Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen

We did not need another kitchen gadget.  But the concept was too good to ignore.  To be able to make thin ribbons from zucchini, sweet potatoes, potatoes or any myriad of vegetables appealed to me.  The Spiralizer was on sale at William Sonoma.  I am glad that I spent the $29.00 for it.  We have used it many times already. Spiralized zucchinis are called zoodles.

While on Facebook one day, this recipe for a salad with spiralized zucchini and other raw vegetables popped up.  It was one of those streaming videos with all of the instructions delineated. I made it.  We loved it.  I just made it again.  It is easy and uses all of my favorite raw vegies.  The only ingredient that I cooked was the corn.  I bought two ears of corn and blanched them briefly.  But the other ingredients are raw.  It has a light mustardy vinaigrette dressing that gives just the right amount of flavor.

The cottage has some new lights.  Originally, we had some inexpensive Lowe’s pendant lights hanging over the sink area.  I have been wanting to replace them with more industrial wire cage pendants with Edison light bulbs.  While shopping at a furniture store in Black Mountain, I found these.  I love them.  Convincing David was another matter.David is all about energy efficient bulbs.  I am not sure that these Edison light bulbs are that bad.  After all, they are only 40 watts each.  His other argument against the lights was that  he loved our old fixtures. Some husbands don’t notice or care about design elements.  He is not one of them.  Sometimes I love that, other times . . . not so much.

I prevailed because it was Mother’s Day and I promised to turn the lights on only when necessary.  Mother’s Day holds much power.

I hope that you will love this salad as much as we have.  It is something that makes you feel good about what you are eating, but is so good that you would eat it even if it wasn’t good for you.  One night we had it with salmon . . . one night with ribs. Either way you can feel righteous.

ZOODLE MIXED SALAD

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Juice of 1 lime
3 Tablespoons white vinegar
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 to 2 Tablespoons grainy mustard
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Zucchinis spiralized or shredded
3/4 cup red cabbage sliced thinly
2 ears of corn, blanched and cut from cobs
1 cup of broccoli florets cut small
15 grape tomatoes cut in half
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

In a large bowl mix the olive oil, lime, vinegar, honey, mustard and salt and pepper until emulsified.  Add the remaining ingredients and toss until coated with dressing.  Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour for flavors to meld.  Serve.  Leftovers will keep in fridge for a few days.

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At a recent get together with the Anderson family (The funeral of General Earl E. Anderson), extended family members from Binghamton, New York brought one of their local specialties; Spiedies. My first understanding was “Speedies”.  What?  Fast chicken and pork?  But I quickly got into the program.  I remembered that the Italian word for skewered meat was spiedini.  How this specialty of Italy made its way to Binghamton is still a mystery to me. I did find out that every August Binghamton holds a Spiedie Rally and Balloon Fest.  There are cooking contests held to see who can make the best spiedie sandwich.  Spiedies are actually skewered marinated meat (beef, chicken, lamb or pork), grilled and served with soft Italian bread which is used to pull the meat off of the skewer.  So forgive the above picture with grilled bread.  To make it authentic that bread should be soft and strong enough to pull the meat off of the skewers.  Add hot sauce or the cooked marinade to make it complete.  Everyone in Binghamton understands the concept.

The recipe I used came from The New York Times.  You can find it here.  With grilling season upon us, you will be happy to have such a flavorful meat entree.  I used pork and chicken.  Do not marinate the chicken for more than 12 hours as it breaks down after that time.  The pork can be marinated for up to 36 hours.

Last week I visited an old friend from college.  She has just built the most charming house on several acres near Black Mountain, just a stones’s throw away from Lake Lure.  I feel so fortunate to have her close by.  We were both newly married attending the University of Florida when we met.  We had an instant rapport.  I am happy to say that Barb and I still have that special connection.  We have been having fun together shopping, lunching and laughing.  I love what she has accomplished with this house.  The farm sink, the color of the cabinets, the sliding barn door and the antique elements all combine to make such a welcoming space.

I could be very happy cooking in this kitchen.

Happy May Day a few days late.  My lilac bush in front of the guest cottage has bloomed on schedule.  Growing up in Michigan it was a tradition to make paper May baskets, fill them with lilacs and deliver them to friends and neighbors on May 1st.  The smell of lilacs brings back all of those memories.

We have many visitors at the lake during the year.  Because of that, I am always looking for recipes to serve to a crowd.  Breakfast hash browns take time and when you are juggling eggs and bacon, it is just one more pan that has to be watched.  I found this simple baked hash brown recipe on Pinterest.  You can even prep it the night before.

We went for our first boat ride of the season last week.  Spring on the lake is so beautiful.

The iconic view of Lake Lure is one of our favorites.  We call this the “kissing alligators” view.  The mountain to the right is obviously an alligator head.  The mountain to the left is a little obscured, but definitely looks like an alligator head.  Our cottage is next to the orange boathouse on the right.

I have several favorite houses on the lake.  Surprisingly they all have a French Chateau look to them.  I got in trouble a few years ago peeking into this house when it was under construction.  There were “No Trespassing” signs posted, which I ignored.  The owner was next door and was not happy with me.  I tried to explain that I was a decorator and could not help myself; it fell on deaf ears.

This stucco house with French blue shutters is for sale if anyone is interested.  Here is a link.  By the way, I am happy to say that we have just sold our Florida house.  We will be returning to Florida soon to arrange an estate sale.

