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Thursday, March 11, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Homeward Bound...
So I've been in Cincinnati for the past four days, and it has been WONDERFUL! I am looking pretty forward to moving here (since it's GOING to happen... I'm sure of it.)
While I've been here, I have been taken to some wonderful places. Places that I am sure that I am not going to be able to live without. Like a grocery store called "Jungle Jim's." This may have been the highlight of the trip. My friend and I decided to go on an "adventure in organic baking" to quote said friend, and she was really excited to take me to this store to get the ingredients we needed. As soon as I saw the outside, I knew why. It looks like a giant playground for foodies. Inside, every ingredient that has probably EVER been made, all conveniently arranged by nationality (I wanted to build a tent in the Italy section and live there... It was THAT GOOD.) The only problem? Prices. Which really bugs me. Why does it have to be more expensive to make good food with quality ingredients than to swing through McDonald's and get a heart attack on a bun? What kind of world do we live in??? I shouldn't have to make six figures a year in order to be able to buy good, fresh food.
I digress. The point of this is, if you ever find yourself in or near Fairfield, Ohio... Go. There. Now.
Other than that, I will share the recipe for the delicious cookies we wound up baking... You can find it here
Enjoy!!
While I've been here, I have been taken to some wonderful places. Places that I am sure that I am not going to be able to live without. Like a grocery store called "Jungle Jim's." This may have been the highlight of the trip. My friend and I decided to go on an "adventure in organic baking" to quote said friend, and she was really excited to take me to this store to get the ingredients we needed. As soon as I saw the outside, I knew why. It looks like a giant playground for foodies. Inside, every ingredient that has probably EVER been made, all conveniently arranged by nationality (I wanted to build a tent in the Italy section and live there... It was THAT GOOD.) The only problem? Prices. Which really bugs me. Why does it have to be more expensive to make good food with quality ingredients than to swing through McDonald's and get a heart attack on a bun? What kind of world do we live in??? I shouldn't have to make six figures a year in order to be able to buy good, fresh food.
I digress. The point of this is, if you ever find yourself in or near Fairfield, Ohio... Go. There. Now.
Other than that, I will share the recipe for the delicious cookies we wound up baking... You can find it here
Enjoy!!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Is it springtime yet?
Well, it's finally here. The 40-day journey known as Lent. And this year, as in the previous two, I have decided to give up meat (mostly to aid my husband, who has also given it up.) As a reformed vegan, I have no trouble whatsoever going without animal products of any sort, so I felt a little guilty about how easy this was going to be for me. In my search for something of real "value" to let go of for the next month and a half, I came across an article about a musician I am really into, in which they say that they don't own a TV. Something about that really made me respect them, and others who choose not to have these brain-sucking devices in their homes. And though this may be a little-known fact to anyone who reads this blog, I actually really enjoy writing music, lyrics, just songs in general. And I really enjoy playing my instruments, singing (in the shower, in the car, to no music at all, pretty much just love to sing all the time.) It's really no wonder that I majored in music in college, I'm pretty good at it (hmm does that sound too proud?) Anyway, I digress... So I got to thinking, I spend way too much time watching TV and movies. I'll come home from work looking forward to lounging on the couch with a diet coke and the remote. And I was totally letting all of my creativity go to waste. So this year, I have decided not only to give up TV for lent, and to devote the time instead to writing at least one new song per week and also practice my instruments (except piano, as sadly I do not have one), but I might just get rid of my TV. (My husband was not too incredibly excited about this!) I know that we are only three days into Lent, but already I don't miss the thing at all. In fact, I come into my living room, see it, and contemplate taking it out to the curb right then and there. I also plan to devote some of this newfound free time to trying out/ writing new recipes. So that is where you, the reader, benefits. Prepare to be recipe-d to death!
