The things I wish I’d known when I was young; e.g. sauté mushrooms in a mono-layer, don’t be afraid of heat, and deglaze the pan with wine. And so much still to learn: I’ve yet to master the pan flip; Dwight can do it, but I’m afraid of sending the meal across the kitchen.
Category: Cook
Kale Is Good
Today, one of my favorite weeknight meals: roasted white sweet potatoes with steamed then stir-fried kale. Bacon, garlic, and toasted walnuts fill the room with wonderful aromas. A squeeze of lemon, shoyu, and black pepper finish the kale.
Shelf-Stable Ingredients
When in doubt, I can always make risotto from preserved ingredients. Previously frozen before our trip: sautéed onion, Parmesan, butter, stock. Shelf stable: Arborio rice, splash of wine, dried mushrooms (I usually prefer dried to fresh). So that’s what I’m making.
New Year’s Paella
Our annual tradition: celebrated the new year in Madrid at 5:00 p.m. Central then made paella.
Enhanced Gravy
Last Christmas, a bottle of red wine was corked, so I reduced the wine to an excellent syrup. Over the year, it’s added a fruity note to dressings and sauces. Today, a couple tablespoons added a pleasant dimension to the gravy.
Tip The Fridge
Dinner tonight: tip-the-fridge galette, with a tip-the-fridge salad on the side. Tomorrow we travel.
Best With Bacon
Kicked off Thanksgiving dinner with our Holiday go-to: warm Brussels sprouts salad. It’s a lot of hand-chopping, which is more consistent than a food processor. It would be raw vegan without the essential bacon, Parmesan, and sautéed shallots(!).Recipe.
Seeing Red
Filled my backpack with exactly what we need, and no more, for Thanksgiving dinner. For us, a small amount of cranberries goes a long way.
Chopping Veggies
Chopped and prepared veggies for two dinners: cabbage and onion for a braise tonight, and roasted eggplant and zucchini for a veggie lasagne tomorrow night. One of the joys of travel, for me, is renewed appreciation for everyday home activities.
Meals For Cooler Weather
Decided it’s time for cooler weather meals. Braised local root vegetables: carrots, celeriac, onions, turnip (purple), and potatoes. The Dutch oven contains a pumped-up-umami base. The turnip came with greens in excellent condition, so I added them later