Fava Beans and Parmesan on Grilled Bread
I’m cheating tonight and offering up a recipe (or idea, really) that I was reminiscing about today and realized I took photos of a few weeks ago, and so went and dug them up. Because it’s exactly the sort of thing that comes in handy in summertime – something you can pull together in a few minutes when there are mouths around to feed.
Plus, I’m in full-on bean mode. The book is in the final FINAL for-real-now stages of pulling it all together and I live and sleep beans. I dream about soaking times. (Still no title, by the way. Help.)
So I may be a girl of fewer words this week, or I may just start recycling. I’ve got a sudden onslaught of other imminent deadlines too, and I’m on the Eyeopener covering traffic all this week, AND this weekend is Gallery Calorie, an event I’ve helped organize and am emceeing. In fact, I’m in a meeting about it now. I look very busy taking notes on my laptop. But -are you reading this Artemis girls?- I’m totally paying attention. You’re talking about silent auction items now. (I love silent auctions – I try to buy gifts there – there’s always cool stuff, and the bonus of your money going to charity.) If you don’t have plans this Saturday, it’s the best party in the park of the year – fist, a stroll up and down 17th Avenue, popping into shops and restaurants and trying food and wine and other tasty stuff, checking out art and shopping and such, and afterward there’s a party in Tomkins Park, in front of Mount Royal Village, with a live band (Magnolia Buckskin!) and food and drinks and general merrymaking. And I’m emceeing!
Oooh – they’re talking about Art Race now! This is the best part, and totally unique. We have 30 pieces of original art, and sell 30 tickets at $150 a pop. At the afterparty we hold a race – the artwork is set out under a tent for all to peruse in advance, and then we start drawing numbers – the first person to have their number called gets first pick, and so on. SO MUCH FUN. And last year I brought home an original Lisa Brawn woodcut (LOVE HER. gush.) made out of a chunk of reclaimed grain elevator. How cool is that? When I was drooling over her pieces at the Axis gallery at Art Central at Christmas they were worth far FAR more than $150. It became imminently clear that Santa doesn’t spend that much. But she’s back again this year! I can’t wait to see what she brings. All artists have of course donated their work. Thanks guys.
Anyway. All the proceeds from this year’s event are going to two great charities – the Servants Anonymous Society and Birthday Buddies, an organization that buys, wraps and delivers gifts, balloons and cake to kids who are living in homeless shelters throughout Calgary. Can you think of a better cause? We sold out last year, but there are still some tickets available for this one. They’re $40 – email me if you want some! Or you can buy them online at the Gallery Calorie website.
And it’ll be nice and sunny out this Saturday! Remember the sun? Best to celebrate our few short days in its presence with martinis and cupcakes.
Oh right, the fava bean toasts. So simple, but so delicious. We had them at a birthday party a few weeks ago and they took a few minutes to assemble as we all stood around and chatted with our drinks. Bread was brushed with oil and grilled, then topped with a tumble of fava (aka broad) beans and big shavings of Parmesan cheese – do them with a vegetable peeler. I think she may have snipped on some mint. Perfect patio food.
Setting my alarm for 4am. Will be having extra martinis on Saturday, and cheese (Janice Beaton!) and cupcakes. Won’t you come join us?
And if you’re jonesing for new recipes, I do have some going over at Family Kitchen. The latest: Blueberry Brown Sugar Buttermilk Cake.
June 08 2010 | appetizers | 28 Comments »
