A few months ago I discovered the backlog of podcasts available from the NPR show The Splendid Table, and I’ve been listening to archived episodes like it’s my job, mostly while in the kitchen. (How cute.) One show from a couple of years ago had a call about lemon balm - the woman had a glut of it in her garden and didn’t know what to do with it. Lynne suggested, among other things, adding it to salads. I filed that little piece of information away, since I didn’t expect to see it around these parts, yet, lo and behold, as friend Jessica and I were taking a walk the other day and trying to identify plants, we found… lemon balm! I added it to a white bean salad and it was lovely. Bright, citrusy, green, just a bit wild. I’m still rather a zombie today after Artmospheric, but I did make myself get a little exercise to go back up to that hill for some more of this slightly addictive herb to make the dish again; it’s a great can’t-be-arsed salad that’s as full-flavored as it is healthy. I’m going to pull a grilled cheese and not really give a recipe. This is a chop-and-toss deal: don’t think about it too hard.
The cheese is optional, if you want it vegan, and I think next time I may add some finely diced dried apricots. (Edit: The apricots are excellent.) I just ate some of this with a nice slab of dark bread, and I feel happy.
Either cook up a cup of dried white beans, or drain a 15 oz can of them into a bowl. Add the zest and juice of a lemon or two, chop up the leaves of a few sprigs of parsley, mint, and lemon balm, and add some powdered garlic. Crumble in some sirene or fresh goat cheese, add salt and pepper to taste, drizzle with olive oil and maybe a little vinegar, and top with some thinly sliced scallion. Spring bliss is yours.
In other news, I’ve been tagged for my first award!
Many thanks go to Diva at The Sugar Bar. It’s nice to know that people are starting to pick up on this blog after I’ve only been at it for a couple of months. I’m passing on the love to five folks whose blogs I always get a kick out of:
Zen at Chefs Gone Wild
Annie at Bonappegeek
Nupur at One Hot Stove
Marc at No Recipes
Jen at Eat Real Butter
It’s quite possible that all of yall have already gotten this award already. If so, you deserve it again. 
Finally, I am facing a Dilemma! I’m torn right down the middle in the decision to move to either Minneapolis or Portland (OR) in late summer/early fall. I’ve decided I want to try cooking for a living, and I want a cheap happy city to do it in. So if you are reading this and have a pull towards one place or another, give a shout. I’ve heard bunches of reasons for and against both places - give me bunches more.
12 responses so far ↓
Julia Varga // May 5, 2008 at 7:24 pm
the culinary world in portland is amazing! my chef husband and i used to love to go out and eat when we lived there….and it was amazing.
diva@theSugarBar // May 5, 2008 at 7:53 pm
thank you for passing on the tag award! now i’ve got more blogs to check out.
x
Elle // May 6, 2008 at 4:30 am
That looks delicious, and congrats on your award! I’ve passed along another award to you! See my blog, please.
Anita // May 6, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Re: your conundrum — Portland, hands down.
I like Minneapolis — the people especially are lovely — but Portland’s culinary and cocktail scene is miles ahead. Plus, you’re within driving distance of Seattle and Eugene, and close-ish to Vancouver and San Francisco. Tons of food bloggers, lots of great places to explore, and much better climate.
Anita // May 6, 2008 at 9:31 pm
A few more pro-Portland bits: At least one year-round farmers market (and a number of 9-month options), great co-ops and grocery stores, and one of the most vegetarian-friendly cities in the world.
And it’s also pretty much the last city on the West Coast where you can afford to buy a house without a massive inheritance.
Nupur // May 7, 2008 at 12:38 pm
The salad looks sooo good! It is getting warm here and I will be making this soon.
You have a lovely blog here; I am glad I found it.
Thank you so much for the sweet award. You definitely made my day!!
Nolan // May 10, 2008 at 12:19 pm
As a northwesterner I absolutely have to say Portland. Politicaly progressive, public transport oriented, and in so many other ways pretty cool, Portland is a sweet town. For further research: http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Home
Scott at Realepicurean // May 10, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Fantastic simple salad. I’m always on the look out for these!
Trisha // May 12, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I’m a fan of Lynne & The Splendid Table, too! And I love listening to NPR while cooking (just wrote an article about it coincidentally, and got to interview Lynne!). Anyway, just wanted to say I find your blog lovely. I’ll be back.
Cedar Lee // May 14, 2008 at 12:37 am
I vote Portland! I lived in Eugene for 5 years, right before my family moved to NC. It’s so beautiful out there.
Carole // May 21, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I’m heading back to work on Friday after a blissful 5 weeks off recoverying from my surgery so I wanted to take some time to catch up with your blogs. I can’t believe that both you and your mother are trying to move as far away from the East Coast as possible leaving us here all alone.
But if I were you and had to choose, I’d go with Portland over Minneapolis any day. Love, Carole
zenchef // December 5, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Thank you for the luv’, Lauren.
I’ve never gotten an award before [sob], when I was in school I was always the last in my class.. [sob]..
I’m putting this award on my kitchen counter as a reminder I finally got somewhere.
I think you should move to NYC. Haha.