Weeknight No-Knead Bread
January 28, 2011
OK, so I finally tried it. I know I’m a little behind the times and most of you have already made or at least eaten the reputable “No-Knead Bread”, but for me this was a first. Back in 2006, when New York Times published a variation of this recipe it created quite a fervor. Multiple friends shared their success with the bread, but I was home with a baby who was not yet mobile. I had nothing to do but bake bread, the other, more time-consuming way, by kneading it. Truly, I paid little heed to the recipe. Then later, when Cooks Illustrated published another version, I ignored it again. At that time we were blessed with bakery seconds delivered to our door each week from an amazing local bakery. Now that I am back to work, the kids are beyond mobile, and the free bread has long since stopped gracing our table, it was time to dig out this AMAZING recipe and give it a try.
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.
Good Morning Yeasted Waffles
January 22, 2011
Breakfast is a highlight in our house. We love it. Eggs a million ways, pancakes galore, beans, granola, you name it. For some reason though, I always get stuck when I try to make waffles. The idea of them is so good, but my product tends to leave me unsatisfied. My husband makes a mean waffle, but even when I try his recipe, it doesn’t quite work to my liking. So the other night, I was blown away when I had my first yeasted waffle at a friend’s gathering. Sure, it looked like other waffles I’d tried in the past, but the taste was uniquely different. This may well be my new favorite waffle. Read the rest of this entry »
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.
My Pantry Shelf 