We’re in the home stretch of Summer and it is H-O-T here in South Florida! Even as a native Floridian, I can’t remember it ever feeling this oppressively hot and humid. Thankfully in the evenings a delightful coastal breeze blows in off the ocean, offering a little respite from the scorching days. To combat the infernal temperatures, we’ve also been reaching for lighter, preferably chilled food and drink. For that reason, I really wanted to share this delicious Citrus, Honeydew, Fennel & Olive Salad that’s become a Summer essential here at Chez Miskew.
This delightful salad offers a veritable symphony of Summer flavors and textures. Juicy wedges of ruby red grapefruit and orange complement the savory fennel while the plump, bright green Castelvetrano olives add a briny contrast that is ultimately refreshing. For those of you who also believe we eat with our eyes first, this salad is a sight to behold featuring harmonious hues of pink, orange and green. In order to make this salad you’ll need to know how to segment or supreme citrus. This is a super easy technique that you’ll be so happy you mastered (check out this video from Saveur.com)! Before starting, put your citrus fruit in the fridge to chill for about 20-30 minutes (or even overnight) which will make it much easier to work with.
For wine lovers, a white or rosé wine with bright fruit and a crisp acidity would be the perfect choice to pair with our Citrus, Honeydew, Fennel & Olive Salad. A minerally Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé from France’s Loire Valley or a refreshingly dry Provencal rosé would be fabulous. From the US, a California Sauvignon Blanc would also be a wonderful choice. Stick with a wine with crisp, citrusy notes which will harmonize with the salad’s flavors and you’ll have a delightful pairing on your hands.
This Citrus, Honeydew, Fennel & Olive Salad is so visually appealing it would make a great choice for al fresco entertaining or a romantic dinner at home a deux. No matter when you serve it, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do and that it offers you some solace from the heat this Summer. What are your favorite foods to enjoy during the sweltering Summer months? I’d love to hear so please let me know in the Comments section below!
Bon appétit,
The post Citrus, Honeydew, Fennel & Olive Salad appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
Spring, glorious Spring! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and I’m super excited to share this delicious recipe with you that’s perfect for the season: Shredded Chicken & Brussels Sprouts Salad with Toasted Sesame Vinaigrette. This salad has oodles of delicious flavor and texture and is packed with healthy ingredients including organic chicken breast, Brussels sprouts, Pink Lady... Read More
The post Shredded Chicken & Brussels Sprout Salad with Sesame Vinaigrette + a Loire Valley Sancerre appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
“Despite the forecast, live like it’s Spring!” – Lilly Pulitzer Words to live by from the iconic Lilly Pulitzer and thankfully Spring has officially sprung! In addition to the return of sunnier days, colorful clothing and oodles of blooming flowers it’s also time for The Glamorous Gourmet’s Springtime Giveaway! This month’s giveaway features one of our Springtime faves, the Michel... Read More
The post Springtime Giveaway: Win a bottle of Michel Redde Sancerre “Les Tuilières”! appeared first on The Glamorous Gourmet.
“Despite the forecast, live like it’s Spring!” – Lilly Pulitzer
Words to live by from the iconic Lilly Pulitzer and thankfully Spring has officially sprung! In addition to the return of sunnier days, colorful clothing and oodles of blooming flowers it’s also time for The Glamorous Gourmet’s Springtime Giveaway!
This month’s giveaway features one of our Springtime faves, the Michel Redde Sancerre “Les Tuilières” (a $30 value)! This delightful white wine is, as in most wine regions of France, named for where it’s from, the Sancerre region of France’s Loire Valley. Sancerre is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes and is known for its delightful notes of citrus and minerals accompanied by its hallmark racy acidity. This profile makes it perfect for either sipping on a sunny day by the pool or paired with just about any type of cuisine you’d squeeze a lemon on, such as shrimp, oysters, scallops or a salad studded with goat cheese. Thirsty yet?
