Aloo Gobi for Louise's Picnic Game

<div><b>I'm going on a picnic and bringing Aloo Gobi</b>, an Indian dish with potatoes and cauliflower. It's a virtual picnic that takes place July 1. So...<br /><br /></div><b></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Happy Picnic Day</span></b></b></div><b></b><br /><div><br />Louise at <a href="http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/">Months of Edible Celebrations</a> has come back to blogging and is organizing her popular picnic game where at least 26 bloggers create an alphabetical picnic menu, beginning here with A for Aloo Gobi. On July 1, she will post a list of all 26 dishes, with photos!<br /><div><br /></div><div>Actually, I really did bring real, not virtual aloo gobi on a picnic while I was in Aspen recently; I shared it with one of the Tuesday night barbecues at the Aspen Center for Physics. It's a good dish for a picnic because it's supposed to be served at room temperature.<br /><br />Here's what it looked like towards the end of cooking, before being garnished with cilantro leaves:<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7D47jE7tSA3KOlAIUQAmFIkBFy3M-A-UsvjwMNmWiEac6-DryI_EG9uay-kQxvHVRhZLsABQQ7EAVKNWPITkqrF4wEzv2bQLc0ItwOeqGUcwSfQtbxvZ4v-SQueYZHiWQmPdQ6m17VQM/s1600/aloogobi0801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7D47jE7tSA3KOlAIUQAmFIkBFy3M-A-UsvjwMNmWiEac6-DryI_EG9uay-kQxvHVRhZLsABQQ7EAVKNWPITkqrF4wEzv2bQLc0ItwOeqGUcwSfQtbxvZ4v-SQueYZHiWQmPdQ6m17VQM/s400/aloogobi0801.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aloo Gobi made May, 2013 in Aspen, Colorado</td></tr></tbody></table><div>I first became aware of this delicious dish around 4 years ago when I saw the film "Bend it Like Beckham." As I wrote in <a href="http://regional-food.blogspot.com/2009/04/aloo-gobi.html">an earlier post about this dish</a>, the heroine of the film wants to be a soccer player, and is very good at it, but her parents believe that it's better to make good aloo gobi than to "bend it like Beckham" -- another concept, this from soccer, that I learned from the film. The line is pretty memorable, but what's very memorable is the DVD extra of the film director, Gurinder Chadha, in the kitchen with her mother and her aunties, who watch and give advice while she's trying to explain to her audience how to make aloo gobi. This extra feature is fabulous, maybe better than the film itself.<br /><br />One of my earlier efforts to make aloo gobi looked like this:<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JtkNPAuAFVzUj8pkxgBFaQFuu0Rtwp0E2j_q_cFh8GcYRxMzxGfvBDuaVBhCYgEd8sQI_VtR176uU7sg7VYkHo2Y_TXn8DR8ldDxm6kQbGOKcvLnCa-9CMkszPpKyI4KM0qX-Q-Pq_U/s1600-h/aloogobi416.jpg" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329561778997662578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JtkNPAuAFVzUj8pkxgBFaQFuu0Rtwp0E2j_q_cFh8GcYRxMzxGfvBDuaVBhCYgEd8sQI_VtR176uU7sg7VYkHo2Y_TXn8DR8ldDxm6kQbGOKcvLnCa-9CMkszPpKyI4KM0qX-Q-Pq_U/s400/aloogobi416.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aloo Gobi made April, 2009 in La Jolla, California</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span></div><div>When I eat in an Indian restaurant, I often try to sample the aloo gobi, which always contains a number of spices along with aloo and gobi (cauliflower and potatoes), and sometimes contains tomatoes and sometimes not. An example of the dish with little or no