Gonna Keep on Tryin' Til I Reach the Higher Ground

Fiesta eggs with arugula, tomatoes and white sharp cheddar. Now that I've learned not to season the eggs or put the toppings in while cooking, I've really discovered just how tasty and perfect eggs can be. Lightly scrambled eggs are so delicate and soft. Words like graceful, elegant and delightful come to mind. Really.

Like I've said before, going back to basics and relearning to cook the simple foods has helped me in so many ways.

My Endless Love (with potatoes)

After we've had some decadent food and want to sort of cool it and eat healthier, one thing that's good to make are these ground chicken apple soy burgers. They taste clean is the way I'd describe them. The meat is good but has no fat. The diced green apple, red onion with garlic and ginger, soy sauce and about 2 tablespoons of Panko crumbs to bind really play nicely together. Okay, I did put cheese but you can't expect to go cold turkey.

And an exciting new discovery as well as an addition to my already in progress fascination with potatoes was this sliced baked crispy potato. I'd seen one in a magazine awhile back but didn't read the recipe. How hard could it be right? Thought I'd try it on my own.

It's easier and faster than you'd imagine to slice up. I just fanned them out while cupping in pieces of garlic and olive oil, salt and pepper. I added a little margarine but its not needed. Baked them on my pizza stone on 350 for about 45 minutes until the edges got crispy. Damn good! And easy and cheap just like it should be. Next time I can see adding red pepper flakes, rosemary, vinegar, cajun seasoning...the list is endless.

Just Call Me Angel of the Morning

I'm calling these angel eggs because they were so fluffy and soft. Just scrambled with cheese and a bit of butter and sauteed sweet onions. Served them up with that leftover shaved asparagus salad, which was also a little heavenly with the mint and velvety avocado.

Will You Still Feed Me When I'm 64

P turned another year older this day. It wasn't the big 5-0 like mine was but almost. 49 is nothing to sneeze at either. It's a scary one too really. It's the last stop before life slaps your ass and calls you done. And by life I mean the voices in your head. Thank God I have so many of them running through my head. All of assorted views and opinions. No one ever agrees on anything, even the negative stuff.
But sometimes good things come to mind. Like to make a celebrational feast for the old goat that sleeps besides me now. His request was a good steak sandwich. The upscale market had a flat iron steak that looked appealing, so I tried that. After my eyes were glassy from researching the best steak sandwich recipes I settled upon a mash up again of 3.
My inspiration came from a brief sidetracking of my search to the new Dark Shadows movie. What would Barnabus like on his steak sandwich I wondered? Something red, so a sundried tomato pesto was perfect. Sweet Vidalia onions and some peppery arugula would be suitable. And I splurged for the tiniest piece of real Parmigiano-Reggiano and shaved slices over the top. A nice soft toasted Ciabbata bread cloaked it in warm goodness. Out of 1 to 10, P said 7.75.
I had another idea to make baked tater tots because I love them so much but also feel weird that I'd love something bagged and frozen maybe full of crap. I've been on a 3 or 4 month potato fascination as well. Turns out, not a new idea, just new to me. There were a few recipes on line. But they were cool and less guilt. Plus you can dress and season them as you wish.
But the real sleeper of the night was this shaved asparagus avocado salad I found on Epicurious.com. So captivating and springlike. You gotta make this. Find big asparagus and when shaving lay it flat on the board and don't turn it, just peel. Only took me about 9 tries to figure that one out.

Keep Yourself Alive

Breaded baked pork chops. Perfectly suitable for a weeknight meal. Not over the moon exciting but neither is the middle of the week last I checked. Roasted with garlic and red pepper flakes is the best way really to eat broccoli but steamed can be sweet and tender in a different way. And since we're eating so light, a little lemon and mayo on top of those pure green stalks gives them all the extra kick you need. When I lived in San Fransisco and money was tight there were plenty a day I'd eat steamed broccoli with mayo over white rice and if the budget allowed, a scrambled egg on top. Better than you'd imagine and completely satisfying.

I Really Love the Things That You Do, You're My Best Friend

Went for the deli pre-made sandwiches at the ten dollar store and I have to say, kinda perfect again! Just the right amount of stacked turkey. Cleverly, they put the mayo between the meat and the greens. Genius somehow, doesn't soggy up the bread. Gourmet Food Market in Fort Greene. Quickly becoming my favorite corner store. They're like my little buddy. I feel a little used at the $15 dollar store and even their prepared food is super high priced. Every time we need a quick fix but don't want to spend out da poop shoot just to eat, GFM is becoming the best place. They even have Pop Chips in all flavors!

It Is the Springtime of My Loving

It's official, spring is here. Its the perfect time of year. Its too early to begin dreading summer or the fact that we're in an incredibly ridiculously crowded city another year.

It's too early to dread all the thousands of extra bicyclists I'll have to contend with during my commute.

It's too early to worry about how my head will become impossibly sweaty and my hair limp and lifeless in the heat.

Its way to early to be depressed about what I might look like in a bathing suit or how frighteningly pale my legs might look in shorts to the general public.


