Day 5 - salads / Ents and Maiar
(Silly thing I wrote - the recipe is below the cut if you prefer.)
Merry (disappointed): a salad…
Pippin (frowning at his friend) : what?
M: I hope there’s bacon in it.
P: Don’t worry, and cheese and even mushrooms if you want!
M (shrugging): I’m not the one making the salad.
P (shrugging back, focused on what he’s doing): me neither.
M (looking at P as if he’s mad): what? You just said…
P (with a smirk) : no. I said “I’ll put everything on the table” and then people serve themselves. Someone has to be smart.
M (rolling his eyes): smart…
P (a few moments later): Do you think Treebeard eats salads?
M (chocking on his beer): Don’t be an idiot Pip! He would probably think we’re eating baby trees!
P (sighing): I’m speaking about salads, not broccolis!
M (scratching his head): Broccolis? What do broccolis have anything to do with trees?
P (shrugging): They look like it.
M (hands on hips): Pip… really?
P (with the air of someone who knows): what? They’re small, have trunks and this weird top… I imagined I was a giant when I was young.
M (smirking): you mean a big folk!
P (serious now): no I said giant…
M (shaking his head, tired now): whatever… So, about the salad.
P: what about it?
M: when do you prepare it?
P (rolling his eyes at his friend): I told you…
M (throwing his hands up): fine, fine. Put everything on the table. NOW. Our guests will arrive soon and I don’t want Lady Eowyn to think us Hobbits don’t know how to cook.
P (with a triumphant smile): well you certainly didn’t! I was the one doing all the prep!
M (with an even bigger smile, snatching the bowls): But I’ll do the presentation.
[[MORE]]
The “Emma salad” aka “whatever you want on the table - easy for kids… and parents”.
So it’s not a recipe, more like something we do from time to time with the kids, when we want to eat “green”, have fun and still it being delicious.
There’s no quantity, the major thing is the prep and presentation. This is not the ultimate list, feel free to experiment. I’m just giving you our most common ingredients.
Greens : any type of salads or young spinach leaves or beets leaves (red have red on their leaves, yellow have yellow, it’s very fun and yes, you can eat them raw).
Sweet : apple or pear slices, dried fruits (raisins, cranberries,…)
Salty : CHEESE! Cheddar, parmesan, whatever, sky is the limit. You can add the shredded type, the powdery (for the parmesan) a mix… feel free!
Meaty : bacon bits (it’s a must if you like it), strip of grilled chicken, …
Nutty : almonds, walnuts, pecan nuts, cachew, hazelnuts, etc.
Crunchy : croûtons (from a bag or home made), fried noodles, toasted fajitas, feel free once again…
Others: sautéed mushroom, caramelized onions, etc.
Put each of those ingredients in a bowl or plate, and put that directly on your table. Let everyone take what they want and experiment with taste and texture.
Dressing : I don’t prepare one. I drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar directly onto my plate (or bowl). Sometimes I even take truffle vinegar. I also add a good dollop of mustard. Of course, you can mix that in a bowl on the side or just buy dressing.
And then enjoy!
@tolkien-food-week
