Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Roasted Duck with Cherries

While wandering through Whole Foods the other day, I came upon a pitting device next to a majestic heap of fresh cherries. I thought to myself about what kind of dish would need so many pitted cherries that one would get fed up pitting them by hand, not so unlike dreaming of a garlic peeler while making 40-clove chicken. Sure enough, this simple recipe from Alice Waters came to mind. Half a pound of cherries may not seem like much, but the $8 investment will have you returning to this dish regularly, if for some odd reason the succulent roasted duck doesn't. To make this, you'll need one 3-4 lb duck, ½ lb cherries, some Madeira wine and some chicken or duck stock.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Too Darn Hot

The heat index is well over 100ºF today and beyond my A/C-chilled windows it looks unbearably balmy. I offer today a few fruit drink recipes to keep you hydrated and distracted from the heat wave. At the end, there's even a Tuscan summer salad that doesn't require any cooking but can definitely serve as a main dish. Then again who has any appetite in this heat? Perhaps the best solution is to eat popsicles and ice cream...


Ginger Limeade


¾ cup sugar
¼ boiling water
1.5 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
1.5 tsp grated lime rind
¾ cup fresh lime juice (about 4 limes)
2.5 cups cold water
4 lime slices (optional)



Combine first 4 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk until sugar dissolves. Strain mixture through a sieve into a pitcher. Add juice and 2.5 cups cold water. Chill completely. Serve with lime slices, if desired. Makes about 3 pints.


Or if you're heading to the store today to pick up a few things or just to read the newspaper in the freezer section, I'll recommend hunting down the ingredients for these two interesting quenchers: Heidi Swanson's specialty Blackberry Limeade, which calls for fresh blackberries, kaffir lime leaves, and cardamom pod; and also her Lime, Grapefruit, and Ginger Juice, which is quite strong but easily cut with soda water and ice.