And I'm Thanking You for Giving it To Me

The holiday plate portrait

Bacon and garlic roasted Brussels sprouts

Traditional Green Bean Casserole - sometimes you need to taste the familiar

Yeah, I stuffed that bird! 

Kale Salad with pomegranate seeds and walnuts

The cook's treat - roasted liver in butter - anyone??

The first rubdown of this warm herbed butter seized up because the bird was too cold. Patience is what you need a lot of in a small kitchen on Thanksgiving.

Cornbread Sausage Apple Stuffing

Pecan Pie without corn syrup

I was worried this would be missing that sweet something that is hard to describe in a pecan pie, but instead, I may prefer it.  I'll need a second year of study to fully release my findings, but leaning towards this for sure.

Cheesy stuffed jalapenos

Buttery Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread

And The World Will Be a Better Place

Chili over Roasted Spaghetti Squash 

This is yet another, maybe better way to enjoy quick pantry chili.  

Roasted spaghetti squash salt and peppered on the side with all your favorite fixings is hearty, cheap and highly satisfying.  

The hardest part is splitting the squash without killing yourself, quarter it for quicker baking time.  Put a smear of oil and salt and pepper, put cut side down on a roasting pan at 425 for 30 minutes.  Once you shred it out of its casing, you could dress it anyway you would a pasta, as light or heavy as you'd like. 

She's a Killer Queen

Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies

I set out to make fabulous Chocolate Chip cookies to gift my favorite coworkers and took the time to bag them up in festive wrappers.  I watched a gazillion videos and found one very helpful baker, Anna Olson, who gave tips that make the difference.  Creaming the butter against the bowl with a spatula rather than a mixer, is not only best to combine the sugar but serves as a therapeutic exercise. And a big one, adding a tablespoon of cornstarch, which I'd never heard of. Finally, shaping the cookies in uniform balls beforehand and chilling so that they all spread evenly.   These things changed my cookie game and I am related to the *Cookie Queen, so I need to represent! *my sis Rach. 

In Memoriam: the last of the White Bean Chile (RIP)

Got to Take a Rain Check on Pain

Bully for You, Chilly or Me

Or in this case, bolognese for me and Chili for P.  The great gift of soup and stew leftovers is that they only taste better the next day and all you have to do is reheat and put on fresh toppings.  

After the creamy goodness of the chili yesterday, I needed to take a left turn to pasta town.  Instead of finishing the pasta in the sauce, I needed the Midwestern memory feel of buttered noodles undressed to mix in as I desired with each bite of the meaty, mushroom sauce.  Memory comfort food can be a ticket out of a bad feeling day, the winter blahs, or general malaise. 

I Think of All the Education That I've Missed

White Bean Chili

In any light this soup is a perfect wintertime meal.  Find a great recipe here at Cooking Classy.

This pantry meal is versatile if you want to add corn, shredded chicken or bell peppers.  Black beans, kidneys or pintos are just as at home as Cannellini or Navy.  You can thicken with cream cheese, sour cream or yogurt.  I don't have the wherewithal to blend but I do smash the beans up to create more thickness directly in the pot.  (yes, in immersion blender would be a great gift idea!)  Use real jalapenos or canned green chiles for the heat instead of red chili powder.  Be more cumin and coriander forward and garnish with lime and cilantro and white cheese to keep the light theme going.

You can learn all the ways to make this chili by trial and error, as I did (although most errors were quite tasty too!) or read a recipe beforehand and make it easy on yourself.  

Winter is time to relax and recharge.

Don't Forget What You Are, You're a Rock and Roll Star

New York City is still a very magical place, no matter how many corporate slugs try to gentrify the life out of it. No matter how many rich brats flood the sidewalks in their joyless attire.  The Washington Square diner smack in the middle of the Village, a great example of stepping onto a movie set.  Sitting with a friend, in an old worn booth, waited on by man servants, what could be any better?

But it does get better, its as if the city unravels around you when you meet it in the right space.  Diner food. Crisp salted fries, too many to eat but you do your best.  A burger made on a grill or a club, cool, just-rightly -sweetened coleslaw and tons of tiny pickles. A father and daughter sitting across having a life alterning conversation about wanting to stay in New York, when the parent clearly sees nothing redeemable about the place.  There is nothing better than a lunch date in a New York City diner.

And the perfect accompaniment to a matinee with your Bestie.  Time is concentrated with people you adore and you must work not to waste one moment.  This is why we live here, all the good feels chocked full like chocolate chips in a fat cookie can be had.  From taking the subway, to anxiously waiting at the meeting spot, to the slow build-up of light conversation to deep, creative ideas whilst walking through the busy streets but not alone, together, with a great buddy, someone you want to hear from, a treasured friend, a New York City friend, the best kind.

And then a very unexpectedly insightful documentary about someone you should have heard about before but it was better viewing that you didn't.

These times, like savored bites of the best food, are reminders that this is not just any city we live in but a rich treasure trove of wonderment, an alter to the creative gods, a place to pay your respects and feed from its richness.  

When Love Comes to Town I'm Gonna Catch That Flame

Jerked Surf and Turf

It's hard looking at these photos months later and thinking of any meal I'd rather have right now.  Pineapple salsa over cilantro lime rice with spicy jerked shrimp and chicken.  Roasted zucchini,onion and mushrooms.  Love comes in many packages.  

So Lets Turn Up the Heat Til We Fry

Jerkin' the Chicken Mild and Hot

Jerk is a bit like Mole, you probably could make it yourself but the ingredient list is massive and the jarred varieties are really good. 

It feels wrong to be able to impart so much flavor just by spooning on a sauce from a jar but don't deny yourself this pleasure. 

Warning: When the jar says hot, they are not joking.  And it is seriously delicious.

To rescue your tongue, think of serving with a limey cilantro rice or cool Feta salad. You should only use mild as a mixer with the hot variety because the experience is not quite the same without the peppers.  And believe me, you want that heat!

**Tip: you will have leftover sauce.  Don't let it go to waste, paint it on vegetables before roasting, swirl a little in your egg scramble, or use it as a baste for grilled shrimp.