Hey, Hot Stuff

Between the glut of summer produce at the farmers' markets and the plethora of food-related sharing on the internet*, my cup runneth over with inspiration. Doesn't yours?

This past weekend, S and I went to the main Portland Farmers Market downtown in the Park Blocks by PSU, as our weekend habit dictates. Although the temperature by the time we left had reached over 90 degrees (32C), it was gloriously bright and the market brimmed with vegetables and fruit. Our potato guy finally had potatoes, our artichoke family had many enough artichokes that they were rolling off the crates, our egg people still had a couple of dozen left! Not to mention asparagus, cherries, berries, mushrooms, cauliflower, onions, and the It Girl of the season, garlic scapes. Garlic scapes are like Rihanna, that's what I'm saying: everyone's talking about them, they're plastered all over the internet, no one can get enough.

I like Rihanna, so I picked up some garlic scapes. Haven't used them yet. I'll let you know.

Meanwhile, I made a pesto to save some other ingredients, most of which hadn't fared well in the hotter 'n hell kitchen this weekend. Modern refrigeration (not to mention living in a basement) can do only so much, and the basil was staring at me longingly, its extremities already heavy with death. A couple of squishy, plump tomatoes went in along with a few cloves of garlic, the salvaged basil, well-toasted walnuts, black pepper, smoked salt, a little pasta water, some arugula... Tossed with some asparagus and orzo, plus a couple of toasted walnuts. Et voilà! Served with a boiled artichoke, it was the essence of an unfussy, fantastically fresh summer supper. This afternoon I tossed the remainder of the orzo pesto asparagus salad with some fresh arugula leaves and it might even have been better.

(Have I ever mentioned how horrible my blender is? Yeah, whoa. We pulse gently through each blending procedure with lots of coaxing and cursing.)

Speaking of arugula, I've suddenly realized how much I like it. Whereas garlic scapes are the It Girl of the season, I think arugula is a more understated, quirky, yet perpetual ingredient. Perhaps more like Cate Blanchett, or Irene Dunne.** Someone who's always great, always pretty, always hilarious, but every so often they come into soft focus and KA-BLAM! Great with a leading man like Cary Grant or chevre, but equally exquisite lingering in support.

More fun to come. I've got some nice rock cod, a bag of clams, asparagus, artichokes, some petit potatoes, and Rihanna garlic scapes in my fridge!


P.S. Photo at top is of a gorgeous, delicious vanilla affogato from Nostrana.
______________
*When TasteSpotting disappeared, we got Food Gawker. Now we have an embarrassment of riches: both!

**What? I just watched 'The Awful Truth', okay? Irene Dunne is amazing.