I had the best of intentions for this Smackdown. Truly I did. I collected all sorts of recipes and bought lots of fresh produce.
I even bought puff pastry for an array of veggie tarts. But you know what? Even though I said in the rules for this Smackdown that you had to do more than slice some tomatoes in a bowl, that's become my go-to summer meal lately, with a few variations, and I can't get enough of it.
This obsession dates back a few years ago when I was at my friend Becky's house. She grows some unbelievable heirloom tomatoes called Thomas Jeffersons, and had a bowl on hand when I stopped by. As much as I love tomatoes, I don't believe I've ever tasted any that were more amazing than those simple slices. When we finished them, with her permission, I lifted the bowl to my mouth and drained every last drop of their juice. In my taste memory, that is the very definition of "tomato water." Even though it is not that difficult to make actual tomato water (as long as you have some cheesecloth or a pillowcase on hand), I've been sticking to a simpler version of good local tomatoes in a bowl, and slurping up every last drop.
Last night's version included yellow tomatoes, Juliet tomatoes (they're the small oblong ones in the photo at the top of this post), some thinly sliced raw zucchini, a few sliced Kalamata olives, a rough chiffonade of fresh basil, salt, pepper, thyme, a drizzle of olive oil, and a splash of jerez (sherry) vinegar. I later added some Greek feta to it.
For an accompaniment, I made a bruschetta of sorts - OK, let's just call it a small open-faced veggie sandwich. Pulling some of my fig bread from last month's Smackdown out of the freezer, I smeared it with goat cheese, then added a variety of tomatoes, plus thyme and slices of marinated garlic.
Then I added some kalamata olives and shaved parm.
Here's what it looked like when it came out of the oven and I topped it with basil.
I'm lucky I don't have to please other palates around here, but this simple supper epitomizes summertime culinary satisfaction for me.
To all the participants for this month's Smackdown, I've checked out your entries and, as I knew I would be, am inspired by your efforts and creativity! You've all given me terrific ideas to use for the rest of my farmers market haul (peanuts and, sadly, zucchini blossoms not among them). There's definitely some tough competition for this month's contest. So I'll sleep on my decision, and I hope to be back tomorrow night to announce the winner. Thanks to everyone who joined in!
Today's the day! Entries for the July 2010 Culinary Smackdown are due by midnight, and with any luck, I'll have my own (non-competing) entry up by then too.
I know we have some first-time entrants and readers. (Also, my dad, a surprisingly fervent supporter, has been telling friends and relatives about my blog, then asking me to email them links "and instructions.")
So let me 'splain how this Culinary Smackdown thing works. This is a monthly cooking/blogging contest, where the previous winner selects the next month's theme and serves as host and judge. This time around, that would be me. As winner of the June Culinary Smackdown: Picnic Basket hosted by the fabulous and talented La Diva of La Diva Cucina (you can find my winning entry here and La Diva's recap of all the fine June entries here), I chose as our July theme:
Summertime (Veggies) - and the Livin' Is Easy
You can find full details of this month's Smackdown in my announcement post here.
Participants will add a comment at the bottom of this post saying "I'm up" or include a link to their entry on their blog if they posted before the deadline. For my dad and other blog newbies, if you click on the name of a commenter who posts an "I'm up," it should take you either straight to their blog or to their profile, where you can click on their blog under "My Blogs" to find them. Please go visit all the contestants for some great ideas (and photos) that I'm confident will inspire you in your own kitchen with the bounty of summertime produce.
I'll go around to check out all the entries, then post a recap and announcement of this month's winner as soon as possible. The only prize for the Culinary Smackdown is bragging rights, including the opportunity to post the lovely badge below on your blog and serve as host, judge, and arbiter of the theme and deadline of next month's Culinary Smackdown.
To all you eager competitors: Please bear with me. It's been a little crazy in my day-job world lately (all good, just hectic), and I'm solo for this month's Smackdown due to Team Eggplant health issues.
