Marie Cookpad

  With the sunny weather and really warm temperatures we have been enjoying lately we have started to crave things like salads and grilled meats.  Simple meals.  Light meals. Summer Comfort Food.   Yes, there is such a thing as Summer Comfort Food. Wikepedia defines Comfort food as the following: "Comfort food is food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value to someone, and may be characterized by its high caloric nature, high carbohydrate level, or simple preparation. The nostalgia may be specific to an individual, or it may apply to a specific culture."   I would tend to largely agree with that.  Comfort food indeed is not only delicious, but at once nostalgic, evoking memories of our childhoods, special family moments and memories, individual cultures.  This would greatly vary according your family and where you are from.   People tend to associate Comfort Food eating with the colder winter months, when we want to eat stews, bakes and ...

   Ahh Spring. I love this time of year when everything it sprouting in the gardens and we begin to enjoy asparagus, early strawberries and new potatoes. Back home there is a dish that takes full advantage of all of the early new vegetables called Hodge Podge .   It is a wonderful melange of fresh vegetables  . . . peas, carrots, beans, potatoes, etc.  briefly cooked and then tossed together in a mix of cream and salt pork. Oh, it is so good.  Its a bit early for that yet  . . .    But  not too early to be enjoying new potatoes and fresh asparagus.  The fresh asparagus season is very brief, so I try to enjoy it as much as I can this time of year when it is at its very best!   This is a very simple recipe composed of quartered new potatoes and fresh asparagus cut into 2 inch lengths . . .   Tossed together and roasted in the oven with some good olive oil and Balsamic vinegar.  Don't use cheap Balsamic  . . . you w...