A Side of Kale
Growing up we ate all sorts of exotic foods. Living in Hawaii while I was young provided me with a pretty diverse palate that made everyone in my family adventurous eaters (except for my mom who unfortunately has a pretty severe shellfish allergy which was discovered while living on Oahu). That, coupled with all the Allied Officers my parents sponsored, meant we were exposed to plates of Vietnamese, Moroccan, Egyptian, African–you name it–foods, most of which would cause me to clean my plate.
But, even when I was young in addition to the daring, I liked very simple foods. For several years in a row my birthday meal request was a bowl of pinto beans and cornbread. My twin sister was not a happy camper, and if memory serves, finally vetoed the meal for shared occasions. It’s really no wonder why I like Southern food so much because at its heart, it’s as simple as it gets.
Years ago I got sent a press kit for Gena Knox’s cookbook, “Southern My Way.” I adore her take on Southern food, primarily because most of it has a modern twist and is not as heavy as traditional food from this region. I make her rosemary biscuits with honey ham for a quick supper, but my favorite so far is her healthful recipe for collards with capers, raisins, and pine nuts. I love how it’s not laden with the extra fat so often found with greens recipes, nor does it take hours to prepare. I’ve tweaked it with kale (which she suggests) that I cannot get enough of recently. It’s the perfect side this summer for anything you’re throwing on the grill.
Gena was kind enough to let me reprint the recipe and use her gorgeous photograph from the cookbook.
Kale (or Collards) with Capers, Raisins, and Pine Nuts
PREP TIME 15 minutes
COOK TIME 10 minutes
YIELDS 4-6 servings
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 ¼ pounds kale, ribs and stalks removed and leaves sliced crosswise into ribbons (about 15 cups of greens)
¼ cup finely chopped shallots
½ cup chicken or vegetable stock
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons golden raisins
1 ½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 ½ tablespoons toasted pine nuts
1 tablespoon capers
FIRST Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender, about 3 minutes. Add half of greens, stock, and salt and cook until greens wilt slightly, about 3 minutes. Using tongs, fold in remaining greens so that wilted greens are mostly on top.
NEXT Add raisins, cover pot with lid, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes until greens are tender, tossing occasionally.
LAST Toss greens with vinegar and season with pepper. Arrange on platter and top with pine nuts and capers; drizzle with extra olive oil, if desired.
Image: © Erica George Dines
Buy the Ticket
In a completely coincidental span of about two weeks I read the book “Wild” and watched the film “The Way.” What’s a bit weird is that both works (which I highly-recommend) dive into the same theme of traveling alone. Specifically, going out on a somewhat isolated journey to sort through life-altering events.
Have you ever traveled alone?
I did, once … kind of. During my senior year of college I enrolled in a program called Alternative Spring Break. It was an interesting week during which I traveled with complete strangers to Chicago to work on “Streetwise,” the newspaper (although I think it’s since been converted to a magazine layout) sold throughout the city by homeless men and women for a nominal amount. It’s a wonderful organization, and the people that run it are the salt of the Earth. So, I can’t say I was solo, exactly, during those travels. I wasn’t trekking through the Pacific Crest Trail like Cheryl Strayed in “Wild,” or embarking on the historical quest of el Camino de Santiago like Martin Sheen’s character in “The Way.” No, I was surrounded by people the entire time, but no one that I knew beforehand, which was a strange feeling–to be without the comfort of an existing relationship with my travel companions.
Good Omen
When we bought our house, between signing the closing papers and moving in, a bird’s nest had been assembled in the corner of one of the pillars on our front porch. I had a lot of time on my hands then. I was going through this tough transitional period in my career post-leaving cable news, but pre-making a go at writing full-time. This nine-month period was both incredibly difficult, but rewarding in the long run. I didn’t trust myself enough yet to actually feel and act like a writer (no solid work on the horizon), but I knew in my gut it was what I left a bustling newsroom to do. But to write what and for whom, I had no idea, and instead of gaining confidence with each passing day, I got weaker, filled with self-doubt and sank into quite a funk. We really are our own worst enemies, aren’t we?
