SUMMER COMFORT FOOD

Summer Comfort Food

            The steamy weather last week combined with most aggravating garden guests was enough to send anyone looking for comfort food that was cool, refreshing but substantial and did not require much effort.

            The first indication of such unexpected unpleasantness was revealed one early morning, when trying to avoid the un-Maine like heat and humidity, I attempted some garden chores when the sun was just coming up over the Medomak. Part of our pear tree was stripped of it’s leaves with several small, broken branches swinging gently in the morning breeze. I certainly had not invited a local porcupine for breakfast.

            Unfortunately, that was just an indication of what was to come. Each successive night was a testament of our uninvited guest’s voracious appetite.  The three pear trees must have been voted tops for flavor, a small apple tree lost its lower branches, but was too small to support the significant weight of the diner and was left leaning over,  Amazingly, unripe peaches were not to this visitors liking, but the bark must have provided a tasty snack or condiment to the pear twigs I saw him munching high up in a tree one morning.

            The straw that broke this gardener’s back was the complete removal of all the new growth and shoots from two rose bushes next to our patio. Enough! On advice from The Green Thumb, and the able deployment from The Critter Catcher, the next day our yard sported no less than 5 Have-a-heart traps. And, while no additional damage occurred, the next morning two of the traps contained our unwelcome diners. Mr. and  Mrs,. Porcupine’s dining adventure was over!  The wood’s, to which they were transported,  will likely provide them with a more natural and less exotic fare.

            Such aggravation can make a human turn to Salade Niçoise, which can easily classify as one of the easiest refreshing summer dinners or even satisfying lunches. In France and elsewhere in Europe it seems every café has it’s own variant in the summer. My version is adapted from “Mediterranean Light” by Martha Rose Shulman, and has served me well for many years.

                                    Light Salade Niçoise

            First prepare the vinaigrette.  Combine 2 Tblsp. fresh lemon juice, 3-4 Tblsp. red wine vinegar, 1 tsp. garlic salt, 2 tsp. Dijon mustard, 3 Tblsp. low fat yoghurt, salt and pepper to taste, 2 Tblsp. chopped fresh herbs (such as basil and parsley or tarragon with thyme). Whisk in 2 Tblsp. olive oil. Scrub and dice 2-3 medium potatoes and quickly boil until barely tender.  Drain potatoes and toss with the vinaigrette. Blanch for 3 minutes ½ lb. string beans and chill in cold water, then drain and cut in 2 inch pieces. To the cooled potatoes add: the string beans,  ½ green or red pepper thinly sliced, 1 small cucumber (pickling sized) sliced, ¼ cup chopped red onion, 1 small can water packed tuna drained, 2 anchovies drained and finely chopped, 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half. Toss all ingredients to mix thoroughly. Serve on a bed of lettuce and garnish with 2 hard boiled eggs cut in quarters lengthwise.

            The ultimate Maine summer comfort desert is of course blueberry pie. However, the abundance of fresh prune plums in stores at this time of the year made me retrieve an old plum cake recipe.

                                    Summer Plum Cake

            In a medium bowl: sift together 1 cup flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, ½ tsp. salt, 1-2 Tblsp. sugar. Cut in 3 Tblp. butter.  In another bowl: fork beat 1 egg with 1/3 cup milk and 1 tsp. lemon flavoring. Pour liquid in the flour mixture and mix quickly to dampen the ingredients. Spread batter in a buttered 8 inch cake pan. Cut plums (~ 1 lb.) in half, pit and arrange on batter cut side up. Mix ½ cup chopped almonds or pecans with ¼ cup sugar and 1 Tblsp butter and sprinkle on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature.

            “All is well, as ends well” to quote that wise man Shakespeare. Comfort food can do wonders even in summer. And, the pears are putting out new leaves after their summer pruning. As for the visitors – I wish them happy munching in Maine woods far away.   

(I. Winicov Harrington lives in Waldoboro and is the author of “How to Eat Healthy and Well for Less than $5.00 a Day: the Smart-Frugal Food Plan”; website: www.winicov-harrington.com)