recipes food wine blog

The Art of the Perfect Sandwich

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:32:13 -0700

Today, I had a craving. Something simple, yet fresh and delicious. Something that would make efficient use of the veggies that were threatening to languish in my crisper. Something that would give me a sufficient enough excuse to BAKE on an 80+ degree afternoon. Something to which I could channel my obsessive-compulsive tendencies and yield delicious results.

The Biggest Dragonfly I’ve Ever Seen...

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:37:38 -0700

Today, this behemoth flew into the garden with the wingspan of an albatross and I was fortunate enough to duck its ferocious dive-bomb have my camera in hand. The branch she landed on was swaying under the magnitude of her monster proportions. Betty was confounded. Or perhaps a little envious...

Wine Crate Planter Box DIY Project

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:53:46 -0700

Today was one of those prematurely “Autumnish” days that make me think of all of the tasty items I’m going to cook and plant in the garden when the weather turns cool for real. Although I’m not ready to break out the pants and sweaters just yet, I do get a certain renewal of energy with the change of the seasons. I begin to think, do, and act differently as I crave fresh experiences, and eventually (and predictably), long for summer in the end!
I have a stack of empty wine crates I’ve been saving for an exciting repurposing prospect to present itself. And today it did.

Hand made Trofie al Pesto

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:27:45 -0700

“Human beings are amazing. Who first learned to coax this much flavor from a simple basil leaf? And then, to mix it with all of these other things that taste so good, making this not just a meal, but an epiphany? Where do I send the thank you note?”
This is what I was thinking three years ago in the Italian fishing village of Camogli, where I had the first trofie al pesto encounter of my life. Now, the details of that trip are fuzzy. I know there was wine. Pretty good. There were beaches. Okay. Statue of David. Meh. But, TROFIE. I can’t hear the word “Italy” without trofie springing to mind.
It is commonly thought that we eat first with our eyes. But, considering that this dish is not much to look at, I am compelled to assert that we actually eat first with our noses. I don’t need to know much about the hippocampus to know that basil makes me salivate like a lion catching a whiff of an upwind gazelle. Pesto has pungent and alluring aromas in abundance. Basil and garlic...what’s not to love? Throw in a mouthful of toothsome texture and the vivid green-ness of the whole ensemble (oops, there I go eating with my eyes), and you won’t think twice about the labor required in its production. It’s a dish my reptilian brain is eager to sink its teeth into.
And, for your amusement education, I have posted a short how-to video in addition to the photos. I apologize in advance for the janky production value! But, I think you’ll catch my drift.
Buona Fortuna!

Song: Mambo Italiano by Ray Gelato

Yes, cooking has an ugly side...

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:46:58 -0700

As I stumble into the kitchen at the crack of 7:00 am, coffee NOT on a timer (astonishing lack of foresight), I encounter the evidence of last night’s happy diet. The picture doesn’t do it justice, really. It spreads. It’s taking over. Where the heck is my coffee machine? Who AM I?
Last night I made a rule. When you gorge yourself on garlicky pasta that you spent the whole day making, you can leave the dishes until the morning. Well, unfortunately, the smells and textures of what was delicious last night has taken on a whole new incarnation. Blech.
So, I made another rule. You may drink every last drop of your coffee and read blogs on your laptop (provided you clear a 2x2 space on the countertop) before you even attempt to tackle this pile of nasty.
Word.

P.S. Read about the BEFORE PICTURE in the next couple days.

Blueberry Mascarpone Ice Cream

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:52:32 -0700

Things have been uncharacteristically gloomy around the house this week, since a good friend was recently hospitalized. Prayers and positive thinking have been a constant variable as we attempt to reconcile our hope for an ideal outcome with some of the harsh realities facing our loved one. The feeling of helplessness can be overwhelming and one attempts to compensate for this by offering what small gestures of comfort are available. For me, it is the preparation and offering of food. Comfort foods earn their place in this esteemed category by standing the test of time, and maintain a solid reputation for inducing pleasant associations. And what better comfort food in the heat of summer than ice cream? It has dulled the pain of many a heartbreak in my time. The culinary equivalent of Prozac. Conversely, it has been an integral part of the most exuberant celebrations of my life. And I certainly hope to be celebrating something very soon. Plus, nothing could be easier to make. As I prepare this delicious spirit-lifting elixir, I send sweet little prayers of healing out to Daren and his family. I hope that you will do the same.