Citrus Risotto with Prawns and Asparagus
Today was my brother Nicholas’ 17th birthday. This makes me feel old. First, because I am 10 years older than him. Second, well, I remember the first moment I saw him. And with that moment came tons of 10-year old adolescent emotion: jealousy, excitement, fear, and love.
Braised Lamb Shanks with Curried Lentils
I get far too excited to have dinner parties. I think it is because every time I have one, I remember when my Mama used to throw her famous dinner parties when I was a child. I would watch her prep all day long and be in her bathrobe until 15 minutes before the party started. She knew that when she said 7pm, people would show at 7:45 at the earliest. Maybe it was that they knew she would never be ready. But, it was unspoken, and it worked.
I was raised in small town in Virginia, but Mother grew up in California and Boston. She threw a great party, with people drinking, eating, and laughing until the wee hours of the morning. We would always go to the recycling center the next day and just chuck wine bottle after wine bottle into the glass bin. She had a dinner club just like I do, but she also loved to entertain her co-workers, girlfriends, and family. I feel that I now carry that torch. My Mom doesn’t remember the last time she threw a dinner party, but she truly enjoys when I have her over for dinner. Oh, how the roles reverse. She also promised that when I get a bigger house she will give me her cookbook collection. And by collection, I mean small library.
Smoky Ham and Corn Chowder
Sunday Night Dinner. A weekly tradition. A bunch of hungry boys over six-feet tall. And me.
This is a recipe from a cookbook that I got from my mother in law, Colleen, for Christmas. I love it because it is titled “Big Night In”, which is of course right up my alley. Every single recipe in the book could be cooked for Sunday Night Dinner. And will be.
What you see to the left of the soup is a popover. Yes. I know, it looks nothing like a popover. I used popover batter and ended up putting it in muffin tins. Delicious, but definitely not “popping” over the muffin tin. Rob, however, made me make a second batch. Read the rest of this entry »
Autumn Risotto
Oh! Fall in Seattle. It has been such a beautiful one so far. Much like my familiar home state of Virginia where fall means the leaves change and crunch underneath your feet, and the weather is crispy and you can get by with just wearing a light coat or sweater.
This recipe was inspired by my laziness and lack of grocery shopping last night. I just decided to use up whatever I had in the refrigerator and cupboard. Wow! Did it turn out well. I had been planning it at work all day, cataloging what I had in my stash to cook and create.
I know I say this over and over, but cooking relaxes me from a long day in the ballet studio where frustration and negativity seems to be the ingredients of getting through the day. Somehow, chopping squash and onions just releases all of that tension and helps me to calm down and unwind.
After my dinner, I felt relieved and snuggled in my bed at 9 p.m. with “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” by Barbara Kingsolver. Sounds like a perfect end to the evening! Has anyone else read that? How do you unwind at the end of the day?
Butternut Squash Soup with Fried Sage
Erik and I just got back from Santa Fe on tour with a couple of members of my ballet company. We had a wonderful time, and ate TONS of delicious mexican food. However, I am going to need to go on a mexican cleanse for about a month.
Erik and I also got the opportunity to eat at Cafe Pasqual’s (more on this later). It is a James Beard Award winning restaurant that ironically my Mother had told me about six years ago when she vacationed in Santa Fe. She even bought me a cookbook, but at that time, I was definitely not into cooking. My response was probably, “Thanks Mom”, with one of the plastered grins. But, who knew that she gave me a gift that I would find useful many years later? Now I have the famous Cafe Pasqual’s cookbook, and I plan to make many recipes from it now that I have been exposed to the restaurant.
But, enough of Santa Fe. Yesterday was my first day back at work. Fall is in the air in Seattle, and I was just craving butternut squash soup. I made this recipe up as I went along, and it turned out spectacular. I can definitely see it for a first course of an elegant fall dinner.
Tomato Basil Soup with Parmigiano Crisps
This morning when we woke up, it was raining like crazy. So, Erik suggested soup for dinner. He loves all soup, but he really likes tomato basil (yes, you are remembering correctly, he hates tomatoes). This recipe just fell upon me, and it is a winner! Roasting the tomatoes is a must.
Shrimp Jambalaya
Jambalaya is great because it is a one pot meal, which means just one pot to clean up! This recipe is inexpensive, fast, and healthy. It can be made for two, or expanded for a huge dinner party.
