Monday, January 18, 2008

Stafford and crabs.

Sometimes the writer's almanac segments are just so moving that they stop you in your tracks. Yesterday's writer's almanac included a poem by William Stafford, called "What's in my journal." It was one of those moments. "Space for knickknacks, and for Alaska."

I know I've been slacking on the recipe front - I honestly haven't been making much of note recently. Well, it is Dungeness season, so I'm eating whole crabs every chance I get. And instead of going the melted butter route, which is delicious but my arteries don't think so, I found this lovely little dipping sauce recipe in the San Jose Mercury News several years ago (published during Dungeness season), which I kept and make often. It's very light and makes you feel much better about eating your weight in crab.

Just combine 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar, 1 T grated fresh ginger, 3 T mirin, 2 T chopped scallions, and a pinch of salt.

Wednesday was our monthly Dining for Women dinner, and I broke out Ina's shrimp and orzo salad. It's not tough to make and it is really spectacular. Double the recipe - leftovers are even better.