Pimm's Anyone?

Since moving to Chicago I've learned that winter lasts for about 13 months, spring lasts a few days and then the hot, humid, sticky summer arrives. This is when a cooling drink is desperately needed, and any alternative to 'lite' beer is greatly appreciated. This is where Pimm's comes in.

There is one drink that is more quintessentially English than a nice pot of tea and that is Pimm's. Ones first Pimm's of the year is the signal that summer is finally here and it is enjoyed in England at all of the best garden parties, social occasions, picnics, polo matches, regattas and Royal visits. Alongside strawberries and cream it is one of the things that you positively HAVE to order when at Wimbledon taking in a spot of tennis. We served it at our wedding and the American guests loved it!

So what is Pimm's? Well, it was invented in London in the 1820’s and it is a gin based drink. It’s one of those drinks that you forget contains alcohol and end up drinking a glass too many – so be careful! It can be difficult to get a bottle but I found 6 bottles at our local Binny's, so I bought them all!

Recipe

Fill a glass with ice. I prefer a tall glass but a shorter tumbler is fine.

Mix one part Pimm's to three parts lemonade (or you could try ginger ale).

Add a combination of sliced lemon, apple, orange, strawberries and most importantly cucumber.

Top with a sprig of mint!

It’s actually easier to make a large jug of the cocktail and then you get to fish out your favourite (English spelling!) fruity bits.

Celebrate Wine In The Garden

Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13,
Noon – 6 p.m.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $28/$35 at the door.

Summer is the peak time for relaxation, and what could be more pleasant than an event at the Chicago Botanic Garden combining fine wine, education, and you? This two-day event will feature wineries, distributors, and importers offering one-ounce samples of their products to consumers. There will be more than 250 domestic and international wines for tasting and for purchase.

In addition to the tasting stations, there will also be a seminar/music stage, and local restaurants offering food for sale. Wine and beer will also be available for sale by the glass.

New Summer Salad

School's out and summer is here....he writes with a slightly ironic smirk as it continues to rain outside while typing. Rain seems to have been the theme of the week as we headed to our first Ravinia concert of the season to see Earth, Wind & Fire (and Rain!!). The heavens opened for at least an hour and we were treated to an unscheduled light show as we sat through a lightening and thunder storm. Those that braved the weather were treated to some fine funky tunes and it was nice to get our first picnic of the season under our belt.

As with all of our trips to Ravinia the menu was impeccably planned and was washed down with a 2 buck Chuck Merlot and a fantastic La Crema Rosé. My favorite part of the meal was a rice salad with shrimp and cucumber and for the first time in this blog I'll give you the recipe.

Rice Salad with Shrimp & Cucumber

We cooked 2 cups of brown rice and let that cool. In a separate bowl we mashed 1 clove of garlic and 1/2 tsp of salt. We then added 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup white wine vinegar which we mixed well before pouring this all over the rice and gave it a good toss. To the mix we then added 1/2 cup of fresh (from our garden) mint, 1/2 cup of chopped green olives, a large de-seeded and chopped cucumber, salt & pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice to taste. This was topped with 2 lbs of cooked shrimp, 1/4 cup of chopped chives and 6 chopped green onions.

We Love This Store

Situated in Barrington is Norton's the cutest general store run by the loveliest woman, Debbie Leydig. It opened almost 3 years ago and has been selling 100% American goods ever since. It's one of those stores where it's impossible to leave without buying something. Our favorites are the "thěr'ə-pē"candles, and the Twinkle Baby bonding dolls that we have gifted to so many of our friends who have recently had kids.

Get on their mailing list and you will be sent offers, and check out their new website that will soon include an online shopping service. Norton's celebrates its 3 year anniversary from June 15th - 19th. There will be live music daily raffles, shopping specials, plus a viewing of Pinocchio outside the barn, bring a chair!

Poolside Snacks & Treats

I'm in that weird lull between the end of regular school and the start of summer school. Not enough time to go away, but certainly enough time to start on that long list of "to-do's"; get to the gym, file away those magazine cuttings, tidy the garage etc. So honoring my favorite pastime of procrastination I ignored those jobs and headed down to our new Whole Foods to join in with one of their classes. Remember, at the bottom of this page there is a list of their current offerings, yesterdays was "Poolside Snacks & Treats".

