on my nightstand: artisan bread in five minutes a day

I was on the library wait list for this book, which I've been eyeing for a while, and picked it up yesterday! I've attempted homemade bread many times, but I never seem to be able to get it quite right. Sure, I can bake cookies, cakes and other baked stuff with no problem, but once you throw yeast into the picture, it usually ends up a failure. So I'm hoping that this book, which promises that "bread baking can be easier than a trip to the bakery," can deliver. We'll see...

on my nightstand: chocolate and zucchini

Preliminary note: I promise I don't work for the library, nor do I get paid by them. I just go all the time!!!

I went with some good friends to see Julie and Julia this afternoon (two thumbs up), which inspired me to head to the library to check out Julia's legendary book Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Well, I wasn't the only one with that idea – every single copy was checked out, along with every other book by Julia Child. So I browsed the French cooking section a little longer, and stumbled across this book by Clotilde Dusoulier. I recognized the title from her blog, which I've been to on more than one occasion, so I'm excited to check out the print product. I'm particularly interested in trying some things from the "Savory Tarts" section. I'll post whatever I cook from it. Bon appetit!

at the movies: food inc.

If you are at all interested in food (other than just in eating it), definitely go out and see this movie. Now that I think of it, even if you aren't interested in food, go see the movie! Shouldn't we all know where what we eat comes from?

snack attack...

I wish I had known just how easy and delicious it was to make homemade pico de gallo, because I would have been making it all along!

I chopped up a few tomatoes and a jalapeno from our garden, then added about a half a diced onion, the juice from one lime, a few pinches of chopped cilantro, and a pinch of salt. Make sure and let the pico sit for a while so the flavors mix together. We put it on our turkey tacos for lunch, and have been dipping tortilla chips in it for a snack. Yum.

on my nightstand: jamie at home

This is the first installment of a new kind of post here on the blog, where I'll detail what I'm reading from the library down the street!

On the nightstand (and kitchen counter sometimes!) is Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life by Jamie Oliver. This is the first cookbook I've read by Jamie, but I'll definitely be checking out the rest of his books now that I've immersed myself in this one. It's not only beautifully designed and photographed cookbook, but it has tons of information for people with veggie gardens. The book is divided into the four Seasons, and has recipes using ingredients that are in season for that time of the year. It also has tips on growing different fruits and vegetables and cooking techniques. I'm particulary interested in the short section on pickling, which I hope to take up with some of our okra harvest.

recipe: apple pie without the pie

The last few weeks, my supermarket has had some really good specials on huge bags of apples. Since there are only two of us, I have to come up with creative ways to use the apples, since even if we eat an apple a day, the bag still seems full even after a week. 

It's too hot for a full blown apple pie, so I'm sharing the way I've been cooking them, and you really must try it. The concoction tastes like apple pie filling, but I'm convinced that it's pretty healthy. We've been using it as a side dish, but I think it would also be delicious as a dessert with some vanilla ice cream. 

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What you need:

4 apples (the ones I use are Fujis, which I've read are good for cooking)

About 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

About 3 tablespoons of maple syrup. Not Aunt Jemima, but real maple syrup. Mine is "Cooking Maple Syrup".

A couple of dashes of cinnamon

Note: My measurements are pretty loosey goosey, so you can put as much/little of these ingredients as you want. I think mine are different every time.

Peel and core the apples, then cut them in smaller slices. Not too thick. Heat a skillet on medium heat, then add the butter and apples. Stir this together until the apples are coated with the butter. Then pour the maple syrup over everything and stir. Then, add your cinnamon. Cook all of this for about 5 or 6 minutes,  stirring often. You'll be able to tell when they're done when the apples become soft. 

walking on waters...

