One of my favorite things...

Like most people I'm always on the lookout for those foods that haunt me for days on end. I find the older I get, the more I want robust, strong flavors with an intensity and depth that leave me not only satisfied, but at the same time, craving more. My husband, a deprived carnivore, claims that this mission can be accomplished quite easily by simply eating meat. Of course I'm very wise to his duplicitous ways by now and find his attempts at getting me to eat meat quite sweet and even affectionate.

For example a food that has absolutely no meat in it whatsoever and far exceeds my requirments for a "haunting" flavor is the savory, piquant, and nutty Romesco sauce that we started making back in 1997. I've adopted it from the one Deborah Madison's tome Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.

This is one of my favorite mid-winter appetizers to make for dinner parties. I serve it in a bowl for people to spread on slices of French bread. I also usually have some plain goat cheese or ricotta salata (or cojita) cheese to go w/ it.

And, sometimes I even thin it out a little and spread it on grilled veggies (grilled eggplant is particularly lucious).


Romesco Sauce

1 slice of white bread, preferably French

1/4 cup almonds, roasted (skin or no-skin)

1/4 cup hazelnuts, roasted (peeling only if your are feeling up to it)

3 cloves of garlic

2 teaspoons ground New Mexican red chile or cayenne (if cayenne, use only 1 teaspoon)

1/2 cup diced tomatoes (fine from a can, especially in the winter)

2 tablespoons parsley

1 red bell pepper, roasted

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar or sherry vinegar

1/4-1/2 cup olive oil

Toast the bread. When cool, grind the bread, nuts, garlic and chile in a food processor. Add everything but the vinegar and oil and process until smooth. Gradually add the vinegar and oil.
Taste and make whatever adjustments your tastes dictate.

Makes roughly 1 cup