morsels & sauces

February 25, 2012 Berkeley Negronis double-cream cow/goat "Cremont" cheese Raincoast "Salty Date and Almond" crackers Moroccan salad of orange sections, kalamata olives, garlic, olive oil, all kinds of chile seasoning, and Michael's home-grown giant Italian parsley Braised Short Ribes with Brandy and Dried Cherry Reduction Zuni Mashed Potatoes Green Beans sautéed in butter with lemon juice Pineapple Upside-Down Cake with Marlon's pecans from El Reno, Oklahoma  whipped cream plus rum-sprinkled coconut and cinnamon

Previously I used this cookbook ( Chicken and the Egg ) to muse upon the dear friends that I have.  I like this cookbook a good deal (in part because it was a gift from one of those friends), and it boasts a delightful little blog by its author, Janice Cole .   In fact, this cookbook tempts one to suddenly garner a chicken coop for one's backyard, and I know many of you already have one for your own.  If that's the case, I recommend picking this cookbook up to complete your home.  And even without a chicken coop, if you have access to good chicken and eggs, this cookbook will please you. This week, I have been thinking a lot about home .  Such thoughts come from two places.  The first is that I have been running again, and I listened to Raymond Carver's "What We Talk About When We Talk about Love" on a pod cast.   I love this story of Nick and Laura and Mel and Terri, who are sitting around a kitchen table, drinking gin, and talking about love.  I always

January 28, 2012 Oakland Olives and Pistachios Four Cheeses Truffle Mousse Pate Ann Johnson's Salad (Butter Lettuce, Pears, Pecans, and Cheese) Cioppino Orange and Almond Bread Pudding with Chocolate  

Sweet business.  Meatloaf.  Who knew meatloaf could be so tasty? Okay, let's get a little philosophical before we get to the nitty-gritty of cooking.  I have been thinking about the concept of “enough.”  When is “enough” actually “enough” and how do you know? Most specifically, I have been thinking about this concept in regards to two things—stuff and food.  Let’s begin with stuff.  I have been in the midst of some cleaning things out.  Maybe it’s the new year.  Maybe it’s the desire for spring.  But I have been stuffing a lot of stuff into garbage bags to be hauled down to the local Goodwill.  Next on the list is a purge of the library to be taken down to Moe’s (my favorite used bookstore), where I will no doubt acquire one or two new (used) books, but at least the exchange rate is something like, bring in 10 books, leave with one.  I have cleaned out the pantry.  I have even cleaned under the bathroom sink.  Filing, tossing, donating what can be gotten rid of.