cheesy baked orzo with leeks, asparagus, eggplant and oregano

My somewhat crazy summer begins this week, as I head to Minnesota for a month. I get to see my friend Sarah get married in Duluth, take care of my parents' dog while they're on a trip, run Grandma's marathon with Michael and see Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros in Minneapolis. And spend the Fourth of July with the extended family. I'm really looking forward to some time at home. And after that I'm off to Germany, and then soon thereafter Providence, with a brief trip to North Carolina for Michael's family reunion. Quite a lot ahead - and somehow I have to be working along the way...

So last night I had a little potluck gathering to get friends together before I head out of town. Potlucks are my favorite. Especially when you have friends who are super talented cooks. Although it was a bit last-minute, people showed up and brought delicious food: a spicy vegetarian vindaloo, a rice pilaf, thai coleslaw, dulce de leche and a citrus champagne punch... It was really wonderful. Good food and good friends.

This recipe is inspired by the baked orzo from Yottam Ottolenghi (via the Guardian). I changed the veggies slightly to make it more seasonal (asparagus and leeks). It takes a while to do all the vegetable prep, but the flavors are great and it's both fresh and comforting.  I also made these sesame noodles (pictured above left) and an apple cake, which I will post later. I shouldn't even be taking the time to post this one right now... but blogging is so much more fun than packing for a month, cleaning my room, and organizing my office! :)

spring green minestrone

This is another recipe inspired by Anna Thomas's Love Soup and Nigel Slater's post for a green minestrone. I got all kinds of green things at the farmer's market and wanted to try a green spring soup. Anna Thomas purees her green soup, but I liked the idea of keeping things small and whole so you can see all the good veggies swimming around. :) It was veggie-packed and tasty, but rather subtle and needed some red pepper flakes and/or ground pepper at the end for a little kick.

2 leeks, white and light green parts
2 T olive oil
garlic
sea salt

2 small green zucchini, halved and cut in thin slices
half bunch asparagus, cut in small slices
1 can cannelini beans (or potatoes)
about 3 c basic light vegetable broth
fresh lemon juice (2-3 T)

sorrel and chives
red pepper flakes
fresh ground pepper
garnish: spring onions, parmesan or pecorino romano shavings

Wash and drain leeks, slice. In a soup pot, saute leeks with butter or oil and a little salt. Try not to get brown, just soft. Add garlic and zucchini and asparagus, cook a few minutes then add liquids (stock and/or a little water). Add beans or potatoes, let simmer a few minutes until everything is hot. Top with fresh chives, sorrel, a squeeze of lemon juice and garnish with spring onions and cheese. 

Serve with good bread and cheese.

"the comfort of soup in deep winter": caramelized cabbage and leek soup

brrrrrrrrrrrrrr... Duluth schools were cancelled today due to "extreme cold temperatures and wind chills."  Doesn't that make you want to stay home next to your fireplace (hi, mom) and make a hearty soup? This one is based on a recipe from a new cookbook in my collection, recommended by Synne, Love Soup by Anna Thomas.  160 vegetarian soups! That should get me through the Michigan winter! They are also arranged by season: "green soups," "winter squash soups," "the comfort of soup in deep winter"... yes, that's what we need.

 For this one, you oven-roast cabbage, until it's starting to brown and caramelize, and slowly brown onions and leeks in the meantime, practice those julienne skills while making fine-dice carrots...