Nothing You Can Make That Can't Be Made

Green Onions in the wok alter their flavor from fresh and raw to vibrant, alive and what I imagine the color green would actually taste like. First of all I love green onions. They remind me of Indiana and my mother. I eat them raw with salt in their entirety, no problem. Green onions are a happy food.

Canned beans have replaced much of the white rice and pastas for me this year. I'm trying to get that gratification and fullness but also the nutrition. The high fiber and protein also let me feel full but not get the couch lock of the pasta carbs.

Wok cooking has also been a weeknight savior. As long as you enjoy what you're throwing in that hot pot it almost doesn't matter the mix. And again, you don't need to add much to make it all come together. This is my take on a quick ham and beans.

If You're Ever in a Jam, Here I Am

I've gushed and gushed but now here I go, gushing some more. I love, love, love my pizza stone. It's my little buddy in the kitchen.

When I don't know what to make but just want something nutritious but lots of flavor, I throw it all on my pizza stone and wait 20 minutes for amazing.

The same way I'm sure I man feels about his grill if you're lucky enough to live where you have a slice of yard. Here in the city though, you have to be creative. My pizza stone roasts, grills, chars and gives my foods that rustic tastes that you normally could not accomplish indoors. It's like the power booster for my little barbie oven to achieve the heat it normally can not accomplish.

Chicken sausage with asparagus, potatoes, onions and tomatoes over mixed greens. The sweetness and juiciness of those roasted tomatoes is heaven on earth. Eating fresh produce roasted at its peak with nothing but its true flavor, a little salt takes you to church so to speak. Amen!

Why Me Lord?

I say this now to you and the world. I am not worthy to have been blessed with all the good food that I've eaten here on this earth. I know this to be true. I never would have dreamed I could someday phone in this meal I'm eating today for a very small amount of money and feel the tremendous satisfaction and joy, the excitement and wonderment.

Foods here in New York can be like the great paintings from Da Vinci, Michelangelo, El Greco. And I'm just talking the neighborhood spots, not even the high end Chef restaurants. These cooks are cranking out treasures, classics, gems... daily and for cheap! They are masterpieces and yet a dumb shlep like me can just call up and within minutes be enjoying it in my dirty sweats and Target bunny socks.

I don't have money or material things, just enough to barely get by usually. But I've been rich in flavor opportunities and variety of foods. I've done nothing to deserve any of this pleasure. I've only wished for it and it came. For that I'll be forever grateful.