English Peas, Buckwheat Greens And A Strawberry Tart

It has been quite hectic around here.

During these past couple of weeks, I have had to park my book writing routine aside to focus on a couple of other projects I am super excited about. I wish I could share more, but we will have to wait. All I can say is that it involves a major magazine and I had a blast.

However, all of this has taken a bit of a toll on me.



When I woke up Sunday, I felt as though I had run a marathon. Sore and exhausted.

C. encouraged me to take some time for myself in the morning. He took the kids and I headed to the farmers' market. I find it relaxing to walk around, people watch and get inspired by the produce and talking to the farmers I have come to know this year.



Unfortunately, it was the last day of the market. Yes, when the rest of the country is just now gearing up for their growing season, ours is coming to an end. Well, not exactly. Things will still grow in the summer, but much slower and not so abundant. Most of the farmers I know take the summer off to travel and learn from other farmers.

As it was the last day, I indulged in everything I saw. The usual suspects such as eight ball zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, strawberries, mulberries, farm eggs, kale, beets, english peas... But I also found buckwheat greens.



This was the first time I had even seen buckwheat greens. Beautiful greens with tiny little flowers.

As I started to read about them, I found out that they can be somewhat toxic when consumed in large amounts and that is why they are not recommended in juicing. However, a small amount can be beneficial.

Sunday night, I made a quick soup with English peas and buckwheat greens. The soup was tasty and mild. Spinach or even lettuce would work just as well.



When Monday came around, I was ready to start testing more recipes for the book.

I really feel so lucky to be able to do what I love. Time flies when I am working and enjoy every second of it.

But when time flies, lunch must also be quick. Crushed pea, cherry tomato and goat cheese tartines to go with leftover soup from the night before. I blanched some English peas in salted boiling water, then crushed them with a fork. Mixed with goat cheese, scallions, olive oil, salt and pepper on toasted gluten-free bread.



I was testing a new tart dough and with the leftovers, I made a quick almond and strawberry tartlet that Miren and I had for dessert. Took a couple of chairs outside and had an impromptu picnic in the back lawn.

Then back to work.

English Pea and Buckwheat Greens Soup

Serves 4

2 Tbs olive oil
1 leek, white part only diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
2 cups shelled peas
2 cups buckwheat greens or spinach
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
5 sprigs thyme leaves
3 cups chicken stock
Goat cheese, optional
Chopped scallions, optional
Olive oil

In a small pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the leek and the garlic and cook for 3 minutes until soft.

Add the rest of the ingredients and bring the liquid to a boil. Cover the pot, reduce heat to medium low and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until soft.

Puree the soup. Serve with chopped scallions, goat cheese, drizzle of olive oil, and toasted bread.


Strawberry and Almond Tart

Makes 6 3-inch tartlets

Pie crust of your choice (mine was gluten free)
½ cup (110 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup (110 g) natural cane sugar
1 egg
½ tsp almond extract
1 cup (110 g) almond flour
1 Tbs (10 g) tapioca starch
¼ tsp salt
2 cups sliced strawberries

Pre-heat oven to 400F.

In a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar with the paddle attachment until light. Add the egg and almond extract and mix until combined. Add the dry ingredients and mix.

Roll out the pie dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut 6 4-inch disks and fill tart molds with them. Cut off excess dough.

Fill the tart molds with frangipane and arrange the sliced strawberries on top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until crust golden.

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English Peas, Buckwheat Greens And A Strawberry Tart

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Creamy Spring Buckwheat, Chocolate and Chestnut Pudding Cakes and Thinking About Japan

Today I feel lucky.

I look around and I am surrounded by my family, my children thriving, playing without a care in the world, like healthy children do. Seeing the images that come from Japan are heartbreaking. How we can lose it all in an instant. In the blink of an eye our lives can turn upside down. Such devastation.

As soon as I heard about the news on Friday, I thought of my friend Keiko and wondered how her loved ones would be doing. I tried to imagine how I would deal with such news from afar, just as she is. Then, she confirmed her family is well. A sigh of relief.

I could't write a post without acknowledging all those people who have lost it all, but also the stories of survival and hope.

We are thinking about them.



And as for our weekend, it was quiet.

I spent lots of time writing while C. and my parents took care of the kids. I am so thankful for the beautiful weather so we don't have to be cooped up indoors. Well, at least the kids don't have to and that is what counts, no?

