Happy New Year's!

I've mentioned here before how seriously I take New Year's Eve and the few days that precede and follow it.  Sure, I party and celebrate with the best of 'em...but I also take a moment for introspection and, truth be known, I shed a few tears of happiness every year.  To me, New Year's is one of the rare times when we have no other choice but to live in the moment, straddling what has passed and what is to come. I take stock of what I've done and who I am...and I think about how that'll look going forward.  And it's a bonus if I get to share all this with friends and family.  And I did this year, toasting to me, Adam, and Bug moving to Manhattan, toasting to the Soul Twin and The Other Husband moving to NYC, toasting to my new position as visiting assistant professor at Pratt Institute (oh, wait...did I not tell you guys about that yet?  More to come...).  In the end, Adam and I invoked one of our favorite toasts: "To all our shit!"  Seriously.  Because we're vulgar and dorky that way.

I'm still getting my feet back under me, post-holiday, so it'll be a couple days before I'm back with recipes, photos, and chatter.  In the meantime, my rad friend Jen sent me this article: "A Recipe for Simplifying Life: Ditch All the Recipes" by Tara Parker-Pope, and I would love for the rest of you to take a look at it as well.  Let me know what you think.  I have conflicting feelings about the book Parker-Pope is discussing, AN EVERLASTING MEAL: COOKING WITH ECONOMY AND GRACE by Tamar Adler...or, more accurately, I have issues with Parker-Pope's complete reverence for it in this article.

First, I think not having a gimmick is the new gimmick and, as someone who has been in marketing for a publisher, I see the marketing behind this book from a mile away.  Second, cooking isn't easy and I have real problems with any book that makes the promise that it is (even my beloved Ina is guilty of this).  Why not say that, yes, it is hard work?  Yes, it does take up a large chunk of time?  Yes, you will have failures in the kitchen?  But the rewards are soooooo worth it?  But I don't know that enough of these books do that.  And then their readers get frustrated when they inevitably experience failure...or when they inevitably realize that it's still a lot of work, that "simple" does not equal "easy".  Lastly, there's so much emphasis on cooking made easy and simple...but I have always felt that menu planning and food shopping is given short shrift in the cookbooks I read.  THAT is the time-consuming, complicated, creative part of the cooking process, I think.  I'd love to discuss that more.  (And I will note that I haven't read AN EVERLASTING MEAL yet.  Amy mentioned it to me, and I'm adding it to the top of my list)

Phew!  Okay, well, there's my rant.  If you read the article, let me know what you think or, better yet, if you've read Tamar Adler's book, let me know how it works for you.

Happy New Year, all!  I'm not a fan of resolutions (to quote Mary Poppins, they're pie crust promises: easily made, easily broken).  However, I always strive to live life fully, eat and drink well, treasure my friends and family, and challenge myself.  So I hereby renew my conviction to do so in the next year.

Eat, drink, and cheers to new beginnings!

Happy Thanksgiving

Well, lovely readers, I'm off for the holidays.  Think it's odd that I haven't mentioned what I'm making for Thanksgiving?  That's because I won't be making anything this year (nor did I last year - I was in Anguilla, eating grilled local crayfish).  This year....wait for it...I will be eating at a Thanksgiving buffet in ORLANDO.  Or-friggin-lando.  A million self-pitying sighs.

But before you feel too bad for me, let me tell you why we're going there.  We're finally taking Bug to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, otherwise known as Harry Potter World.  And the best bit is that Bug doesn't know: we told her we didn't have money to travel since we're saving up for a European trip next summer.  But we're going to wake her up on Thanksgiving morning and, with her bag already packed, tell her we're leaving on a jet plane to Harry Potter World.  Bug's love of all things Harry Potter has been documented here, and this is going to be nothing short of outstanding.

Parents of the Year Award?  Perhaps.  No, no, no.  I'm just happy to be nominated by the Academy.