I guess one benefit of working at my school is that we finished a week before others, which means that when I headed down to the class....I was the only person that showed up. Which turned out to be excellent as I got to watch the excellent Tatiyana at work and generally shoot the breeze with a fellow foodie. As we talked about culinary influences and discussed food heroes Tatiyana put together four really nice, easy to put together treats.

First on the list was a Sweet & Tangy Melon Slaw. This fresh, mayo free slaw introduced me to Jicama (see the picture above). Kind of a cross between an apple and a pear it added great flavor and texture to the slaw.

This was followed with my favorite dish of the morning, a Black Bean Dip with Corn & Basil. Combining sweetcorn and black beans with basil, hot sauce and cumin my 'expert' created a really flavorsome (is this really a word?) dip that was perfect for tortilla chips. In fact I took a tub of this away with me as I was headed to a small gathering of teachers where the dip was an instant hit!

The last two dishes were fruitier in nature. A Fresh Fruit Salsa with apples, pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, banana and toasted coconut was a little sweet for me, but could be perfect for the neighbors 7th birthday party this weekend. I'll be trying that recipe out on the kids.

Finally Tatiyana created a Blackberry Lime Spritzer. It's the time for limes right now as they add a summery vibe to drinks (mojito anyone?). Blackberries, lime zest, sugar, salt and lime juice were heated through to break the berries down a little. Blitzed in the food processor and strained and then added to sparkling water. In itself it was a very refreshing drink, but maybe with a splash of rum it could be a hit at our next warm summer evening gathering at The Mansfield.

The hour flew by and I came away from Whole Foods having had a really interesting time. Be sure to check out other classes that are being offered, you can also check them out on Facebook where you will also be kept up to date with the daily specials at the store. Certainly more interesting than those infernal 'Farmville' postings!

Gotta Love The UPS Man

The Mansfield is already known among the neighbors as the house that always has parcels and packages on the doorstep and today was no exception. Thankfully I was in to meet the UPS man as he delivered our first delivery from Byington Wineyard. We were in California not too long ago for a wedding and took the opportunity to visit a number of local vineyards and partake in a flight or two. One of our visits was to Byington Vineyard & Winery, a relatively young winery (established 1987) that produces some cracking wines. A flight of 5 really nice wines loosened the purse strings somewhat and we joined their wine club, bringing our current total to four!

Todays delivery comprised a 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, and a 2009 Sauvignon Blanc. The tasting notes for the Cab Sav state that it is a supple wine with hints of cedar, baking spices, and a touch of blackberry. The notes for the white read: grassy with full ripe banana and tropical aroma.

We seem to be building up a bit of a backlog of wines so thank goodness it's summertime, ideal time for entertaining and cracking open an extra bottle or two!

Supergrain is the new superfood?

We subscribe to a number of journals here at The Mansfield, some foodie, some healthy, some a bit of both. I guess Men's Health falls into both categories, and like most of the magazines can be a bit hit and miss. This month's edition, with Lance Armstrong on the front cover, is a bit of a hit if not just for the following letter that was sent into Dr Bob. Someone wrote in and asked what was the fuss about a grain called chia, which is a form of the grain called salba? It turns out that this new grain has been around a while. The Aztecs prized it more highly than gold, and it is being hailed as a nutrient-dense super seed with remarkable levels of nutrition.

The University of Toronto have found that 100 grams of salba will yield 70% of your daily requirement of calcium and 50% of your iron requirement.

It also contains 10 times more magnesium than milk, 25% more fiber than flaxseed, twice the potassium of bananas, 30% more antioxidants than strawberries, and 50% more vegetable protein than soybeans.

Dr Bob said that by adding the grain, it looks like little poppy seeds but has a mildly nutty taste, he lost 7 pounds in just a month by incorporating it into his diet.

We bought a 1lb container of 'Ultimate Chia' from Whole Foods for just under $20 and will be adding it to our diets this week. We'll let you know how we get on with it!

Check Out My Widgets

Feel free to browse around this blog. I've set up some RSS feeds, which basically means that the site will update itself without me having to do much.

