Blog Day 2005!

Happy Blog Day, everyone! As the number of new blogs continues to grow exponentially, I find it increasingly more difficult to stray from my tried-and-true favorites to discover new ones. I attribute this to the wonderful fact that people are writing about what interests them. And, as we all know, what interests one person does not necessarily interest the next. Ask my husband about cooking or food--the topics which get me out of bed each morning--and he'll give you an exasperated and bored look; a food blog could keep his attention no longer than a guitar blog could keep mine.

So a clever person came up with the idea of Blog Day in an effort to encourage people to share their favorite blogs and introduce their readers to sites they may never have known. For Blog Day, people are to list and link to five other blogs, from other countries or areas of interest. As other bloggers have done, I'm going to bend the rules to my own liking and list two categories of blogs: The Tuesday Night Dinner Club (TND), and My Favorite Reads.

Tuesday Night Dinner Club

A is A. A founding member of TND, Scott is known for his disdain towards recipes and love of improvisation. His writings showcase his intelligence and quirky sense of humor.

Hammy Blog. Also a founding member of TND, Jeff shares his thoughts on life and the often-hilarious mishaps that seem to plague him each day. His writings span from sharing news of a discount on rental cars to beautiful reflections on his recently-past grandpa.

Stirred. My old college roommate, member of TND, and event-planner extraordinaire, Adrian's blog is my own personal Style magazine. From advice on serving that one signature drink at parties, to recipes for delectable and simple oh-so-now casseroles, I look forward to Adrian's musings daily.

My Favorite Reads

deliciousdays. Co-written by a couple in Munich, gorgeous photographs accompany delightful entries about food, restaurants and cooking tools.

il cavoletto di bruxelles. Cenzina lives in Rome. Her entries are in Italian, and I use them practice my quickly-failing language skills and learn all-important cooking terms in Italian.

Fresh Approach. I first met Rachel when she taught a cooking class for TND. She lives in Hollywood and I love her creative spins on ordinary recipes.

Orangette. I know, I know, these are supposed to be newly discovered blogs and Orangette needs no introduction from me. But I can't help it. She's originally from Oklahoma and now lives in Seattle. I love her outsider's view of my beloved city, as she explores and tastes things I only can dream of now.

not martha. Megan also lives in Seattle (all the best do) and dedicates her site to how to make "stuff". Love the title, great photography, and fantastic instructions on how to make anything from a wig for Halloween to your own spa treatments to fantastic homemade gift ideas.

Marsh the Wonder Dog

I was sitting on the couch last night watching our 65 pound puppy throw his fuzzy pink sock around the living room, and the world was good. "A fuzzy pink sock?" you may ask. Yes, indeed, a fuzzy pink sock. His favorite toy since the hanger in the picture above. Oh the joy of an easy-to-please dog.

An empty (an all-too-often not-so-empty) water dish becomes a frisbee and a great noise-maker when flipped. A pink sock becomes some imaginary animal to kill. An empty soda or water bottle becomes [yet another] noise-maker and the type of elusive toy that Marsh thrives on. A hangar becomes a chew toy and puzzle all in one.

From the four-pound puppy pictured above, to the 65 pound furball that he has become, I am always amazed at how much joy that dog brings to life.

The best of friends and chocolate chip cookies

It has happened. I, the chatter-mouth herself, am at a loss for words. What words can provide comfort, encouragement, and assurance to your best friend when her long-time boyfriend has upped and moved across the country?

Do I tell her how incredibly proud of her I am? Proud that she has handled the situation with such grace and poise: constantly encouraging him to seek his life dreams, even while the inevitable loneliness lurks in their midst?

Do I tell her that everything will be okay? That these next two years will fly by and soon enough she will be packing up and joining him in Washington, DC and I’ll be the one here with red puffy eyes?

Why is it that when it comes to the people you love most and know best, you cannot figure out what to say? Perhaps it is because you feel their pain the greatest. It is not simply a scene which you are observing, but a reality that you see, hear, and feel each day. Her pain is, in a small way, my pain.