Before I take off, though, I must share with you these fantastic stuffed fruits and vegetables from IKEA:

I'm in love.  I can't tell which one I want more, the broccoli or the carrot.  The strawberry is too predictably girly.  Wouldn't these make fun gifts for young foodies...or old ones too?  (Enormous thanks to my pal Marjorie for the link)

Well, guys, I'm off.  I'll be back next week with picture of the buffet in Orlando!  You excited?  Yeah, I thought you might say that...

Eat, drink, and do it for the kids.

Oregon Food and Wine: EZ Orchards

Oh, Oregon.  Why are you only 70 degrees and raining in July?  On the day that we're supposed to be barbecuing ribs and celebrating all the July birthdays in our family*?  Why????

But it's also given me a chance to hole up in MC's (my mother-in-law) house and write about the tremendous couple of days I've already had.  With a glass of wine next to me, of course.  The days have been full of food and wine, and I'm happy as a clam (...or a crab, seeing as I'm a Cancer...).

One of the first places we go when we arrive in Oregon is EZ Orchards, which I mentioned here (you can also "like" them on Facebook).  It's truly a community spot with mostly local produce, as well as local cheeses, homemade baked goods, and supplies for the home.  Every year we visit and I stock up on both EZ Orchards' Marionberry Jam and AJ's Walla Walla Sweet Onion Mustard:

 And every year I pine for one of their gorgeous tablecloths and never buy one:

Their berries are particularly beautiful:

It has also become an unofficial tradition that I make caramelized onions every time I visit MC:

The Walla Walla sweet onions are just so unbelievably sweet and rich - I love pairing them with salty salami (as I did last year) or on a burger with blue cheese (which I did this year).

Oregon - and Salem, in particular - is such a well-hidden secret.  We know that it's one of the best states in the U.S. for beer, but it's also an incredible food mecca.  It's a secret that Oregonians, for the most part, would rather not be revealed for fear that the state would be overrun (by Californians, in particular...).  EZ Orchards is a perfect example of Salem's hidden charm.

Eat, drink, and support local business.

* Bug, my grandmother-in-law, and me, in this case.  It's also my sister-in-law's birthday today - happy birthday, Kellee!!!

Happy Bastille Day!

Happy Bastille Day, friends!  We're on Day One of our annual family vacation to Oregon and California*, and I'm already feeling myself relax as we get further and further away from the hustle and bustle of NYC (which, consequently, I am addicted to).  But let's talk about Bastille Day...

Last Sunday, I finally had the chance to take part in the Bastille Day celebration on 60th Street, hosted by FIAF (French Institute: Alliance Francaise).  Adam, our friends Jen and Phil, and I spent a decadent day eating duck confit on a baguette (with cornichons tucked in)....

...wine-tasting...

 ...checking out French books (they didn't have it, but I'm dying to buy a copy of Ramona la Peste)...

...and buying jewelry, which Phil insisted wasn't really French...

But my favorite thing?  I FINALLY ATE MACARONS!!!!

Um, do you think I'm excited much in this photo? And check out the selection:

Thanks to The Culinary Librarian, I made a beeline for the MacarOn Cafe tent.  I decided to buy a pack of six, and I was able to choose any that I wanted.  Here's what I got:

From the bottom up, I chose Pistachio, Nutella, Creme Brulee, Dark Chocolate, Violette, and Rose.  The Violette was first - it just completely intrigued me, but Jen was worried it would "taste like perfume."

We both agreed it didn't.  I loved the crunch on the outside and the soft cake-y interior, and the violet flavor was subtle and delicate; the textures and flavors really came together perfectly and it was so well-balanced.  And for a gal like me who has a tiny little sweet tooth, it wasn't too sugary-syrupy sweet for me.

Next up was the Rose.  It was truly like eating a rose petal, which I couldn't decide if I liked or not.  Ultimately, it was unusual, interesting, and very fragrant; I think I liked it.  Jen...well...Jen said it tasted and smelled "like old lady."  See why I love her?

