Officially spring when the weeds beat out the flowers – even in the grocery store.

Today was one of those exciting days at the market. Everywhere I turned there was new, fresh seasonal produce. I was greeted by thin, crisp greens, herbs and miniature everything like these potatoes which were about the size of fallen acorns.

I was worried that they might be too bitter. I had always been a little nervous about dandelions, unsure of what to do with them. I figured they must be pretty damn good though, judging from the number of elderly Mediterranean women I’ve spotted out along the highway boulevards collecting the young greens.

Knowing that you can neutralize a bit of bitterness with lemon or by choosing early, fresh leaves of any bitter greens, I set out to do just that with the dressing I had in mind for the salad. Of course, my live-in partner in crime’s first curiosity was to why I would buy weed, since I would soon be able to harvest from my very lawn in a matter of weeks, naturally.

But spring has sprung and I just couldn’t have waited any longer.

WARM NEW POTATO AND DANDELION GREENS SALAD

1/2 Lb Dandelion Greens, one big bunch with the tough stems removed
1/2 Lb New Baby Red Potatoes
1 1/2 teaspoon Good Quality Grainy Dijon Mustard
3 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice, juice of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 Lemon
8 Capers, finely minced
1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons Pine Nuts
1 Garlic Clove, slivered

Boil the potatoes until just fork tender; about 10 – 15 minutes depending on their size.
Combine the lemon juice, oil and mustard in a medium sized bowl with tall sides.
Whisk throughly to emulsify.
Mince the capers and add to the dressing along with 3/4 of the lemon zest, reserving the remainder for garnish.
Continue to whisk to incorporate.
Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.
Drain potatoes and cover to steam while you prepare the rest of the salad.
Rinse the dandelion greens well and spin to dry.
Remove any of the lower, tough stems then tear leaves into about 2″ pieces.
Peel and very thinly slice the garlic clove on the diagonal.
In a small sauté pan add the pine nuts along with the slivered garlic and dry toast until golden and hot.
Toss the greens in the dressing then add the potatoes.
Transfer to your serving plate and top with reserved lemon zest, pine nuts and garlic.

CANDIED ORANGE PEELS

5 Oranges, any kind
3 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Water

Soak and scrub the oranges in warm soapy water and rinse well.
Cup the tops and tails from the oranges, then peel.
Cut as much of the pith as you can without getting too crazy about it.
Slice the peels into strips and add them to a sauce pan with enough cold water to cover.
Once the water begins to boil, drain and repeat 2 – 3 times to reduce the bitterness.
Dissolve the sugar in the one cup of water and bring to a low boil, heating 230ºF.
Once the sugar syrup reaches the magic number, reduce the heat to just a simmer and add the blanched peels.
Soak the peels in the simmering syrup for 35 – 40 minutes, or until they are translucent.
If you’re finding it irresistible, infrequently spin the pan but try not to stir it since it will create sugar crystals.
Remove the peels, separate them and lay them out on a cooling rack to dry. (Or be sure to toss them in sugar first, if they’re just for snacking.)
Reserve the syrup for other uses. (Like sweetening cocktails, iced tea or as a glaze.)
Once they are cooled, store the oranges in granulated sugar until ready to use.

Being amongst the world’s best doughnut eaters, not that I would necessarily know, of course but what can I say? I’m Canadian. Those little slurps here and a spoonfully nibble there of the grapefruit curd, reminded me of a fresher, livelier version of the sweet lemony filling squeezed out as the best part of a filled doughnut. Petite tarts of fanciness were sent to the back burner as I set out to create a canuck worthy doughnut.

Updating that simple, lemony filling to this, little more grown up, less of a drive-thru flavour was supurb with a little dusting of sugar and a hot morning cup of coffee. It was so sinfully wonderful to have to admit that vegan food isn’t always healthy but certainly scrumptious.

As the January resolutions met their match, I realised I’m not the only one who’s given up a diet for some February grease. Helen from Tartlette and Peabody have teamed up for a donut fry fest; this, my friends should be good.

RED GRAPEFRUIT CURD

1 Cup Freshly Squeezed Red Grapefruit juice
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Cup Cold Water
4 Tablespoon Corn Starch
1/8 teaspoon Salt
Zest of Grapefruits, well washed before grating
1/4 Cup Soymilk
2 Tablespoons Margarine

In a large saucepan, whisk together the juice and sugar, heating through over a medium high setting
Dissolve the cornstarch in the cold water and salt.
Once the juice and sugar have just come to a boil, add the cornstarch mixture.
Reduce the heat to medium and whisk, stirring constantly, until it comes to a full boil.
Add zest.
Allow to boil for 1 minute, without stirring; it should be quite thick.
Remove from heat.
Blend in the margarine, then soymilk, with the whisk.
Cool the curd, cover and refrigerate.

