Armenian Potato Leek Soup

Friends, I have been living large this week. I found out about an absolutely amazing donut shop that is a short walk from my office (Do-Rite Donuts OMG), accidentally stumbled upon the downtown Chicago Farmstand (as I was trying to find aforementioned donut shop for the first time), and went to the first outdoor Green City Market of the season! So exciting!



I love the produce at the beginning of spring. It's so tender and bright green and delicate. It deserves to be treated gently. Last Thursday, I was impatiently waiting our trip to the market on Saturday morning, so finding the Farmstand was like getting to open a present on Christmas Eve. I got some rhubarb, leeks, pea tendrils, and mint, and started dreaming about dinner.

As I started pulling things together for this soup that evening, I wasn't purposefully trying to turn it into an Armenian-flavored dish. I just wanted a light, simple way to spotlight these first few springtime treasures. But when I tasted it, the mint and yogurt were unmistakably Armenian. One of my favorite meals from my childhood was Tan Abour, a delicious soup made with lamb stock, yogurt, mint, and barley. This hits all the same flavor spots, and only takes about 25 minutes to come together, making it a perfect supper for a springtime weeknight. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!



Armenian Potato Leek Soup

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
3 small potatoes, about a pound, peeled and cubed
2 leeks, rinsed well and sliced
2 cups vegetable stock or water
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup whole milk yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

In a wide, shallow saucepan, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the leeks and onions, and saute for a few minutes, until the vegetables are getting some color in places. Season lightly with salt and pepper, and add the vegetable stock or water. Cover and reduce the heat to low, and simmer about 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Puree in a blender. Return to the pot and stir in the milk, and heat through over low heat.

In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, lemon juice, mint, and salt. Stir yogurt mixture into the soup and mix well, or ladle soup into bowls and drizzle a little bit of the yogurt mixture over each bowl. Serve warm or chilled. Top each bowl with a little pile of pea tendrils.

Serves three as a meal, four as a first course.

Tropical Fruit Pavlova + Our Lady of the Angels

Last week, as I participated in the rededication of the church at the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels in West Humboldt Park, I was reminded that the Resurrection is not a one-time event. I didn’t even know that the mission existed until mid-March, when I went with a group from my church to help out with their monthly mobile food pantry. The story of this place takes my breath away.

Our Lady of the Angels used to be a thriving parish in a largely Italian-American neighborhood. In 1958, a devastating fire in the parish school killed 92 students and 3 nuns and injured many others. The school was rebuilt and reopened in 1960, but closed as a result of declining numbers in 1999. The parish closed in 1990. The demographics of the area have changed drastically since the time of the school fire; today it remains an area of poverty, gang activity, and violent crime. In 2006, the median household income in the area was $21,000, and 35 percent of adults did not have a high school diploma.

In 2004, Fr. Bob Lombardo answered Cardinal George's call to rebuild the church in this depressed Chicago neighborhood. When he arrived, many of the buildings were vacant or in disrepair. With virtually no budget to make repairs, Fr. Bob relied on the help of neighbors and friends to donate time, money, skills and prayer to rebuild this mission. The state of the mission today is a testament to Fr. Bob’s great faith and tireless work, and to the reviving power of God.

In 2006, the Franciscan mission opened in the completely renovated rectory. Kelly Hall, which had been the vacant and crumbling parish center, reopened in January 2009 as a fully renovated YMCA community center. The convent has been beautifully renovated, and now serves as a facility for retreats and other community gatherings. The Franciscans of the Eucharist, a fledgling religious community, began serving the mission in 2009. Today, the mission helps about 700 families each month to get good, healthy food. About 130 children participate in the after school program, and several hundred are involved in activities and programs at Kelly Hall.

The most recent project was the church, which completed renovations and was rededicated on April 14, 2012. The church was packed with people who had come to celebrate the remarkable resurrection story that has occurred in this place. There was such joy! And they didn’t pause their community outreach for the celebration, either: the day of the rededication, they held their monthly mobile food pantry, hosted a Daddy-Daughter Dance at Kelly Hall, and then served a fabulous dinner to all the guests at the Mass.

For more information about Fr. Bob and the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels, visit their website, www.missionola.com, where you can learn about their many volunteer opportunities, donate money to support them, and view lots of pictures of volunteers and community members, and amazing before-and-afters of their ongoing renovations.