To those of you who ran out of time, forgot, are considering entering next month, or might have entered but had other things befall you, know you're welcome anytime. Boxer and Dani, my heart goes out to you.
I'll leave you with a couple of photos of the goodies I hope to get to.
With my Florida friends especially in mind, I'll sign off tonight with this and hopes that everyone weathers whatever storm they're going through.
Where are you spending your holiday weekend? And where do you wish you were spending it? Any special ways you're celebrating Independence Day?
With my feet firmly planted on the ground, I'm looking forward to declaring my independence from elevators for three days, especially after two disconcerting episodes in my office building this week.
It's not that I can't handle heights.
In fact, this is where I'd rather be.
I just prefer my heights with views, especially when you can only get there the old-fashioned way.
Dirt roads are good.
A reminder to anyone interested in participating in the next Culinary Smackdown: If your weekend plans include a holiday meal with friends, family, or summer veggies, you may already have an entry in the making for the July contest. Details here.
Then again, if you're bored solo this weekend, looking for diversion from too much fam-damily, or just happen to be a Tony Bourdain fan, you can check out my post about seeing him live. Hmm, so many connotations when it comes to "highs."
Wishing everyone a great weekend! Here's a musical reminder of July's theme:
Summer is officially here. Sometimes the hot and humid weather (where I live, at least) slows my appetite and inclination to cook.
On the other hand, the plethora of produce available this time of year gets the cogs turning in the old culinary cortex and makes me want to taste every fresh vegetable I can lay my hands on.
As the winner of the June Culinary Smackdown ("Picnic Baskets"), it's my duty and pleasure to select next month's theme and serve as host/judge. So, without further ado, the theme of the July Culinary Smackdown is:
Summertime (Veggies) - and the Livin' Is Easy
I encourage you to take your inspiration from whatever's in season in your corner of the world and spotlight a veggie or two. Maybe from a local farmers market, or your own garden?
No need to knock yourself out and make umpteen dishes like I did last month (you can see Team Eggplant's winning picnic spread here). But I do favor the philosophy of La Diva(two-time winner and last month's host/judge) that these Culinary Smackdowns are a great opportunity for us to challenge ourselves. Perhaps you'd like to experiment with a veg or variety new to you? Or try out a new preparation for an old summertime fave? Whatever you choose, I'm confident we'll all pick up some tasty suggestions from each other.
Here are the rules:
1. Prepareat least one dish, featuring at least one summer vegetable, yourself (and include photo of same). You aren't required to cook/heat your veggie, but for the purposes of this contest, you need to do more than, say, slice a lovely tomato, put it on a plate, and snap a photo.
2. Any dishes you enter may include more than one vegetable, along with any proteins, grains, legumes, condiments, etc. of your choosing. Just remember that the point here is for at least one summer vegetable to play a starring role.
3. The deadline for entries to be posted is midnight E.D.T., Saturday, July 24.
4. I'll post my own submission on that date (not a contender in this competition). Please add a comment to let everyone know "you're up."
5. I'm trying to give everyone plenty of time, to accommodate whatever weather, vacation, summertime laziness, or other issues may impact your schedule. If you post your entry before July 24, please come back here on the deadline date and post a comment with a link to your entry so we can all find you and no one is overlooked. I'll check out all the entries and announce the winner on my blog.
6. To paraphrase Gershwin, even if your daddy ain't rich or your ma all that good-lookin', ANYONE can enter, and NEWCOMERS are welcome! (I'm pretty much of a newcomer here myself.) If you don't have your own blog and want to join in the fun, I'd be happy to feature your dish on my blog - just send me a photo and description, and please email me in advance to give me a heads-up.
7. Opportunities for "bonus points" have sometimes been mentioned in these Smackdowns. Without quite going there, I'll say that what I'm hoping to find - and usually do - is inspiration from everyone's contributions. I will also mention that Eggy loves some fresh herbage.
Have at it, and I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with!
