notable noms: thai chowder

it seemed fitting that my first 'notable noms' post should highlight a recent purchase from nanton; this beautiful dutch oven!

a cast iron piece from the 60's, it was designed by micheal lax for copco denmark, and has an unassuming, easy style. as a recent addition to my kitchen it is already loved for it's clean lines, sturdy make, and vintage vibe.. and i just know it will be put to good use! the stove-top to oven ability & easy clean up make it a practical addition too...form and function at work ;)

the beautiful micheal lax designed dutch oven for copco, denmark. 1960's

the soup i'm about to share below has recently been one of the many shuttled back & forth in the reisinger 'soup jar'  - a mason jar that has become a portable  'vessel of flavors'. frequently filled and shared among us, it is a new "tradition" i quickly became a fan of :)

this particular soup garnered enough positive feedback that i thought it was worth sharing!? it was also a timely post, as i was just about to heat up a bowl of this exotic fare for our lunch - and decided to use my new copco prize for a photo op!

converted from a recipe i found in the wild rose cookbook (so it is cleanse friendly if you happen to be on it!) - this is my version of their seafood chowder; done up thai style by swapping out the herbs for lemingrass, ginger & coconut... and the results were rather delish!

i tend to follow recipes loosely (often doubling them in the process!?), so my quantities below are listed kinda loosely too...but it's an easy one to throw together - and a recipe i'm sure you can play with it to taste :) 

seasoned with lemongrass, ginger & coconut, then topped with fresh cilantro...! yum.

THAI CHOWDER

serves 6-8

ingredients: 

  • 2-3 lbs fresh seafood (firm fish like cod, salmon, halibut, seabass, snapper etc. work best) , cut into large chunks
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1-2 cups carrots, diced/sliced/julienned 
  • 1 large red pepper, diced
  • 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 19oz can diced tomatoes (i am a big fan of aylmer accents - and used the spicy red pepper flave in this one!)  
  • 4-6 cups stock (vegetable, chicken, or a combination of both)
  • 2 cups potatoes, diced
  • 2 cans coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp vegeta powder (a flavor enhancer found in the spice aisle) 
  • lemongrass & ginger to taste - don't be shy!
  • cilantro to garnish

directions: 

  1. saute onions, carrots, red pepper in olive oil over medium heat, 5 minutes
  2. add garlic, tomatoes, stock, potatoes, lemongrass & ginger
  3. bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 7 minutes
  4. add fish, bring to simmer and cook until fish is just cooked through, about 5 minutes (try not to overcook!)
  5. adjust seasonings and serve...top with cilantro if desired :) 

snapshots: nanton 2013

june 1st marked our long awaited return to nanton...yay!

an annual trip that is much anticipated as spring sloooowly advances - after the last week (or two?!) of rain we were thrilled to be donning our sunglasses as we hit the road in search of new treasures!

this is a trip i share with my sister in law (a fellow gemini and lover of deliberation!) where we enjoy browsing each shop top to bottom, and often twice around. reminiscing over the items we'd bought the years before, and hoping for that rush of finding something just as special this year :)

nanton rarely disappoints: this years haul included a nod to the 60's with some vintage pyrex, a micheal lax designed copco dutch oven (love!), and a playful monkey to hang around max's room. it was a good day's work indeed :)

i will be busy working these new finds into an upcoming feature on how old items can be integrated into your home in fresh new ways; stay tuned for that in the coming weeks!

in the meantime, below are a few scenes from around town - snapshots from our day down south...

til next year...thanks nanton!  

a~ 

introducing: nanton, ab

it might seem early, but i have it on good authority that spring is just around the corner.  although there is still snow on the ground, and the trees are still bare...whenever my thoughts turn to nanton, i know spring is close! 

nanton, alberta is a quaint town about an hour south of calgary - where my sister in law and i go every year to slowly and meticulously comb through each and every one of the antique shops that line it's few downtown blocks. we began this annual ritual about 5 years ago, and both eagerly await it's return every spring! in addition to the absolute thrill of discovering a hidden treasure in the shops (so much fun!) - we both like to let our imaginations loose, wondering about the people that lived behind the belongings we are so carefully browsing; who owned that pretty ring?  how did these postcards end up here? who wrote them?... and of course all those stern faces that peer back at us from the old portraits and pictures (some of them a bit creepy?!) - could they ever have imagined their possessions and memories would find their way here? and in some cases, such as ours, off to a new home to be used & cherished all over again!?  

i have to admit, i have hoped on more than one occasion that something i own(ed) could one day find a similar fate? perhaps my hoarding tendency to collect old magazines, vintage cameras, and kitchen crockery will one day result in one of these prized possessions experiencing a reincarnation into another home, a generation from now....? ha! a romantic thought...

in preparation for spring, and our mini road trip south, i thought i would share a few photos from last years visit...

welcome to nanton!