foodmee

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

2009-06-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

Favorite tea:

How cute is the tin? And the name "Peppermint Pat-Tea?!" Its delightful and can almost serve as dessert served with milk and honey because it is a blend of chocolate, mint and Rooibos. I found this at the Captain Jeffords Inn in Kennebunk, ME but you can also buy it off their website www.portsmouthtea.com

Charlie enjoying his favorite summertime treat, Yoghund banana and peanut butter flavored frozen yogurt made by The Barking Dog, Ltd. You can find these in the organic foods freezer section of most grocery stores. I've bought them at Hannafords and Whole Foods.

Honestly, these little containers look so good, I'm sometimes tempted. Look how happy he looks, politely eating it ON THE COUCH. Seriously, why the white couch? Of all the places? I don't even trust myself to eat ice cream on the couch. Although when he puts it on the ground he licks so hard that he pushes it all around and has to chase it, so I can see how this would be a much more enjoyable experience...for him. I however, sit with baited breath to make sure it doesn't tip over and stain.

These are a few of my favorite things

2009-06-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

A few of my favorite new unnecessary purchases at Savenor's:

Brent's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

There is no fancy packaging and no fancy ingredients, just a plain white bag, a plain label and cookies made from flour, non-hydrogenated soybean and palm oils, oats, water, raisins, eggs, salt, soda, cinnamon. So I did a little investigating into this Brett character and discovered that

"Since 1801 Bent's has been a purveyor of fine foods, not just for Milton, Massachusetts, but throughout the world. Best known as the inventor of the “cracker”, Bent's also has a reputation for offering customers a rich selection of high quality baked goods, fresh deli and first rate catering services. "

Oh, thank goodness for that cracker.

Route 11 Dill Pickle chips

I love this brand of chip because they are always perfectly, lightly salted so you eat like a bizillion and not get that weird film on your tongue like you get when you polish off a bag of Lays. Plus, they really do taste like a potato. This flavor is amazing because when you open the bag, it smells like a jar of dill pickles, and as expected, the dill flavoring is subtle.

Falafel Chips

Seen here with my Sassy River Sauce mustard chicken salad sandwich

They taste like corn chips, but with a little more nut. And they're much saltier than I expected which is great. And they have a nice crunch and you can taste like bits of grain, which makes me fool myself into thinking these are good for me, which is even greater. According to the bag they are a source of protein and what chip can claim that other than maybe an artery clogging pork rind.

Hmmm...I wonder who was craving salt this week...I swear I ate more than cookies and chips. What am I, 8?

Ain't no market like a farmers' market

2009-06-03T17:08:00.001-07:00

May 19th is like a holiday to me and a day I look forward to much more than even Evacuation Day, if you can believe it. What day could be more exciting, you ask? The first day of the farmers' market at Copley Square!

I get so excited when I see the tops of those little white tents sprinkled along the square. I refuse to be disappointed during the first couple of months when there really isn't much produce to speak of. This May 19th I saw a lot of beets, spinach, and radishes. There were some tomatoes ,but who trusts a tomato hanging out in these parts in May? The good thing about the first few produce-less months at the farmers' market is that somewhat random vendors make appearances.

Smoked blue fish spread from Nantucket Wild Gourmet and Smokehouse. I literally ravaged this spread on olive bread from Nashoba Brook Bakery before I could even think straight to take a picture. I am already craving more...it is salty and fishy and creamy with big chunks of smoked blue fish.

Granola from Cooks Farm and Bakery in Newbury, VT

Although the granola from Flour bakery in Boston is still my favorite, Cook's Farm comes really close. It's not as buttery as Flour's, but it has nice big clumps and lots of sesame seeds.

Sassy River Sauces: Caribee Lime and Mango Mustard and Spinach and Artichoke Pesto

I tossed the pesto with whole wheat pasta one night and it was delicious, topped with some freshly shaved parm, yum! Really flavorful bites of spinach and artichoke and not much oil at all. I tossed the mustard with shredded chicken, chopped walnuts, and scallions to make a tangy and less fattening chicken salad sandwich. Served with speckled lettuce from Sienna Farms and French bread from Nashoba Brook Bakery.

The best-looking bakery in Boston, Tatte had these adorably (of course) packaged Nutella butter cookies.

Tomme cheese from West River Creamery in Londonderry, VT that tastes kind of like Gruyere. I did some research because I had never heard of tomme cheese before and Wikipedia provided this nice, brief explanation:

Tomme is a type of cheese, and is a generic name given to a class of cheese produced mainly in the French Alps. Tommes are normally produced from the skim milk left over after the cream has been removed to produce butter and richer cheeses, or when there is too little milk to produce a full cheese. As a result, they are generally low in fat.

