Things on Bread on the Roof
Ann says
On my first turn in Abe’s and my dinner ring, I used David Tanis’s cookbook, “A platter of figs and other recipes” to make one of the three course meals presented in there. It was a Moroccan style chicken thing with pumpkin and harissa and a carrot salad and walnut cigars with honey for dessert. It was pretty tasty. Last weekend when my time rolled around again I decided to do something that I could cook pretty fast and something that included bread.
So, fast bread means pizza, right? Remember that pizza I posted about a couple of posts ago? That’s the one, minus the sausage plus everything grilled instead of sauteed. I did this with the AIR CONDITIONER that Abe and I bought running at full throttle, and just in time for when people arrived. There were some bruscetta with fresh mozzarella and roasted red peppers. We used the ghost chili oil as a condiment, which went over pretty well. Sangria was delicious, and I made it my favorite way, with plenty of juice and a bottle of red wine. The highlight of the evening, however, was eating on the roof with my friends. That was great. And I got to give Shaina her Christmas present, finally. Oh yeah, I made almond paste, apricot and strawberry pastries for dessert. They were pretty good, but I need to work on the dough.
Additionally, the Broadway Farmer’s Market is open and going well. It’s expanded this year! I got some sorrel, and so soon will come some sorrel soup. The tomato guy is back, and of course so is my intense desire to like the flavor of tomatoes. I just tried a beautiful looking little orange cherry tomato a minute ago, and I just hate the flavor of tomato. It’s that fresh tomato essence…it makes me gag. Meh.
Jani is coming up, and I really want to make some fresh Janu siers. It has caraway seeds in it and is kind of an acquired taste, but I love it. That, and a big batch of piragi. So much food and so little time. I mean, I have finals right now and here I am, sitting and writing this post. Ah…here are some pictures…
Abe says
The evening, as far as I’m concerned, had two highlights. First was eating dinner with friends on the gloriously nice roof I am fortunate enough to have on my building. Second was that the dinner included Ann’s supremely good pizza. It was just as good without the sausage.
Also worth mentioning is Mara’s salad, which, while not on bread was very tasty. It had sunflower seeds, beets, carrots, greens, and dill. The dill was great.
We’ve eaten a lot of other good food over the past week, as well, that we haven’t been able to write about yet. A picture post will follow.
Looks like a delicious and fun time!
Wikipedia says that some people caution that Jani can be dangerous on account of all the drinking and bonfires. As if drinking and bonfires withOUT Jani is perfect safe. ;-)
I am told that it is traditional on Jāņi to jump over the bonfire. I conjecture that this may have something to do with the danger.
It usually turns into just walking right through the fire at 3 or 4 am, and swaying a little because you are so tired and drunk; hence the ligo-ing, or swaying. At least that’s why I think people sway, or perhaps just why I was swaying so much. 20 beers over the course of 10 hours will do that to you…
Really, it’s the holiday of ridiculous.
I miss you all! Wish I could’ve been there, it looked like a beautiful dinner party. Abe and Ann, you certainly know how to entertain. And just curious, what did Shaina get for “Christmas”? :)