Wedge Explosion
I’ve had a pretty steady relationship with the wedge sandal. I’m certain my penchant for them has something to do with the fact that they are a petite girl’s best friend. For starters, wedges are so much more comfortable than a stiletto, but they still give added height. I have several pairs that make me inches taller that are so comfortable I can sport them all day. My first pair back in high school was so heavy I remember packing them for a trip and feeling like free weights were tucked inside. They had zero give and were what I suspect to be the equivalent of walking on cement blocks, but I loved those wedges and wore them until the straps were falling apart from the weight of the thick sole.
Nowadays wedges come in just about every color of the rainbow and every style imaginable–from slip-on to T-strap to woven espadrille-style heels. It’s not hard to find a pair to match every occasion, no matter if it’s dressed-down denim shorts for a barbecue or paired with a summer sundress fit for an afternoon wedding. Here are my favorites.
1. Coconuts Vice Wedge, Swell 2. Seychelles Memories of You, Piperlime 3. Seville Canvas and Satin Wedge Espadrilles, J.Crew
4. Steve Madden Tampaa, Piperlime 5. The Metallic Streetside Sandal, Madewell 6. Wowza Metallic Wood Heel Wedges, Topshop
7. Ciao Bella Black Leather Hartmen Rubber Wedge, Bluefly 8. Indigo by Clarks Sky Pocomo Wedge Sandal, American Eagle Outfitters 9. Nude Patent Wedges, Dorothy Perkins
Reese Witherspoon Wearing Wedges image: girlstalkinsmack.com
Gin and Juice
Here’s what trend I see popping up in the spirits category this year—gin, gin, gin, gin and more gin, gin. Juniper is having a serious moment here. Snoop had it right back in 1994. I actually wasn’t a fan of it, always favoring the more subtle and smooth vodka in my cocktails, but then I tried Hendrick’s, and besides having incredibly clever packaging made to look like a vintage apothecary jar, it’s the best tasting sip there is.
I’ve now stumbled across what sounds like the most delicious, perfect springtime-into-summer sip of choice–the blackberry cocktail. Of course, it contains gin. This is Atlanta chef Anne Quatrano’s recipe, which was published in a back issue of Southern Living, and I cannot wait to make it. I mean, mint, lime, cucumber, and blackberries all swimming in a sea of gin … how great is that?
Get the recipe here. Don’t know about you, but it helps me keep my mind on my money and my money on my mind.
Siesta Key
My first trip to Florida was when I was a sophomore in high school and went to visit a friend of mine whose family moved to Orlando. I have to say, Orlando is not exactly my favorite spot (quite the opposite, actually). The parking lot coming out of Disney World at 10 p.m. with kids that should’ve been fed and in bed hours prior kind of turned me off. But, once I met my husband, I realized the specialness Florida holds for him and his family. Thank goodness that place is not Orlando.
We go just about every season possible and the vibe of the area changes with the time of year. For instance, during spring break, it’ll be flooded with snowbirds who call it home (one who once flipped me the bird because I inadvertently didn’t come to a full stop for pedestrians who hadn’t yet started walking across the street). To fall, when you’ll likely have the whole beach to yourself (my favorite). We try to go in the summertime at least once, generally around July 4, because in my mind, there’s nothing quite like seeing fireworks over the ocean. And we’ll make up a big batch of something great to eat, like scallops with bacon and sweet corn on the grill, open a bottle wine, and it’s my idea of perfection. It’s filled the families like us, leisurely celebrating the holiday.
The area we go to is Siesta Key, about seven hours south of Atlanta, just off Sarasota overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. We’re utterly spoiled when we go–we get to use my in-laws condo for our stay, which is such a generous treat. It feels just as much like going home as it does when we return to my husband’s hometown of Cincinnati. Because of this, I cannot exactly recommend places to stay, but I can offer a ton on where to eat and what to do. Here are my recommendations of where to head while in stunning Siesta Key.
