Monday, February 11, 2008

Yard Flavors

When all you've got for flavoring from your garden is bay leaves, you go a little bay leaves crazy.
Then the oranges come in, and you had never realized what a killer flavoring the orange rinds could be. With bay leaves.
But wait. That little lemon tree. Oh, yeah.
Well, today's meal didn't have any bay leaves in it, for the first time in, oh, a year. (I might be exaggerating.)
We decided to let the two citruses mingle, duke it out, do a turf war. They both won.
What you are looking at is Dungeness crab chunks with hunks of fresh tofu, seasoned with both lemon and orange.
First, heat up some butter and oil in a baking pan, then swizzle chopped garlic, ginger and (ripe) serranos in it until smoky. Then throw in the proteins, and cover them with grated zest of lemon and orange, followed by a big, big squeeze of juice from both.
Roast, hot, for about five minutes. Ten, maybe.
Sprinkle with chopped cilantro.
It was really good to eat, but all I've got to say is this:
Would somebody please concoct a men's cologne of ginger, garlic and cilantro? I chopped those three aromatics (or "aromats," as our silly friend Ruhlman is hell bent on calling them) consecutively today, and my fingers smelled divine.
M. Hermes? M. Mugler? Because I'd be nuzzlin' some guy's neck all day if he came into contact with that eau de.

11 comments:

Susan from Food Blogga said...

A cologne with ginger and cilantro, yes. The garlic, maybe not so much. Perhaps it's because when I do cardio at the gym early in the morning, I'm often overwhelmed with the smell of garlic. I know. Eeewwww.

cookiecrumb said...

Susan: I would keep it mild. A good blend needs a nasty anchor note, but subtle. Really, it was divine on my fingers. (Maybe clean it up with a little citrus?)

Anonymous said...

Well, you can always stick to au naturelle. I once met my husband in a New York hotel, with fresh limes and a bunch of basil in my suitcase. And I was not going to do any cooking -- or, at least, not that kind.

Scentists can't ever get anything close enough to favorite real life fragrances (I am longing for pure daphne in a scent) so perhaps mixes are better, but wouldn't it be great if they could??

Heather said...

Demeter makes some good single note fragrances, but I don't think they have any of the flavors you want. "Carrot" is nice on a lady, though.

Zoomie said...

I have been known to dab a little vanilla extract behind my ears just before a certain handsome gentleman gets home, so maybe if you just get Cranky to hold still while you swab him with those three...?

Anonymous said...

YUM - but, pray tell, what are serranos.
Oh, you may find the cologne you are seeking at http://www.demeterfragrance.com - they even do earthworm (note to self, must sniff the next earthworm I find).

peter said...

That's such a coincidence, because right now I'm wearing "Green Papaya Salad #9."

cookiecrumb said...

Kudzu: You scamp! I'll bet you both ended up seasoned. :D

Heather: OK, I just went and explored Demeter. No garlic, but wow! Thanks.

Zoomie: I got a better idea. Why don't I just get Cranky to chop those three "aromats" himself, while I get other things ready? ;)

Morgan: Serranos are small, rather hot chile peppers, usually picked green in America (but mine turned red on the bush). Demeter again! How come the cool kids know this stuff and I don't?

Peter: And you know about it too! Swoon. (Oh, excuse me; I just imagined sniffing your chin.)

Kevin said...

CC,
Tofu is best enjoyed on someone else's plate, dungeness crab is best enjoyed on mine.

cookiecrumb said...

Kevin: Then you'd be a terrible dinner guest at my house!
However, I do get your point. The crab was "diluted" by the tofu, although the tofu was upper class.

Stacie said...

holy heck that sounds tastee!!! And yes, a man that smelled that way would be divine!