To enter the giveaway for a bottle of the 2013 Michel Redde Sancerre “Les Tuilières,” simply leave a comment at the end of this post and tell us your favorite Springtime dish. Whether it’s a salad, entree or dessert we want to know about it! Feel free to include a link to the recipe on your own website if you have one but if not, just the name of the dish is fine. Entering the giveaway is as simple as that and for an additional chance to win, you can (1) sign up to receive our weekly newsletter by clicking here and/or (2) leave a comment on another one of our blog posts. Each additional comment left on another blog post will count as an additional chance to win.
This giveaway is open to anyone 21 years of age or older who lives in the continental United States and ends Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 6:00pm EST when a winner will be randomly drawn. The lucky winner will be contacted immediately to arrange shipment – the cost of standard ground shipping is included as part of the contest. But remember you have to play to win so please leave your comment(s) now and Happy Spring!
Cheers,
For all my Florida folks who won’t be making it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras today, this recipe for Florida Jambalaya will allow you to laissez les bons temps rouler without ever leaving our fabulous state!
I discovered this recipe in Bon Appétit magazine about twenty years ago when I was just learning my way around the kitchen. After making this dish for the first time I thought, “Wow, I actually made that!” and I was officially hooked on cooking. This recipe has been one of my signature dishes ever since and over the years I’ve had the chance to make it for friends from Denver, Colorado to New York City and it has always, I repeat, always garnered rave reviews.
The word jambalaya has French origins, stemming from the word “jambalaia” which, according to Merriam-Webster, originated in Southern France as part of the Occitan language. This recipe for Florida Jambalaya differs substantially from the two traditional styles of Jambalaya, Creole and Cajun. Creole jambalaya hails from the French Quarter of New Orleans and originated as an attempt to make Spanish paella in the New World. Saffron, an intrinsic component of paella, was not readily available so tomatoes were substituted instead. Creole jambalaya also involves the essential component of Louisiana cooking called the “trinity”, a mixture of celery, onion and green pepper. This incarnation also calls for a combination of meats including chicken and/or andouille sausage as well as seafood. Cajun jambalaya, on the other hand, originated in the rural, low lying swamp country of Louisiana where crayfish, oysters and turtles were plentiful. It is smokier and spicier than Creole and does not call for tomatoes. The meat in the dish was usually browned to give the dish its color which is why it is often referred to as “Brown Jambalaya.”
Florida jambalaya is just that, Florida’s take on this Louisiana classic. It is, at best, loosely based on the traditional preparation in that it calls for sausage, seafood and rice. Instead of andouille sausage, this recipe calls for kielbasa and for the shrimp, Key West pinks make a delicious choice. The recipe itself is pretty straightforward and only takes about an hour to make which includes cooking time. As for a dry, white wine to use in the recipe, I like something with a French twist such as the Michel Redde Sancerre “Les Tuilieres” from the Loire or the Maison Joseph Drouhin Vaudon Chablis from Burgundy. In addition to imparting delicious flavor, both wine make excellent choices to enjoy paired with the finished product.
In addition to making a delicious accompaniment to your Mardi Gras festivities, Florida Jambalaya is also a delicious meal at any time of the year. I hope you enjoy it tonight as you and your guests laissez les bons temps rouler!
Cheers,
Florida Jambalaya
Serves 4
3 Tablespoons salted butter
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 lb. Polska Kielbasa or other smoked sausage cut into 1/2″ pieces
1 cup long grain white rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 medium potatoes peeled and cut into 1″ cubes
2 1/4 cups canned chicken broth
1 4 ounce jar of sliced pimientos with juices
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
Cayenne pepper to taste
1/2 lb. uncooked shrimp, peeled & deveined
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Melt butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until just soft, 3-5 minutes (be careful not to let the garlic burn). Add the kielbasa and cook until it begins to brown, approximately 5 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat. Mix in potatoes, broth, wine , pimientos and turmeric. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne to taste. Bring to a boil and stir well. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover and cook until the rice and potatoes are tender and liquid is absorbed, approximately 25 minutes.
Mix in shrimp and cilantro. Cover and cook until shrimp are cooked, 5 minutes. Serve on a large platter and garnish with more chopped fresh cilantro.