The table as the gravitational center of our lives.

Posts Tagged ‘Summer’
Fattoush (Lebanese Peasant Salad with Pita Croutons)
Fattoush (Lebanese Peasant Salad with Pita Croutons)

“A salad is not a meal. It is a style.” -Feisty, chain-smoking New York-based writer, humorist, and iconic trend-setter Fran Lebowitz

Gỏi Dưa Chuột (Vietnamese Cucumber Salad with Pork, Chicken, & Shrimp)
Gỏi Dưa Chuột (Vietnamese Cucumber Salad with Pork, Chicken, & Shrimp)

“I’m chill. I’m chill as a cucumber, man.” -Canadian actor/comedian Seth Rogen as process server Dale Denton in Judd Apatow’s 2008 celebration of stoner hijinks, Pineapple Express

Soba Noodle Salad with Pan-Fried Tofu, Edamame, & Peanuts
Soba Noodle Salad with Pan-Fried Tofu, Edamame, & Peanuts

“They’re only noodles Michael.” -Kiefer Sutherland as David, the darkly smug leader of Santa Carla’s vampire gang, in Joel Schumacher’s classic 1987 movie The Lost Boys

Tuna, White Bean, & Tomato Salad with Meyer Lemon & Fresh Herbs
Tuna, White Bean, & Tomato Salad with Meyer Lemon & Fresh Herbs

“I have to quit these peas. Peas are no good for me, I better try corn or beans.” -Stephen King, American master of horror, fantasy, and suspenseful writing, in his best-selling 1994 novel Insomnia

Potage Au Cresson (French-Style Watercress Soup)
Potage Au Cresson (French-Style Watercress Soup)

“We have so much in common, we both love soup and snow peas, we love the outdoors, and talking and not talking. We could not talk or talk forever and still find things to not talk about.” -Actress Jennifer Coolidge as voluptuous trophy wife Sherri Ann Cabot in Christopher Guest’s hilarious mockumentary Best In Show

Panko-Crusted Wild Salmon Burgers with Watercress Salad & Miso Dressing
Panko-Crusted Wild Salmon Burgers with Watercress Salad & Miso Dressing

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by it’s ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” -Albert Einstein, German-born patent clerk, scientific visionary, and enviably humble human

Cardamom Scented Blueberry Buckle
Cardamom Scented Blueberry Buckle

“When any lagged behind, the cry of ‘blueberries’ was most effectual to bring them up.” -Henry David Thoreau, American poet, transcendentalist, and tree-hugger

Colorful Quinoa Grain Salad with Latin Flavors
Colorful Quinoa Grain Salad with Latin Flavors

“One grain of sand. That’s all that remains of my vast empire.” -Doe-eyed Childlike Empress, the fading, heart-broken, actually-very-old ruler of Fantasia in Wolfgang Petersen’s 1984 film adaptation of The Neverending Story

Lettuce Wraps with Wild Shrimp, Mango, & Vanilla Bean Salad
Lettuce Wraps with Wild Shrimp, Mango, & Vanilla Bean Salad

“Once, in college, I pooped my pants a little bit at a Country Steaks all-you-can-eat buffet and I didn’t leave until I finished my second plate of shrimp.” -Tina Fey as the lovable Liz Lemon, lover of junk food and Star Wars, on NBC’s consistently funny hit comedy 30 Rock

Pluot Clafoutis
Pluot Clafoutis

“Would I blow everyone’s mind if I ate dessert first?” -The adorable Richard Ayoade as Reynholm Industries’ resident socially awkward über-nerd, Moss, on the hysterically funny Channel 4 comedy The IT Crowd

Classic Tom Collins
Classic Tom Collins

“Uh yeah, I’ll have a Tom Collins.” -Charmingly-schnozzed American actor Owen Wilson as Dignan in Wes Anderson’s 1996 breakout film, Bottle Rocket

Souffléd Lemon, Poppyseed, & Ricotta Pancakes
Souffléd Lemon, Poppyseed, & Ricotta Pancakes

