dinner at alice’s – i love wednesdays June 7, 2008

I enjoy every moment spent at this wonderful, warm home of 13. Everyone is inclusive, interesting, kind, and welcoming. Household members share cooking duties, and this night Alice “cleaned the fridge”, finding red quinoa (true?), lentils, golden and chioggia beets, carrots, cabbage, favas, and potatoes. Let me set the stage.  I arrive to find Alice in the kitchen with her “Yodeling Mad: Best of Country Yodel” CD playing, and she greets me with the phrase, “Everything is going in.” Into what, you might ask? Eight shepherd pies! She’s bought yummy vegan crusts, and we step by step assemble her vision into mounds of comfort and belly joy. After topping each pie with a generous helping of mashed potatoes, Alice drizzled them with olive oil, and applied pinches of sea salt and rosemary. I want to eat like this every night.

(photo credit – Glenn Bachmann)

pupusa night! May 13, 2008

Feast your eyes on this! Claudette and Leah came over with dinner the other night: hand crafted, lovingly patted, cheese stuffed pupusas. Thank you, Claudette, for sharing your special culinary creation, and your warm heart.

As always, this night was full of laughs.

The final plating shows the pupusa with refried beans, black beans, curtido, and salsa. I took a bite and was transported back to my early childhood. Funny how smells and tastes can do that. I described dinner to my mom, and she told me that it sounded similar to the hot water cornbread my grandma and aunt used to make. “It’s one world”, she said. I am so grateful for my friends and family. This means you!

you are my favorite sweet potato gnocchi! December 1, 2007

You are!!

I’m back to my old self, and in the kitchen now that school applications are finished. Yay!!  Okay, these gnocchi were really good. I made approximately three dozen, and I still have half the dough. I read that once the gnocchi are cooked they can be frozen for up to six weeks. This is my plan of action.

These are sweet potato gnocchi in a brown butter and sage sauce. I usually don’t like cream or butter sauces, but this was perfect and simple. I likely will try another sauce with the leftovers – lots of options! First you make the dough. This was pretty straightforward, but I think my process could have been improved by a potato ricer or a food mill. Then you roll out ropes, cut bite sized pieces, and plop them in the salted boiling water. Finish the gnocchi in the pan with browned butter and sage.

I did find a helpful video online. Now I can finesse!

meaty loaf and frites September 27, 2007

I’ve always loved meatloaf. Even when it contained meat! This is one of my favorite dishes to make. Very easy, you just take some veggie ground beef (I like Yves “Meatless Ground – original”), a 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, 1 diced bell pepper, a 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs, chopped shallot or mild onion, and about 1, maybe 2 eggs. Mix ingredients, and bake for about 4o minutes at 375 degrees. My secret is to crumble Semifreddi’s “Super Garlic Croutons” in the blender/food processor and make my own breadcrumbs. I made a tomato sauce for the top out of thinned tomato paste, oregano, salt and pepper, and placed golden heirloom tomato slices as a finish. Thanks, GP!

As for the frites…basic russet potatoes, sliced into quarter inch width pieces. I read that in order to have crispy fries you need to soak them in cold water to remove excess starch, dry thoroughly, then fry them twice. The first fry was 325 degrees for about 4-5 minutes. The second fry was 375 for about 3-4 minutes or until golden. This method worked very well, I recommend it. Extra crispy and light!

And the very best part of all is that I get to have it for lunch tomorrow!! Yum.

food 4 kids: booby trap egg sandwich September 9, 2007

Big kids, too. Mmm – today I made an egg sandwich and decided to put a child-at-heart twist on breakfast. I hollowed out a poppy seed roll, and hid within it a fried egg on a bed of sharp cheddar cheese. Next, I placed arugula and spinach leaves on top for unsuspecting passers-by, and propped up the bun lid with toothpicks. Finally, I constructed a woodland/jungle scene of veggies (baby artichoke, blue lake beans, The Tomatoes, red onion, pickled daikon radish, bok choy, mushroom caps) and potatoes as the backdrop, on a lagoon of seasoned dried seaweed. At one point I was thinking of crafting a creature that set up this elaborate trap, but I then realized two things: that creature is me, and I’ve got to eat sometime!

veggie pesto pizza ‘n beer September 5, 2007

There are forces in this world I don’t understand. Not a very profound statement, but I am confused! Am I supposed to just follow signs, “understand”, and live life for what it seemingly brings me or wants of me? Or do I react to messages that run counter to my wishes and wants? Don’t know. Can’t she just stick to the food?, you might wonder. Uh, yes. ‘Cause that I do understand. That, and lemon colored lion t-shirts (see end of post).

