THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Daffodils, That come before the swallow dares, and take The winds of March with beauty." ~ William Shakespeare Daffodil Garlic & Daffodils __________ FORTY-CLOVE GARLIC CHICKEN ~ a surprisingly mild, perfect 'end of winter' meal adapted from The Garlic Lovers' Cookbook created in Gilroy , The Garlic Capital of the World ... " ... the only town in America where you can marinate a steak just by hanging it out on the clothesline." (Will Rogers) _______ 1 plump chicken (a capon would be lovely) rinsed & patted dry 40 cloves of garlic 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 4 stalks of celery and leaves 1 bunch of minced parsley 1 Tbsp. thyme 1 Tbsp. rosemary 1 lemon 2 bay leaves 1/2 cup dry white wine 1/4 cup vermouth coarse salt & freshly cracked pepper Sprinkle cavity of bird with lemon juice and half of herbs, salt & pepper. Stuff with celery, bay leaves and sliced lemon rind. Massage bird with 2 Tbsp. olive oil an...

"The beauty of daylight-saving time is that it just makes everyone feel sunnier." ~ Edward Markey Garden Clock and Daffodil ___________ LEMON COCONUT CAKE ~ Outstanding triple-layered treat from Oct 2007 Southern Living ______________ 1 cup soft butter 2 cups sugar 4 large eggs, separated 3 cups all purpose flour 1 Tbsp.baking powder 1 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut mint or rosemary springs for garnish Lemon Filling Cream Cheese Frosting Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg yolks, 1 at at time, beating until blended after each addition. Combine flour and baking powder;add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Beat egg whites at high speed with electric mixer until stiff peaks form; fold 1/3 of egg whites just until blended. Spoon batter into 3 greased a...

DAFFODIL ____________ "The sun is brilliant in the sky but its warmth does not reach my face. The breeze stirs the trees but leaves my hair unmoved. The cooling rain will feed the grass but will not slake my thirst. It is all inches away but further from me than my dreams." - M. Romeo LaFlamme (The First of March) (Join Carolyn @ Sweet Home and Garden for Garden Blogger's Muse Day)

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God." ~ G. K. Chesterton ~ Late March sunset (Hubbard Lake) ~ Daffodil (March Flower of the Month) ~ Heralding spring daffs (Bloomfield Village)

"There are snowdrops coming out in the garden, and spring is on the way. I shall see it ... And because I am alive, I shall watch it all happen and be part of the miracle." ~ Rosamunde Pilcher ~ Spring miracles ( daffodils and pansies) ________________ VEAL SCALLOPINI MARSALA ~ Impressive and easy company dinner. Treasured keepsake recipe, clipped years ago from the Free Press , compliments of Chef James Camilleri of Detroit's Roma Cafe . (For those with veal 'ethnic issues', either boneless chicken breasts or pork tenderloin can be substituted.) _____________ 1 lb. veal tenderloin (pork tenderloin or chicken breasts), cut into cutlets 1/2-inch thick salt & freshly ground cracked pepper 8 Tbsp. butter, divided 1 lb. thinly sliced mushrooms 1/2 cup Marsala wine Pound veal cutlets to 1/4 inch thick. Stir together flour, salt & pepper; dredge both sides of cutlets in flour mixture. In large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Cook veal 1-2 minutes on...

"Daffodils that come before the swallow dares, and takes the winds of March with beauty." ~ William Shakespeare ROASTED PEPPER, GARLIC & GOAT CHEESE PIZZA ~ Simple supper made with convenience foods, perfect for Lent _________________ 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 thinly sliced red onion 6 cloves minced garlic 1 12 oz. jar drained roasted yellow & red peppers 1/4 tsp. dried crushed red pepper freshly ground black pepper 1 16-oz. Boboli (baked cheese pizza crust) 6 oz. crumbled soft goat cheese (like Montrachet) 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (1 tsp. crumbled dried) Preheat oven to 450-degrees. Heat olive oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onion and garlic and saute until very soft, about 20 minutes. Add roasted peppers, pepper flakes and ground pepper to taste. Tip pan and use a bit of oil to brush over boboli crust. Place Boboli on pizza pan or cookie sheet. Top with onion and pepper mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and thyme....

HERB~SKEWERED GARLIC LEMON PRAWNS ~ Luscious lemon, garlic and herbs ... as good as it gets! 24 peeled, deveined and uncooked Prawns 5-6 cloves minced garlic 1/2 cup Chardonnay 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 large bunch chopped fresh basil 1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme freshly ground black pepper to taste juice and zest of 2 lemons Combine garlic, Chardonnay, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, basil, rosemary, thyme, cracked pepper, lemon juice and zest. Pour over prawns and marinate 2-3 hours. Remove from marinade and thread on skewer. Grill prawns until pink, about 3-7 minutes, turning occasionally. Baste with marinade. Serve with Spring Risotto and fine bottle of Michigan Chardonnay . (4 servings) _____________ SPRING RISOTTO 6 cups organic chicken broth or low-sodium vegetable stock 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 finely chopped Vidalia or sweet onion 2 cups arborio rice 1 lb. trimmed asparagus sliced diagonally 4 diagon...

~ Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) ~ Early spring daffodils, pussy willow, English daisy and 'kissing clouds' (square 1) _______________ The sun was warm but the wind was chill. You know how it is with an April day, When the sun is out and the wind is still, You're one month on in the middle of May. But if you so much as dare to speak, A cloud comes over the sunlit arch, A wind comes off a frozen peak, And you're two months back in the middle of March. ~ Robert Lee Frost (Two Tramps in Mud Time) ~ Heralding daffodil and sky ~ Pussy willow and sky ___________________ COCONUT MERINGUES ~ Coconut ... the essence of spring and a perfect 'Happy Ending' to a beautiful day ( Cooking Light ) ___ 4 large organic egg whites 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, divided Preheat oven to 225-degrees. Cover 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and secure with masking tape. Place egg whites and c...

~ Daffodil (March Flower of the Month) __________ GRILLED ROSEMARY LAMB CHOPS ~ Snow stopped! Light the grill and enjoy this succulent treat. ______ 6 Thick (1 1/2 inch) lamb chops 3 cloves minced garlic 1-2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 3 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil light sprinkle coarse salt freshly ground black pepper to taste Massage lamb chops with a little salt & pepper. Combine garlic, Dijon, fresh lemon juice, rosemary and thyme. Whisk in olive oil and pour over chops. Marinate several hours (zip lock bag works well). Allow to come to room temperature, remove from marinade, and grill to desired doneness . Serve with crisp salad and Grilled Fresh Asparagus. _____ GRILLED FRESH ASPARAGUS Toss asparagus spears with olive oil and a few splashes of balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked pepper. Grill until slightly caramelized.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! LEMONY BABY BELLA & SHIITAKE MUSHROOM SPINACH SOUP * 2 cups long grain Basmati brown rice 3 quarts organic chicken stock 3 cloves minced garlic 1 bunch carefully washed and sliced leeks 8 oz. sliced Baby B ella mushrooms 8 oz. shiitake (stem removed) mushrooms 1 Tbsp. minced fresh rosemary 1 cup dry vermouth (or white wine) juice of 1 fresh lemon 1 (15-oz) can cannellini beans (white kidney) 10 oz. stemmed baby spinach leaves coarse salt & freshly ground pepper freshly grated Parmesan cheese Bring 4 cups of chicken stock to boil. Add rice, return to boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, 30 minutes. While rice is cooking, saute leek in olive oil until tender. Add garlic and mushrooms; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining broth and rosemary and bring to boil. Reduce heat and stir in cooked rice, cannellini beans, vermouth, and lemon juice. Simmer, partially covered, 10 minutes for flavors to blend. Add spinach, salt & pepper, and co...

" If one daffodil is worth a thousand pleasures, then one is too few." - William Wordsworth ________________________ DAFFODIL CAKE ~ from Elmwood Inn (Ireland) ( www.elmwoodinn.com ) _______________ Yellow batter : 3/4 cups sifted flour 3/4 tsp. baking powder 6 egg yolks 2 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 Tbsp. cold water 1/2 cup granulated sugar Sift cake flour and baking powder together six times. Beat egg yolks with lemon juice and water until thick, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in the granulated sugar. Sift a fourth of the flour mixture at a time over the egg mixture; fold in. White batter: 1/2 cup sifted cake flour 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar 6 egg whites at room temperature 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/8 tsp. salt 1/2 cup granulated sugar powdered sugar Sift cake flour and powdered sugar together six times. Beat egg whites until frothy. Add cream of tartar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the granulated sugar. Sift a fourth...

"Poultry is for the cook what canvas is for the painter." ~ Brillat - Savarin ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Anthelme_Brillat-Savarin ) _____________________ FORTY-CLOVE GARLIC CHICKEN ~ a surprisingly mild, perfect 'end of winter' meal adapted from The Garlic Lovers' Cookbook created in Gilroy , The Garlic Capital of the World -- " ... the only town in America where you can marinate a steak just by hanging it out on the clothesline." (Will Rogers) === 1 plump chicken (a capon would be lovely) rinsed & patted dry 40 cloves of garlic 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 4 stalks of celery and leaves 1 bunch of minced parsley 1 Tbsp. thyme 1 Tbsp. rosemary 1 lemon 2 bay leaves 1/2 cup dry white wine 1/4 cup vermouth coarse salt & freshly cracked pepper Sprinkle cavity of bird with lemon juice and half of herbs, salt & pepper. Stuff with celery, bay leaves and sliced lemon rind. Massage bird with 2 Tbsp. olive oil and remaining herbs, salt ...

GARDENING NOTE: All daffodils are Narcissus, which is the genus name. According to the International Cultivar Registration Authority (for Narcissus and for several other flowers that is the UK's Royal Horticultural Society) daffodil is accepted as a common name for all members of the Narcissus genus. However, most people think of daffodils as the single flower, large trumpet yellow ones, which are the most common kind of daffodils, and call the smaller headed scented varieties, narcissi . The Oxford Dictionary defines narcissus (plural narcissi ) as "any of a group of flowers including jonquils and daffodils, especially the kind with heavily-scented single white flowers". In fact, even the growers of the scented varieties ... call all of their products white or yellow, single or multi-headed, " narcissi ".The flower is named after Narcissus in Greek legend ... "Narcissus" comes from the Greek for "numbness" referring to the narcotic proper...