For the next few weeks there is plenty of hope and rejuvenation of the spirit and soul, the mind, the will. We all get our groove back. We get another go round.



The city doesn't smell yet, the flowering trees help it look almost village like. People start wearing colors again and get out of those black bubble jackets. The sun comes out and the birds start singing.

Time for Feta, tomato and spinach omelets. A side of hash browns and turkey sausage, buttered toast, OJ and a big cup of hot coffee. Open the windows and let life back in.

Whatever Gets You Through The Night

Here's an idea for when you get stuck and have no idea what to make for dinner. It's fast and super easy. It's satisfying and hearty but also has kick and is loaded with flavor.

I made a super simple Indian pork curry with dry spices. Cumin, Tumeric, Curry Powder, Cardamom and Coriander.

Rolled the pork in seasoned flour, browned it up in batches. Then I added green bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and chunks of sweet potatoes to about 3 cups of chicken broth.

Let that simmer for about an hour until the pork is tender. Actually we ate this up so fast, I forgot to take a photo of the finished stew. Really great for a weeknight quickie.

Kick It Out

Tuna melts with spinach, provolone and mayo on the bread only, not in the tuna.

I put artichoke hearts in the tuna with salt and red pepper flakes and a little Caesar salad dressing to gives a kick of flavor.

Apple slices are such a good side. They never sound good but they always taste good and are filling, cool and refreshing.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Bur-rito

Enchiladas and Tostadas are my personal favorites. But you have to give burritos a go every now and then. Flour torts, not the gigantic ones but reasonably sized, wrap your favorite meats in soft love.

I rolled leftover pork meat and black beans inside and put cheddar cheese and pickled jalapeno slices on top before putting them under the broiler to melt and get slightly toasted. I like burritos with limited ingredients, not like the huge torpedoes in San Francisco with beans and rice and every other thing.

A side spinach and tomato salad topped with Mexican Cotija cheese replaces the rice and beans to lighten the meal. Because no one needs a lard ass.

Things Ain't What They Used to Be

Spring has sprung in Brooklyn! Blooming trees in the parks, and along streets.

Breakfast was light, just poached eggs over fried potatoes. If you must know, I burnt the bacon trying to use my oven pizza stone. I even put the pieces out for the birds but they didn't touch them. Even our pet squirrel snubbed me and he'll eat anything.

It really wasn't much of a winter. I mean they were calling it Juneuary, the warmest winter on record. One big snow and that was in October. You get to wondering if spring really will continue to come every year. Perhaps it too one year will fail to appear. No blooming trees, no buds, no March rains. Pretty scary thought actually. Spring is a miracle and such a gift every year that we take for granted. What if it didn't come?

What would happen to the construction workers who's sole job is to stand around and ogle the girls walking around in spring clothing?

Keep Feeling Fascination

Still obsessed with my pizza stone, I decided to do a medley of 'grilled' vegetables and chicken sausage.

I cut green bell peppers, onion, potato and tomato into big chunks and added salt,pepper, seasonings and EVOO.

I let those roast for about half and hour on 350, then added the sausage diced into bite sized pieces until browned and done.

A dash of salt and pepper and you could serve this over anything or just wrap it up in torts. This day I chose to serve alongside Basmati rice and fresh spinach dressed in lemon juice.

Love Me Two Times Baby

I love, love, love leftovers! All the work has been done already. You simply must heat and serve. Chinese Take Out from the #1 Chinese Restaurant down the street on Fulton gives generous portions on their small sizes. Enough to enjoy a second meal. And the vegetables are always cooked to perfection!

Come Together Right Now

Many days I know exactly what I will make for dinner. I start fantasizing about it on my lunch break, making notes. Other times not one clue. On this night though I had a craving cluster. Con-fusion if you will. A fancy for two foods at the same time. I wanted Mexican but then Indian food sounded good too. I thought of those great stewed meats in a spicy gravy I used to order for lunch at Minar Indian Restaurant on 46th Street in Manhattan. We'd just point to all these delightful dreamy entrees all piping hot in this line of steamer baskets. They'd fill our containers with love and we'd go sit in the cold stark dining room but it didn't matter because all I could think about was the oral satisfaction that was to come. They did this cheese and spinach dish, and this amazing lamb in a creamy sauce that was way too special for lunch. It was too special for that place or anyone in it. That lamb shouda had the penthouse at the plaza.

I couldn't settle, nor concentrate for that matter. All that recallin' made me hungry so I held a comingling party in my wok. The diced pork got the usual go round with a dip in seasoned flour, then browned. I added whole cumin seed, cumin powder, cinnamon, cardamom, garlic, salt, a touch of Chipotle Chili powder. I added whole black beans and some chicken stock for a thick gravy. Cumin is the common link here and it did well with the other spices to ride that fence between Mexican and Indian. I worry about attempting Fusion food. It doesn't work all the time. Some cuisines are better flying solo. I hate the word too, fusion. It reminds me of the 80s and 90s. But this worked. I served this pork stew over Basmati rice with a side of sauteed Red Swiss Chard.