“I was making pancakes the other day and a fly flew into the kitchen. And that’s when I realized that a spatula is a lot like a fly-swatter. And a crushed fly is a lot like a blueberry. And a roommate is a lot like a fly eater.” -Demetri Martin, American Comedian & Smarty-Pants Polymath

Homemade Ricotta Cheese
Homemade Ricotta Cheese

“Society is commonly too cheap. We meet at very short intervals, not having had time to acquire any new value for each other. We meet at meals three times a day, and give each other a new taste of that old musty cheese that we are.” -Henry David Thoreau, American transcendentalist, tree-hugger, political activist, and writer

Thai-Inspired Seafood Salad with Snow Pea Shoots, Napa Cabbage, & Fresh Herbs
Thai-Inspired Seafood Salad with Snow Pea Shoots, Napa Cabbage, & Fresh Herbs

“Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant??? I’m halfway through my fish burger and I realize ‘Oh my God…..I could be eating a slow learner.” -Lyndon B. Johnson, Democratic poverty and civil rights advocate, as well as 36th president of the United States, stepping into office upon the assassination of JFK

Classic Insalata Caprese
Classic Insalata Caprese

“Three tomatoes are walking down the street: a Poppa tomato, a Momma tomato, & a little baby tomato. Baby tomato starts lagging behind. Poppa tomato gets angry, goes over to the baby tomato, & smooshes him…..& says, “Catch up!” -The radiant Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in Quentin Tarantino’s classic 1994 film Pulp Fiction

Herb-Baked Eggs with Creamy Sorrel Sauce
Herb-Baked Eggs with Creamy Sorrel Sauce

“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals.” -George Orwell, brilliant English dystopian writer and socio-political critic

Classic Strawberry Shortcake
Classic Strawberry Shortcake

“I’ve got it all in here. Ultra Violets. Flying Saucers. Strawberry Bootlace. C’mon. Get involved.” -Self-proclaimed “confuser” Noel Fielding as “The Hitcher” in the trippy, brilliant television version of Britain’s so-so-so-good The Mighty Boosh

Mt. Olympus Sandwiches
Mt. Olympus Sandwiches

“I believe that all anyone really wants in life is to sit in peace & eat a sandwich.” -American writer & actress Tina Fey as alter-ego Liz Lemon on NBC’s 30 Rock

Wild Sea Bass Ceviche with Avocado, Purple Potatoes, & Fried Plantains
Wild Sea Bass Ceviche with Avocado, Purple Potatoes, & Fried Plantains

“It is almost as if happiness is an acquired taste, like coconut cordial or ceviche, to which you can eventually become accustomed, but despair is something surprising each time you encounter it.” -Lemony Snicket, pseudonym and alter-ego of American children’s writer Daniel Handler

Cilantro-Infused Gin Martini with Lime
Cilantro-Infused Gin Martini with Lime

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming: GERONIMO!” -Hunter S. Thompson, American writer, weirdo, & all-around style all-star

Chipotle Jicama Slaw with Asian Pear, Green Cabbage, and Radish
Chipotle Jicama Slaw with Asian Pear, Green Cabbage, and Radish

“I wonder what you’d have on the side with a plate of Deep-Fried Anxiety. Pickles? Coleslaw? Potato-Strychnine mash?” -Robin McKinley, American writer and repeat Newbery offender (man I loved Newbery books as a kid…..The Westing Game! Ramona Quimby, Age 8! Sigh.)

Classic Guacamole
Classic Guacamole

“I have an enormous amount of trouble trying to get people to come to my place. I hate it. I can’t tell you how much leftover guacamole I have ended up eating over the years. I don’t even know why I make it in such great quantities.” -Michael Scott, Dunder Mifflin’s clueless and awkward boss on the American version of Ricky Gervais’s brilliant “The Office”

Crostini with Farmer Cheese, Radish, and Dill Spread
Crostini with Farmer Cheese, Radish, and Dill Spread

“I always wanted to be a farmer. There is a tradition of that in my family.” -Björk, eccentric Icelandic singer, avant-garde composer, producer, and actress

Chunky Tabbouleh Salad with Roasted Chicken
Chunky Tabbouleh Salad with Roasted Chicken

“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper.” -Albert Einstein, German-born theoretical physicist


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