So the pursuit of life’s simplicity brings me to today’s post: pizza ‘n beer. This is one of my favorite pizzas! Partially because I was hungry for dinner and didn’t have to make the crust, but mostly because this is really tasty bread. I used a flatbread available for purchase and immediate consumption. My second favorite pizza involves homemade crust with olive oil and cornmeal baked on the bottom. I went again to my loving, family run, local grocer Golden Produce on Church St. For about $10 I got organic components to make my dinner and lunch for the remainder of the week. Today’s toppings: fresh mozzarella, pesto, basil, heirloom tomato slices, and mushroom. Today’s beer: Hoegaarden

Today’s t-shirt: Raaawwr!!!!

Summer Refresher part II: korean BBQ kebabs September 4, 2007

I have often been welcome at the family table of one of my best friends – there his mother shared exquisite meals and family recipes. Although my friend has moved away from home, (he now lives with me in SF) his mom still sends foodlove, double ziplocked and tupperwared for safe travel all the way to her son’s tummy. He’s 35! It’s really sweet. The best part is that on many occasions, once she learns your favorites, she’ll send a sizable helping of those, too. Thank you, Mrs. Kim!

I found a marinade online for vegan seitan Korean BBQ, but next time I’ll try this one: “Seitan cut into strips, marinated with tamari (soybean sauce), garlic, ginger, brown sugar, sesame oil, scallions, and [toasted] sesame seeds”. I used hunks of marinated seitan, slices of corn ears, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and orange bell pepper. Very “meaty”! Served over a bed of brown rice.

Also, as promised, a second summer refresher!! Cold brewed “Black Cherry Berry” tea with hibiscus yummy, slices of lemon from our landlord’s tree, and a splash of grapefruit pop. Ahhh…

Leah stopped by, and is shown enjoying a dessert (I will catch hell for this!) of grilled white peaches, honey drizzle, and mascarpone.

I do the best I can as a friend, in my ability to forgive others, in my willingness to forgive myself, and in eeking my heart open a little for those around me. This b-b-q is dedicated to my friend Andy – I’m not always a good friend, but I love you.

hooray, labor day!! September 3, 2007

I am grateful for today. According to “the first proposal of the holiday”, in the 1880’s, “a street parade to exhibit to the public ‘the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations’ of the community” was in order, along with a festival celebration for “workers and their families”. (Wiki-what? you don’t see too much of this original meaning these days. Today’s SF Gate front page news was about the Bay Bridge closure.)

I did enjoy a day of rest from work, let me tell you! I was invited to brunch with Heather and Arpi (left to right), a couple I find mesmerizing – individually, as well as together in partnership. They celebrated their ninth anniversary this weekend and still made time for me. Wow.

Arpi made a delicious meal! We had gourmet coffee, moist and delicate corn muffins, and omelets. Let’s talk omelets for a moment. These were fluffy, half moon pillows filled with just the right textures, including a perfect dice of creminis, and red bell pepper. Mmm-mmm!

All that, AND we went on a walk to visit with the neighborhood cats! What a day. Thanks, Heather and Arpi!!

“Aloo Masala” Twice-Baked Tuber August 28, 2007

Tonight I decided to make an Indian version of “twice-baked potatoes”. I searched recipes for twice baked sweet potatoes, or yams, and they all had maple, sugar, toasted nuts and the like. Yummy, yes, but not what I wanted tonight. I went to my favorite local grocer Golden Produce for a good selection of fresh vegetables and some inspiration. I was pretty open to what could go into this dish. I knew I needed some type of tuber… I think I bought a yam, but to be honest I don’t always know the difference. Growing up, orange colored pie was always sweet potato, never pumpkin, and I think when I had yams in a glaze or something, my brain recorded that they were sweet potatoes. So I incorrectly use them interchangeably. Okay, so 1 yam, 2 small yellow potatoes, and I was in business. I also bought some papadum, a yellow onion, and a small cantaloupe. After I made the stuffing, I realized that I’d forgotten to saute the onion and incorporate. I still wanted onion so I decided to make onion rings. I still prepared the papadum, too. My other plan was to make cantaloupe soup, but that will have to wait until the next post.

I cooked the yam and yellow potatoes until soft, scooped out the insides and forked them in a bowl with a touch of buttermilk, 2T sharp cheddar cheese, a pat of butter, and spices (garam masala mixture,+ tumeric, salt, cayenne, cumin, cinnamon and hot paprika). These are just flavors and colors I like, not necessarily a proper recipe.

Pre-baked tubers:

I fried some onion rings for garnish and crunch.

And here we have it!

fried squash blossoms August 22, 2007

Wow, I loved these. Sooo yummy. My lovely blossoms were a treasured gift from last night! To preserve them until today, when I could prepare them properly, I nested them in a damp paper towel and refrigerated ’til tonight. I made the batter according to recipe, and dipped the babies, then gently laid them in hot oil, seconds away from popping.

I let them cook a total of 3-4 minutes, turning once. Next, I drained them, plated them, and promptly ate them.

You know who you are…thanks <3