I have no idea what I will say to her, but I do know that I will be armed with chocolate. Lucky for me, I have my sister-in-law's recipe for the best chocolate chip cookies in the world. I have little doubt that the cookies, accompanied by a bottle of our favorite wine, will say more than my words possibly could:

That I am so very proud of her. That everything will be alright. That I am so incredibly thankful for the friendship we have and I will always be here.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
(from Leslie Kuest)

1 C. butter, at room temperature
1 C. sugar
1 C. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 1/2 C. oatmeal, ground fine in the blender
2 C. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
6 oz. dark chocolate chips
1 Hershey's chocolate bar, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 375.

Cream together butter and sugars until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the oatmeal, flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture a little bit at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the chocolate and mix just until incorporated.

Drop rounded teaspoons of the dough onto a cookie sheet, 1-2 inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes.

An impromptu engagement party and Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Some people send cards; others offer advice. Some buy champagne; some buy flowers; and a few break out their hidden collection of wedding magazines. As for me, when friends get engaged, I simply can't help but start to plan a menu. Whether it is a quiet sit-down dinner for six, or a cocktail party for 20, my mind instantly begins whirring into action upon receipt of the fantastic news. Recipes, centerpieces, invitations, signature drinks, and themes; I become immersed in party-planning paradise.

This past Wednesday proved to be the ideal opportunity to throw Scott and Kellie an impromptu engagement party. It was a small, intimate dinner for six. Three courses, champagne, and, of course, chocolate. A time to reflect on their relationship, and look forward to the months and years to come.

And what better opportunity for the inaugural use of my china? We dined on Italian bread with fine olive oil and aged balsamic, one of Adrian's famous salads, London broil with basil aioli, roast cherry tomatoes, and garlic roasted potatoes. The evening concluded with small chocolate cakes covered in dark chocolate ganache and champagne.

Garlic Roasted Potatoes
adapted from Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa Parties

These potatoes were delicious and made the house smell warm and inviting as everyone began arriving. I was happy to be cooking them on one of our cloudier days this summer, as the kitchen did warm up; but even on a hot day they would be worth the heat.

3 lb. small red or white potatoes
1/4 C. good olive oil
1 1/2 t. kosher salt
1 t. freshly ground black pepper
2 T. minced garlic (6 cloves)
2 T. minced fresh basil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Cut the potatoes in half or quarters and place in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic; toss until the potatoes are well coated. Transfer the potatoes to a sheet pan and spread out into one layer. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until browned and crisp. Flip twice with a spatula during cooking in order to ensure even browning.

Remove the potatoes from the oven, toss with basil, season to taste, and serve hot.

Matt's Bolognese Sauce

“I think it needs more meat,” Matt declared as he stirred the contents of the large steaming stockpot. I couldn’t help but smile. The smell of homemade Bolognese sauce wafted through our apartment and out into the hallway, inducing drops of drool to form at the corners of the mouths of any passers-by.

I was in my own little heaven. For months, I had been begging Matt to cook with me, and was thrilled when, on Friday afternoon, he suggested just that for our weekend itinerary. Upon arriving at home Friday evening, the cookbooks flew off the shelf and post-its began marking up page after page of delicious-looking recipes. I was on a mission.

Of course, leave it to Matt to make the perfect suggestion: Lasagne Bolognese, Matt’s favorite lasagna, and one that is rarely, if ever, done correctly in the United States. A time-consuming, but delightfully simple recipe.

A few hours, two trips to the grocery store, and a good cry over four onions later, there Matt was, manning his precious pot of Bolognese. What a perfect afternoon it was. From homemade pasta and first attempts at gnocchi (still to be eaten), to Matt’s insistence that we more than double the amount of meat in the sauce; it was a day of laughter, creativity, making messes, and getting to know yet another side of my best friend. And that was all before the first bite of the lasagna. Trust me, the day only got better.

Matt’s Bolognese Sauce

The original recipe only called for 1/2 pound ground beef, but I must agree with Matt that the additional beef was a nice touch. Also, we doubled the recipe so as to have leftovers and enough for gnocchi, but the recipe below is for the original portions, to serve 4-6.

1/2 - 1 lb. ground beef
2 medium onions, finely diced
1 carrot, finely diced
1 stalk celery, finely diced
1 ½ C. dried porcini mushrooms
1 C. dry red wine
1 laurel leaf
24 oz. crushed or diced tomatoes
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Place mushrooms in a bowl of tepid water.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery and onions and cook until brown. Add the beef and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the red wine, cover, and cook for 5 minutes.

