Sultry, Dry and Chilled 3 Ways

Sultry summer heat has arrived early in the Lowcountry. It's drier than dry here and locally we have moved to the first stage of drought conditions. My lawn, even in good years, strives to thrive in the midst of neighbors who manicure and water their lawns to obsessive plushness. I casually refer to the "saltiness" of my lot as a character trait, but truly it's an attempt to explain my simplicity and inability to join the ranks of those that procure a carpet of lush green around their homes. This week the concept of creating a bocce court in one particular area seemed like a grand idea that could shift the pendulum in my favor. That is, if one considers shifting dry sandy dirt randomly situated into a competitive game of sport in your personal outdoor space. In some ways the theme of shifting a state of existence fits the weekend agenda in the kitchen. A recent purchase of a couple pounds of carrots turned into a marathon of recipe searches to find ways to recreate raw product into several new and interesting dishes. Back in January we introduced the Ginger Miso recipe that accompanied our infusion of pureed carrot to the dog's diet. In June we're ready to venture a little further with carrots as consuming foods prepared for consumption on the cooler side of things is far more attractive than the alternative (though grilling has not been eliminated as it lends to the outdoor experience). So here we go chilled three ways and each uniquely flavorful and fitting for the climate upon us 1) Chilled Carrot Honey Soup ; 2) Carrot Salad with Harissa, Feta and Mint ; 3) Raw Carrot & Parsnip Salad

Carrots not just for dogs!

First, the local veterinarian indicated that I might want to add more carrots to my dog's diet. Then came my Go Red Heart Checkup at Coastal Carolina Hospital. Back to back these experiences were clear indicators that it was time for the dog and I to adopt a healthier regimen in our daily living. So we started this new regimen with carrots just like the vet ordered(sans the dog biscuits, sans the junk food and fat for the human). Carrots come in a wide range of varietals so preparation options are as diverse as potatoes. For me there was a simple first step, start with a great soup. My favorite locale to indulge in carrot soup is at Christine's Cafe on Hilton Head Island. Chef Christine makes a delish Carrot Ginger soup which features frequently on her specials board. My friend Chef Richard also features a Curried Carrot Bisque recipe on his blog...but for this Sunday's experience I'm using a recipe straight from FoodBuzz for Cumin, Coriander & Ginger scented Carrot Miso Soup. For the dog simply adding grated carrot to his food or offering baby carrots as treats did not entice him to cross over to this new way of life. Instead, for him it required pureeing steamed carrots and adding (in his presence)2 tablespoons to his meal. I can only imagine what this must read like to the non-animal lovers out there (admit it you are rolling your eyes). [Were time not plentiful there is a local option for such wholesome goodness for canines, Lucky Dog Cuisine, which simply requires purchase rather than process]. Carrots aren't just for humans (dogs).