Full Gastronomic Tilt

So, I’m moved. We’re moved. I’m still adjusting to the ‘we.’ To everything, really.
Penguin didn’t take long to get settled. It took her a minute to get the hang of the stairs, but once she realized it’s basically her personal play space AND that she can announce her presence by stomping down them, she [...]

Salad
Arugula, sliced strawberries, toasted walnuts, crumbled ricotta salata, Meyer lemon vinaigrette
Toasted baguette and olive oil
Entrée
Spaghetti carbonara
asparagus, peas, portobello mushroom, seared tuna
2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Cupcake Vineyards, NZ/CA
Dessert
Crepes
Meyer lemon curd, strawberries, powdered sugar, brown sugar, chocolate drizzle

I used to skip breakfast more mornings than not. An extra-strong cup of coffee would get me through to lunch, if in a jittery way. When I started listening to my body, I heard loud and clear that this was no longer acceptable.
Most days, breakfast is an english muffin, toasted and spread with Earth Balance [...]

Dinner plans, via text message:
“Have leeks & potatoes. Thinking something rustic/French. Ideas?”
“Gratin! With thyme and carm. onions.”
“Perfect. Gruyère?”
“I’ll get it. Bringing wine, too.”‘
Gratin: n. French origin, from grater (to scratch), typically refers to any dish with a lightly browned top crust of crumbs, butter and/or cheese. A base of potatoes is traditional. (see also: delicious)
Many [...]

Flip. flip. Flipflip. flip. Cookbook after cookbook. I had agreed to whip something up for a 10 person gathering - mostly vegetarians, one vegan, one gluten allergy. I thought something hearty, warming and fulfilling would be appropriate before extended discussion involving, among other things, community building.
What’s more communal than soup? What’s more friendly, vegan [...]

13-hour days don’t lend themselves to involved cooking. Especially when watching the latest episode of House on Hulu takes significant precedence over fueling your body.
I know, I know. Based on my last post you’d think that I always make feeding myself a priority.
My caveat: after 9 PM.
If I’m just getting home at 9 PM or [...]

I love this late-summer/early-fall dish. Tarragon can be so dramatic and ill-placed, but it works great in this tomato sauce, plus eggplant and chèvre pair incredibly well together. I like this dish to feel a little more rustic, so I don’t peel the eggplant, preferring the chewy contrast the skin gives the dish. I also [...]

Sometimes I do things the hard way. My friends and family will attest to this. A great example: it took me 45 minutes and 6 dirty dishes to make a half-cup of pesto. Normally, this is a 5 or 10 minute job AND you end up with about a cup of pesto. But no. I [...]

[Pretty chowder pictures to come later tonight. It has been a busy week!]
More often than not, I Twitter my dinner plans. A bit of participatory food geekery, if you will. I get instant feedback: “What ingredients?” “Which recipe?” “What else ya makin’?” and people reply with their own dinner plans. Seems silly, but [...]

I’m preparing for a vacation to the Pacific Northwest and trying to use up as many ingredients in my fridge and cabinet as possible so I don’t come home to spoiled or stale food.  Happened to have three very ripe bananas on hand and half a bag of chocolate chips left over from last [...]