tomato:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2ZStR_0BNBpvgymcH3n0qAl60sNb98R_H_Y4wmtCN_3dKjIsz9MadFrpO8Y6v823gxp802P2PSZt77ew9Mq9G7A2LvQicXjOSx1ZyqGGwsfB1t_egQZ_f_1-eGgJ_uqitX35hhc4SiI/s1600-h/indian2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110898131028741538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2ZStR_0BNBpvgymcH3n0qAl60sNb98R_H_Y4wmtCN_3dKjIsz9MadFrpO8Y6v823gxp802P2PSZt77ew9Mq9G7A2LvQicXjOSx1ZyqGGwsfB1t_egQZ_f_1-eGgJ_uqitX35hhc4SiI/s400/indian2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aloo Gobi at Host Restaurant in Toronto</td></tr></tbody></table><div>We had a great meal including the above dish a couple of years ago with our friends Rashmi and Kappu. Kappu sent me her aloo-gobi recipe that I followed last month. I didn't have the turmeric and paprika, but I did have all the fresh spices, cumin, and garam masala, a delicious Indian spice blend that's also good on other things.</div><div><br /></div><h3>Kappu’s Aloo Gobi</h3><h4>Ingredients </h4><div><div class="MsoNormal">1/4 C Oil (Vegetable or Olive)</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 large Onion- cut into thin slices and each slice cut in half crosswise</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 T cumin seeds</div><div class="MsoNormal">1/2 bunch fresh cilantro – leaves chopped and set aside separately. </div><div class="MsoNormal">1 t turmeric</div><div class="MsoNormal">1/2 t paprika</div><div class="MsoNormal">  salt to taste</div><div class="MsoNormal">2 to 3- Serrano or any green chillis – chopped (depending on how hot you like)</div><div class="MsoNormal">2 large whole tomatoes, chopped</div><div class="MsoNormal">3-4 cloves garlic – minced</div><div class="MsoNormal">2 T fresh ginger – peeled and grated</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 med – large cauliflower, broken into floweret</div><div class="MsoNormal">3 medium potatoes – peeled and cut into 1” cubes.</div><div class="MsoNormal">2 T water</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 t Garam Masala</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 T unsalted butter or ghee</div><h4>Directions</h4>Heat oil in dutch oven, or large pan with cover, over med- high heat.  Add onion and stir till translucent.  Add cumin seeds.  Cook until onions are light brown – do not burn them. Stir.  Add turmeric, paprika and salt; stir.  Add chillis, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, potatoes & cauliflower and mix till everything is well coated.  Add 2+ T water, stir and cover.   Reduce heat to medium low and let simmer for 20 minutes until the cauliflower is cooked. Stir and add Garam Masala, stir again.  Sprinkle 1 T of unsalted butter or ghee, and cilantro leaves on top of the curry, cover and turn heat off.  Let it sit for as long as possible before serving – up to 15 min.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">p.s. Do not cook after adding the garam masala.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bon appetite</div><!--EndFragment--></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmsO8cezo8FbbVI1qxj2tzxHUEMDfMb76zdYERYEcx9vQsGPqadbVHJaVSgH442jeyFvo7VhLPXl8iJKgGx4lxqMb02my4rHx410_a8pvurv-gWT04SzhWcRqPtpL73s-083_55xpH7UN/s800/picnic.day.logo.2013.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24.953125px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px;" width="249" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louise's Picnic Game Logo:<br /><a href="http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/2013/06/celebrating-international-picnic-day.html">See This Post for Details</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>

