads) Some of them out here are the size of dinner plates.