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Marie’s Green Beans Almondine

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Over the weekend I got some sad news. My husbands’ step grandmother Marie had passed away, she lived a long and beautiful life. I met her fifteen years or so ago, she was always kind, made me feel included, and not judgemental. Marie was well into her eighties at our wedding clad in leopard print. Marie had style, an old school glamour that I think, only a lucky few are born with. When I inquired what her secret for staying youthful was she smiled slyly and told me “vodka and vitamins!”, she was a cool lady that made me think that maybe getting older meant getting better. She made living into her nineties look chic, and did her own thing. I admire her. Continue reading “Marie’s Green Beans Almondine”

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Resolution Soup

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Well yep, I think that the bloggers block is gone!  My recipe by no means is anything too spectacular, more practical, predictable, maybe even a lil’ boring, which I think is what most of humanity goes for in reality anyhow.  Folks go for what is “normal”, in what “looks right”, not necessarily what really pumps their nads….or ovaries…..or feathers their nest.  We go with convenience and ease over passion and adventure and then we take our socially accepted date du jour to a movie about people doing abnormal, passionate, adventurous things….isn’t that an oxymoron? Continue reading “Resolution Soup”

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Sorta Succotash

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In life we make a lot of assumptions, this I think can be a dangerous way to filter out people or ideas. My analogy for this in a food related sense would be on a shopping trip I made the other day. I grabbed what I assumed to be regular corn, so to my amazement when I got home and began shuckin’ what lied beneath the humble husk was the most beautiful jewel toned purple and white sweet corn. Continue reading “Sorta Succotash”

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Labor day chicken enchiladas

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I am very sad to report our chicken “Tupac” was attacked by a racoon on Saturday and sucummed to injuries. I take death so hard, she was a great chicken and I admit it,I got attached. I probably should’ve tried to cook her but I couldn’t do it, so she is buried with a monument in the back yard. I think I would be a terrible farmer….i’d like to think i’m self reliant, but if I had to kill my own meat, I wouldn’t eat meat. Now if someone else does that stuff and I just get de-feathered and ready to cook i’m all in. Continue reading “Labor day chicken enchiladas”

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Greek style cheese pies (Tyropita) and the plight of the lonely extrovert.

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Life, it will kill ya! Well had some recent disappointments, reality cooking show redemption is on hold perhaps forever….don’t you love rejection emails? I sure do….not. But onward and upward…in all actuality, besides feeling sorry for myself and reflecting on what I lack, I’m not really that upset. I think life is more about learning to be resilient to rejection more than it is about celebrating success. Self-analysis is a less than stellar activity for most, myself included and I’ve done a lot of it in the last few years, and realized I am one of those people pleasing extroverts. Some folks can’t stand our kind, I think oh I am hilariously vocal, others might find this audible annoyance, but really we just yearn for love and approval. I just want everything to be fun! Is that so wrong? Continue reading “Greek style cheese pies (Tyropita) and the plight of the lonely extrovert.”

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Balsamic strawberry spoon cake with poppy seeds

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So I had a smashing time at the Kenton farmer’s market on Friday! The berries were especially lovely, and by buying in bulk I got a screaming deal on some strawberries. We ate most of them au natural but I had about a pint left yesterday and whipped up this lil’ cake, which conveintly coincided with Food52’s Your best berry recipe contest (Update it was chosen as a community pick!). The balsamic packs a nice tang and makes little pockets of syrupy loveliness that balances out the sweet cake, and right at the end a bit of crunch from the poppy seeds! I am not a great baker, but this recipe hybrid I created is fool-proof and delicious. I like no nonsense rustic stuff, if you are looking for hotsie totsie…..go elsewhere, if you want something easy that will highlight the best of the season then read on! Continue reading “Balsamic strawberry spoon cake with poppy seeds”

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Rustic Lentils and Barley ala crock pot

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You know that feeling when you finally feel like you are home? Well I haven’t felt that way in quite a few years….and finally I feel that sentimental braingasm of belonging that isn’t really familiar to me. With all the anxiety that moving brings we quite possible made the best decision we as a team (my husband and I) have ever made. Abraham Maslow theorized that every human desires membership, order, and meaning. In the hierarchy of needs we need all these things to be “happy” I don’t know if its in a “Pharrell” kinda way or just having a sense of belonging. I actually find it quite hard to be my normal, cynical, self when everything seems to be coming up Zanny (my nickname). With this new optimism comes a rediscovery of things in the past I have been negative about….one I have realized I had unfairly judged would be the crock pot, slow cooker, whatever you like to call them. Continue reading “Rustic Lentils and Barley ala crock pot”

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Underground Panna Cotta with Grapefruit & broiled Orange

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Wow!  Feel like i’ve been gone forever, we have successfully moved into our own home, but not successfully unpacked yet. It has been awesomely stressful as with most things that are good decisions.  I have also gone to Seattle, and to the coast, not to mention registering Ava for school, Ari’s birthday, and an awesome visit from my homeboy SMP!  On his recent visit he brought along some Underground Herbal Spirit made in my hometown and I decided today was the day to make a quick and easy dessert with the herby elixer before I drank it all. Continue reading “Underground Panna Cotta with Grapefruit & broiled Orange”