Aloo Gobi for Louise's Picnic Game

I'm going on a picnic and bringing Aloo Gobi , an Indian dish with potatoes and cauliflower. It's a virtual picnic that takes place ...

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Artichokes for Louise's Picnic Game

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSURf30CkOr2ROM0jGKEFku8w8y-w4_eQ-Ah_oMaynZa3mkwxMjXumwbX1MjmTXDZXeSniRGW-jyvFaTHz9W8p5sVY8A-O7iM_gCYkaQaPIbefWaGk9ss0988yqZWvq3EfRCX-LzwSnOoR/s1600/+artichoke-xray.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSURf30CkOr2ROM0jGKEFku8w8y-w4_eQ-Ah_oMaynZa3mkwxMjXumwbX1MjmTXDZXeSniRGW-jyvFaTHz9W8p5sVY8A-O7iM_gCYkaQaPIbefWaGk9ss0988yqZWvq3EfRCX-LzwSnOoR/s320/+artichoke-xray.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Louise at <a href="http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/2012/06/time-to-stage-picnic-game-its.html">Months of Edible Celebrations</a> is organizing a big virtual picnic among all her blogger contacts. I'm participating in this picnic; my contribution, <b>representing the letter A</b>, will be steamed artichokes with mayonnaise. While I'm at it, I'll also put in some asparagus, and avocados from the fabulous Santa Barbara Farmers' Market.<br /><br />Last Saturday I wrote about cooking artichokes -- see this post:<br /><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;"> <a href="http://regional-food.blogspot.com/2012/06/artichokes-for-louises-picnic-game.html">Artichokes</a></h3><div><br /></div><div>I described how I begin by trimming the sharply-pointed leaves, then I steam the artichokes and cool them off. If you picnic with me, don't forget -- whole steamed fresh artichokes must be eaten with care by scraping the soft part from each leaf with one's teeth. Artichokes are the only food I know of where instructions for eating them are as important as instructions for cooking them! If you are fearful, you can buy jars with just the soft interior leaves, marinated and ready to put in a salad, but it's nowhere near as fun as working with the big, tough thistle just off the stalk:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBRrYpoTq3zNXINPDp9WBrOjz7_q13sRgErA8dnq-o3i6KqoCv-m8ncUXsND_CKOda3R0UfUIb_2T7fJ-jXdzAGyFpZV5HFY-0KYBim87W3M-640KurgURsIj1d9ibXQn38Dgue4xLNnU/s1600/artichoke2-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBRrYpoTq3zNXINPDp9WBrOjz7_q13sRgErA8dnq-o3i6KqoCv-m8ncUXsND_CKOda3R0UfUIb_2T7fJ-jXdzAGyFpZV5HFY-0KYBim87W3M-640KurgURsIj1d9ibXQn38Dgue4xLNnU/s320/artichoke2-+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />I just love seeing all the different kinds of artichokes in the market, and I'm equally excited about avocados and asparagus. I also steam the asparagus, and serve it chilled with vinaigrette for a picnic (or fresh from the steamer with butter.) Here's what you can see at the market here:<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZsPRVX2i45ogHdqQGJt79569wWG-wxDGqxvM2XLVFZbovc7OQtWZ2Rl-Q7vgn53XPhID7cqHJV9F79t9TjL2dmEVTScteRHXj5oaNBiC9TAzFm9i7oFf8NkiDLb4qMuc8ZEadELJTM0c/s1600/artichoke1-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZsPRVX2i45ogHdqQGJt79569wWG-wxDGqxvM2XLVFZbovc7OQtWZ2Rl-Q7vgn53XPhID7cqHJV9F79t9TjL2dmEVTScteRHXj5oaNBiC9TAzFm9i7oFf8NkiDLb4qMuc8ZEadELJTM0c/s320/artichoke1-+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The avocado vendor:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThOVk26eAcW57g4YqMQUEjGcwuw3BJEoIak_ujdBHc3HkaAUaplXN6v3cx0WK3kJL_CRH0AuBwLKYCJqeXF4s3aOiPXwfntnMkSv1oyxp76O1KSBpa4MRInRwv2AqTj61zhHxCQynCZoL/s1600/a-fruits9911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThOVk26eAcW57g4YqMQUEjGcwuw3BJEoIak_ujdBHc3HkaAUaplXN6v3cx0WK3kJL_CRH0AuBwLKYCJqeXF4s3aOiPXwfntnMkSv1oyxp76O1KSBpa4MRInRwv2AqTj61zhHxCQynCZoL/s320/a-fruits9911.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I guess being away from home, where artichokes and avocados don't grow, makes me appreciate this all the more. I eat ripe avocados with lemon juice and salt, but of course they too can be made fancy or added to salads. And of course there's always guacamole, but it doesn't start with my letter A.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBLQYiyg7O8fKmRySWfwV0dIOMp-grKGR90Txa6uwCqRqlKS-7RzGv-4TYTZnafNSOgr02xdeOFGlzhZtlldAIClsi0p-4-W6RupJiWI3AlSkdYY8c-rMEeQN82b6i_DlPCD2Doz-SBMf/s1600/Picnic.Logo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBLQYiyg7O8fKmRySWfwV0dIOMp-grKGR90Txa6uwCqRqlKS-7RzGv-4TYTZnafNSOgr02xdeOFGlzhZtlldAIClsi0p-4-W6RupJiWI3AlSkdYY8c-rMEeQN82b6i_DlPCD2Doz-SBMf/s320/Picnic.Logo.jpeg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div>