The other macarons were lovely, but didn't really compare to the Rose and Violette.  I enjoyed the Pistachio, in particular, as it had the same well-balanced deliciousness as the Violette.  It was all just so lovely.

Eat, drink, and vive la France!


* Previous posts on our West Coast adventures include: The Wild Pear, Oregon 2009, and California 2009.

Protagonist

One of my favorite Christmas presents:

Fabulous, right? Thanks to my super-cool brother, his beautiful wife, and my darling niece and nephew!

The shirt makes me think of that great line from The Holiday (shush to the haters): "You're supposed to be the leading lady of your own life, for god's sake!" Indeed.

Eat, drink, and play the lead.

Book Blogger Holiday Swap

As I told all of you earlier, I took part in the Book Blogger Holiday Swap. This post is incredibly overdue, as I received my gift over a week ago. Nevertheless, here is the package I received from my Secret Santa:

Some new books - supernatural thrillers, which is an entirely new genre for me so this will be interesting - along with some candy, a $10 Blockbuster giftcard, and vanilla-scented shower gel.

My Secret Santa has yet to reveal him- or herself, but thanks so much for the gift! And I'm waiting for the recipient of my Secret Santa gift to post it.

Eat, drink, and make new friends.

Book Blogger Holiday Swap

I read about this first at Presenting Lenore, followed by GreenBeanTeenQueen - they're both participating. It sounded like an absolute hoot to me so I signed up.

Go to the holiday swap official website to sign up - you only have until November 12th!

Christmas Day menu

This Christmas Day it will be only Adam, Kiddo, and me.  If you knew both our extended families, you would know how strange this is going to feel – I’m so used to having lots of family around and lots of noise. 

Luckily, we have our urban family.  In particular, we have Lori and Josh.  They actually do have family in town for the holidays, but they have graciously invited us to join them for dinner on Christmas Day.  I feel completely blessed to have a chosen family with whom I can share my daily joys and trials…and with whom I share endless amounts of food.

 Josh is a skilled gourmand, and some of my favorite meals have been at his table.  So he’s putting in about twelve hours of cooking between tomorrow and Christmas Day to create a veritable feast for all of us.  Check out the menu:

String beans and pecans, roasted, tossed with goat cheese and dried cranberries
Roasted squash and sweet potato soup with blue cheese drizzle
Slow-roasted ham with brown sugar glaze
Homemade noodles
Roasted broccoli w/ garlic, lemon, and parmesan
Roasted new potatoes with rosemary and thyme
Mac 'n' cheese with shiitake and cremini mushrooms and truffle oil
Cranberry sauce

Apple pie
Lemon-meringue pie
Salty White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

We’re bringing two bottles of Rioja to drink with dinner, recommended by the trustworthy folks at Chelsea Wine Vault (I was thinking Pinot Noir or Côtes du Rhône…I was shocked when Adam came home with Rioja).  Adam is beer shopping at Whole Foods and he’ll bring a couple bottles that compliment the meal.  Kiddo…well, Kiddo is hopefully bringing her more adventurous eating personality.  The one that wolfs down smoked salmon and clams…rather than the one that won’t touch a speck of parsley.  Here’s hoping!

Happy holidays to all of you!  And the very best in 2009!

"Oh, honey, you shouldn't have!"

Adam and I have been married for 11 ½ years and I have to admit that we’re showing our age. Physically, of course, but also in the area of gift-giving.

We’ve struggled with gift-giving, for multiple reasons, for our entire 15-year relationship. But this year just seemed more difficult than most. Come this past Sunday night and we still had nothing for one another…with Christmas three days away.

Obviously, we laughed: if this was the most serious problem in our marriage (which it is) then we had to admit that we’re doing pretty good. But we also knew that we needed to pay this some serious attention.

