Big Beef Chili
February 1, 2011
I love the Superbowl, but not for the reason you may suspect. Football doesn’t hold much sway with me. What I do relish is the captive, hungry audience to feed. To me, the Superbowl is more about food than it is about the game.
A rich pot of chili may be the ideal meal for game day. It can be made ahead and kept warm on the stove or in a crockpot. Hungry guests can easily fill their bowl whenever they like. I prepare it in the morning and let it cook long and slow on the stove or in the crockpot. All that is left to do before the game is to make sure there is enough beer in the fridge and whip up some cornbread.
Orange Quinoa with Almonds, Olives, and Feta
January 26, 2011
Santa gave me my first lesson in eating with the season. Each year, nestled deep in the toe of my gargantuan knit stocking, I would find an orange. First I would be disappointed- all that valuable stocking space used up by something destined for the communal fruit basket! Then I would be perplexed. Why an orange? Sure, I liked oranges, but they were nowhere near my favorite. Why not a juicy peach? Strawberries? Papaya? Sweet watermelon? OK, I understand why Santa couldn’t put a watermelon in my stocking. Still, it never occurred to me that he was simply offering the sweetest treat that winter had to offer. Though we had an orange tree in our backyard, it had not fully dawned on me that oranges are a winter fruit. Vibrant, sweet, and juicy citrus is ripe for the offering right at the time when Santa swings through town.
Chipotle Black Bean and Butternut Squash Salad
January 19, 2011
I know it is too early in the winter to feel this way and I am going to suffer when the wet and cold months roll on, but I have spring fever. We had a couple of warmish days around here and all I can think about is firing up the grill and bringing dinner outside. Alas, this cannot be done as it is still dark long before dinnertime and truly not all that warm. A girl can dream though, can’t she? We did manage to grill up some chicken burgers before the sun set and then rush inside to warm our bones while eating the burgers with a side of Chipotle Black Bean and Butternut Squash Salad.
Caramelized Onion Relish
January 16, 2011
I love my pantry. This may be an unusual favorite room of the house, but for me it is a place of comfort and a source of pride. Come visit my home and I’ll be sure to show you my special place. Though it is not often in perfect order, my pantry is my sanctuary. In our small home, this is the place where I can escape (briefly, until someone finds me) the commotion and demands of the other members of the family. Inside its walls I store my stacks of cookbooks, the baskets of garlic, squash, and potatoes harvested from last summer’s garden, and of course my canned goods. My pantry shelves are full of all the grains, beans, seeds, and more required to make almost anything I can dream of.
Lentil Soup with Yams
January 13, 2011
Good food is very important to me. It’s not that I’m a picky eater, it is more that there are just soooo many foods I love to eat! I have to admit though, sometimes I find it a challenge to fit in creative, inspired dishes especially during the busy week. Did I mention I have two young kids? That I work full-time? So, I depend on a weekly meal plan.
At the end of each week, I dedicate a bit of time to write out dinner ideas for the following week. There is a general formula I follow: 1 soup meal, 1 stir-fry meal, 1 salad meal, and pizza on Fridays. The other meals are up to my whim. Once I have the meals planned out, it is easy to construct my shopping list and take care of all the food shopping for the week in one trip out. It is a relief to return home after a long day at work and know that I have a plan for dinner and all the ingredients required.
My Pantry Shelf 