Ropa Vieja

Posted on January 25, 2012 | 3 Comments

A very wise and very dear friend of mine told me that when caught in an unhappy situation, you have 3 options; change the situation, change your attitude about the situation, or change neither, recognizing this third option as a conscious choice to remain unhappy. In the spirit of a new year and all that, I am working on my attitude – staying positive – hoping hard that our efforts to change our situation do, in fact, change the situation.

Another tidbit about me – I’m an incredibly open and honest person. So for these past months while I’ve been in a bit of a funk of sorts, I haven’t blogged because I didn’t know how I could do so in a positive voice, whilst feeling the opposite. It seemed it would sound fake.

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Posted in Beef, Latin

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Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake with Orange-Cream Cheese Frosting

Posted on December 6, 2011 | 3 Comments

As a food blogger I feel it’s my duty to break down seemingly difficult recipes and encourage fellow cooks to try new things and not be intimidated! So perhaps I should abandon this post. Because the truth is after an entire afternoon’s worth of effort my first attempt was such an epic disaster that I made the cake over again the next morning in order to get it right.  And that was only possible thanks to the dozens of how-to videos I found on youtube. So how pumped are you about trying this cake?!! Yeah, exactly …

But the reason I’m still sitting here typing away is that the payoff from this cake was huge. At least for me. Not only is the cake both gorgeous and sinfully delicious, the sense of accomplishment that comes from learning new kitchen skills trumps all. And for me that was learning how to assemble and frost a 4-layer cake. There are a couple key things you need to know that the recipes don’t tell you – it’s as if there’s a keep-the-most-important-tips-a-secret-from-the-cooking-masses conspiracy theory at play. Well readers, read on because I’m exposing those secret tips!

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Posted in Dessert

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Greek Meatballs in Spiced Tomato Sauce

Posted on November 19, 2011 | 3 Comments

Hello there fellow foodies.

You may have noticed there’s been a bit of a lag between posts. Without divulging too much personal information, lets just say I hadn’t been feeling myself the past few weeks and couldn’t imagine it not coming across in my writing. I am glad to have had time to put things in perspective with a renewed focus on the good things. One of which being these fantastic Greek lamb meatballs!

I made these a couple weeks back on a night in need of good comfort food and these provided exactly that and so much more. With Mediterranean flavors of fresh oregano and mint shining through the delicious lamb, bathed in a cinnamon-infused spiced tomato sauce over pasta, this meal not only comforts away the woes of a tough day but really strikes you with its unique flavor combinations. It reminded me a bit of the fantastic Greek Moussaka I made in the early fall, with the cinnamon and lamb.

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Posted in Lamb, Mediterranean

Butternut Squash Farro with Walnuts and Goat Cheese

Posted on September 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

I debated between ‘Fall Farro’ and the more descriptive title above for this dish, because in our house ‘Fall Farro’ is absolutely what this is – a delicious side dish featuring many of my fall favorites. With roasted butternut squash, caramelized red onions, toasty walnuts and tangy goat cheese, this graces our table alongside simply seared fish and meat throughout the season. I decided against it (the ‘Fall Farro’ thing) because this dish absolutely has legs for winter and even beyond winter if you’re one of those I-don’t-give-an-expletive-what-season-it-is-I’ll-cook-what-I-like-thanks-very-much types.

I will say upon enjoying the butternut squash + goat cheese combo for the first time this season I immediately forgave summer for leaving the party so early this year. Against the backdrop of the nutty farro, the roasted vegetables and melty goat cheese are just phenomenal. And it made me that much more excited about all the fantastic roasting, braising and stewing that comes with cooler temperatures.

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Posted in Fall, Grains, Side Dish, Winter Squash

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Shrimp Curry with Coconut Milk

Posted on September 21, 2011 | 2 Comments

In my adventures of self-taught cookery, I’ve had my share of recipe success and epic fail. Though there are two cuisines in particular where the guess-we’ll-order-a-pizza end of the scale weighs a little heavier – Asian and Indian. Perhaps because there are so many spices and exotic ingredients involved, the final product can too easily have that Americanized taste to it or be just plain a la Larry David, ‘eh’. But if you’re craving pizza my friends, then skip this dish because this dish is not eh. This dish is spectacular.