Artichokes for Louise's Picnic Game

Louise at Months of Edible Celebrations is organizing a big virtual picnic among all her blogger contacts. I'm participating in this pi...

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Picnic Game Day

Happy picnic day: don't forget to check <a href="http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-time-for-2011-picnic-game-round-up.html">Louise's blog</a> for a complete list of 26 picnic foods in alphabetical order! My post,<br /><h1><a href="http://regional-food.blogspot.com/2011/06/picnic-game-from-louise.html">A-Apricot Cobbler</a></h1>has been up for around a week. There are 16 recipes for desserts and sweet baked goods, and a very interesting Portuguese dish that starts with "X" among the delicious foods for this virtual picnic.

Picnic Game Day

Happy picnic day: don't forget to check Louise's blog for a complete list of 26 picnic foods in alphabetical order! My post, A-Apri...

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The Picnic Game from Louise

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2kOnDyXSc9VXV4l3g321nPDd8jXP8irbfJS8Df31szP_IlhrxO1wphLBJYZEePrnMFcbqXoGCMU1WxYFDpcgBVg9dficxSeARR4wIEcFGwdTg27-hae7Mwr5VBsg0VSNjFfiCOhK6fgn/s1600/PicnicGame2011.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619573889644827186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2kOnDyXSc9VXV4l3g321nPDd8jXP8irbfJS8Df31szP_IlhrxO1wphLBJYZEePrnMFcbqXoGCMU1WxYFDpcgBVg9dficxSeARR4wIEcFGwdTg27-hae7Mwr5VBsg0VSNjFfiCOhK6fgn/s400/PicnicGame2011.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 325px;" /></a><br />Louise at the blog <a href="http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/">Months of Edible Celebrations</a> is <a href="http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/2011/06/its-international-picnic-day-time-to.html">hosting a picnic</a>!! She just announced this game today, inviting bloggers to celebrate by bringing a full alphabet of picnic treats. Louise assigned me the letter A: I'm "baking" for the picnic even though my reality right now is a condo in Aspen, Colorado, where I have no pantry supplies whatsoever. I'm looking forward to getting home in a few weeks, and baking in my own kitchen where I keep flour, baking powder, and where I have many baking dishes!<br /><br />Well, I'm going on this virtual fantasy picnic, and I'm bringing:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:180%;" ><br />A -- APRICOT COBBLER<br /></span></span><br />Other bloggers will be bringing foods <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">from <span style="font-weight: bold;">B</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Z</span></span>.<br /><br />Here is a photo and recipe:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXAH-30A-XK-yfTuiBgT7bf2Hsi3spvpP_O7V0UD3TukFKaNz-D926L49DBuQCIUte6bCs1H6yJFCb_P3a6QK2KvUawxVCAPxyIizHd-vZ1mFl633zKBoQBqivnacWkahTPwCuEI52Zzj/s1600-h/peachcobbler.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240022911491573362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXAH-30A-XK-yfTuiBgT7bf2Hsi3spvpP_O7V0UD3TukFKaNz-D926L49DBuQCIUte6bCs1H6yJFCb_P3a6QK2KvUawxVCAPxyIizHd-vZ1mFl633zKBoQBqivnacWkahTPwCuEI52Zzj/s400/peachcobbler.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Apricot (or Peach) Cobbler</span></span><br />Preheat oven to 400 F.