Did anyone happen to catch Alice Waters on 60 Minutes on Sunday? If not, check it out here. I mean, she cooks on a fireplace in the kitchen, AND she doesn't have a microwave! Unfortunately, I can't just pop over to Chez Panisse for a quick bite, so maybe I'll pick up this book...

taste: cowboy chow

He and I were looking for somewhere to get a bite to eat on date night, so we ventured down to Deep Ellum to Cowboy Chow. It's over the top cowboy kitsch, complete with not one but two stuffed buffalo heads. We started with Fry Bread, which I can best describe as a sopapilla, flat, with a spice mixture on it instead of cinnamon sugar. Sounds kind of weird, but is super delicious. For my entree, I had the cowboy grilled cheese, he had the pot pie, and both were delicious. This isn't somewhere you go for a light meal - be prepared to leave uncomfortably full (but happy). 

Next time, I'm trying the fried green tomato lollipops. 

in defense of food...

Sorry for the lack of posts - I've been a bit under the weather. I haven't even had the energy to sew, let alone blog. But I'm feeling better now, so let's get to today's post!

Because of this book and his garden, I have become more and more interested in food - where it comes from, what's changed about food in the last 50 years, and why we (as Americans) eat the food we do. While I was sick and confined to the bed, I stumbled across this blog, and became so fascinated that I had to read every post in one sitting.

Here's what Rebecca Currie says:

"In November 2008, I read a New York Times article about how poor quality food is cheaper than high-quality food (a widely accepted belief that I generally disagree with). The article talked about a couple in California who were attempting to raise awareness of poverty by eating for $1 a day. Didn’t go so well. A month of tortillas and popcorn and pb&js. Hungry. Cranky. Tired of the monotony. One of the participants was quoted saying “I challenge anyone in America to eat fresh food on $1 a day.” This is a challenge I cannot refuse."

Read more about why she's doing what she's doing here.

taste: scardello artisan cheese

This year for Valentine's Day, my valentine and I decided that we would skip the restaurant scene, and try out the fondue pot we had bought years ago, but never used. To make sure we did it up right, we hit Scardello Artisan Cheese for a quick lunch, then picked up the cheeses and some crusty bread to make their Swiss Three Cheese fondue (they have over 150 cheeses available. Can you say heaven?).

There's a small seating area towards the back of the shop, where you can enjoy something off their menu – we both had The Sweet Italian sandwich with a green salad, and it was absolutely delicious – plus they serve wine by the glass or you can pick up a bottle. They also have a great selection of foodie delights - varietal honeys, roasted red peppers, a selection of different salts. If you live in Dallas, and you love cheese or just food for that matter, this place is a MUST!

And here's their recipe if you want to try it. This serves 4.

Swiss Three Cheese Fondue

1/2 lb grated Gruyere cheese (rind removed)

1/2 lb grated Vacherin Fribourgeois cheese (rind removed)

3 oz (1/2 cup) grated Appenzeller cheese (rind removed)

1 clove garlic, 1 cup dry white wine, 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice, 3 1/2 tsp. cornstarch 1 tbsp kirsch (optional, pepper and nutmeg to taste

1. Rub inside of medium saucepan with peeled garlic clove. Throw away garlic. Add wine and lemon juice and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the cheese with the cornstarch and toss. Stir the mixture into the wine one small handful at a time. Make sure each handful is completely melted before adding another. The fondue can bubble a bit, but don't let it boil. Season with nutmeg and pepper. Stir in kirsch (optional).

3. Transfer to a cheese fondue pot and keep warm with burner. Serve right away.

movie rec: king corn

One of my New Year's resolutions was to read more books. Subsequently, I've been "reading" a book on tape of The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan. It is absolutely fantastic. It's about how our food is grown in this industrial age, and it was an eye opener for me.

Subsequently, when I saw this movie on the shelf at the library, I was interested because the first section of The Omnivore's Dilemma focuses specifically on industrial corn. The movie follows two college buddies who decide to go to a tiny town in Iowa where their great-grandfathers were raised, and grow one acre of corn. Their mission is to follow a corn crop from the beginning (seed) to the end (our bodies). If you like documentaries, or if you're interested in food at all, I'd highly recommend this movie. Or if you want to skip the movie and learn about grass-fed meat or sustainable farming, go here or here. 

guess who's coming to dinner...

Well, we're in clean up mode here after the annual Newberry Drive block Christmas dinner party. This year, hosting duties fell to us, so we hosted our first official dinner party as a married couple! And we've been married for over three years... 