And so I continue creating and editing. Feedback from my editor has been great so there goes another sigh of relief.



M. loved snapping fresh and plump sugar snow peas out of their shell. So sweet that she ate pod and all.

J. played hard to get, shying away from my camera. He was busy flying his new kite.



And then we cooked, we cooked a lot.

Like creamy buckwheat with peas, fennel and watercress or chocolate and chestnut pudding cakes.

Not bad, wouldn't you say?



UPDATE:

Here is a good list of resources of how we can all help through donations.

Also, Chika is hosting a sakura fundraiser here.

I have also donated to the International Medical Corps.

I will keep updating as I hear more.

Thank you.

Creamy Buckwheat with Peas, Fennel and Watercress

Serves 4

3 cups of water
1/2 cup buckwheat groats
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbs olive oil
1 shallot, thinly diced
1/2 medium fennel bulb, diced
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
1 cup watercress
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
chicken stock, optional

Bring the water to a boil. Add the salt and the buckwheat. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes. Drain.

In the meantime, in a separate sauce pan, heat the olive oil. Sweat the shallots and the fennel until tender.

Add the cooked buckwheat, peas, mascarpone, parmesan, lemon zest, salt and pepper. If you feel it's too dry, add a little bit of chicken stock to lighten it. Serve immediately.

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Creamy Spring Buckwheat, Chocolate and Chestnut Pudding Cakes and Thinking About Japan

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http://mercymadame.blogspot.com/2011/03/creamy-spring-buckwheat-chocolate-and.html

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Spring English Pea, Potato and Rice Soup

Some of my most vivid childhood memories revolve around my amama Miren wearing an apron (she always wore an apron) while peeling something. My grandmother's peeling skills are legendary in our family and always a benchmark to compare ourselves to. Every time we make tortilla de patatas in our family, we check the leftover potato peels and judge what my grandmother would have thought of that. Nothing was ever wasted.

I remember her in the pastry shop's kitchen, sitting on a stool with a large bowl of peas on her lap, peeling away while she watched everyone around her. Food took time and nothing was ever rushed.



J. is beginning to be very inquisitive about everything and anything around him these days. "Tell me the story of how you got these peas", he asked the other day after we came home from the farmers market. He was there and he saw it, but for some reason he likes reliving it through my words. His curiosity is endless.

But I also realized that is something I do to my own mom often. Everyday I ask her to tell me stories from our past. Stories that she's told me a million times and that I know by heart. I ask her about all the details and subtleties like I want to recreate the story in a visual way in my own head. I tend to do that a lot.



"Tell me about amama Antolina's garden in Lezama", I asked her yesterday while we were peeling these English peas for lunch. Antolina was my great grandmother who raised six children as a widow during the times of the Spanish Civil War. They struggled, lost everything, but after years of hard work, they built an amazing home with the most beautiful garden. Baby heirloom potatoes, walnuts, apples, wild strawberries, leeks, honey bees, peas, cherry trees... My great uncle and aunt still live in that house and still maintain that garden.



We got these organic peas from our farmers market last Sunday. I told my mom, "I feel like patatas en salsa verde". It is a soup we grew up eating, with english peas, potatoes, rice, lots of garlic and parsley and often times a raw egg yolk quickly whisked into the soup. I used to love the raw egg yolk in there and to this day is one of my favorite Spring time soups.



English Pea, Potato and Rice Soup (Patatas en Salsa Verde)

Makes enough for 4 people

2 Tbs olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
7-8 small yukon gold potatoes, peeled and sliced
2 Tbs parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup white wine
1 qt water (enough to cover and a bit more)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen english peas
2 Tbs arborio or bomba rice
1 tsp salt
4 eggs, soft boil (optional)

In a large pot, heat the olive oil with the garlic. Cook for about a minute on medium heat. We don't want it to turn brown, just lightly cook. Add the sliced potatoes and cook them in the olive oil for about 2 minutes until you feel they are starting to stick to the pan. Add the chopped parsley and stir.

Add the white wine and let the alcohol evaporate. Cover with water, add the peas, rice and salt. Bring to a boil, lower heat to medium and let it simmer for about 20 minutes until potatoes are tender. taste and adjust salt.

Serve with eggs if desired, fresh parsley, cilantro flowers and toasted bread.

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Spring English Pea, Potato and Rice Soup

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http://mercymadame.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-english-pea-potato-and-rice-soup.html

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