The other day, I was flipping through an old issue of Ready Made magazine, and came across a recipe for pickling, of all things, strawberries. It sounded interesting, and like something I'd never tried before. So I tried it. They. Are. Delicious. I won't post the recipe here, it isn't my own, but you can find it on their website www.readymade.com
I haven't made any particularly interesting foods lately, but I promise that as soon as I do, you'll know about it. I'll try to be a more regular poster.
The other day, I was flipping through an old issue of Ready Made magazine, and came across a recipe for pickling, of all things, strawberries. It sounded interesting, and like something I'd never tried before. So I tried it. They. Are. Delicious. I won't post the recipe here, it isn't my own, but you can find it on their website www.readymade.com
I haven't made any particularly interesting foods lately, but I promise that as soon as I do, you'll know about it. I'll try to be a more regular poster.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Sorry!
Ok, so I realize it's been a really long time since I've posted anything. I have no excuse, except for the following list:
1.) I do not have the internet at my house, so I only update when I am able to snag some free wifi
(if blogger had a mobile update feature for us non-iPhone users, I'd use it, but alas anyone without an iPhone is pretty much useless these days, and thus nothing is marketed at us.)
2.) Ok, so I really only had the one reason. But I think it's a pretty good one!
So my apologies.
Anywho, since the last time I was here, I haven't had really many "culinary breakthroughs." I've jsut been working my thankless job and coming home not really feeling up to being creative in the kitchen. Nonetheless, a few days ago, we had some friends over to our house for dinner. It was a spur-of-the-moment meal, but I still had enough time for some minor planning. I had a craving for pasta, and out of that came this incredible (and easy, albeit not as cheap as I'd have liked. But cheaper than eating out) little number.
As usual, I have not named it. I should put someone in charge of naming my dishes. I can whip up the food. The titles, not so much...
You will need:
A pot for preparing pasta
A deep skillet (the kind with the extra handle) for preparing the sauce. It needs to be big enough to hold the entire dish upon completion.
1 pint light whipping cream
1 lb farfalle (bow-tie) pasta
2/3 lb Andouille or spicy italian sausage, cut into large chunks
3 cups raw spinach, rinsed
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
8 oz sharp white cheddar (or, I used a raw milk white cheddar, available at FreshMarket)
8 leaves fresh basil, torn
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp olive oil, plus more on hand if needed to keep food from sticking to pan*
Coarse-grain sea salt
Pepper
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat (6 or 7) Brown the sausage chunks until thoroughly cooked (make sure centers are not pink. No food poisoning, please!) Remove sausage from skillet and set aside in a covered bowl.
At this point, start preparing the whole package of pasta according to the directions given.
In the skillet, add the spinach, tomatoes, basil, and garlic to the oil left over from the sausage. Lower heat to medium and saute until spinach leaves have wilted down and garlic has browned slightly. Bring temperature back up to medium-high and pour in the cream. Using a spatula that will NOT scratch your skillet (I recommend a sturdy, good-quality plastic. Oxo makes a great one, and it's reasonably priced), scrape the bottom of the pan to incorporate the spinach mixture, as well as the browned bits of sausage and oil, into the sauce. Add a few pinches of salt and pepper, adding more as you taste the sauce**. Stir the sauce continuously until it is just beginning to come to a slow boil (small bubbles, not a rolling boil.) Reduce heat back to medium, and simmer until sauce begins to thicken slightly. Do not over cook, as sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. When the pasta has finished cooking, drain into a colander, toss with some olive oil, and add to the pan containing the sauce. Stir to coat all of the pasta evenly with sauce. Just before serving, grate the cheese into the pan and give it a few quick stirs. The cheese will melt and add a nice texture and flavor to the sauce, making it almost resemble an Alfredo sauce, only much better! Top with browned sausage and serve immediately. Leftovers will keep for about 3 days
Serves 4 to 6 (four football players, six not-too-hungry people. So I guess it serves 5 normally?? Let's go with 6, and everyone can eat some salad along with it!) Goes well with a good Cabernet , or at least we thought so!
