Dining and Opining

Over the weekend, we got to be the recipients of some world-class hospitality, delicious food, and beautiful farm scenery, while visiting friends in eastern Iowa. Soon upon arrival, we were greeted with this brunch feast: Many of the ingredients were from the farm on the grounds, just picked that morning: the mint in the watermelon salad, the kohlrabi (sprinkled with tagine spice in the third photo below), the strawberries, the fennel (in the last photo below), and the kale in the scrambled eggs (pictured above). After stuffing ourselves with all of these goodies, we got to take a tour around the farm. Our friend ST works at a boarding high school that has a 35 acre farm onsite. Much of the school's food comes from this farm, and all the students work the farm and learn about food issues as part of their broader education. Awesome. Here we are crossing the muddy path on the way up to the fields, sinking our toes deep into the squishy cool wetness: A view of our ...

Just as the leaves began to turn yellow here in Madison, a taste of summer landed on my doorstep: Two beautiful jars of homemade jam from my college roommate, sent from Florida with love. Cantaloupe Peach and Strawberry Peach, jewel-like and beautiful in their glass jars: I broke into the first jar as soon as it came, licking the sweetness straight from the spoon, feeling so grateful for friends who know just the kind of treat that keeps me smiling. Since then, I've been slathering the jam on everything. From my morning granola: To toast: And everything in between--I've stirred it into my oatmeal, scooped it my into yogurt, eaten it on top of brownies for dessert, and have licked it right off my fingers. I can't wait to open the second jar... Thanks, SF, for this delicious gift, and for keeping me buoyed.

Sometimes we like to go all out. To feast like kings and queens. In the past, this impulse, when paired with the desire to see our friends TY and SK, has culminated in a Sichuan Feast and a Mexican Fiesta . This time around, a Mediterranean-inspired spread, with nods to Turkish and Lebanese cuisine. I've linked to some of the recipes or sources below, but let me know if you want more information about any of these dishes--they all turned out wonderfully! (1) A spread of marinated goodness: artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, home-canned dilly beans with garlic cloves, and home-pickled beauty heart radishes; and (2) Hummus , Vegan Muhammara (an amazing walnut-roasted red pepper spread), and Baba Ganoush , with whole wheat pita: Turkish Red Lentil Soup (super simple, and really hearty) and Turkish-Style Braised Green Beans (made with green beans I'd frozen from the market last summer): Spinach and Black Eyed Peas with [lots of extra] Caram...

I recently read this beautiful article, Showing Compassion Through the Gift of Food , at npr.org, and was flooded with memories of all the times friends have taken care of me by sharing a meal or a treat. It made me want to share these photos with you, of a recent meal--full of Southern comfort food--that our friends SB and JB made for us to help us through some rough times. A pan of delicious barbecue tofu and crock pot full of golden grits: Stewed greens and barbecue sauce, along with an assortment of delicious pickled peppers and tomatoes: Crispy, buttery cornbread and perfect gluten-free apple tarts: The whole meal came together like a dream, and kept us full and warm (in our bellies, and our hearts) for days to come. Like the author of the above article told her six-year-old daughter, "when you make people food with your hands, it can help them feel better." How have friends offered you solace through food in times past?