Vegage du Jour - 22 July 2019

Ratatouille.
No, not the movie, the dish.

Sure, people make this nice blend of tomatoes, eggplant (or aubergine if you prefer), onions, squash, and all that all the time, so why bother posting about it here?

Ah - simply because it was all done on the grill!

Over varying amounts of direct heat I cooked a whole Japanese eggplant (from the garden), a zucchini (likewise), a yellow squash (ditto), two halves of an onion, and a passle of grape tomatoes (both of these last were store-bought, more's the pity). All had been coated with a bit of canola oil and a dusting of lemon zest before they hit the grill, and as with the tenderloin of a week or so prior, there was a tray with some hickory chips to add a subtle smokiness.

Once each had cooked and been removed from the grill (each at its own time, of course), the eggplant, zucchini, squash, and onion were sliced fairly thinly and uniformly, mixed with the tomatoes (which had collapsed into a near-sauce under the relentless heat) along with a bit of garlic salt and a dash of white balsamic vinegar.

The results were beyond adequate - this was a delicious dish, and one that will be repeated as the garden provides her bounty through these coming weeks and months.

Highly recommended.

Enjoy!

Carnage du Jour - 14 July 2019

Pork Tenderloin.
Yes, pork tenderloin again.

As you know, I think it the most versatile of meats, and I've found yet another preparation that was proclaimed to be "probably the best pork I've ever eaten" by Heidi. I think it was right up there with any I've made or had as well.

What did I do that was so different and so successful?
I marinaded the pork in a tub of apricot Greek yogurt with a very healthy dose (perhaps 1t) of ground ginger.
Then it was on the grill with indirect heat and a small tray of hickory chips to add some smoke to the whole process.

The meat was flavourful, juicy, tender, everything one could want from a piece of pork.

I think next time I do this, I'll make a batch of rice with some compatible seasoning (garam masala, perhaps?) and add some caramelized onions, some sultanas (that's golden grapes on this side of the pond), and some pistachios to it. That just seems like the best way to accompany it.

At any rate, this was a delicious new preparation, and it is highly recommended.

Enjoy!