Finely chop the mushrooms, discarding water. Add mushrooms and 2-3 tablespoons tomatoes, stir thoroughly. Cook, uncovered, 3 minutes. Add remaining tomatoes, laurel leaf, and salt and pepper. Lower heat to low and simmer gently for 2-3 hours. If mixture gets too dry, add hot water.

Serve over pasta of choice (spaghetti, gnocchi, etc., or use to make Lasagne Bolognese as we did).

Chicken Curry with Cashews

I don't know if it is the sunshine, warm weather, or the fact that we now have three fantastic Thai restaurants within walking distance, but I cannot seem to kick this craving for all things Thai. Perhaps it is the way that ginger and summertime mix so perfectly: ginger-infused mint lemonade, ginger-infused sangria, gingered halibut, ginger shots at the local health shop, candied ginger...it really doesn't matter what form it takes.

But one of my favorite uses of ginger is in making a good curry. I have mentioned this dish before, and have made it regularly since then. It is, in the words of my husband, "the best curry [he's] ever had". There is no doubt that this is directly correlated with the fact that the two of us can easily consume three pounds of cashews in 2 days. A dish which contains curry and cashews? Yes, please!

This meal is perfect for weeknight entertaining, as it can be made up to 2 days in advance and simply heated and assembled the day of. And it is ideal for a buffet, simply set the bowl of curry next to a large bowl of rice, and let people help themselves. I love to serve the curry over basmati or brown rice, and recently tried it over chopped spinach to carb-friendly and delicious results.

While you calendar and checkbook may not allow for an exotic vacation, this dish will make your tastebuds believe that they are laying on the beach, sipping frilly drinks in Thailand.

Chicken Curry with Cashews
(adapted from Epicurious.com)

The original recipe calls for a whole chicken, cut into pieces. While I'm positive that this makes a difference on flavor, I have found that boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes work fine for a quick and easy dinner.

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
2 medium onions, finely chopped (2 cups)
2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 T finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
3 T curry powder
2 t salt1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 t cayenne
1-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes
1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes
1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 C cashews (1/4 lb)
3/4 C plain whole-milk yogurt
Accompaniment: cooked basmati, brown, or jasmine rice; or chopped steamed spinach
Garnish: chopped fresh cilantro

Heat butter in a 5- to 6-quart wide heavy pot over moderately low heat until foam subsides, then cook onions, garlic, and ginger, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add curry powder, salt, cumin, and cayenne and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add chicken and cook, stirring to coat, 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, including juice, and cilantro and bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. (If making ahead, see cooks' note, below.)

Just before serving:
Pulse cashews in a food processor or electric coffee/spice grinder until very finely ground, then add to curry along with yogurt and simmer gently, uncovered, stirring, until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.

Cooks' note:
Curry, without yogurt and cashews, can be made 5 days ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled, covered. Reheat over low heat before stirring in yogurt and ground cashews.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Engaged!

One of my favorite couples surprised us all and got engaged last night. A match truly so perfect that no one would have ever set them up, and we now wonder how they ever lived apart.

Congratulations, Scott and Kellie!

Picnic at the Getty

A few weeks ago, Matt and I met up with Adrian and her boyfriend, Matt, for one of my favorite summertime activities: an afternoon picnic at the Getty. Armed with picnic baskets full of fresh cheeses, bread, fruits and veggies from the Sunday Farmers' Market, we found our spot on the gorgeous lawn.

The lawn at the Getty is surrounded by meticulously-kept gardens and a pristine view of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and the Pacific Ocean. At the top of the grassy hillside sit the gleaming travertine buildings which house the museum's galleries, cafe and restaurant. A delicate balance of light, open space, and nature; regardless of whether you are gazing at the gardens, the panoramic view, or the architecture, you are beholding beauty in one of it's finest forms.

As you can imagine, it is the ideal spot for a picnic. Especially if you, like myself, have an extremely limited attention span and find yourself wandering towards the museum, or through the gardens, or attempting to convince your extremely-relaxed friends into a game of frisbee. Of course, this is only after the contents of the picnic basket have been devoured.

The Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049–1679
(310) 440-7300