It’s actually a blend of Asian and Indian cuisine, as the lemongrass hints at Thailand while the cumin, coriander and fenugreek are Indian ingredients. And best of all, it is not hard to do. Basically you hunt down (this may well be the hardest part depending on where you live), toast and grind a number of spices, saute some shallot, mix together and add coconut milk. And presto you have a very authentic-tasting nicely spiced curry recipe up your sleeve. If you’re not a shellfish person you could swap in chicken or pork, or spoon the sauce over steamed vegetables with rice.

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Posted in Asian, Gluten-Free, Seafood, Shrimp

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Greek Moussaka with Swiss Chard

Posted on September 14, 2011 | 4 Comments

September is a month I’ve always loved. As a kid I was a big back-to-school fan. The local school supply sale was a huge event and I’d have my backpack packed and pencils sharpened weeks before the big day.  In college I couldn’t wait to  head back to the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan for a new semester. It took years post-graduation to shake that fish out of water feeling sitting in conference rooms working instead of coffee shops studying come Fall.

Nowadays I associate September with a wider net of things. The painful memories of 9/11/01. The US Open. Braking for school buses. Realizing I’ll need to start wearing socks again soon. Apples everywhere! It’s a segueway into Fall. And in the foodie world, segueway-ing into Fall is a fantastic thing. September is particularly special because you can still enjoy the best of both worlds – the summer harvest – and your oven! Comforting almost-autumn dishes like this one take the chill off these cooler nights. This Greek Moussaka casts eggplant in the starring role, my absolute favorite summer harvest vegetable.

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Posted in Eggplant, Lamb, Leafy Greens, Mediterranean

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Mojo de Ajo

Posted on September 8, 2011 | 2 Comments

Mojo de Ajo is a Mexcican slow-roasted garlic sauce that I watched Chef Rick Bayless make on an episode of his show ‘Mexico one Plate at a Time’. He titled the episode ‘Liquid Gold’ and trust me, this stuff is a culinary goldmine! It keeps in the fridge for up to 3 months so long as the garlic stays submerged in the oil, though I can’t imagine you wouldn’t use it up within a week or two. Stuff like this is so much fun because it really allows your culinary creativity to shine through, as you come up with various ways to use it up. Here are just a few ideas I plan to try with mine:

  • Use as a marinade for grilled chicken (DONE and delish)
  • Use for sauteing vegetables
  • Toss with hot cooked pasta. Top with avocado and chopped fresh tomatoes.
  • Drizzle over pizza
  • Use for sauteing mushrooms. Add to risotto or rice.
  • Drizzle over poached fish
  • Use in place of oil for salad dressing
  • Serve as a starter for dunking bread

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Posted in Mexican, Sauces and Condiments

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Ratatouille Soup with Melted Gruyere Croutons

Posted on September 1, 2011 | 1 Comment

Planning the menu with a hurricane in the forecast is a tricky task. Do you stock the fridge with loads of fresh fruits and veggies to see you through the stormy weekend, or do you go the canned-goods route in the event you should lose power?  For the first time in a long time I felt completely dazed and confused as I wandered the usually familiar aisles of my local grocery store.

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Posted in French, Soup, Summer, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Romesco Sauce

Posted on August 22, 2011 | 2 Comments

This toasted almond and roasted red pepper sauce may look like the Harissa Sauce posted earlier this spring, but the similarities end with the color and roasted red peppers. This Spanish sauce is deeply flavorful, bright and punchy (in an acidic kind of way), and absolutely delicious. It comes together quickly in the food processor and now is the perfect time of year to give this a whirl while both tomatoes and peppers are at their peak.

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Posted in Gluten-Free, Low Sodium, Mediterranean, Sauces and Condiments, Vegetarian

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Cherry Tomato Gratin

Posted on August 15, 2011 | 2 Comments

Looking to make the most of those gorgeous red and yellow jewels that have all but taken over your farmer’s market? Look no further than this simple but intensely flavorful cherry tomato gratin!

The tomatoes are tossed with a hit of fresh orange juice and balsamic vinegar for some nice acidity to wake up the flavor, then slow-roasted under a blanket of seasoned breadcrumbs and become slightly reduced, bubbly and utterly delish.

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Posted in Side Dish, Summer, Tomatoes, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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