Friday, November 7, 2008

There's Something About Rosemary...

One whiff of rosemary puts a blissful smile on my face that could warm the coldest mood... mmmm...it has the amazing ability to be both sweet and pine-y. It's probably my favorite winter herb...

So without further ado, I proudly introduce my latest creation involving rosemary:

Yams with green apples, currents, flame raisins and (of course) rosemary...topped with goat cheese!



I'm sure you've gathered from my other posts that I don't really measure...I pretty much do everything right in the pan to taste and smell, so I apologize for lack of specifics with amounts...

First I chopped one medium-size green apple and balanced it with about the same amount of yam :) Next, I steamed/simmered the yams a bit to get them partially cooked, then drained the water and added the apple, raisins, currents and about 1 TBS of butter and sprinkled liberally with dried rosemary (fresh would be delightful if you have it...)

Fun Fact: Rosemary can ease a headache and lift the spirits...I know it does that for me!

I also sprinkled a little salt and drizzled on a touch of honey (you can decide what your ideal sweet/salty balance is...)

After all that, I added a touch of water so the mixture wouldn't burn, and covered to simmer until the apple got a bit softer but still had some bite :)

Top with a crumble of mild goat cheese and enjoy!!

Golden raisins would also be a wonderful addition, I just didn't have any on hand....this time ;)

*For more fun facts about rosemary: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/r/rosema17.html

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Salad Dreams Realized!

I've been working on a different blog for about two weeks...it just doesn't seem to want to come together...so clearly it wasn't meant to be my next blog, this is!

I have had an idea for an autumn salad in my head for months, and yes friends, this weekend I finally made it!

Mesclun with granny smith apples, toasted walnuts and raw sharp cheddar with an apple cider vinegar dressing (including a splash of olive oil and touch of pure honey) and seasoned with salt to taste.

Toasting the walnuts was really the key, it gives the salad a touch of smokiness...like fall!





The second salad was a re-creation of the salad I had on my birthday in Edinburgh! It consisted of butternut squash, mixed greens, pine nuts, fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, garlic croutons and goat cheese...



I cubed the squash and steamed it until tender but still holding the cube shape, then sprinkled it with garlic salt and pepper and let it cool a bit before adding it to the other ingredients. For a dressing, I simply drizzled it with a little olive oil and white wine vinegar and a touch more salt and pepper. The sweet squash is a divine flavor amongst the greens and goat cheese...and it incorporated my favorite colors, green and orange (heart and sacral chakras).

Monday, October 6, 2008

Nick Cave, Rarebit & True Blood, Oh My!

Yes, the apartment is coming along....

This past weekend was full of great food, great music, and great company...

On Saturday I spent the day trying to semi-clean my apartment and do the mountain of laundry I'd been procrastinating over for a while...no, ignoring does not make it go away...it just eventually topples and smothers you...

I barely took time to eat what with an acupuncture appointment (awesome!), a Fresh Direct delivery and all that tidying up going on...but when I did, I had to make it good...so my quick lunch consisted of a simple salad with garlic salt and peppered cherry tomatoes and crispy garlic toast!




I had to stop the cleaning, however, to get ready to go into the city to see Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds! In preparation for breakfast the next morning I opened a bottle of Guinness Extra Stout, measured out the needed amount for the Rarebit's Sauce (because you all now know my love of cooking with stout) and drank the rest while dressing and putting on my makeup. I was pleasantly mellow for the train ride. :)

Nick Cave was AWESOME! We had GA tickets and started out about 4 people away from the stage and by the end were 1 person away. He hovered over us with his voice booming, my delighted gaze always on him...he is a fantastic showman.

But back to the food. Yes, I mentioned Rarebit above...

My wonderful friend, Krissy, agreed to help me organize my apartment in preparation for people...and in exchange I cooked, drum roll please....

"Stout and Cheddar Rarebit with Fried Eggs"

the recipe can be found on Epicurious.com:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Stout-and-Cheddar-Rarebit-with-Fried-Eggs-350220

Holy smokes...that thing was good....



For lunch, I whipped up a yummy salad of plum tomatoes, basil and hummus, a side of sliced apple with cheddar cheese, and a piece of lightly buttered yoga toast (The Baker's "Yoga Bread" rules!) to replenish Krissy who was diligently clearing out my craft corner at the time...



The apartment coming together, Paul and Brian came by in the evening with "Werewolf" Cabernet Sauvignon. We then ordered pizza and watched True Blood (I'm addicted to this show!)

I also made bloody marys....I love theme evenings :)


...and for anyone interested, here's the Apricot Brandy cookie recipe from my last post:

1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt

3 T Apricot Brandy
1 T Peach-Tree Schnapps
3 T Mild flavor oil
3 T Milk

Now here's where I got creative...

A handful of chopped pecans browned in a pan with brown sugar, chopped crystalized ginger, a touch of oil and a splash of the brandy....

Chopped dried apricots (handful).

Mix wet and dry ingredients separately (add the pecan mix to the wet to break it up), then together...spoon onto parchment lined cookie sheets and bake in a 350 degree oven for 18 minutes or until golden...


Enjoy!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Curing the Blues While Baking with Booze...

Seriously...I can't express the sheer joy I get out of cooking with alcohol...

Be it ginger cake with stout, cookies with chocolate and stout...drinking the stout while baking (I mean, the recipe only called for a little bit so it would be wasteful not to drink the rest of the bottle...and I hate waste :)

Tequila cookies, whisky balls (woohoo!)...and today...wait for it...

Apricot Brandy cookies!!!

At last, a use for the huge bottle of peach-tree schnapps I had on hand (it's not just for brunch anymore!) Though the apricot brandy is the true star in my liquorific test kitchen right now...

That's right...two of my favorite things combined to my absolute delight! Those of you who know me know my love affair with apricots...it's almost wrong how much I love them. The aroma in my kitchen right now is pure bliss...and Kim would adore how warm my oven has made my entire apartment... :)

I have experimented with the recipe all evening (while watching the emmys) and I think the third time was the charm...I'll let my taste-buds be the judge...



Mmmmm....pretty darn good...

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Today is Where I Am...

Bear with me while I navigate these new blogging waters...I trust it will find its own shape and life just like I'm doing right now!

I came back to New York from my recent trip to Scotland with a new purpose (besides returning to Scotland) ...it has been simmering inside me for a while just waiting for the spark to bring it into my awareness...this being "The Lion's Share." That spark came while I was staying in Forres at Newbold House, having a retreat week. I relaxed, read and drank tea in the conservatory, walked through the woods, visited Findhorn Village...and the most beautiful beach I have ever been on...it was truly awesome. I'll share more about my 30th birthday-Scotland adventure in future posts...complete with photos, I promise!



I am currently trying to get my apartment into working order...so I don't get swallowed up by it and so I can invite some lovely souls to share the space, creativity and my culinary creations! Very exciting...and overwhelming when I get too far ahead of myself...

So right now, I'll stop and be right where I am...

Today I woke up, made coffee, listened to The Waterboy's "Fisherman's Blues," (Mike Scott and Steve Wickham's violin [NoCrows!] being another new finding since going to Scotland...Thanks Christina!!)

Then I made a big dish of potatoes with fennel seeds and rainbow chard...

Now, it's off to prepare my space and make some apricot brandy cookies...and maybe listen to some more Waterboys music while I do it...I will also be enjoying some 12 year old Glenlivet while watching Mad Men later... ;)