Hey, were you at "the lake" this past weekend? You know, "the lake" where every other facebook friend of yours was?* You were? Good for you. Oh wait, you didn't make it to "the lake" this year? Me neither, but we still had a lovely weekend at home, enjoying the weather and the kids and feeling grateful for our life . . . exactly as it is.
With hubby not working (or, at least, not at the office) for three whole days, I had a little extra time and was able to try a couple of new recipes. As loyal NTB readers know, I'm not a fancy schmancy cook or a hard core foodie, but I am a girl who enjoys eating, collecting recipes, and sometimes eating food resulting from collected recipes.
Here are this weekend's hits . . .
Corn on the cob was on sale for eighteen cents per ear at the Jewel so I bought a dozen (maximum purchase allowed) and went about searching out a corn salad recipe on the Food Network website. This one earned rave reviews and involved very few ingredients: corn, red onion, basil, cider vinegar, and olive oil. So, so easy to put together (most labor intensive part of preparation was boiling the corn for three minutes) and really flavorful. Hubby remarked, "It's good." High praise. He went back for seconds, as did I. I finished it up yesterday and am now jonesing to make some more. I'll tell you what, if you invite me to "the lake," I'll bring a triple batch. Tee hee.
Make this salad. It's simple and delicious. (Follow the link above or right here for the recipe.) The added bonus of this recipe was the opportunity to marvel at regional differences . . . What I call "corn-on-the-cob," my hubby calls "roasting ears." What term do you use?
The moment I saw this recipe (part of a spread on things to do with vanilla ice cream), I was ready to make it. Pretzels, ice cream, peanut butter? Sounded like a perfect sweet and salty delicacy. Plus, it was a "terrine." I don't fully grasp the breadth of the "terrine" category, but "terrine" just sounds fancy. You know, as in, "Well, after I whip up some fresh corn salad, I'll get to work on the terrine. I hope it doesn't melt on the way to the lake." The terrine is sweet and salty heaven. My only complaint is that the texture of the ice cream is a bit chalky, but I think that might be due to the fact that (in a misguided attempt to save forty-nine cents) I did not buy my beloved Edy's Slow-Churned.
Despite the fancy name, this recipe could not be any easier. The toughest step will be locating parchment paper at the grocery store (by the ziplocs -- you're welcome). I think now I might start to become obsessed with terrines and may try this savory recipe for Yellow Pepper Pesto Terrine next.
Finally, I want to mention that this Flip-Flop Contessa is digging her Skechers Tone-ups flip flops. I don't know if my a** is any firmer for wearing them, but they are very, very comfortable and do not turn your feet black and grubby when you wear them.
How did you spend your holiday weekend? Cooking? At "the lake"? Do you have any terrine experience?
*Credit to my sister LAP for this keen observation
16 comments:
Hello P sisters! That "terrine" does indeed sound fancy but looks easy. NTB, but you do know that that is a good ole French cooking term... I love catching your blog from time to time. Hope all is well.
I am pretty jealous that you got to do some playing around with new recipes. I used to be such a recipe/cookbook whore... and have totally gotten out of it lately. The kicker? My kids will totally try new things and usually like a ton of stuff! The only thing I made this weekend out of the norm was this potato casserole thing that I make based on potato skins.... I usually make it to take to picnics and whatnot. Yum!
I saw Ina make this on TV just the other day for a "bridge party", probably at the Hamptons. No lake or Hamptons for me...just enjoyed the pool opening and our hot weather. I bough corn today and I'm growing basil outside...sounds like a match, I'll try Fresh Corn Salad this week!! Thanks
In addition to being sisters, we also have in common that I was not at the lake this weekend but I did read Real Simple and pinpointed that exact same ice cream recipe as something I'd like to try...salty, sweet, and involving peanut butter. Yum.
LAP
Sadly, I was not at the lake, either, but reading your post made me laugh about it! I somehow got swindled into working Fri Sat and Mon nights, even though this wasn't my holiday :( The official "hospital" version for night shifters is Sunday night, and I managed to get a pretty good sunburn at Elijah's baseball game that day.
The corn salad sounds good, the terrine notsomuch (I am not an ice cream fan...gasp, I know). I do love summer cooking, though, and we call it corn-on-the-cob, just like you!
I wanna see a pic of the new Skechers! Not necessarily your a**, though :)
For some reason, I always get "terrine" and "tagine" confused. The latter is some Middle Eastern stew, I think, so really, I shouldn't.
I am really enjoying the sorbet "ice cream" pie I made from a suggestion in Cooking Light -- pile it into a premade cookie pie crust and top with Cool Whip, then refreeze.
I was, in fact, at "the lake" over the weekend, near St. Louis. Mostly just kids running and jumping off of the dock diving board: including my not even three year old!! Took some gooey butter cake and congo bars (fun cakey chocolate chip things courtesy Bakerella) with me. So glad I'm pregnant, because I ate a LOT of them.
please meet me at "the lake" with that corn salad.
and, though i do consider myself to be a bit of a foodie, i have never made a terrine, and, don't think i have ever even encountered one before.
so nice to hear that you are feeling happy in your very own life, and that you got to have some fun in the kitchen.
We were not at the lake this weekend. Although in Maryland, we don't go to the lake, we "go down the ocean, hon." We weren't there either, though. Stayed pretty close to home, although we busied ourselves with several cookouts and outings with friends. Had I known of that terrine, I would most certainly have made it. Although, I'm wondering how it would be with chocolate chip ice cream? Hmm.
When we finally get together for our lunch I want to hear more about those flip flops...
I was sadly not at "the lake" this past weekend. I did go on the lake down the street for one day and ended up with sun poisioning. On a lighter note, I think both recipes sound delicious. I am a super fan of anything that involves corn. The terrine looks interesting. I love me some pretzels so the combo is intriguing to me.
I would have left a comment sooner, but I was at the lake.
No. I wasn't.
Yummy recipes, Mep, was kind of dying when I saw the terrine...mmmmm...
oh my gosh! i think i'm going to have to try that corn salad. i'm always stuck when preparing corn as a side. i usually just boil and serve or do corn on the cob. this sounds yummy.
thanks for stopping by for the blogtrotting post :).
Mep, when other mention their lake plans. Be sure to let them know that you spend most weekends on the "north shore"
OK, I wasn't at the lake...but I still want some yummy:)
Yes, yes, I was there! I was at the lake...
now that I've confessed, can I haz the corn salad???
I must admit I've never been jealous of anyone who is "at the lake." Of course, being a true Northeasterner, I realize it's far better to be downashore.
I would like some corn salad and some terrine to go with what I have had as my pregnant-lady post-breakfast, pre-lunch snack so far this morning (i.e., 4 slices of cheese, all the rest of the stale gingersnaps, and 14 carrots with hummus).
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