On the menu, pork tenderloin, the maple-glazed carrots from the November issue of Real Simple, super hearty mashed potatoes, and this variation of Julia Child's green beans. Plus cookies for dessert. I made the centerpieces from grocery store white carnations and cranberries. We're in the middle of our first load of dishes, and it will take another load or two before we're back in business. All in all, it was a great success!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. 

happy cupcake holiday...

I totally missed wishing you a Happy National Cupcake Day yesterday!

If you want to do some late celebrating, I'd suggest ordering up a batch of cupcakes from here. Delicious.

Image copyright Andrea Lenardin via sprinklescupcakes.com.

home for the holidays...

As I've mentioned before, our good friends Hailey and Dean have recently launched a new venture, Holiday Helpers, offering catering and decoration for the holidays. Last night, we had a great time at their open house for clients and friends. 

I am always surprised by the thoughtful details Hailey puts into her get-togethers, and this evening did not disappoint. From the delicious cake bites and holiday-themed cocktails, to the fresh holly greens for decor, to the delicious smells as soon as you walked in the door (a mix of orange juice, red wine, apples, cinnamon and other spices, and apple slices all boiling away on the stove), the open house was a hit! If you find yourself overwhelmed with everything you have to do for the holidays, give them a call!

are you ready for some football....and chips and dip???

Tonight, we'll be locked down watching my alma mater play in the most important game since I can remember. And we'll be snacking on fresh tortilla chips and the 1-2-3 Mexican Dip from this book.

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1-2-3 Mexican Dip

from The Bride and Groom First and Forever Cookbook

1 can refried beans

1 1/2 c. medium salsa

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. ground cumin

3/4 tsp. dried oregano

3/4 c. sour cream

1/2 c. mayonnaise

1/4 c. finely chopped red onion

1/3 c. chopped fresh cilantro

1 tsp. onion powder

1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 c. grated cheddar cheese

- Combine beans, 1/4 c. of the salsa, chili powder, cumin and oregano. Spread evenly over bottom of 9-inch round ceramic casserole dish. 

- Combine sour cream, mayo, red onion, cilantro and onion powder in another bowl. Spread over top of bean mixture.

- Combine bell pepper and the rest of the salsa, and gently spread over sour cream mixture, being careful not to mix layers. Top with cheese, and refrigerate until chilled, at least an hour. Serve with tortilla chips. The dip can be made 1 day in advance and refrigerated.

Go Tech! 

need help deckin' the halls?

Can you believe that it's time to start thinking about getting everything ready around your house for the holidays? If you need any help, my friends Hailey and Dean have just recently launched their own business that can help you out with exactly that – Holiday Helpers. They can help with all things holidays – wrapping those special gifts, decking out your house, inside and out, throwing that perfect party, or baking yummy holiday goodies!  Hailey is hands down the best party thrower I have ever known, and a box of her delicious homemade cookies would make a fantastic hostess or neighbor gift! Good Luck Hailey and Dean!

what's growing on...

Last night, we cooked a delicious Turkey Meatloaf I read about here. I altered it a little – I used less onions. It turned out absolutely delicious! I was worried about the turkey being too dry, but it came out moister and better than any other meatloaf recipe I've made, and we made it using parsley he grew in the garden!

Now, I just have to find some good recipes that use tomatoes...

perfect day for a new cafe...

Outside the cafe. Sorry for the poor quality of the picture, I only had the camera on my phone.

I had lunch yesterday at a great new find, Another Byte Cafe in Little Forest Hills.  

The cafe is located in a funky old house with great landscaping outside. There were four entrees on the menu for the day, and I chose the Chicken Spaghetti (delicious). We ate outside to take advantage of the perfect weather, but you can also eat inside in the living room area, and you eat off a TV tray!

Our waitress let us know there are art shows, yoga, a pumpkin patch and other activities in the works for the weekends. I know there's internet access available if you're looking for somewhere to hang out on your laptop, but I did not partake. Go check it out if you're looking for something different to do!