Tropical Fruit Pavlova

Pavlova is simple and elegant, and a perfect dessert for Easter, Mother's Day, or any other springtime gathering. Swap out the tropical fruit for berries in the summer. Also, I've heard it described as a symbol of the resurrection, since it spends 2 hours resting in the "tomb" (the oven that has been turned off) before it's done. A bit of a stretch, but kind of cute, right?

adapted from Cook's Illustrated

Meringues and Fruit:
4 large egg whites
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1 mango, peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 kiwis, peeled, quartered, and sliced thin
1 1/2 cups pineapple, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Topping:
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the meringues: adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Using stand mixer fitted with whisk, whip egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-high and whip whites to soft, billowy mounds, about 1 minute. Gradually add 1 cup sugar and whip until glossy, stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes.

Scoop six 1/2-cup mounds of meringue onto prepared sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.  Gently make small indentations in each meringue using back of spoon. It will be really sticky, so just do the best you can.Bake until meringues have smooth, dry, and firm exteriors, about 1 1/2 hours. Turn oven off and leave meringues in oven until completely dry and hard, about 2 hours. (Meringue shells can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.)

For the fruit: Gently toss mango, kiwis, and pineapple with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl. Let sit at room temperature until sugar has dissolved and fruit is juicy, about 30 minutes.

For the topping: Using stand mixer fitted with whisk, whip heavy cream, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to high and whip until soft peaks form, 1 to 3 minutes.

To assemble, place meringue shells on individual plates and spoon about 1/3 whipped cream into each shell. top with about 1/2 cup fruit. Serve immediately.

Logan Square Pastry Market + Bridgeport Coffee

This Saturday, I visited the Valentine's Pastry Market at the Logan Square Kitchen, and I had a fabulous time. As soon as I walked in, I was assailed by that lovely smell that only comes from the marriage of flour, butter, and sugar. Ahhhh pastry. There were many bakers and artisans sampling their wares, from cream puffs and pie to baklava and truffles. It was sugarholic heaven.



Cream puffs from Puffs of Doom. She's filling that box up for me! I got bourbon banana gingersnap, cardamom white chocolate rice pudding, strawberry lemon drop, chocolate caramel pecan, and butterfinger.



Honey Pie Cafe



Whoopie pies and other treats from Pomegranate Sweets and Savories.



Handmade baklava from Sheekar Delights.



Hand-decorated artisanal chocolates from Veruca Chocolates.



Among all these swoon-inducing sweets, the real standout in my mind was the Bridgeport Coffee Company, who were doing custom pours of three of their blends. I had the Peru, which was full-bodied, smooth and chocolaty, with a clean finish. I also picked up an info sheet which explained some of the challenges the Peruvian growers face, and the ecologically sensitive farming and drying practiced they have employed. As I sipped my coffee, I spoke with Mike Pilkington, founder of Bridgeport Coffee, who is knowledgeable and obviously passionate about his product. He takes pride in the company's commitment to developing personal relationships with its growers, and understanding the unique economic, political and climatic challenges they face. He shared with me how eighty percent of the world's specialty coffee is actually grown organically, for simple economic reasons, but that only ten percent of it is certified organic. Small farmers, who produce seventy percent of the world's coffee supply, are often denied access to organic and fair trade certifications because of cost, paperwork, and bureaucracy. From 1972-1990, El Salvador was racked with civil wars, and farming families fled to the cities in search of safety. A generation later, farmers still live in the cities and commute to the farms to work. Because of this technicality, most of these farmers are ineligible for fair trade certification, though they exceed fair trade requirements. Bridgeport Coffee sidesteps the middle man and builds relationships with farmers, eliminating the need for official certification. And they make a darn good cup of coffee.

Lula Cafe Brunch

Sunday morning, sunny and cold. I drove uptown to feed my friend's cat, and on the way I bought a cup of coffee and listened to NPR. I learned that Whitney Houston had died, and surprised myself by shedding a few tears. I normally don't get worked up over celebrity news of any kind, but the death of someone so young and so talented really got under my skin. It was very sad.

When I got home, we walked around the corner to one of my favorite places in the city, Lula Cafe. It's always been a charming space, but they've recently expanded into the space next door, and I love how bright and open it is. We sat at the bar and ordered our brunch - pancakes and bacon for him, and an omelet and tea for me. I ordered the omelet because when I read the description (goose confit, red wine cherries, whipped foie butter, capers, raclette, brioche), I could not for the life of me imagine what it would taste like. Now I can, and I'm so glad.

