Culinary Smackdown – Kickin’ Off Summer With a Winner

Saturday night, done work, just skirted a thunderstorm, birds all bathed, friends visited, everybody fed, now there’s something else on my list…what…just can’t…oh, YEAH!  The Smackdown recap.  We didn’t have as many entries as I had hoped, but if everyone had a May like mine, I’m surprised you could even feed yourselves much less make a dish, photograph it and write about it.  However.  We did have three fabulous entries and that’s enough for a feast.

First up was Katie at Taste & See Cincinnati.  SHE managed to participate in the Smackdown while vacationing on Hilton Head Island.  That is true dedication, folks.  While at the shore, she set up an impromptu salad bar and everyone got to do a build your own:

How enticing is that set up?  She even added some grilled veggies to the mix–something I dearly love on a salad.

From her description, I think that might be Katie’s own plate–but she can correct me if I’m wrong.

Next Ms. Diana of Cookerati joined in with her wonderful orzo salad.  She also used something I’ve never tried–garlic scapes–and added a kick of parsley to her pesto.  I love all the ingredients in this one.  Even though I’ve never used garlic scapes, I love garlic, so I know I already love them.

I particularly like this entry because it’s one of those things that you can eat warm or cold, as a side or a main dish and you can take the basic recipe and run with it.  Great job, Diana.

Our final entry was from our own Eggplant To Go who, despite another grueling schedule, managed to put together an amazing entry with almost all local ingredients.  Bravo, Ms Eggy!

Once again, I’m left with a difficult choice.  All of these entries appealed to me on many levels and I’d happily dive into any of them with gusto.  There was one; however, that really hooked me.  All the time I was reading about her entry, I could taste the salad, practically smell the wonderful aromas. 

Therefore, the winner of Battle Salad is…Diana, the Cookerati!  The golden Smackdown spatula (we have one of those, did you know that?) now passes to you and you get to choose June’s Smackdown theme.  Congratulations!!! 

Also, if you get hold of Eggy, she should be able to tell you how to get a Smackdown Winner badge for your blog, should you want one.  I had the link somewhere, but…what can I say, it’s been a month.

Once again, I’d like to thank everyone who participated, read, drooled and commented.  Thanks for watching our culinary efforts!

Don’t Forget–It’s Nearly Smack-Time!

Eggy put up her usual reminder a couple of weeks ago, but if any of you are having the month I am, another one might be in order.  Battle Salad is just around the corner!  I hope you’ve been finding lots of fresh goodies to create your salad with.  Here Chez Grumpy, the greens are about as vivid as they’ve ever been:

We also have some of the best radishes ever, too:

The other day, I pulled out the last few pieces of bacon (of course), diced up some small red and yellow peppers, a little bit of goat Brie that I brought back from Estes Park, sliced up a roasted beet that I had in the fridge and smack yo’ mama, that was one great salad:

I think this took me about as long as cooking the bacon and boy was it good.  I had enough left over (yes, there are uses for leftover salad) to put in a couple of tortilla sandwich roll-ups with ham and cheese the next day.  So, double yum. 

This isn’t my contribution, I’m working on something else for that.  Just a quick reminder that even with a busy schedule, it’s easy to put together a salad that’s not only pretty, it’s also yummy and good for you. 

If you’ve been thinking about doing a Smackdown, this would be a great one to try.  Come on in, the salad’s…er…water’s fine!  😉

Culinary Smackdown – May 2012 – It’s a Toss-Up

Please note, if you’re looking for the Haiku Monday instructions and place to leave your haiku and comments, please check the post just below this one.  Thanks so much!  🙂

*********

Good morning and happy Saturday to those who have the day off.  I do not, and have been pounding away down here in the basement since 4 a.m.  I’m about to go up and make breakfast for two hungry boys but first need to get you all set off on the next path to online culinary greatness. 

Let’s just say first of all that I am completely humbled at being chosen for as the winner for Battle Literary Food.  And thank you, Katie, for being such a gracious hostess.

It’s spring!  And in some places (like here) it’s really almost summer.  It’s the first week of May and we already have blossoms on our tomato plants!  Seriously, folks, that’s early.  I’m not complaining though.  I am loving our yard this year more than I ever have.   We have beautiful lettuce, spinach, baby greens and tiny, succulent flowers for nibbling.  Everything is just greening up and burgeoning like I’ve never seen.  This has inspired my choice for the May Smackdown.  Are you ready?  I know you are.  The challenge for May, therefore, is….

Battle Salad! 

I chose this theme with spring in mind.  After a long, cold winter and heavy food, it’s time to lighten up.  I don’t know about you, but I have been craving those sweet new greens, delicate shoots and fresh new fruit (our strawberries are flowering, too!).   And salads are so versatile.  Don’t limit yourself.  Veggies, fruit, meats, pasta, rice, grains, or a combination of all of them.  Get creative and join the fun!

The veterans know the rules but for any new folks who are thinking of playing, here’s how it works:

1. Prepare a salad using any combination of ingredients that strike your fancy.  What’s a salad?  You define it.  This is your playground.  If you’re inspired to make more than three dishes, please self-select which you wish to enter.

2. Post at least one photo and as much description as care to on your blog, then come back and leave a comment here letting everyone know you’re “up.” If you don’t have a blog, email me, and I’ll do my best to include you.  Email is mrfsealah AT hotmail DOT com.

3. Recipes are helpful but not required. If you base your dish on a recipe you found elsewhere, please do the right thing and credit/link to the source. If you wing it (as I did for parts of my tofu pizza) that’s fine too. But it would be swell if you gave us a clue as to your ingredients/methods even without measurements.

4. Deadline is May 31, 2012, so there’s plenty of time to get into your salad days and come up with something wonderful.  

5. I will make my own dish but it will not be a contender.  I will have the final say as to the winner to whom the Culinary Smackdown torch will be passed, and I will post the results as soon as I can.

We’ve got a great group of creative cooks around the blogosphere, so put out the word and toss (ha ha) your hats in the ring!   I can’t wait to see what your culinary imaginations come up with.  Good luck to all!