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Make the filling first:</span><br />1 1/2 lb ripe apricots or 9 to 10 ripe peaches<br />1/2 cup sugar<br />1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (2 for peaches)<br />1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon or lime juice<br />3/4 teaspoon almond extract<br /><br />Cut apricots in quarters. (Or peel the peaches and cut in 6-8 slices each). Toss all the ingredients together in a 9-inch round or square glass or ceramic baking dish. Let stand until juicy, about 30 minutes or as long as it takes to make the topping.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">For topping:</span><br />3/4 cup all-purpose flour<br />3/4 teaspoon baking powder<br />1/4 teaspoon baking soda<br />1/4 teaspoon salt<br />1 teaspoon sugar mixed in<br />2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into bits<br />1/2 cup well-shaken buttermilk OR 1/2 c. milk plus a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar<br />2 or more teaspoons of cinnamon-sugar for sprinkling.<br /><br />Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar in a bowl. Blend in the butter with your fingertips or a knife until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in the buttermilk with a fork just until combined. Do not overmix.<br /><br />Drop rounded tablespoons of dough on top of the filling; leave spaces in between the blobs to allow topping to expand. Sprinkle with remaining 2 teaspoons cinnamon-sugar.<br /><br />Bake cobbler in 400 degree oven until fruit is tender and topping is golden, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly, about 15 minutes, and serve warm with ice cream.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">APRICOT CAKE</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67U8Js4gbl_WudBKbD3VLjF6S_2g2jYxYn4bDzHxPNsmQPUIXwj4tU2wXY_T2rByn8PiNJnKq6XtcIzLdiVGHYwyGPh3Zv08ME3Yq2PpZidlIQycxiaQSC4RoeX6nEyEZ_mbjsW1lAci2/s1600-h/cake.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237003500832075730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67U8Js4gbl_WudBKbD3VLjF6S_2g2jYxYn4bDzHxPNsmQPUIXwj4tU2wXY_T2rByn8PiNJnKq6XtcIzLdiVGHYwyGPh3Zv08ME3Yq2PpZidlIQycxiaQSC4RoeX6nEyEZ_mbjsW1lAci2/s400/cake.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a>While I'm thinking about apricots and what I could do with them -- another good picnic dish with apricots would be a traditional Polish fruit cake. Similar recipes appear in many traditional Eastern European cuisines -- I always knew it as a Jewish tradition before friends gave me a Polish cookbook a couple of years ago.<br /><br />I include a scan of the cake recipe, with my notes on how to make the depicted cake:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-v3TiApuPAclV2UZJRDOo1qYdP2-n0j_g8OKBJFSU7YBY2F3OJnbAupUMEr2pWirJ92xhXmzBttY31HwYHaVtB3TldXjwM8IMU-oOKOqaLUuxsEkXTDkuXnlj1bo85uwmW8xVI9rEqAg/s1600-h/cake.recipe.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237014415579031810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-v3TiApuPAclV2UZJRDOo1qYdP2-n0j_g8OKBJFSU7YBY2F3OJnbAupUMEr2pWirJ92xhXmzBttY31HwYHaVtB3TldXjwM8IMU-oOKOqaLUuxsEkXTDkuXnlj1bo85uwmW8xVI9rEqAg/s400/cake.recipe.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Click on this copy of the cake recipe with my notes to see a full-sized version.

The Picnic Game from Louise

Louise at the blog Months of Edible Celebrations is hosting a picnic !! She just announced this game today, inviting bloggers to celebrate ...

