So should I just talk about the winner first?
Or maybe the dip recipe first – I’ll make you all suffer through that if you want to find out about the contest winner.
Yeah, I think that’s the way to go.
| ESTIMATED CALORIC INFO | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | 1/2 cup of dip |
| Calories from Protein | 15% |
| Calories from Fat | 75% |
| Calories from Carbs | 10% |
| Total Calories | 425 |
Ramp season is almost over!!! PANIC!
If you haven’t had a chance to go out and take advantage of ramp season, I implore you to get to your nearest farmer’s market as soon as possible as they will only be around for another week or two at this point.
Ramps can be used in place of onions or leeks in nearly every recipe (at least, every recipe I’ve tried so far). There’s some more background information about ramps on my bbq chicken with ramp mustard post from a little while ago.
Something about the ramps in this dip really just make it come to life. My wife couldn’t get enough of it, and in what is always a pleasant little twist of fate she then couldn’t get enough of me.
Never underestimate the power of good food. For a man especially, picking up a few skills in the kitchen is something that simply can not be overvalued. If only my bachelor friends could understand this…
I remember one of the first dates Amanda and I ever had. She came over to my apartment in Adams Morgan, in downtown DC, where we practiced for a gig (we were both club djs for awhile there) and then had dinner at home. I remember making a mango salsa steak, and eating it on the floor because I didn’t even have a table at that place. No table, no nice dinnerware, no nothing, just good food and good company and that is really all it ever takes. I must have been doing something right that day.
Anyway, this is a really simple and straightforward dip recipe with just a few ingredients.
| ESTIMATED FOOD MILES | |
|---|---|
| Ramps | 115 miles |
| Cream Cheese | 250 miles |
| Creme Fraiche | 150 miles |
| Pancetta | 500 miles |
| Total | 1015 miles |
You will need…
- 1 bunch of ramps
- 6 oz pancetta
- 1 pkg cream cheese
- 2 cups creme fraiche (sour cream if you have to)
Creme fraiche is really pretty easy to make in your own home if you don’t have any easy way to get it. Check out this recipe from evil chef mom for a quick and simple explanation of how it’s done. If you’re gonna do it from home though, make sure to plan ahead – it does take some time.
Take all the ingredients out of the fridge and leave them on the counter. The cream cheese should be about room temperature, because you want it to be malleable.
First you want to blanch the ramps, so start some water boiling – enough water to cover all the ramps.
Then as your water is warming up, start the pancetta frying in a skillet in some light oil. Generally it takes about 3 minutes per side – it’s just like frying bacon.
When your water is boiling for the ramps, toss them in for about 2-3 few minutes (make sure they have been cleaned and the roots removed first) and then take them out and plunge them into a bowl of ice water so they will stop cooking.
Continue to mind your pancetta – it’s probably ready to be flipped now.
Remove the ramps from the ice and strain. Dice the white roots and chop up the green tops. I like to leave the chops of the green tops in slightly more substantial pieces.
Combine the creme fraiche and the cream cheese in a medium size bowl. Stir it up, mix it up, yeah.
The pancetta is probably about done by now. Put a paper towel on a plate and remove the pancetta to the towel. Let the oil drain off it for a few minutes.
Add diced up ramps to the medium size bowl. Chop/crumble up the dried pancetta and add it to the bowl.
Once you’ve got everything in there, make sure to mix it up good.
You can serve this with some good bread, with some vegetables, with crackers, whatever. We used some bread, and some carrots and green peppers.
BEWARE. This dip is both highly addictive and pretty high in calories (primarily from fat). I do not advise making this dip if there are only one or two people to eat, because you almost definitely will eat it ALL. Consider yourself warned.
As I mentioned before, this was a total hit with the wife…
My nephew, though, was a little bit skeptical.
But even he wound up loving it, once he could be talked into giving it a try.
The face betrays his emotions. He was proud.
One or two more weeks until ramp season is over. Go out there and try this stuff before it’s too late.
Okay so now we just have a small little matter to take care of concerning the winner of my latest book contest.
And that winner is…
Saint Tigerlily is the winner! Please email me your address at liam[dot]omalley[at]gmail[dot]com for your copy of Joel Salatin’s Everything I Want To Do is Illegal.
Thanks to everyone who played!
I hope you all have a great weekend – got any cool Mother’s Day plans? I’m hosting a brunch with 3 mothers at our home tomorrow – just finalized the menu last night. Can’t wait, the weather is looking to be fantastic.