On the left of the page there's a link to recipes for foods that are in season. It's a UK site but their seasons seem to be pretty much in line with ours.

At the bottom of the page there are links to Nigel Slater's recipes. He's a great English chef who is so passionate about his food. I have a number of his books that are as good a read as they are a source of great recipes.

Below Nigel there is a link to the English newspaper The Telegraph. That features up to date recipes and then Jamie Oliver's link below that has daily videos. Check out his video for bbq red mullet. I'm looking forward to trying out that simple recipe.

There are also links to Whole Foods in Schaumburg (where I got Krista the florist to put together a bouquet for my 2nd wedding anniversary). It details what events they have coming up in their classroom. The Chicago Magazine link is foodie information for the city. There are food stories plus restaurant reviews.

Finally, below that there is a diary scheduling various food related stuff. It will have details of Farmers Markets that are in town, plus anything else that I think might be of interest. Coming on Monday 31st is the launch of another food TV channel that is a spin off from the Food Network.

How To Pick A Fish

I feel guilty whenever I sneak a snack that isn't particularly healthy, but I feel even more guilty when I get the monthly magazine that comes in association with my gym membership. Guilty because I receive that magazine more frequently than I actually attend the gym! I figure that if I read the magazine then I'll feel less guilty and that I'm actually using part of my membership...as I read while eating another of those snacks.
This months copy of "Experience Life" ran two great articles about sustainable fish. The decision to buy fish ethically, and support a more sustainable seafood industry just got easier due to a new free phone app from Monterey Bay Aquarium. Once you have chosen your location it then tells you which fish you can absolutely, always eat, and which fish fall into the no, never category. You can then look at in depth information about each fish, it's history, and why it is considered a good or bad choice to choose it.
The same magazine also reported on Greenpeace's third annual Carting Away the Oceans seafood-sustainability list. Supermarkets were rated on their sourcing, labeling and sustainability initiatives. Wegmans, a regional grocery chain in the mid-Atlantic topped the list. Whole Foods came in 3rd, Target was 4th, Walmart was 7th. Trader Joe's came in at 17th out of 20 due to the fact that it stocks several 'red list' endangered seafood items.

If you can, check out the phone app. It's very good, I'll definitely be using it next time I'm buying fish. I've got a number of food related apps on my phone but would welcome suggestions regarding new ones to try out.

It Doesn't Get Much Fresher

This weekend we made our first collection of produce from Village Organics in Elk Grove Village. I found Carolyn Dickson's site while looking on www.localharvest.com. Two years ago Carolyn turned her garden into an organic garden, growing seasonal produce for her family and the community. She believes that quality organic produce should be available to everyone at an affordable price. Her vegetables are grown without chemical pest control and synthetic fertilizers. Her organic methods include crop rotation, composting, vermiculture(worm composting), use of beneficial insects, and companion planting.
So we collected Kale, heirloom lettuce, arugula (rocket!), broccoli raab and podded peas and were VERY impressed with the quality of the produce! Last night, in a hurry to use at least one of these, we made pizza. Wholewheat bases, organic pizza sauce from Trader Joes, cheese, sausage from the farmers market and fresh arugula and basil on top. Very nice.

Twenty Dollar Salmon

Do you want to know what Whole Foods $20 per pound salmon tastes like? Well, it tastes like $20 of salmon in the same way that a $4 frozen salmon steak from Caputos tastes just like a $4 salmon steak. I guess you get what you pay for, and if you're paying for line caught, natural, no additives or coloring salmon then be prepared to pay top dollar for it.

We cooked our salmon simply at The Mansfield tonight. Lightly seasoned, fresh chopped dill on top and then grilled. Great flavors....and no fishy smells in the house. The coloring of the fish was amazing. If salmon is naturally this pink, why do we need to pump them full of coloring? Oh yeah, it's because they farm them, feed them corn, and make them swim in such constricted environments that they get to pass disease back and forth.

As asparagus is in season for the next few months we also had some fresh Michigan asparagus ($2 per pound). Again, simply seasoned, drizzled with olive oil and grilled.

Total cost: $22 for 2 people.

With asparagus being in season I'm looking forward to trying one of Nigel Slater's recipes. He combines pilaf rice with asparagus, broad beans and mint. He seasons this with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, thyme and parley. As soon as I cook this treat up I'll post the recipe on the blog.

