February 2010
1 post
2 tags
Valentine's Day Gift: Breads 1 and 2
This weekend had its romantic overtures (see Temple Grandin post), but there were some small sentiments, too, for my Valentine. (Though, in hindsight, making three kinds of bread and a shepherd’s pie for dinner meant the better part of the day was spent in the kitchen, so it’s not SUCH a small sentiment).
French Baguettes and Light Oat Bread
I made two French-ish baguettes and a...
August 2009
3 posts
4 tags
Mad Men Dinner: Meatloaf
I had this grand idea of hosting Mad Men dinners on Sunday nights- my friends would come over, we’d eat early 60s style dinner and drink cocktails, and then watch the show.
And then I realized that my friends who watch Mad Men are internet friends- I talk about it so much with them I have weirdly blurred my realities. Oh well, luckily for me, my man and my sister watch the show, and...
3 tags
Tabbouleh!
It’s hot. When it’s hot, I like cold salads and things that cook quickly, because I don’t have central AC, but instead a giant window unit in the middle of the house that cools the kitchen as long as you don’t cook in it.
It’s hot. When it’s hot, our garden gives a plenty. We have so many tomatoes, cucumbers, mint, zucchini and squash that our yard is...
4 tags
July 2009
4 posts
9 tags
Have Zucchini, Will Bake
Zucchini, Onion, and Havarti Tart
The impetus for this savory tart is a full raised bed +several containers of quickly pollinating summer squash plants. If you’re considering this tart, you’ve either a)overzealously planted summer squash like I did or b) you have a friend or relative who has and wanted to unload this bounty upon you.
Unlike the tomato, which I could eat undoctored...
4 tags
When In Doubt Red Beans and Rice
This is a recipe for quick red beans and rice. Yes, yes, purists have particular steps and processes and spices, but I have to say, this is country food, and that means to me that you are using up what you have in your fridge, and tonight, my fridge had:
1 lb Polska Kielbasa (though andouille is really preferable), sliced into chunks small enough for your mouth
1 green bell pepper,...
3 tags
Avocado & Lime Chicken Tacos
After I make something annoying and complicated, I make tacos the next day. This is because
a) I can only handle making a tedious meal every other day
b) We usually have leftover produce and protein that needs to be eaten up.
c) Tacos are delicious.
This is not a recipe- more of a process.
1. Start with a package of corn tortillas. CORN. Flour tortillas are bullshit. Try to get ones that...
3 tags
Snappy Snapper
Grilled Red Snapper with Mojo de Ajo
We decided to grill up a whole fish, which we’ve never done before. We went to Dirk’s, a great fishmonger here in Chicago, and picked up a red snapper. The fish guy gave us a recipe from their recent cooking class- Red Snapper with onions and garlic.
We started with a cleaned, gutted and scaled fish.
Then we scored it and rubbed it down...