Day 81 of Project 365: kitchen learning
The giant supermarkets in this country are the same as the giant supermarkets in the other country, especially on Sundays, all elbows and oopses and no portobello mushrooms so I had to substitute weird giant button mushrooms in my recipe. I watched someone walk away with my portobello mushrooms. My portobellos, mine. I could have snatched them out of his cart. Instead I shuffled the green plastic bins around over and over again, hoping for a secret stash. If I didn’t like cooking so much, I would never go to a supermarket again. One good thing about cooking at home is that I am ensured a photo for that day. Here is our ultra-simple dinner, teriyaki mushrooms from Stephanie O’Dea’s “More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow” cookbook. I served...
Read MoreDay 61 of Project 365: new recipe
FunkyPlaid and I stayed up very late to watch the Niners game. Actually, I was up already, finishing an assignment a whole day early — crazy, I know, but I just wanted it to be done already — and wandered in front of the TV for the last quarter. The best part of the game was the chatter, and I don’t mean from the Sky Sports commentators. Full samovar of tea and the 49ers coming right up. If you’d like to virtually scream over Gchat with me, hit me up on funky plaid@geemale. — FunkyPlaid (@FunkyPlaid) January 22, 2012 When technology makes the world a little smaller, I fall in love with both all over again. Day two of light therapy treatment went much better. I dropped the level down to 25% and felt pretty good. No naps today, either....
Read MoreCurried sweet potatoes and getting carded.
I went to the market tonight for dinner ingredients, one of which was white wine. Instead of buying a whole bottle, I opted for a miniature bottle, not quite so miniature as the ones you get on the airplane, but close. At the till, the clerk asked for my ID. This is flattering at the age of thirty-mumble, so I cheerfully obliged. I could have hugged her for the theatrical jaw-drop. As I left and caught a glimpse of my shadow, I realized that my youthful appearance was likely the work of the yeti hat. Still, I’ll take it. I don’t even know if you can call this a recipe, but since it worked so well, I wanted to share it. Cygnoir’s Curried Sweet Potatoes (serves 2 people who should have eaten a proper lunch) Ingredients: 1 pound (450 grams) sweet...
Read MoreShepherd’s pie.
Here is another post about food instead of about anything else, because food is easier to talk about. Although FunkyPlaid does an excellent job looking after me, I do not do the best job looking after myself. I have allowed myself to be a bit overrun by deadlines and responsibilities, and haven’t carved out enough time to just sit in one place and not do anything. I even have a China Miéville book on my nightstand that has been sorely neglected. Because of my mental state, I have been falling back on old recipes for dinner. Not so tonight, when I decided to make Alton Brown’s recipe for shepherd’s pie. This involved a trip to Waitrose, which I love. It is very posh and has nearly everything … except for a glass baking dish, which we...
Read MoreSimplest sauce.
There is plenty to report, but no time, so here is my pinboard of home cooking. There are just a few photos up now, but I hope the collection will grow as we continue to explore our new culinary horizons. Dinner tonight involved an old standby, this excellent recipe for tomato sauce with butter and onions. It is not only tasty but very easy and inexpensive to make. Two 400g tins of organic peeled tomatoes: £1.50. One organically-grown yellow onion: £0.25. One 240g packet of organic unsalted butter (only used 70g): £1.50. One 500g packet of Doves Farm organic brown rice fusilli (only used 200g): £2.50. Approximate total cost of two servings: £3.50. Share a simple yet tasty recipe in the comments, won’t...
Read MoreFirst home-cooked meal in Edinburgh.
These “firsts” will dwindle after a while, I promise. Tonight I riffed a bit on this warm quinoa salad recipe. It was my first home-cooked meal in the new flat — and my first ever with a convection oven — so I was a bit skeptical about what I could do without any of my usual utensils and pans. Despite my concern, it was delicious. We did not find quinoa at the market, so I substituted risotto, and I added fresh prawns from the fishmonger’s to turn it into a dinner salad for three. (We have our very first house-guest already!) The beets roasted in record time. I am going to love this convection...
Read MoreAvoid, embrace meal planning: success!
I am sold on this meal-planning gig. Not only did I successfully make three meals last week — counting last night in last week because one of the meals was postponed — but I brought snacks to work every single day. I did not, however, manage to get my tea-making system set up at work yet. I plan to this week. The verdict on the recipes: the meatloaf was great, as usual. The Indonesian peanut butter chicken did not have enough flavor but I think that is because I used regular-sized drumsticks instead of drumettes. Note to self and to you if you are also making this recipe: drumettes are key. The Indian curry was pretty good but, again, did not have enough flavor. I felt like it should be sweeter. FunkyPlaid suggested raisins and I think he’s onto...
Read MoreNostalgic tongue.
It has taken a while, but I think I can make my mom’s meatloaf almost the way she makes it. And although I cannot divulge the recipe, if you are ever a meat-eating guest in my house, I would be happy to make it for you. Just ask. (I have tried making it vegetarian but it results in oven puke.) My mom’s meatloaf is something from my childhood that I treasure, one of a few dishes that means “home” to me. Finally being able to do this recipe justice is a wonderful thing. I like serving it with sweet and spicy green beans, but my mom used to serve it with her special mashed potatoes. I can still see three heaping plates on the round wooden table in our kitchen. Sometimes it would be so cold outside that the window would steam up, fogging us in...
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