A Bushel or a Peck
August 23, 2015
Tomatoes, corn and summer stone fruit. Now that we’re well into August they’re ripe for the picking. Is there anything better on a hot summer day than a BLT for lunch or dinner? How about the simplicity of corn on the cob or maybe a new riff like a charred corn salad? Or, savor peaches and plums in a pie or crostata…maybe whip up something new like a plum caramel to serve over ice cream. The early gifts of summers harvest are waiting at a farm stand near you. Sounds like a little road trip to the country is in order.
Top to bottom:
Bushels of heirloom tomatoes waiting to meet up with bacon and lettuce on a nice chunk of ciabatta.
Sweetcorn by the truck load. While corn on the cob is nice, this Charred Corn Salad with Lime, Chili and Tomato knocks it out of the park. Really, I can’t stop making this. Photo via Food52 http://food52.com/recipes/17913-charred-corn-and-avocado-salad-with-lime-chili-and-tomato
A handful of late Summer plums, a little sugar and a vanilla bean is all you need to whip up a batch of Plum Caramel…simple. http://food52.com/recipes/37359-creme-fraiche-plum-cake-with-plum-caramel
All photos ( with the exception of the charred corn salad ) by gp
A Complete 180
July 26, 2015
You can’t get any further from Winter’s icy grip than the middle of July. A near ninety degree Sunday calls for a simple plan, spending as much time as possible outdoors. Maybe a little yard work, to bring that Spring clean-up back on schedule, followed by a big slice of watermelon. Perfect.
photos: gp
Cheers!
July 13, 2015
Congratulations to one of my simplequietmodern favorites, Heath Ceramics, the recipients of the 2015 National Design Award for corporate and institutional achievement. You might want to celebrate along as well with a piece of two from their 2015 summer collection
From top to bottom:
The modern cup set, bud vase set and pair of cafe bowls are available for a limited time only in these refreshing glazes of mint, pomelo and storm. photos: http://www.heathceramics.com/
Sweet and Simple
June 22, 2015
Pound cake. Does it get any better? Well, maybe it does…like this version using brown sugar found on Food 52. Add some berries to complement it’s moist texture and caramelized flavor and you’ve got dessert covered. Sorry, Sara Lee.
The recipe found here, http://food52.com/recipes/36103-brown-sugar-pound-cake ,was adapted from one found right on the package of Domino Sugar. While it calls for dark brown sugar, I also made this using light brown sugar and found the result to be even better. You might want to make two , one to snack on during the day and one for later.
Just Right
April 12, 2015
If Marcella Hazan’s smothered cabbage soup could sustain us through the Winter, then this adaptation of her peas and rice is sure to be a hit this Spring. Five ingredients, minimal prep and 25 minutes is all you need to serve up the perfect April lunch.
This simple recipe for Aristotelian Rice and Peas can be found here at Food 52 http://food52.com/recipes/25942-aristotelian-rice-and-peas-or-the-whole-is-greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts
Brrrrrrrr
February 16, 2015
When the temps reach the zero mark, even I can can get into a big piece of meat for dinner. And, if the recipe is as simplequietmodern as this Oven Braised Beef with Tomatoes and Garlic….well, I’m all in. With only three ingredients…a beef roast, a can of tomatoes and a head of garlic… you’ll be wondering as I was why you haven’t made this before. If there are any leftovers I see some Braised Beef Tacos in my future as well.
photos:gp
Little by Little
January 24, 2015
It all started for me with a meatless Monday… easy enough. As time went on it seemed that the less meat I ate , the less I craved and I had developed an arsenal of meatless recipes that kept me satisfied. Now I’ve added wheatless Wednesday to my schedule…maybe not so easy? Bread and bread products are everywhere as well as numerous pasta variations. Hmmm. Enter chickpea flour and this simple, simple, SIMPLE recipe for Socca, a flatbread or pancake favored in the south of France and Italy, as well as variations in India. After the first test I was hooked. On their own with a sprinkle of coarse salt and pepper, using them as flour tortilla replacements in quesadillas or topping them with a bit of butter and jam with your morning coffee might just hook you as well.
Did I mention that chickpea flour is packed with protein and dietary fiber? With that bonus more experimenting was in order. Up next?….oh yes I did.
Another five easy pieces, and…
January 19, 2015
it’s not your mother’s dining room. With the holidays behind us and life moving back to ” business as usual” it’s clear that the new dining room is put to great use every day, not just Thanksgiving and Christmas. And, more comfortable with an eclectic mix of personality rather than the stuffy suite of mahogany stained boredom. It’s this simple: 1) a dining table, 2) a chair selection, 3) a long bench 4) a buffet height storage cabinet 5) a statement sized piece of art. It’s all in the quiet mix of old and new…polished and raw… that give this room it’s simplequietmodern edge. With enough seating for a group or room for one to spread out that special project, your end result is sure to earn its keep every day of the year.
Top to bottom:
The Joseph Paul D’urso “Supper” table for Donghia Furniture ( discontinued ) is the key player in this dining space, complemented beautifully by the vintage modern sideboard and Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs. The simple plank bench provides additional seating for four. photo:http://blueberrymodern.tumblr.com/
An alternative chair selection could be this ch47 chair, also by Wegner, designed in 1965. Photo:
http://hivemodern.com/pages/product493/carl-hansen-hans-wegner-ch47-chair
It doesn’t get more dramatic than the grand scale of this Lisa Spindler photograph. Photo: gp
When the real thing is hard to find, there are plenty of mid-century inspired quality pieces available, like this Atlantico sideboard. Available in classic modern woods and finishes, it has plenty of space to store dishes, serving pieces and linens as well as home office supplies. Photo: http://hivemodern.com/pages/product1397/de-la-espada-atlantico-006-sideboard
It goes without saying…
January 5, 2015
there’s gonna be cake.What celebration would be complete without it? And today, on the occasion of simplequietmodern completing its third year, this Walnut Variation, found on Food 52, seems to be the perfect combination of cake and dacquoise. A toast to you today as well…my readers, followers and friends…who take the time to stop by, get inspired, leave a comment and inspire me. I’m always surprised by what articles or photographs have been the most popular and favored by you each year. In 2014 it looks like you’ve surprised me again with black fences, quinoa kale and pear salad and baby Jaxon. So with a pop of the cork let’s see what year four has in store.
Walnut Variation: A Cake : photo and recipe via Food52 http://food52.com/recipes/28118-the-walnut-variation-a-cake
Black Fences photo: via Gardenista. revisit the post here:https://simplequietmodern.com/?s=black+fences
Quinoa , Kale and Pear Salad photo: gp Revisit the recipe here:https://simplequietmodern.com/?s=pear+and+quinoa+salad
baby Jaxon photo: gp
Head Start
December 30, 2014
With the New Year and its annual resolution to start eating healthier on our heels, now might be a good time to get a jump on that train of thought. Cooking up a pot of G’s Vegetarian Chili is just the ticket to eating healthier and heartier after all of the holiday parties, lunches and cookie trays. If you start now, when the New Year rolls in you’ll be one step ahead with another meatless favorite in your arsenal.
photo: gp
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