Farmers Markets in the Northwest Suburbs

Here is a list of the Farmers Markets that are out in the Northwest suburbs, so basically the ones that are closest to where we live. Oh, plus I added Libertyville as that's closest to work.

NORTHWEST SUBURBS

Algonquin. Municipal parking lot, Washington and Harrison. 1-7 p.m. Thursdays, May 20-Sept. 30. (847) 458-9779.

Arlington Heights. Village parking lot Vail and Fremont. 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays, June 19-Oct. 23. (847) 421-1860.

Barrington. South Cook Street and Lake Cook Road. 2-7 p.m. Thursdays, June 17-Oct. 21. (847) 382-3829.

Bartlett. Bartlett Town Center, Railroad Avenue and Main Street. 2-6 p.m. Fridays, June 4-Sept. 10. (630) 837-0800.

Crystal Lake. Depot Park, Woodstock and Williams. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, June 5-Oct. 9. (815) 479-0835.

East Dundee. Dundee Township Tourist Center, 319 N. River St. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 30. (847) 742-3432.

Elk Grove Village. Biesterfield and Wellington. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays, June 2-Sept. 29. (847) 437-9494.

Libertyville. On Church, between Milwaukee and Brainard. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays, June 24-Oct. 21. (847) 680-0336.

Palatine. Train station parking lot, Wood and Smith. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 30. (847) 358-1649.

Park Ridge. Prairie and Garden. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, May 29-Oct. 30. (847) 318-5217.

Schaumburg. Parking lot at American Indian Center, 190 S. Roselle Road. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays, June 11-Oct. 29. (847) 923-3855.

Woodstock. Historic Woodstock Square, 101 Johnson St. 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 19, Saturdays through Oct. 23. (815) 338-2436.

Foods in Season

I took this information from the May 12th Chicago Sun-Times article "2010 Farmers Market Guide". I figure that it will be useful in the months ahead to allow us to know what to expect from our local farmers market and also to plan meals at The Mansfield. If we can eat seasonally from local producers then we are one step closer to achieving our aim.

What's in season

MAY Asparagus, greens, herbs, leaf lettuce, pod peas, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, strawberries, watercress

JUNE Asparagus, green beans, greens, herbs, lettuce, mushrooms, pea pods, pod peas, radishes, rhubarb, snap peas, spinach, strawberries

JULY Beets, blackberries, blueberries, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, sweet and sour cherries, corn, cucumbers, red currants, eggplant, fava beans, fennel, garlic, green beans, greens, herbs, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, lima beans, muskmelon, okra, onions, parsnips, peaches, pears, peppers, potatoes, radishes, raspberries, shell beans, spinach, summer apples, summer squash, tomatoes, turnips, watermelon

AUGUST Beets, blackberries, blueberries, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, fava beans, fennel, garlic, green beans, greens, herbs, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, lima beans, muskmelon, okra, onions, parsnips, peaches, pears, peppers, potatoes, shell beans, summer apples, summer squash, tomatoes, turnips, watermelon

SEPTEMBER Apples, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cranberries, cucumbers, eggplant, grapes, green beans, greens, herbs, leeks, lettuce, lima beans, onions, parsnips, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes, pumpkins, raspberries, summer and winter squash, tomatoes, turnips, watermelon

OCTOBER Apple cider, apples, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cranberries, dried beans, greens, leeks, onions, pears, potatoes, pumpkins, turnips, winter squash

Greener Days Ahead

Well I suppose it would come to this eventually. First came the TV chefs telling us how to cook healthily at home. Then came the glut of cook books telling us how to eat seasonally, ethically, morally and cheaply. I'm not too sure if ALL four can be achieved at the same time, but we'll see over the months ahead. Food Inc, Jamie's Food Revolution, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's BBC show, local farmers markets, heirloom seeds, CSA's, and a new Whole Foods store in town means that it is now much easier to eat a better diet.
I'll be using this blog to track what we eat at 'The Mansfield', as our house has now been christened by the many friends that have joined us for food and drink. If we keep a log of what we eat, how much it costs, where we sourced the food etc maybe we can share this information with others?