Columbus Foodie

I love, love, love having a husband who cooks. If I’m not feeling up to cooking, all I have to do is print off a recipe, hand it to him, and he runs with it. We bought some really beautiful cherries at the Anderson’s this past weekend, because after seeing a bunch of pictures of cherry clafoutis in everyone’s blogs last week, I was really craving some.

The taste was sweet but not too sweet, and kind of reminded of a cross between custard and cake - the bottom browned nicely in the Le Creuset pan we used. I look forward to trying out this recipe again this summer with other fruits. Traditionally, cherry clafoutis uses unpitted cherries (because it causes the cherries to bleed less, and because it gives it a subtle almond flavor), but we chose to follow the recipe as is - but we did use amaretto instead of brandy.

Emeril’s Cherry Clafoutis
recipe courtesy Food Network

4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, split in half
1 tablespoon brandy
1 cup flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 pound stoned cherries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an oval ovenproof dish about 13 inches long. In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Scrape the vanilla bean and add the pulp to the egg mixture. Stir in the brandy and flour. Whisk in the milk to form a smooth batter. In a mixing bowl, toss the cherries with the remaining sugar. Place the cherries in the ovenproof dish. Pour the batter over the cherries and place in the oven. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the cake is sponge like. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve the clafoutis warm. Garnish with powdered sugar.

I’m finally getting around to doing May’s roundup - between my arthritis acting up and the beautiful weather, I’ve either been going nonstop like the Energizer Bunny or laid out on the couch in pain. Either way, my apologies - I’ll try harder next month, I swear.

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See that “Fresh From the Farmer’s Market” icon on the sidebar? Alanna from A Veggie Venture was kind enough to make it for us bloggers to link to entries or sites that have to do with farmer’s markets. In my case, I linked it to OEFFA (the Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association), which will help you find farm fresh produce, no matter what part of Ohio you live in. It’s definitely a link worth checking out!

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And speaking of all things local, how cool is it that local food blogger Lisa got a mention in the Columbus Dispatch? Be sure to take a look if you haven’t already, she makes some great recommendations.

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I found tons of recipes from other bloggers that I want to try out - what a talented bunch!

In savory recipes, Spring Rolls from Definitely Not Martha, Spaghetti with Stuffed Meatballs from Food, Wine and Friends, Corn and Black Bean Salad from Yumsugar, Spanakopita from Yambalaya, Aunt Virginia’s Meatballs from Is It EDible?, Ricotta Pasta with Fava Beans and Bacon from Apartment Therapy, Potato and Leek Soup from bFeedMe, Asparagus, Bacon and Poached Egg Salad from Cloudberry Quark, Righteous Red Potatoes from the Cookbook Junkie, Prosciutto and Melon Salad from Butta Buns, Bacon, Cheddar, and Green Onion Scones from Confections of a Foodie Bride, Creamy Asparagus Soup with Crab from Cooking with the Single Guy, Pappardelle with Tomatoes from Cumin & Coriander, Middle Eastern Turkey Burgers from Dejamo’s Distracted, Ode to Shiitake Mushrooms, with Pasta, Cream and Herbs and Carbonara with Boar Bacon and Asparagus from Restaurant Widow, Wasabi and Panko-Crusted Pork with Gingered Soy Sauce from Laurie’s Kitchen, Gougeres from Eat Drink Live, Balsamic Chicken from Everybody Likes Sandwiches, Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Ramp, Scallion and Mustard Sauce and Ramp Pesto from Cuisine Capers, Smoked Pork Jowl Muffins with Maple Glaze from What Geeks Eat, Bloody Good Pie from The Way the Cookie Crumbles, Grilled Chicken Lime Soup from The Gracious Bowl, Gnudi with Ramps and Brown-Butter Sauce from Homesick Texan, The Rampwich from Vanesscipes, Grilled Chicken with Balsamic Vinegar from Kalyn’s Kitchen, Cheese-Filled Figs in Salami from Kirsten’s Home Cooking, Beer-Simmered Bratwurst with Grilled Onions and Red Sauerkraut from Leite’s Culinaria, Spanish Tortilla al Chorizo from Mantia’s Musings, Beer Beef Bolognese Parpadelle from teczcape, Macaroni and Cheese with Lobster from thepassionatecook, and Green Rice from Trial and Error.

In sweet recipes, Raspberry Doughnuts from Cloudberry Quark, Vanilla Frozen Yogurt from 101 Cookbooks, Sugar Crusted Breton Butter Cake from The Barmy Baker, Strawberry Mascarpone Ice Cream and Peach Pecan Muffins from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody, Pecan and Date Blondies from Writing at the Kitchen Table, Strawberry Trifle from Hot N’ Sweet Bowl, Fresh Cherry and Toasted Almond Tart from Well Fed, Individual Bread Puddings from Janet is Hungry, Bacardi Rum Cake from Madam Chow’s Kitchen, Sopaipillas from MattBites, Tiramisu Mousse & Lemon Curd Verrines from Rosa’s Yummy Yums, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake from Smitten Kitchen, Apple Brie Pancakes and 1-2-3-4 Lemon Cake from Superspark, Mirabelles Clafoutis from Tartelette, and Rhubarb and White Chocolate Buttermilk Cupcakes from thepassionatecook.

In informative posts, Andrea’s Recipes shows us how to roast a head of garlic, bFeedMe shows you how to cure your own olives, Brandon Eats teaches you how to make ravioli, learn how to fillet a flat fish at Superfood, Donna’s Rhubarb Scones from HomeMadeS, Poppy Seed Filled Cookies from Honeyed Words, and SimplyRecipes shows you how to make a lattice top for a pie crust.

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Keep an eye out for an updated events section in the next few days. I’ve gotten a bit behind, because there is just so much going on in Columbus since it’s summer now. Some weeks I actually have to decide between two events I’d really like to go to. There should be more restaurant menus going up soon as well.

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I may as well put this out there again - any of you guys interested in starting a supper club? If so, let me know…

Until next month, folks…