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Unoriginal Whole Foods Salad

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/4749343268/" title="Whole_Foods3195 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="Whole_Foods3195" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4749343268_510222998c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />At her blog <a href="http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-international-picnic-day.html">Months of Edible Celebrations</a>, my Blog Friend Louise is having a picnic. Each person brings -- that is, blogs -- an item, corresponding to a letter of the alphabet, and posts a corresponding blog entry on that item. [Sorry if this was confusing: it's a virtual picnic, based on a kids' game, with bloggers all over the country and maybe further than that.]<br /><br />I'm not really doing any original cooking and recipe experiments these days, so I volunteered for the most <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">U</span>npopular letter, and I'm bringing <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">U</span>noriginal Whole Foods Salad from the Salad Bar</span>. This also gives me the opportunity to talk about <span style="font-weight: bold;">Whole Foods Market</span>, one of the places I shop. (Inspiration for my series on shopping came from Blogger Lydia at <a href="http://www.theperfectpantry.com/">The Perfect Pantry</a>. This is my <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">U</span>noriginal month.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/4749343078/" title="Whole_Foods3197 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="Whole_Foods3197" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4749343078_4b980718fe.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />I love to shop for high-quality cheese, meat, bread, bulk spices, olive oil, and produce at Whole Foods. But in a pinch -- like needing a picnic -- they also offer freshly made sushi, a steam table buffet (which I admit to not trying due to steam-table prejudice), a large prepared foods counter (pricy but very tempting), and a big salad bar: today's source of our imaginary picnic.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/4748702227/" title="Whole_Foods3199 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="Whole_Foods3199" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4748702227_3aaba704e2_m.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/4748701305/" title="Whole_Foods3203 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="Whole_Foods3203" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4748701305_dfd8416053_m.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/4748701457/" title="Whole_Foods3205 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="Whole_Foods3205" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4748701457_d0dc1faac9_m.jpg" width="180" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/4748701631/" title="Whole_Foods3202 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="Whole_Foods3202" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4748701631_49977b0f3f_m.jpg" width="180" /></a><br /><br />So, to play Louise's picnic alphabet game, I say <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm going on a picnic, and I am bringing the following beautiful and wonderful recipes that have been posted</span>:<br /><br /><p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">A- <a href="http://moderndayozzieandharriet.blogspot.com/2010/06/almond-joy-pie-for-picnic.html">Almond Joy Pie (Marjie) @ Modern Day Ozzie & Harriet</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 51, 0);"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://moderndayozzieandharriet.blogspot.com/2010/06/almond-joy-pie-for-picnic.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">B- <a href="http://grubandstuff.blogspot.com/2010/06/picnic-worthy-baked-beans.html">Baked Beans (Kasha) @ Grub and Stuff </a></p><br /><p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">C-<a href="http://dyingforchocolate.blogspot.com/2010/06/chocolate-picnic-cake.html"> Chocolate Picnic Cake Janet @ Dying for Chocolate</a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://dyingforchocolate.blogspot.com/2010/06/chocolate-picnic-cake.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">D-<a href="http://sporadiccook.blogspot.com/2010/06/dutch-funnel-cake.html"> Dutch Funnel Cake (Julie) Sporadic Cook</a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;"><a href="http://sporadiccook.blogspot.com/2010/06/dutch-funnel-cake.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">E-<a href="http://simplerecipes.me/?p=2166"> Easy Blender Chicken Pie (Juliana) @ Simple Recipes</a> </p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;"><a href="http://simplerecipes.me/?p=2166" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">F-5 <a href="http://moveablefeastscookbook.blogspot.com/2010/06/culinary-history-101-five-bean-salad.html">Bean Salad-(Barbara) @ Moveable Feasts<span style="color: rgb(255, 51, 0);"> </span></a></p><br /><p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">G-<a href="http://baskersfunfoods.blogspot.com/2010/06/picnic-game.html"> Granola Bars (Stephanie) @ Fun Foods on a Budget </a></p><br /><p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">H-<a href="http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/2010/06/herb-and-cheese-pasta-salad-for-picnic.html"> Herb and Cheese Pasta Salad<span style="font: 18px Arial;"> (</span>Reeni) @ Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice </a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/2010/06/herb-and-cheese-pasta-salad-for-picnic.