Event Envy
Me at a restaurant opening with several of my favorite writer and publicist friends.
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a real thing. And never has it been more apparent in our culture than right now with the boom of social media. In an instant, our lives are as mundane or as fantastic as we spin them to be. Forbes just featured a great piece on it, you can read here.
We can shape a so-so situation into the most glorious time, making other’s wish they were there. We’ll fill our social calendar out of that fear of missing anything. By choice, I’ve been a hermit lately. And for the first time in a while I recently ventured out to an event–and lo and behold if it wasn’t the same people having the same conversations. Nothing against any of those people, nor their likely enlightening conversation, but man, if I didn’t want to just be at home cooking supper with my husband or out to dinner with my best friend giggling until we both keel over from stomach pains.
I had an epiphany at that event that I was really only there because I didn’t want to be the one that wasn’t. As if I’m so important that anyone would actually give a care if I didn’t show up. I’m seriously not that full of myself, but are we now a society shaping our lives not because we want to be somewhere, but because it’s where we think we ought to be? Why? So, we can check in on Foursquare with our peers and someone can say, “It looks like Dana and Stacy are at the opening of the must-be-seen-at latest restaurant opening or art exhibit. Wow, wish I were there?” So you can post pictures of the it’s-so-amazing-oh-my-gosh-you’re-a-dork-if-you-don’t-know-about-it underground supper club that meets every third Tuesday of months ending in “y” in an airstream trailer that moves to undisclosed locations.
Seriously. I’m not jealous. Isn’t there some famous quote about one of the great joys in life is not only being invited, but having the choice to not show up? I’ll probably find that gem of a saying on Pinterest, while crafting the perfect surprise birthday party theme with the most coveted invite list in town.
Sigh.
Trust me, you’re not missing a thing.
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble
I know it’s entirely too early to be posting something so seasonal as a dessert composed mostly of strawberry and rhubarb. But, I couldn’t resist. Whenever the weather starts to turn warm (we’ve had some 80° days in succession already in Atlanta) I get a hankering for that tart and sweet concoction. I realize this dessert should be reserved for a hot summer day topped with vanilla ice cream that melts as soon as it hits the steamy surface, but I am impatient and wanted it now.
Bucket List
Image: Courtesy of Keep Calm Gallery
It’s always this time of year, springtime, when I get an itch to travel. You can see my similar post here back in May 2010 about dream destinations. There aren’t too many places I wouldn’t venture, but I do have a handful of spots higher on my list than others. This is my travel bucket list at the moment.
Emerald City
I’ve always loved St. Patrick’s Day. I think it’s because I associate it with memories of Spring Break of college days past, as most of the time it coincided with the end of mid-term and me heading somewhere sunny with friends for a blurry week of, “You’ll never believe what just happened.” Because of this, I have a strong relationship with Kelly green, specifically, but pastel shades of seafoam green (the color used for danapop) and mint in my favorite kind of ice cream make me equally happy.
Come Saturday, there will be a sea of green among us. Until then, here are my favorite hues this spring, appearing like a grassy field.
1. Modern Green Four-Light Mini Chandelier, Bellacor 2. Stripped Hemp Dog Bed, Olive & Cocoa 3. Wyatt Kelly Green Colorblock Blouse, Bluefly 4. Multi Strap Vest, Topshop 5. Le Pavillion iPhone Case, Kate Spade 6. Green Flat Clutch, Claire Vivier 7. Pleat Belted Dress, Oasis 8. Supersoft Skinny, Topshop 9. Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies, Betty Crocker 10. Ombres 5 Lumiéres Eyeshadow, Yves Saint Laurent. Showpony Eat Your Greens Tea Towel image: Not On The High Street
