Sometimes you just have to let chance and mood determine what you eat. I’ve been reading more than usual lately. One of the books I’m reading had a chapter on foraging for truffles in the French countryside and the subsequent mushroom trade that goes on at the end of winter where the freshest most earthy mushrooms sell for what seems like the price of gold. The ferocity with which people go about this tradition must have inspired me to some extent as I hovered over the mushrooms last night for dinner.
Drizzle a mushroom with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Roast some peppers on an open flame and add a jalapeno infused cheese. Spice up some pita with Middle Eastern spices and olive oil and serve it up on a bed of braised kale. Simple, elegant with a flare of the Middle East.
Why have I been reading so much? Well, for one, my parents announced to me that they have sold their house in my beloved home town and that I must come over to throw out or donate all of the things I was storing there, including my books, as my small apartment will not accommodate them. If my mom had waited to hear the effect of her announcement and subsequent demand she would have heard the sound of my heart sinking.
I did pack all of the remnants of my childhood. I found my footprint from the day I was born listed as Baby Girl, _____. I didn’t have a name yet. That I saved. Most pictures I saved (not every memorialized moment needs to exist into perpetuity). I threw out a lot of things, old notebooks, art projects, but the books. I just couldn’t do it. To me they are living breathing things and even though they exist elsewhere in the world, in libraries, on Kindles, in basements, I just couldn’t. I couldn’t even donate them. I tried to change my perspective, “I’m freeing myself of the burden of all these words and letting others enjoy them.” It didn’t work.
“Just look at this new translation of Anna Karenina.” “Oh Moby Dick, with an entire chapter on clam chowder.” “Shakespeare’s Complete Works. Hard Copy!” “Emily Dickinson.” “Short Stories from Pre-War Hungary.” I Cannot.
I had gathered all of these books over the years in the hopes of building a library some day. I wouldn’t say they define me, yet so much of who I am and what I love is wrapped up in those books. No matter. I had gotten them as far as the recycling bin and stopped. I threw one book in from the huge pile. I stood there for a while trying pick which should go next. Hoarders anyone? Until my dad rescued me from having to throw them all into the abyss.
“Let’s go for a ride. Bring the books.” Deep in the basement of his office building, which had never seen a flood, he told me he had a hidden stash of things that he could not part with. “We can hide them out there until you’re ready to build your library.” We loaded up the two big boxes of books close to midnight and heaved and pushed as the boxes ripped, to get them up the stairs of the office and down the stairs of the basement. And there I saw Clip Clop, the toy horse I used to ride as a baby. And my crib. And a double stroller, clearly from the early 80s, that my sister and I used to share. We worked quietly and quickly. We covered the books in paper and plastic and preserved them for my future library, but not before I rescued a few from their dark basement fate and began to read them again. And thus, my chapter on mushroom hunting and the inspiration for dinner.
With age, it is easier to pick out the false starts before they do any damage. I have learned to recognize my limitations and boundaries, and not only to constantly push and expand them, but also to honor them.
Ingredients:
- 2 portobello mushrooms
- 1 red pepper
- 1 jalapeno pepper
- 1 package of grillable cheese like Halloumi or a cow’s milk based cheese
- 4 pitas
- 3 tablespoons Za’atar
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 head of kale
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 cup water, chicken or vegetable stock
- juice of one lemon
- salt and pepper for taste
Directions:
To roast the pepper: Apply the red pepper and jalapeno pepper directly to the flame on the stove on medium heat. Turn until black on all sides. When finished, take a paper towel to remove the skin and seeds Don’t use water it will dilute the flavor. Cut into strips.
Mushroom: Season with salt and pepper. In a small pan over medium heat, heat up 2 tblspoons olive oil. Sear the mushroom on both sides for a few minutes, turning regularaly until soft and juicy. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and continue to cook until done.
Cheese: Add a little olive oil to the pan and grill cheese for about 3 minutes on both sides, medium heat until golden brown.
Kale: Remove the stems of the kale by tearing the leafy parts off. Put a little olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the kale. It will wilt down. As it does, add the some of the water or stock so it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. Stir. Allow to cook on low heat for about 10 minutes. Add salt or pepper as necessary. Squeeze the juice of a lemon. Serve hot.
Pita chips: Preheat oven to 400F. Tear about 3 pitas into large pieces. Drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle za’atar over the pieces generously. Pop in the oven for 15 minutes and voila, you’ve got your pita chips. Tasty and not fried.
Assembly: Stuff the remaining pitas with the mushroom, peppers, cheese and serve over kale. Enjoy with a side of pita chips.
Oh Amanda, what a moving story. I can imagine how you felt about the house being sold, and I know how hard it is to let go of books; my mom still keeps many of our children books, “just in case”, as she says. When I moved to Lille, I took ALL my own books, most of them are in boxes in the basement as I don’t have enough room for them all in the appartment, but I like knowing I have them. I am curious about your Anna Karenina translation… 😉 My parents translated it some years ago!
