The origin story of these Stilton Burgers is a long and frankly weird one. It involves a game my family invented where a crushed pop bottle is the ball. It’s best described as snow rugby but, um, with fewer rules. Yeah, it’s weird. Anyway, this was always the lunch of choice after our annual game. I won’t bore you with all the strange details. All you need to know is my family makes these burgers every year during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Its primary function is to make use of leftover Stilton and to have an excuse to cook outdoors. Snowy picnics are rad in case you didn’t know.
I am slowly but surely embracing the coming fall. There was a chill in the air when I woke up this morning and I didn’t hate it. I felt awake and I got to wear my favorite leather jacket. People watching at this time of year is always so fun. There is literally no consensus on the proper seasonal attire. You might see one couple in jeans and turtlenecks and another in bike shorts and T-shirts. The in-between outfits are my favorite. Pairing a cable-knit sweater with flip-flops isn’t an easy sartorial feat but I’ve seen several people try. This is a season of transition. And today’s Beet Pickled Cauliflower Salad is the perfect transitional salad. It’s filled with earthy yet fresh flavors, seasonal produce, and nutty farro. It has weight and depth while still being a refreshing salad. So let’s get into it.
The season of potlucks is upon us. Okay, I guess potlucks don’t really have a season. But I do feel like more potlucks happen during the summer months than at any other time of the year. I suppose you could argue the holiday season is more potluck-heavy. But I think sit-down dinners still rule the roost in December. But in the summer picnics are plentiful, BBQs are rampant, and no one wants to work that hard because sunshine and beer exist. So potlucks it is. You open your backyard and your friends roll in with far too many salads. But you can defy the salad trope and arrive with these Kimchi Deviled Eggs instead. It’ll blow minds.
Believe it or not, I didn’t actually intend to post this Carne Asada Salad on Cinco de Mayo. Things in my calendar shifted and this dish, serendipitously, landed on May 5th. I don’t generally pay that much attention to Cinco de Mayo. I suppose because it really isn’t a thing here in Canada. Sure, you’ll see the odd margarita or Corona special. But for the most part, the day seems to pass largely unmarked. But I love Mexican food, so any excuse to make it is a good excuse in my books. So let’s tackle this wildly vibrant Carne Asada Salad.
