Is It Fall Yet?

What is in a name? Why "The Comfort Zone," you might ask, when this is a food blog? Several years ago I wrote a newspaper column by the same name. I like the name because it describes very much how I feel about good food, cooking, and gathering people at my table. Cooking should be a pleasurable experience, fun, a creative outlet, and entertaining - sharing good food with others, should be the same. There is nothing I like better than to have friends or family gathered around the table, eating, drinking, talking, laughing - to me this is the ultimate "comfort zone." So, that being said, let's get on with talking about food.

I try to adhere to the "eat local," maxim and "eat seasonally." I am a firm believer in cooking from scratch as much as possible. I support the move towards more farms becoming organic, free range chickens, grass fed beef - no hormones or antibiotics. In the long run, these things would be healthier for all of us as well as our planet. That being said - I am not a fanatic about any of these things & I recognize that at the moment some of these products remain a bit pricey for many a family budget. I also am not about to give up using some of the exotic ingredients I enjoy just because they come from India or Indonesia or something. Eating local as much as possible makes sense and not just from an environmental perspective. It also makes sense in terms of flavor because produce that is grown in your area and is in season is simply going to taste better. It is the way people used to eat. Taste a tomato picked from your own garden or a local produce stand and taste a tomato purchased from the grocery store during the winter - there is no flavor comparison. And speaking of tomatoes -

Although the calendar says it is the end of September, here in Northern California we have been experiencing summer like heat - better late than never I suppose, since this was one of the coolest summers on record in our area. The tomatoes in our garden are finally ripening. This is something I eagerly anticipate every year. I love summer tomatoes. There is just nothing better - warm from the sun, sliced and sprinkled with a bit of salt, juicy and tangy. This year we experimented and planted all heirloom varieties - only problem is we forgot to write down what we planted so we have no way of knowing which ones we might want to plant again next year! Because most of the summer was cool, the tomatoes & cucumbers poked along slowly, while the green beans and wax beans we planted did fantastic. They are now on their last legs. I also planted pickling cukes and discovered you really need more than three or four plants if you want enough cukes at one time to be able to pickle.

This is the time of year we usually are thinking about pulling out plants and contemplating whether or not to plant a winter garden, but there are still a lot of unripened tomatoes so I suspect we may later plant peas and greens for early spring instead. We finally have evenings conducive to eating dinner outside on the deck - most of the summer it was too cool and windy, so I have been thinking about hosting a late season dinner party. One of the bonuses of living where we do is that we can often entertain outdoors well into October, it simply requires giving more thought to lighting. If you have a fire pit you might even be able to serve dessert around the fire on a warmish November evening. But let's talk about possible end of summer season menus.

This is the perfect time for dishes featuring eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, anything with Mediterranean flavors. Marinate some Kalmata olives or a mix of olives with lemon and orange zest, extra virgin olive oil, & chopped rosemary. Create a salad of just tender cooked green beans and/or wax beans tossed with some sliced sweet onions, cherry tomatoes, and a simple vinaigrette, garnish with a little crumbled goat cheese. Make homemade herb & garlic butter to spread on your favorite artisan or sourdough bread either fresh or grilled a few minutes. Or make a ratatouille to serve on baguette slices to accompany a grilled leg of lamb seasoned with garlic, rosemary, and brown mustard or a lemon and garlic roast chicken stuffed with thyme or rosemary. Serve with roasted red potatoes or pasta with pesto. One of my favorite vegetarian entrees is grilled eggplant Parmesan. Slice and prep the eggplant as you usually would for the traditional version, then brush each slice with olive oil, season with your favorite herbs and grill until beginning to get tender. Then layer the slices in a pan with whole milk mozzarella cheese or if you prefer, provolone. Ladle on some marinara sauce, but don't drown the dish in it, and top with freshly grated Parmesan. Cover with foil and cook on your gas grill or charcoal by indirect method for about 30 minutes until the eggplant is tender, sauce and cheese bubbly. The flavors are lighter and fresher than the traditional dish - perfect for a warm fall evening. And let's not forget dessert. Fresh figs are often available this time of year in our area so something with figs would be appropriate or poached pears. This year I could probably track down some late season peaches to grill and serve with a scoop of good vanilla ice cream.

Don't forget to think about ambiance and presentation. Fresh herbs are great for garnishing and if you don't already grow a few pots I strongly suggest it. Rosemary, sage, and thyme are all perennials, very hardy and easy to grow. I like to use the same dishes outside that I use inside. I also like the juxtaposition of elegant and rustic or elegant and whimsical - sparkling china and glassware, napkins tied with raffia, herb bouquets, and candles in jelly jars, for instance.

There is just something special about eating out of doors. The atmosphere is always relaxed. Food always tastes good - even when the chicken skin gets a bit charred. Everyone always seems to have a good time. I hope you plan an end of summer season dinner for yourself very soon. Enjoy the best of whatever produce is still available in your area. Invite some friends to join you. Open a bottle of nice wine. And as Julia used to say "bon appetite!"