Small Bites…Adventures in Downsizing

Jan Kinzel

Over the years, I have observed that everything is composed of elements.  A sculpture, a building, a painting, an outfit to wear, a meal – all of them have necessary elements that complete the undertaking.  And, each finished project is held together by a theme.  Years ago, I attended a show in San Francisco called “Beach Blanket Babylon.”  The playbill had a list of thirty or so musical numbers.  I looked at the first and the last, and wondered how they related to each other—and to all the others in between.  The show began and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz stepped on stage to announce that she was looking for a “rich doctor.”  Then I understood that she was the thread that held all the musical numbers together.

A strand of pearls is held together by the silk thread on which they are strung, but snip the thread and the pearls go all over the place. As my husband and I are choosing the ‘pearls’ that comprise the décor of our new condo, we are stringing them on the silk thread of Rustic Tuscan Elegance, a décor style that compliments the architecture and landscape of the whole complex. Warm and vibrant Tuscan gold wall color set off by creamy white ceilings, crown moldings and window trim with plantation shutters create a great backdrop for the other elements. Nutmeg stain on cherry wood gives a cheery feel to the cabinetry.  Anchoring the main living areas with dark plank hardwood flooring brings just a touch of formality to the rustic style.  Soft gold sculptured carpets in the two bedrooms add some softness and a Persian area rug in the living room highlights the furniture that sits on it.  The accent colors are cinnabar red and creamy white.

Because texture is a very important design component, both hard surfaces and soft textiles are needed.  Natural stone is added in various places. One whole wall in the living room has calm, creamy white ledge stone surrounding the fireplace.  Granite, with big swirls for the counters, Travertine tiles, and polished marble complete the stone element.  For the soft textures we have chosen a ‘mushroomy’ white velvet couch and cinnabar Italian leather chairs for the living room.

Decorating a small space for comfy living takes lots of research and planning! With downsizing, keeping every element to scale influences all other considerations. Every inch counts.

 

Deconstructed as a food term means the elements of the dish stay separated. Cobb Salad is an iconic example. Deconstructed – good! Decomposed – not so good.

 

DECONSTRUCTED CHOPPED SALAD

4 cups gently packed baby arugula washed and dried

2 cups tomatoes cored and seeded, diced to ½ inch

1 medium English cucumber seeded, diced to ½ inch

1 cup Kalamata olives pitted and quartered

8 ounces firm feta diced to ½ inch

3 cups garlic croutons

Garlic croutons

3 cups sturdy bread (such as ciabatta), cut into ½ inch cubes

1/3 cup garlic flavored extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon fined grated lemon zest

Toss bread in olive oil

Bake in 375 degree oven on cookie sheet for 12 minutes until golden. Return them to large bowl toss with zest and salt and pepper to taste.

 

 

Dressing

¾ cup good extra virgin olive oil

½ cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon chopped oregano

½  – 1 teaspoon anchovy paste

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Mix in a bowl and let stand for at least 10 minutes for flavors to blend.

Lay arugula on a large platter and artfully arrange, in strips, all the chopped ingredients atop the arugula, sprinkle the croutons. Whisk the dressing together and drizzle lightly over the entire salad. Allow guests to spoon elements of the salad on their plates and drizzle some dressing.

DECONSTRUCTED PESTO PASTA

Large pot with 4 – 6 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

8 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced

Freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. dried corkscrew pasta

½ cup toasted pine nuts

4 oz. coarsely grated Pecorino Romano cheese

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves cut into ¼ inch-wide strips

(Keeping the pesto ingredients intact is the reason this dish is considered deconstructed.)

Bring water to a boil.  In a large skillet, gently heat the olive oil and slices of garlic over low heat stirring frequently, until the garlic starts to turn golden. Remove from heat and stir in about ¾ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook the pasta until al dente, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water, drain the rest from the pasta. Pour the garlic and olive oil over the hot pasta and toss. Deglaze the skillet with the reserved pasta water and add that to pasta and toss well. Add the pine nuts and cheese to pasta and toss again until thoroughly mixed. Transfer to a serving bowl. Just before serving, toss in the basil. Pass extra cheese with a grater for those who want more.

 

 

Tip: The theme (thread) and elements (pearls) principle can be applied to many life situations.

 

Genesis 1:1-31 & 2:1-4 … God designed everything! He is in each element.

                   Blessings from JAN KINZEL