Seven Quick Takes: Valentine's Day Edition

There is so much adorable pink stuff floating around the internet this week! I thought I'd use today's post to round up a few of my V-day favorites in a linky list for you, in seven categories! (Visit Hallie for many, many more quick takes.)

1. Treats:
- Hot pink glazed doughnuts? Yes please.
- Lavender buttermilk pancakes (use heart-shaped molds for an adorable V-day breakfast)
- Chocolate covered rice krispie hearts
- Want to make someone fall in love with you? Make them this chocolate cake.
- Heart-glazed cornmeal cookies.

2. Romantic Dinners:
- Roast chicken with (magic) dijon sauce.
- Crab cakes!
- Baked pasta: do-ahead = more time for romance.
- Braised short ribs and parsnip latkes.

3. Libations:
- Nothing says "I love you" like oranges and bourbon.
- ...except maybe blood oranges and gin.
- Special juice, perfect for brunch.

4. Gifts:
- Loving the new album by Audrey Assad. Also loving her dress in this video!
- Adorable custom journals from Minted. I won one from Tracy (thanks!), and am still thinking about which one I want - there are so many great ones!
- Joy the Baker cookbook! Available for pre-order (it comes out on Feb. 28).
- A new book by your favorite Catholic women writers, which comes out on March 2.
- How about a donation to a great cause?
- This deal has actually ended, but would be easy to recreate for an intimate at-home wine tasting.
- Some people might be excited that he went to Jared, but I'd rather he went to Etsy.

5. Fun stuff happening this weekend:
- Logan Square Pastry Market, if you're not into baking your own (or even if you are).
- Dose Market, this Sunday: food, fashion, and an incredibly beautiful venue. Win.
- Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival. Sad that I can't go!

6. I would love to make some of these.

7. Romance on another level.

I'm not entirely faithful in my daily prayer and devotions, but recently a friend shared something that she had heard, and it really stuck: ingesting Scripture daily is as important as ingesting food. I've felt the ripples of that thought radiating through my life this week, and morning prayer today (for the feast of St. Scholastica) is full of the imagery of God as a lover. Reading this scripture, I felt comforted and loved and filled with hope, and I'd like to share it with you, too.

My lover speaks; he says to me,

"Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

and come!

For see, the winter is past,

the rains are over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth,

the time of pruning the vines has come,

and the song of the dove is heard in our land.

Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

and come!

O my dove in the clefts of the rock,

in the secret recesses of the cliff,

Let me see you,

let me hear your voice,

For your voice is sweet,

and you are lovely."

-Song of Songs 2:10-14

Miko's Flipside

photo: mikosflipside.com

Once in a while, through no thought or planning on your part, you come across a place so perfect, it could only have been discovered by accident. Because the surprise was part of what made it so perfect. A couple of weeks ago, I found such a place: Miko's Flipside Cafe in Bucktown. We've been to Miko's Italian Ice (both Bucktown and Logan Square) on many a steamy summer evening, but I did not know about this tiny establishment's cool-weather alter ego until a couple of weeks ago. It was a snowy Saturday, and my friend Meg and I had visited a small fabric store a few blocks away. We were looking for a place to grab a quick bite, and suddenly Miko's appeared before our eyes! We walked down the few steps and in the door (is there anything more charming than a garden-level cafe?), followed closely by William von Hartz, who was tending the cafe that day. We sat at the counter, and he poured us each a glass of water and put on an old Johnny Cash vinyl record while we looked over the small, well-curated menu. I chose a grilled cheese sandwich on rosemary bread with arugula, house-cured bacon, and roasted tomatoes, and tomato soup, which struck the ideal balance of comforting and special. Meg's black bean soup was delicious, with a generous kiss of chipotle heat.



While we were eating, a man walked in and ordered coffee; a locally-roasted blend hand-brewed by the cup. Kelly, the woman who bakes the bread, came in to do some work in the kitchen, and William made them each a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. I felt that I was among kindred spirits, people who take pride in the food they prepare, and enjoy cozy spaces and good music. Sitting at that counter felt comfortable in the best way, and I look forward to returning very soon.

I encourage you to visit Miko's year-round, but the Flipside is especially excellent!