*I recommend investing in a sprayer. You can get a Misto oil sprayer at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for around nine dollars.
** When making sauce-based dishes, or soups, you should ALWAYS taste as you go along. Sometimes in the kitchen it does NOT pay to "trust your instincts" Just use a clean spoon! :-)
Next time, I will tell you all about the beer-cheese soup. I wouldn't want to blow your mind too many times in one post! :-)
1.) I do not have the internet at my house, so I only update when I am able to snag some free wifi
(if blogger had a mobile update feature for us non-iPhone users, I'd use it, but alas anyone without an iPhone is pretty much useless these days, and thus nothing is marketed at us.)
2.) Ok, so I really only had the one reason. But I think it's a pretty good one!
So my apologies.
Anywho, since the last time I was here, I haven't had really many "culinary breakthroughs." I've jsut been working my thankless job and coming home not really feeling up to being creative in the kitchen. Nonetheless, a few days ago, we had some friends over to our house for dinner. It was a spur-of-the-moment meal, but I still had enough time for some minor planning. I had a craving for pasta, and out of that came this incredible (and easy, albeit not as cheap as I'd have liked. But cheaper than eating out) little number.
As usual, I have not named it. I should put someone in charge of naming my dishes. I can whip up the food. The titles, not so much...
You will need:
A pot for preparing pasta
A deep skillet (the kind with the extra handle) for preparing the sauce. It needs to be big enough to hold the entire dish upon completion.
1 pint light whipping cream
1 lb farfalle (bow-tie) pasta
2/3 lb Andouille or spicy italian sausage, cut into large chunks
3 cups raw spinach, rinsed
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
8 oz sharp white cheddar (or, I used a raw milk white cheddar, available at FreshMarket)
8 leaves fresh basil, torn
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp olive oil, plus more on hand if needed to keep food from sticking to pan*
Coarse-grain sea salt
Pepper
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat (6 or 7) Brown the sausage chunks until thoroughly cooked (make sure centers are not pink. No food poisoning, please!) Remove sausage from skillet and set aside in a covered bowl.
At this point, start preparing the whole package of pasta according to the directions given.
In the skillet, add the spinach, tomatoes, basil, and garlic to the oil left over from the sausage. Lower heat to medium and saute until spinach leaves have wilted down and garlic has browned slightly. Bring temperature back up to medium-high and pour in the cream. Using a spatula that will NOT scratch your skillet (I recommend a sturdy, good-quality plastic. Oxo makes a great one, and it's reasonably priced), scrape the bottom of the pan to incorporate the spinach mixture, as well as the browned bits of sausage and oil, into the sauce. Add a few pinches of salt and pepper, adding more as you taste the sauce**. Stir the sauce continuously until it is just beginning to come to a slow boil (small bubbles, not a rolling boil.) Reduce heat back to medium, and simmer until sauce begins to thicken slightly. Do not over cook, as sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. When the pasta has finished cooking, drain into a colander, toss with some olive oil, and add to the pan containing the sauce. Stir to coat all of the pasta evenly with sauce. Just before serving, grate the cheese into the pan and give it a few quick stirs. The cheese will melt and add a nice texture and flavor to the sauce, making it almost resemble an Alfredo sauce, only much better! Top with browned sausage and serve immediately. Leftovers will keep for about 3 days
Serves 4 to 6 (four football players, six not-too-hungry people. So I guess it serves 5 normally?? Let's go with 6, and everyone can eat some salad along with it!) Goes well with a good Cabernet , or at least we thought so!
*I recommend investing in a sprayer. You can get a Misto oil sprayer at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for around nine dollars.
** When making sauce-based dishes, or soups, you should ALWAYS taste as you go along. Sometimes in the kitchen it does NOT pay to "trust your instincts" Just use a clean spoon! :-)
Next time, I will tell you all about the beer-cheese soup. I wouldn't want to blow your mind too many times in one post! :-)
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