YEAST DOUGHNUTS

1 Cup Soy Milk, warmed
1/2 teaspoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Instant Yeast (1 packgae)
1/2 Package Medium Silken Tofu, room temperature (225g)
1/3 Cup Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Salt
3 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour, plus more for dusting
1/4 Cup Shortening, (vegetable oil may be substituted)

Warm the soy milk so it is tepid but not hot to the touch.
Add the 1/2 teaspoon sugar and yeast granules, stirring to combine and dissolve.
Let the yeast rest to prove, for 5 – 10 minutes or until bubbled and frothy.

Meanwhile, drain and blend the tofu in a food processor until very smooth.
In a medium saucepan, gently heat and whisk together the blended tofu, shortening, salt and remaining sugar.
Once combined, remove from the heat and add the dissolved yeast mixture.
Using an stand mixer, or by hand, add 3 cups of the flour to the bowl and with the dough hook, or a wooden spoon, add the warmed ingredients to create a soft, but not sticky ball of dough, adding more flour as necessary.
Transfer the dough to a large, slightly oiled bowl and cover.
Leave it in a warm place until it has doubled in bulk.
Move the dough to a lightly floured surfaced and with a flour dusted rolling pin, stretch the dough into about a 12″x9″ rectangle.
Using a glass or a biscuit cutter, cut the dough into rounds and leave, covered on a dusted baking sheet for about 40 minutes to rise.
In a large saucepan, heat 3″ – 4″ of oil. Using a candy thermometer, bring the temperature to 350ºF – 365ºF.
Once the oil is heated, carefully drop 2 – 3 of the risen, cut donuts, one at a time into the hot oil, being sure not to overcrowd the pan.
Using a slotted spoon, regularly flip the donuts until golden brown; about 3 minutes or 90 seconds per side.
Lift the donuts and let the excess oil drip before transferring to a brown bag or paper towel lined cooling rack.
Repeating to cook the donuts.
Once the donuts are cool enough to handle, using a long handled skewer or chopstick, poke a hold and make a space in the center of the donut for filling.
Using a piping bag with a large holed tip, pipe in the red grapefruit curd to fill.
Dust the filled donuts with confectioners sugar just prior to serving.

Makes about a bakers dozen.

Just remember to pack a lunch.

On a recent road trip along and down the eastern United States, I was amazed to see what my food choices were. I mean, I had realized I was out of my element and that there certainly were some wonderful places out there but without a way to find them, my diet was in a little jeopardy. I wanted to embrace my adventures, as I always do, I had an open mind. I didn’t think it could really be all that bad. Realistically, I didn’t expect to find all that wonderful of dining options right off the interstate highway but what I was surprised to see that even when venturing into neighboring towns, the good ‘ole Mom & Pop’s were still tough to track down.

A few of the chains had options, however upon serving they were often ladled with sauces or sprinkled with uninvited “bacanned” bits, for extra flavor. My best attempt for eating locally, even at a chain was surprisingly good, other than the unexpected requirement to remove the batter that covered just about every element of my beige meal. However taupe, beneath the batter, my okra was fresh, bright and delicious. I was hoping my future was looking brighter, even if it was hidden under a spattering of grease.

Beyond the orange juice machine, waking up in the dark began to take on a whole new meaning. Carbs, caffeine and fat were the highlight of my “Eat Here Free” breakfast. I suppose we all get what we pay for, right?

It’s amazing to me that in this current North American health and obesity crisis that more people wouldn’t choose to take a stand. Wholesome foods aren’t all that expensive, considering they are a lifeline. Although it is assured by government agencies or other wise that the less healthy, modified or other wise generic foods remain more readily available. It makes me wonder if they are without foresight or if they truly have some grand master plan. For some reason, through taste buds or pure laziness, we would rather stand by and take what we are fed, just like how we now feed our cattle. Sweet treats are great, I’ll be the first to say that, but for breakfast? When and how did we allow this to become the norm?

Doesn’t anyone other than the right wing, foodaholic types like me, recall documentaries like, Sicko, Supersize Me, or books like Omnivore’s Dilemma? Fast food outlets like McDonald’s have our addiction to fat and salt wrapped up. They’ve got it hot and ready to order all while they’re eating up single run shops struggling to compete; and we’re paying them to eliminate our choices.

Coffee line ups and a deep fried lunch have become the common American feed lots and we line up in drive thrus droves to the eat the slop.

Poor planning, plain hunger, on the road, vacation eating splurges? Sure. It’s just when the other choices are virtually eliminated, it’s difficult not to become nervous. What are we doing to ourselves? Where did the choices go? We are still in control. Or are we? It is just sad to think that until suitable options can be found we are better off just packing that lunch.

Image credit.