A Salad of Seduction

 

Ugh. We're back at that time of year when dubious claims about the aphrodisiac qualities of pretty much everything are touted and our tongues' erogenous zones are endlessly charted. Stupid Valentines Day. Even as a loved up, shacked up girl, I think it's all a bit of a pain. Chocolate recipes everywhere start to make my eyeballs feel cloyed. Obvious, clicheed ideas of food sensuality just end up feeling like textbook lessons. I can't imagine a really exciting, hot night coming from any of these how-to guides. Of course small, spontaneous tokens of affection are always sweet and always encouraged, and I do have some plans to make an elaborate breakfast, convince J to go out for the paper and then have a lazy morning. But after that I'll probably just try to get on with my life. Grand gestures are exhausting.

But just in case you think my heart has turned to coal, there is a new crush in the kitchen. We've been quite taken with this little number over the past few days. It's an herb salad that comes from the one cookbook I've really lusted after recently, the pretty newly released Ottolenghi Cookbook. I can't remember the last time I flipped through the pages of a cookbook and was curious to try not only the meat dishes, but also the numerous vegetable dishes, the salads and the pastries. THE PASTRIES. I dropped a few hints about wanting it for Christmas, but J firmly objected to the photographs in the book. They are numerous. The composition is sometimes arranged so that the actual food is barely in the frame. There are loads of pictures of blurry people. Yes. Yes. Yes. I could clearly see all of this as well. But I had faith that our dinners would truly benefit from bringing it into our home. He wasn't swayed. I'm an independent lady with a well-used amazon account. 

I love it. I took it to bed with me the morning I got it and read every page. This was one of the recipes I was most excited to try out.

Now, salad is not the food of love and I am not going to argue otherwise. But this salad made of the picked leaves of basil, dill, parsley, coriander, tarragon and some rocket topped with butter-fried nuts and a citrus dressing will put a spring in your step and a smile on your face and a song in your heart. The mix of herbs seems strange at first, but it makes a lot of sense in your mouth. There is clarity and truth in this combination. If you are planning a big Valentines dinner,  I'm suggesting this as a palate cleanser in between your slinky oysters, rich meats and deep chocolates. If you don't care about any of that, you should still try it. It'll make you feel healthy and vigorous, but with a hint of fried-in-butter. And who doesn't want to feel vigorous and a little bit rich right now?

I'm not going to type up the recipe because I really want to go to sleep and I think you should buy the book. It's on sale right now even. But if you're not yet sold, you can check out the blog. There are a few recipes on there that look very tempting, too. You could even improvise from the description above. Whatever. It doesn't matter. The bottom line is that if you want to feel fantastic, just put it in your mouth. 

And that is the most suggestive sentence I have ever written on this blog. The end.

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(I've been very actively working on my new web project (www.katiemcgown.info), so if you feel like things are too quiet here, go there. It's being updated e.v.e.r.y. s.i.n.g.l.e. d.a.y.)

Comments

[MBT Shoes]

It's so nice to have you do all of the research for us. It makes our decision making so much easier!! Thanks.

[torrent download]

The mix of herbs seems strange at first, but it makes a lot of sense in your mouth.

[Dad]

clicheed receipes aside...happy valentines day Kate...