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">I- <a href="http://raspberryandchipotle.blogspot.com/2010/06/international-picnic-day.html">Incredibly Fruity Raspberry Cakes (Tessa) @ Raspberry & Chipotle </a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">J-<a href="http://rochellesvintagerecipes.blogspot.com/2010/06/jeweled-picnic-bars.html"> Jeweled Picnic Bars Rochelle @ Rochelle's Vintage & Frugal Recipes </a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">K- <a href="http://petrafoede.de/blog/2010/06/29/aus-omas-kueche-kaltschale/">Kaltschale (Cold Fruit Soup) Petra @ Kaffeeklatsch</a> </p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">L- <a href="http://culinarytypes.blogspot.com/2010/06/long-island-lemonade-cocktail.html">Long Island Lemonade Cocktail (T.W.) @ Culinary Types </a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">M- <a href="http://gherkinstomatoes.com/2010/06/27/anatomy-lesson-rustic-mushroom-tart/">Mushroom Tart (Cynthia) @ Gherkins & Tomatoes</a> </p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;"><a href="http://gherkinstomatoes.com/2010/06/27/anatomy-lesson-rustic-mushroom-tart/" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">N- <a href="http://gggiraffe.blogspot.com/2010/06/going-on-picnic-with-nutroast.html">Nut Roast (Johanna) @ Green Gourmet Giraffe </a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; min-height: 22px;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">O-<a href="http://comfycook.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/olive-nut-bread-and-time-to-play/"> Olive Nut Bread (Chaya) @ Chaya's Comfy Cook</a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); min-height: 22px;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">P-<a href="http://morethanamountfull.blogspot.com/2010/06/caponata-international-picnic-day.html"> Pomegranate Mousse Cake (Chef Dennis) @ More Than a Mouthful </a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://morethanamountfull.blogspot.com/2010/06/caponata-international-picnic-day.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">Q<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">-</span><a href="http://sweetsav.blogspot.com/2010/06/q-is-for-quiche-lets-play-game.html"> Quiche (Chaya) @ Sweet & Savory(also does comfy cook) </a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://sweetsav.blogspot.com/2010/06/q-is-for-quiche-lets-play-game.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">R-<a href="http://annesfood.blogspot.com/2010/06/raspberry-chocolate-macarons.html"> Raspberry Chocolate Macarons-(Anne) @ Anne's Food</a> </p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://annesfood.blogspot.com/2010/06/raspberry-chocolate-macarons.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">S-<a href="http://hisperfectpromises.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-time-for-picnic-game.html"> Spicy Glazed Shrimp and Veggie Kabobs (Tamara) @ God's Perfect Promises<span style="color: rgb(255, 51, 0);"> </span></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://hisperfectpromises.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-time-for-picnic-game.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font: 18px Verdana;">T- <a href="http://girlichef.blogspot.com/2010/06/im-going-on-picnic-and-im-bringing.html">Turkey and Pear wraps w/ Curried Aioli!! (Heather) @ Girl Chef</a><br /></p><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">U</span></span> - AND now it's up to me. I'm going to Whole Foods, and select my favorites from the salad bar and maybe a package of sushi too:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/4749433330/" title="Whole_Foods3207 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="Whole_Foods3207" height="180" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4749433330_2e5bc95024_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> U</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">noriginal, </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">U</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">nimaginative, </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">U</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">ncreative, </span>and giving me<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">U</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">ndeserved</span> status in this picnic game --<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1Uh5UyEy1ifOV21AVRr8H9ygi8zymULJhWVTJ8JB8kpk_BXRcQxTZpsuLI8Gc0AGYakxoKuQl15wzXCjXPotQnj-5WFPaJQLOqziQvbiOva3D7uupZ0rb52r1XS8XFItikxhnO1Sk_0b/s800/picnic.day.logo.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1Uh5UyEy1ifOV21AVRr8H9ygi8zymULJhWVTJ8JB8kpk_BXRcQxTZpsuLI8Gc0AGYakxoKuQl15wzXCjXPotQnj-5WFPaJQLOqziQvbiOva3D7uupZ0rb52r1XS8XFItikxhnO1Sk_0b/s800/picnic.day.logo.png" /></a>

Unoriginal Whole Foods Salad

At her blog Months of Edible Celebrations , my Blog Friend Louise is having a picnic. Each person brings -- that is, blogs -- an item, corre...

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