Returning to the subject of these hash browns, I used frozen hash browns from Trader Joe’s.  I like them because they have no artificial ingredients.  Like I said before, you can prep them the night before in the pan and cover with plastic wrap for the morning.  It couldn’t be easier, and they would look great on a serving platter.

BAKED PARMESAN HASH BROWNS ( Recipe from Delicious Table )

1 bag frozen hash brown potatoes
4-5 sliced green onions
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray.  Press dry potatoes in a large mixing bowl with paper towels, this helps them crisp.  You can also use a salad spinner to help dry the potatoes.  Mix all ingredients in the bowl.  Scoop into muffin tin and press with spatula or a spoon.  Bake 45-60 minutes at 400 degrees until crispy.

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We have been enjoying warmer weather this week.  David has been working on the boat, getting it cleaned of cobwebs, and checking the engine.  The lake is glistening and quiet.  There is not much boat traffic this early in the season.  I took our kayak out for the first time.  I was sure that I would capsize it, but found my balance quickly.  The alternative would be a dunking in frigid water.  It was relaxing paddling by lakefront houses seeing the improvements that neighbors have made to their properties over the winter.  The Ellis’s have finished their party dock and lakeside cabin. There is a new house going up a few doors down.  Hanging baskets adorn many docks and the dogwoods and azaleas are in bloom.

This was a day calling for a special lunch.  I found a can of pinto beans and Italian tuna packed in olive oil in the pantry.  From the fridge I pulled a jar of peperoncini, lemons, cherry tomatoes, celery and red onion.  The recipe was inspired by one made by Kalyn’s Kitchen; one of my favorite healthy bloggers.  We polished off the whole thing.  David said we should eat lunch like this every day.

The dressing for the salad includes some of the peperoncini juice, lemon juice, olive oil, taco seasoning and a hit of hot pepper sauce.

While shopping at Trader Joe’s last week, I picked up a small pot of tulips still in the bud stage.  Look at them now in my sunny living room.  Not a bad investment for $3.99.

I love how such a small pot of flowers can make me smile.  Something else that makes me smile is the Spring ritual that my friend Penny and I have formed.  Each Spring when I return from Florida, we get together in Asheville for antiquing and lunch at our favorite bistro, Fig.

It was a little cool last week, but we ate at our favorite table anyway.

Penny had the PEI Mussels with Pommes Frites.  I had Chicken Schnitzel with white beans, andouille sausage and a piquillo pepper coulis.  It was delicious and it was fun catching up after a dreary winter.  . . . But back to this week’s lunch.

I think this is a great recipe.  Thanks to Kalyn for the inspiration.

TUNA AND PINTO BEAN SALAD

1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
2 T fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 T peperoncini juice (brine from the bottle of peppers)
1/2 tsp. Tabasco Sauce, more or less depending on how spicy you like it
1 tsp. Taco seasoning
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
5 T extra-virgin olive oil
4-6 large peperoncini peppers, stem and seeds removed and finely chopped
1/4 cup diced red onion
2 stalks of celery chopped
1 cup chopped tomato, drained if the tomatoes are very juicy (I used cherry tomatoes cut in fourths)
4 or 5 basil leaves, chiffonade
1 can (5-7 oz) Italian tuna packed in olive oil

Add rinsed and drained pinto beans to a medium size bowl.  Mix together the lemon juice, peperoncini juice, tabasco, taco seasoning, salt and pepper and olive oil. Whisk until combined.  Add rest of the ingredients except basil to the pinto beans.  Pour dressing over and stir to combine.  Sprinkle basil over the top and serve.

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I have tried many Banana Bread Recipes.  I have to say this is my favorite so far. Even David, who is not fond of banana bread, ate two pieces one right after another,  saying how moist it was.  Since we have returned from Florida, it has been a marathon clean-up of our property. We always love returning to the greening trees and blossoming bushes. But the leaves on the roof, the gutters and the yard always challenge us.

The colder weather has also been a concern.  I have held off purchasing many flowering baskets or putting out pots of herbs. They do say that you should wait for Mother’s Day before putting out flowers to avoid the possibility of frost or freeze.

I did buy one pot of flowers in an old bucket that I have been carrying in and out of the house during cold nights.  It is sitting on the stump of a tree that we had taken down over the winter.  You can see our wizard carving in the background.  The Grandchildren love the wizard and it is featured in one of the children’s books that David has written; Rachel and The Wizard of Lake Lure.

This banana bread is just right with a cup of coffee or tea on these cool Spring mornings.  The cinnamon and vanilla add just the right flavor notes with the bananas.  The walnuts are also a nice touch.  If you want a healthy boost, you can add chia seeds and hemp hearts.  They are barely detectable but good nonetheless.  My DIL adds them to all of her sweet breads, muffins and pancakes.

I hope you are enjoying this Spring awakening as much as I am.

BANANA WALNUT BREAD

3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour (King Arthur)
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Chia seeds, 1 tablespoon Hemp hearts (optional)
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
3 medium overripe bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Coat a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with baking soda, cinnamon, salt and Chia seeds and Hemp hearts if using.  In another bowl, combine the sugars, eggs and oil and beat at high speed until light-colored and creamy.  Add the mashed bananas and vanilla and beat until smooth.  I did this in my Kitchen Aid Mixer.  Stir in the dry ingredients until thoroughly blended.  Fold in the nuts.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the middle of the oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the top is springy and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a rack to cool completely.

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