There Is Always Chocolate In The Summer

Summer is usually all about fruit for me. Peaches, apricots, cherries, melon, and a array of sweet and tart berries. I turn them into tarts, muffins, sorbets and ice cream... Sometimes even into savory dishes. But one can only stay away from chocolate for so long. I try, believe me -- with no result.







I spent a lot of time at home last week working on the finishing touches of the manuscript. "What is new?" you might be wondering. So does everyone else in my life.



"Maybe you should get some fresh air?" my mom tells me everyday over the phone. "Go for a walk and get some fresh air" I'm counting down the days when I get to do that with her.



One more week and I will be back home.







I have been revisiting some of the recipes in the book. Baking them over and over again and seeing that they work every time gives me a sense of peace. I can get very obsessive about details and when I think of a recipe that was tested a while ago, I tend to think "What if it doesn't work!". I panic. Then I jump into the kitchen.



Last week there were many chocolate recipes. I craved them. The intensity and richness.







I made my favorite dark chocolate and hazelnut cake. Very moist... almost the texture of a brownie. It works every time.



I also made chocolate pots de creme with raspberries and currants. You can find a similar recipe here. And with leftover chocolate tart dough, I made a chocolate, black and red raspberry, and currant galette.



I certainly got my fix.







In a few more days, I will be done. My manuscript will be in the hands of my editor and there will be a big sigh of relief (mine, of course). Then we will be off to the Basque Country for some quiet family time, food, and another Robin Food show.



But for now. I must return to my book.... with a slice of chocolate cake right next to me.

A Summer Lunch For Two

When I was a little girl, I loved day trips. Sometimes it was the beach, other times the countryside. I loved packing lunches and even then, I expected to have multiple courses and snacks to munch on throughout the day. In retrospect, I think food was actually the thing I looked forward to the most, more so than the destination itself.



A few days ago, as I was completely submerged in writing, I looked up at my computer screen. "It is 4 o'clock and I have not left the house all day!" I thought. Seems to happen often these days.

Kids arrived home shortly after. They craved my attention, but my mind was elsewhere. It is hard to come out of your head when you have been in it for so many hours, isn't it? I asked the babysitter to stay a bit longer and I decided to go for a run to clear my head.

I thought of those day trips and the outdoor lunches in the summer heat. Sometimes even on the side of the road, close to a stream, or under an oak tree. I remembered my dad cutting melon slices for all of us while my mom finished her lunch. An array of small plates and nibbles always followed by a tart or shortbread we took from our family's pastry shop.



The following day, I woke up knowing I still had lots of work to do, but thought it would be fun to prepare a quick meal Miren and I could eat outside. Partly for her, but mostly for me. Just to get a break and some fresh air.

We had ripe heirloom tomatoes that I blended into a gazpacho with cucumber, scallions, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of avocado oil. Toasted gluten-free bread, rubbed juicy tomato all over it, and topped it with shaved Idiazabal. Miren's favorite.

We also enjoyed a simple salad with greens, berries, and pan seared salmon. And for dessert, plum and currant crumble.

"One for you, one for me."





Chilled Heirloom Tomato Soup

Serves 2

3 medium heirloom tomatoes, stem removed and diced
1/2 cucumber, diced
3 scallions, diced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
small bunch of oregano
2 sprigs thyme
salt pepper
avocado oil, to garnish
2 slices toasted bread
Idiazabal or Manchego cheese, shaved

Puree all ingredients in the blender and chill for 1 hour.

Serve with toasted bread rubbed with tomato and shaved Manchego cheese.

Salmon and Berry Salad

Serves 2

8 ounces wild-caught salmon (mine was Coho)
2 cup mixed greens (frisee, baby romaine, watercress, arugula, parsley...)
1/4 cup yellow raspberries
1/4 cup blackberries
1/4 cup red currants
1 scallion, sliced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for salmon
salt and pepper

In a small saute pan, cook the salmon for 2 minutes (depending on the thickness) with 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat. Flip over and finish cooking for another 2 minutes. Set aside.

In a bowl, toss together the greens and all the berries.

In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, vinegar and olive oil. Drizzle the vinaigrette over salad. Season with salt. Toss to combine and top with seared salmon pieces.

Red Plum, Currant, and Almond Crumble

Serves 4

1/2 cup (70 grams) superfine brown rice flour
3/4 cup (70 grams) almond meal
1/3 cup (70 grams) natural cane sugar
5 Tbs (70 grams) cold unsalted butter, diced
6 red plums, pit removed and sliced
1/4 cup red currants
1/4 cup white currants
1 Tbs natural cane sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 Tbs cornstarch

Preheat oven to 400F (220C).