So here is our gift to each other: A class together at the Institute of Culinary Education*. Here is the description of Gourmet Breakfasts:

Start your day in style with four-star breakfasts that will transform even the dreariest morning into a celebration. Pastry Chef-Instructor Chad Pagano will lead you through the steps of sophisticated dishes such as Cornmeal Blinis with Homemade Fig Preserves, Poached Mission Figs and Hand-Whipped Cream; Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon and Dill Cream Cheese; Three-Cheese Frittata (fresh mozzarella, Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano) served with Roasted Red Peppers, Pesto and Broccoli Rabe Sausage; Potato Fritter Pancakes with Foie Gras and Balsamic Syrup; Poached Eggs served with Toasted brioche, Spinach, Cabot Cheddar Sauce and Center Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon; Croissant French Toasts Stuffed with Goat Cheese, Herbs, and Champagne Grapes; and Mushroom Omelet with Shiitake, Portobello, Cremini, and Oyster Mushrooms, served over an Onion Marmalade.

And we’ll be taking the class on a holiday while Kiddo is at day camp. So it’ll be a lovely holiday-weekday thing…thus we don’t have to pay for a babysitter. Perfect.

Eat, drink, and do so with your life partner.


*ICE also has gift certificates, in case you're looking for a last-minute gift.

Thanksgiving: In Photos

Lest you read my previous post and think that I didn't document everything about Thanksgiving, I am here to reassure you that I took LOTS of pictures (or Adam did).  Here was our menu:

- Pork Loin Roast with Chestnuts (from The French Kitchen)

- Apple-Turnip Mashed Potatoes (from Southern Living)

- Wild Rice with Roasted Grapes and Walnuts (from Bon Appétit)

- Blackberry Crisp (the Soul Twin brought frozen wild blackberries

 that she gathered herself and used them in place of the apples in Ina Garten's recipe from Barefoot Contessa's Parties)

Now I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves:

For goodness sake, I have the most ridiculous hair!

"Would you like some fresh ground pepper with that?"

"Oh, honey, I think we could ALL use some fresh pepper."

(My eternal love if you know where this line is from)

The finished product.  Think we're a fancy schmancy family?  Check out the plastic wine glass with water for Kiddo.  You gotta agree that un-glams the table a bit!

I swear, this looked much more beautiful in person!

The motley crew (bottom left, clockwise): my other husband, the Soul Twin, Kiddo, yours truly, and the Husband.

Eat, drink, and happy holidays!

Food Bloggers vs. KidLit Bloggers: A Study

Funny thing about food and children’s literature bloggers.  Of the food blogs I read, I find they post much less frequently than the kidlitosphere – I’ve assumed that this is because food bloggers are more “lifestyle” than kidlitters.  They don’t have time to blog – they’re too busy living.  Children’s lit bloggers do lots of reading, and lots of reading is usually done somewhere in the vicinity of a computer.  Not to mention that most bloggers of kids’ books are librarians who are semi-attached to computers all day long anyway.

But Thanksgiving surprised me.  A lot of my kidlit friends dropped off completely, or wrote significantly less, than they usually do.  But the food bloggers?  Holy crap-a-lacka!  They went NUTS!  Dozens and dozens of blog posts, documenting every single stir of the spoon, photos through dirty oven windows, photos of family and friends at the table....  The great thing was that their posts completely captured the mood of the holiday: joyful, chaotic, fun, crazy, lovely, and neurotic.  I had a blast reading so many posts!

That said, I clearly became a children’s literature blogger during the holidays.  Documenting the play-by-play?  I’m not that kind of gal.  No, I cozied up with my Soul Twin and her husband, made amazing food, and watched Christmas Vacation at the end of all the magnificent mayhem.  And – shhhhhh! – I enjoyed the time off from blogging.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!  

The latest in foodie skank wear

I don't always agree with the Haphazard Gourmet Girls (like here), but I do admire their knowledge, spunk, and passion.  And in this case, we are in total agreement:

"When Did Candy Corn Become a Slut?"  They also feature other winners here.

Eat, drink, and take your opportunity this Halloween to wear 4-inch heels in the kitchen!