Recipes and memories from my trip to Hilton Head Island, SC.How do you know when it's summer? I grew up in the 60's near the Pacific Ocean in sunny SoCal. I loved the pungent aroma of orange blossoms, and the smell of the pepper trees after it rained. It was especially fragrant in mid June when the parched hillsides were beginning to peak with brown grasses. That's when my sisters and I, as little girls, were most restless. When my parents could no longer tolerate the desert heat, they would put us in the back seat, load the station wagon with food and towels, and head out on the I-10 freeway towards the continent’s edge. California beaches, here we come! It was a beautiful sight. Purple and blue hues stretched out to the horizon as the cool water spun seaweed into knotted piles. We made sand castles, followed crabs, and chased the tide and foam all day long... until the sun dipped too low to cast a shadow. And then we went home. I remember how much sand we took home with us as well. I could always feel it in the lining of my bathing suit no matter how much I moved to get comfortable. I remember seeing it spill out onto the bathroom floor from our suits as our mother prepared us for our evening bath. And, I loved to save some of the granules, and place it in a bag next to my bed. That’s when I knew it was truly summer. These days, now that I live close to the eastern shores -- with Hilton Head Island being one of my favorite destinations -- my cue that summer has arrived is now heralded by the drone of the cicadas and the shriek of the tree frogs after sunset.
All of this points to the fact that SUMMER is the best times to cook amazing food. The access to local produce, and the long, sunny days just inspire me to create fresh and easy meals. I love food seasoned generously, food with color and textures that excite, and food I can serve outside while I take in the vibrant colors of the hibiscus flowers, the honeysuckle and gardenias. One could get lost in the epic scale of a magnolia flower. But since they fade in a day or two, I will take my chances and dive right in. I don't ride in the back of a station wagon any more. And I miss giggling with my sisters. And while I'm not fond of sand in my git-a-long, I will still gather some of the white stuff and sift it through my fingers, always saving some for another day. RECIPE: Baked Halibut with Bing Cherry Shallot Sauce, |
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There are a lot of combinations for making your own dressing -- an endless amount really -- but the basics are an oil, an acid, and then your choice flavors. From there you can add something to give it body and dimension like onion, syrup, honey, fruit, etc. Then emulsify everything together, and voila: COOL GREENS AND KILLER SALADS.
Here is my go to recipe for nearly every occasion, which is a good lemon mustard shallot vinaigrette. Looking for more options? Check out my latest article on The Common Cook Education Series Page which includes recipes for 5 varieties including: Spicy Thai, Maple Herb, Easy Raspberry and a Fragrant Rosemary.
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Lemon Mustard Shallot Vinaigrette
Zest from the lemon
3 T light sunflower oil (I use a little less than the 1 to 1 ratio)
Salt and Pepper (Be deliberate. These two flavors are key to this dressing)
2 t white sugar (taste the dressing after you've mixed it to see if it needs to be cut with a bit more sugar. You won't know because the tartness of the lemons is a variable.)
2 t yellow mustard
1 T finely chopped shallots (That's those things that look like a giant, brown, garlic clove. They're more mild than an onion and a more sweet flavor.)
Then, (Ahem...this is important) EMULSIFY with a good whisk. You will see it lighten and thicken in consistency. Then toss with the greens RIGHT BEFORE serving or it will wilt them. Unless you're doing spinach, then do about 30 minutes before serving.
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Meet the Cook...
My name is Camine Pappas and I love to create beautiful and delicious food that anyone can make. My signature style centers around a love for combining things in a way you might not expect as I work to find a hidden combination of colors, textures and flavors from the things that are in my pantry and/or easy to obtain.
Want to get spontaneous with me? It's pretty exciting. Let's all find out what happens when, "I Feel Like Cooking."
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