In the food processor, combine the first four ingredients and pulse until it forms a crumbly sand. Transfer to a bowl and chill until ready to use.

Toss the rest of ingredients in a bowl. Divide amongst 4 (8-ounce) bowls. Top with crumble.

Bake for 30 minutes until filling bubbling and crumble is golden.

A Vermont Summer Getaway

I have to tell you... I think I have found the place where I would like to spend the rest of my summer days. I am in love... with Vermont.

I have been thinking about going to Vermont for years. "It is the closest scenery to home that you will find in this country" I had heard. They were not lying. Rolling green hills, lush forests, wild berries, apple orchards, crisp mornings, sheep... I found it all there.



Another thing that I should tell you is that I have a great friend. A friend who I met in my first months of blogging and has remained close ever since. I even wrote about her a few years ago.

Nadia lives in southern Vermont on top of a hill with breathtaking views, surrounded by blueberry bushes, apple trees, a pond, and what could be an enchanted forest. When we arrived last week, I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought about the Basque Country and my family back home. All so familiar.



My plan was to relax, cook, and have long conversations with Nadia about life and art. I needed to getaway from my kitchen and computer. Her nephew and niece, Dylan and Elle, were visiting from Montreal and I knew Jon and Miren would find the perfect playmates in them. They fed the chickens and ducks, played with the dogs and cats, and admired the horses. Activities that I grew up doing and seem so foreign to so many children these days. I was excited to watch them in nature and just be.



On our first day there, we took a drive to a farm-stand in Shaftsbury. It was such a beautiful morning with clear skies and cool breeze. We stopped to get some vegetables, berries, and cheese. Elle and I walked around with our cameras in silence. She is quite the photographer herself.

We started driving back and on the side of the road was this sign for fresh farm eggs. We made a quick stop at Red Comb Farm without realizing that it was the home of a fellow blogger. Abi and her husband were generous enough to show us around their property. Their chickens, ducks, and even alpaca. Abi who knits, uses their wool for these vintage inspired baby caps.

It was so inspiring to see her three beautiful children run around with the animals. It left me longing for a life in the country.



Once home, I made a zucchini risotto with fresh herbs from Nadia's garden and local Vermont cheese. It was sunny and quiet.

Abi had talked to us about a berry farm in Massachusetts, so after a little rest, we packed up the car and drove south. It was a warm afternoon, but the kids had fun picking raspberries. Miren couldn't stop eating them right off the bush. Then it was time for ice cream in Williamstown.



Friday we woke up early to drive to Boston. It was a long drive, but the kids managed well. We had a great lunch at the bustling Flour Bakery where to my surprise, had a few gluten-free desserts and wonderful soups and salads. I have to say, I have never been so tempted by a grilled cheese sandwich in my entire life.

We played duck, duck, goose with the kids at the park. Had more ice cream and then back home.



I was excited for Saturday morning because Nadia promised me a trip to the Brattleboro farmers' market. She began the day by making us a delicious breakfast, a berry crisp from the berries we had picked days before, and an apricot and raspberry galette. The house smelled heavenly.



I was again so inspired by all the young farmers with young children. The market is located under a forest of maple trees. The produce was abundant and so were the dairy and meat stands. I talked to every single one of them about raising children on a farm, what keeps them going through the hard labor and commitment. Truly inspiring.

Miren and I had gluten-free pizza topped with kale as we listened to the local band. She played in the sand box with other children and we sampled homemade apricot kamboucha.



After the market, we drove around the countryside some more. Nadia talked to me about the area's history as we stopped along the way to photograph the surroundings.

Breathtaking.



Once home, we enjoyed the galette and crisp that Nadia had baked in the morning. The kids were ready for some outdoor activities so we drove to a near-by lake. It was sunset and the water was chilly. The kids jumped in the water without hesitation. They laughed, played tricks, and threw rocks as I watched with a smile on my face.

That night, we had a campfire with Nadia's comforting lentil soup and s'mores.



I took time early Sunday morning to take a walk alone around the property. The blueberries were popping up and we even ate apples right off the trees. The kids played with the baby chickens that were born just a couple of days before.

I took it all in for one last time, but I must be back soon. Autumn perhaps? I must visit soon.

This place stole my heart.



Thank you Nadia for having us over. I will never forget it.