And of course I love the sound of those stuffed pitas! We don’t have portobellos here (at least I haven’t ever seen any), but the combination sounds simple and delicious!
It’s okay to be moved more by the story than by the meal. It’s your lovely countryside and those mushrooms you recently posted that helped to influence the meal, but the story is more compelling. Of course like your post today, I had to incorporate the Middle East.
Aw thanks, Darya. I was starting to believe that I’m unnaturally attached to these seemingly inanimate objects. I’m a “just in case” person too, but especially with books. I too, like knowing my books are there. How cool that your parents did that. I specifically meant have this version, which never came out in hard copy ( http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/anna-karenina-pevear-volokhonsky-translation-leo-tolstoy/1105958285), but I definitely have at least one other translation. Is this them? How exciting!
It is their translation! 🙂 Oh dear, I remember when that book came out, and they were very displeased with the cover!
OMG. Amazing! It’s such a vibrant translation! How random. Of course we have another bizarre connection. Imagine me standing there trying to throw that out. I totally understand about the cover. It disrespects the story. My goodness we have a lot to talk about 🙂
I am so glad you liked it! It IS quite a random coincidence (I just couldn’t help asking when you mentioned it). I’ll let you know if they do a book signing the next time they are in New York
😀
Way better than the others. Haha yes please! That would be great. You can tell them that I rescued one small copy. You should come too. We can have a good meal!
I wish I could… and maybe some day I will! It would be lovely to share a good meal with you!
Parting with books is very difficult. When we moved I put mine in storage, and there they stayed for a couple of years. I then moved them in our cottage and over six years culled them. If I was honest I don’t miss the ones that have gone. If I had a choice they would still be with me but I had to decide either to live surrounded by boxes full of books or have breathing space. Your stuffed pitas sound and look lovely.
Thanks, Maria. They were really simple and delicious. I actually feel the same way. If the books were to somehow disappear I wouldn’t be devastated, but I myself didnt want to do it. There is something about having space and not carrying baggage with you wherever you go…evolving anew with life, instead of hanging on.
That’s a great pita. You can buy the lower grade truffles quite cheaply, sometimes for as little as 5 or 6€.
I too find it hard to throw things away, especially books or anything pertaining to old memories 😉
Thanks! Really, Mad Dog? What makes them lower grade? I read you can only buy them in certain numbers. I have a lot more reading to do!
There are different varieties – some are more expensive than others and I think the price goes up with size. They often have them from this time of year onwards on the temporary local produce stalls at the Boqueria in Barcelona.
Interesting! That would make for an interesting post. Make something with expensive foraged mushrooms so I can swoon and be jealous.
I’ll have to get a dog or maybe a pig and go out into the woods 😉
Lol yes I read that!
I understand your feelings, especially over special books, And now I saw the comments above from one of your commenters re the translation – what a wonderful coincidence! Gorgeous shots, beautiful food and I’d happily lend you my pups to go truffle hunting but think they’d eat them all (if they actually managed to find any) 😉
Gracias, Chica! How cool is all of that? I read in the book that you can distract the pups with another treat so you can take the truffles from them. Pigs are another story. Truffles are like crack to them and they get about as violent as I might if you dangled chocolate in front of me then took it away. Glad to know i’m not the only one with an unnatural attachment to books.
My favorite spice, zatar and on pita, even better.
So delicious! Not Italian. I would have thought you’d love a pure Italian spice or herb.
– What a bright colorful post with a yummy stuffed pita. I bought couple of Portobello mushrooms yesterday… 😛
– I am on the same page as Maria. About 10 years ago, I did a MAJOR downsizing. I could not believe how much a person can accumulate. Donated everything. Among them many books. If there is any regret, the cookbooks.
Food for thought… Check out some of your books with book specialists. They may bring you some handsome money.
We moved 5 years ago, and we have no space at all, period. My husband took boxes of books to a nearby bookstore, famous for carrying rare books. To our surprise, the bookstore took quite a few of his books and paid very fairly.
Thanks so much for this lovely comment, Fae. Your input is insightful. I’m so glad I put this issue out there. My mom, like you and Maria had a perfectly reasonable point. She didn’t need to keep my boxes of books in their downsize just like I don’t “need” them in my apartment. I was much less opposed to donation than to recycling. Good job by your husband in getting some money for the books at that cool store. I’m much less of a book hoarder now. I limit myself only to my favorite authors. Everything else I will get electronically or borrow from the library. There is something special though about having a book in your hand, but I’m trying so hard not to bring anything into this apartment that I don’t want to bring with me to the next. When you move you have to try not to get sentimental over the objects. Thanks again for your input!
wow–what a story. And what amazing pictures! Yum.
Thanks Liz! Thanks for commenting too 🙂
A seriously gorgeous dish! One I will be book marking. The pictures are breath taking. I will have to aspire to your amazing photographic skills! 🙂
Thanks so much. I’ve been reading and practicing for a year!
Your blog is so very beautifully presented! I love the simplicity of this recipe!
Thanks so much, Gerard. It means a lot. So glad you stopped by!