Miko's Flipside Cafe
1846 N. Damen
Chicago, IL
773.645.9664
mikosflipside.com

Christmas in Chicago

Yesterday I finally got over to the Christkindlmarket to have some glüwein and wienerschnitzel for lunch.  Every December, Chicago's Daley Plaza transforms into a German American Christmas market, complete with lots of different German food, handmade gifts and ornaments.  It's always crowded with people eating sausages and drinking hot spiced wine, and nobody seems to mind the cold.  Tomorrow is the last day, so get your glüwein while you still can!

Brussels Sprout Salad

This past Sunday, my mom gave a concert in Suttons Bay.  We went up to attend, and my mom graciously invited me to sing with her on a couple of pieces.  What an absolute joy to be able to sing together.  You want to talk about voices blending?  Try being related!  It's like nothing else.  The program was all sacred, and there was a free-will offering collected to raise money for homeless teens living in the area, in order to provide them with turkeys for their Thanksgiving celebration.  The goal had been to raise $300, which would have covered that cost.  We ended up raising $575.  I was speechless.

On Saturday afternoon, we drove up to Brys Estate on Old Mission Peninsula for a wine tasting and food pairing event.  It was a beautiful day - sunny, cool and clear.  The views were unbeatable.

We got home, and I started putting everyone to work on dinner: Dad shelling pistachios ("Three quarters of a cup of shelled pistachios is more than you would think!"), hubby peeling potatoes, sister grating cheese.  It's amazing how fast dinner comes together when you have 5 pairs of hands!  (If you're doing mental math right now, my sister's boyfriend was also there helping.  Calm down.)

I first had this brussels sprout salad at my friend Joey's restaurant, Franks 'n' Dawgs.  I might never have ordered it if he hadn't just given me a taste one time.  I mean, you can't blame me.  Who in their right mind would order a salad of brussels sprouts when the menu boasts things like the "Tur-doggin" (Turkey & date sausage, crispy duck confit, herb garlic aioli, pickled onion relish & pickled carrots), "Krazy Kimchi" (Spicy beef sausage, braised short rib & turnips, kimchi, wild rice & basi), and "Peking Duck" (Duck & sesame sausage, pickled cucumber, hoisin aioli, scallion, crispy peking duck skin & puffed rice)?  Many of the sausages are house-made daily, and they're served on freshly baked, buttered, and toasted New England-style lobster rolls.  Certainly, the salad is NOT the thing to order here.

Or is it?

I am so glad I tried this, because it completely transformed the way that I see this humble vegetable!  Don't get me wrong, I've never been a hater.  My dad started me on steamed sprouts early on, and since then I have fallen in love with their roasted counterparts.  But raw was a new concept to me.  This salad is the perfect antidote to sad, wilty lettuce salads when the weather turns cooler.  Refreshing and satisfying, with a zing of lemon and a crunch of pistachios, this is the perfect salad to have alongside something not-so-light.  Like the fabulous sausages at Franks 'n' Dawgs, or fried chicken and mashed potatoes at home. 

 

Brussels Sprout Salad

1 bag brussels sprouts

3/4 cup pistachios, roughly chopped

1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano

zest and juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup of olive oil

pepper to taste

finely chopped fresh dill, to taste (about 3 tablespoons for me)

Chop the tough ends off of the sprouts, halve them, and slice them thinly.  (This was a revelation to me. It's like a tiny cabbage!)  Place sprouts in a large bowl.  Add remaining ingredients and toss.  Serve with something indulgent.  It's all about balance.

Market Day: What's In Season

There are many reasons why spring in Chicago is the best.  One such reason is being able to take pictures of things like this:



Where natural and urban beauty meet.



I'm sorry, you probably couldn't tell exactly what is going on in the bottom left.  Here you go:



Goose Babies!!!



Another is the return of the daily neighborhood farmers' markets!  Today is my first market day of what I will call the Happy Season (from now until the end of October, when all the markets are closed save one), and what follows is my bounteous haul! 



Well, hello, market!  Long time, no see!





Home state shoutout!  Michigan asparagus all the way!



Love the live music!




From this gentleman, I bought jack cheese with Thai basil.




Green garlic and curly spinach from here!





Lunch! Ham and parmesan crepe with tomatoes!




Purple asparagus!




Local food treasure.



I had been hoping for some rhubarb, peas, maybe even (be still my heart) strawberries... but spring has not been very kind to us yet, and it's going to be a couple of weeks until we have that kind of variety.  Still, I am not complaining!  I've got asparagus in two colors, green garlic, curly spinach, and locally produced cheese, and that is a great place to start! 

Happy spring, all!