Yay for stumbling upon low-fatish cheese!

And for Charlie - homemade (ahem, expensive) peanut butter dog treats from Danish Pastry House. (Warning: There are two in this nicely presented package that no dog will care about, and they cost $1.50! There is a guy sometimes at Cook's Farm that also sells much bigger homemade dog treats and they are only .50 each. Your dog deserves a treat for staring at all the food he/she can't have at the market, but I would skip the Danish Pastry House and if need be go to Banknorth across the street - they will give your pup a free milk bone. Also, don't get the granola at Danish Pastry House, it's a tiny bag for $6!)

And lastly dips and spreads from Sofra, found at family farm, Sienna Farms.

Shown here is the skordalia dip, spicy marinated bok choy and whipped feta.

I didn't know what skordalia was, so again, I turned to the most trusted resource, Wikipedia. Apparently it's "a thick puree in Greek cuisine made by combining crushed garlic with a bulky base—which may be a puree of potatoes, walnuts, almonds, or liquid-soaked stale bread—and then beating in olive oil to make a smooth emulsion. Vinegar is often added. Skordalia is eaten as a main dish, served with batter fried fish, fried vegetables, poached fish, or boiled vegetables. It is sometimes used as a dip."

I think I remember the guy at Sienna saying his skordalia is made with turnips. Now I like turnips, but the skordalia tasted to me the way that sweaty socks smell. I spread it on plain flatbread crackers from 365, the Whole Foods brand. Maybe it would have tasted better with fried fish - anything tastes good with fried food.

Not shown in the picture is the beet tzadziki, which is so glorious and delicious, it didn't make it home. I had to share it's glory with my co-workers. Beet tzadziki + Iggy's breadstick = heaven. Of these pictured, I would only get the whipped feta again. It has a really nice spice to it, both savory and hot, and taste yummy spread on anything. Literally, in desperation I put it in quinoa and it wasn't that bad.

These little containers range in price from $4 - $7, which is a bit steep, and the spicy marinated bok choy is not worth the price tag. For one thing, you get the smallest amount of bok choy, like three pieces, I almost died when I opened it, and it's only ok, not great. It tastes too marinated without enough spice. So when you hit up the little freezer at Sienna Farms that sells Sofra spreads, get the beet tzadziki and whipped feta and split. Oh actually, grab a fennel brioche too. And some French breakfast radishes - I tossed these little peppery devils with EVOO and salt and it was the best healthy snack.

Staying in is the new going out

2009-06-03T16:24:00.001-07:00

This week at the farmers' market I was shopping for two.

Hee hee, no, I'm not preggers, I was having a dinner party with Michelle, the Tina to my Marie.

I bought beets from Atlas Farms, butter lettuce and speckled lettuce, from Sienna Farms and black pepper goat cheese from Crystal Brook Farm. I love this stall the best because there is a huge banner hanging behind the table that just says GOAT CHEESE in big letters that you can read all the way down Bolyston St. Brilliant. I decided to make a goat cheese and beet salad for dinner that night.

Back at home, I had a bit of time to prep the beets before Michelle came over to join me for a jog along the Charles before dinner. Following instructions from the guys behind Arrows Restaurant, (Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier, http://www.arrowsrestaurant.com/index.cfm. I've eaten here several times and believe me, it is well worth the hefty price tag, honestly I would pay just to be able to sit in the expansive dining room that over looks the perfectly manicured gardens. I recently bought the Arrows cookbook, which not only includes recipes, but helpful advice for growing produce in New England. All of the recipes feature foods that anyone living in the Northeast could grow.) I cut the greens off the beets to saute later, cleaned the beets and dropped then in a pot with enough water to just barely cover them. I added some salt and set the water to boil. Once the beets were tender (after about 20 mins) I put them in ice cold water to stop the cooking and when they were cool, I peeled them, chopped them and covered them for later.

Our run along the Charles was a little hot, but the conversation provided the perfect distraction and Charlie behaved himself, except for when he almost clotheslined an elderly, cranky lady. Back on Charles St, we bought a bottle of Menage A Trois white - a blend of Chardonnay, Muscat, and Chenin Blanc. It's a really crisp and slightly sweet, a complex white for only like 12 bucks. There is nothing like going to a liquor store to pick out wine, while sweaty and wearing spandex shorts. "You drink Gatorade after a run? Not me - it's wine all the way."

We popped the wine, tossed the butter and speckled lettuce with the beets and a dressing made of 1/4 cup balsamic vin, 1 tbl honey, and 1/3 cup EVOO, salt and pepper and topped the whole thing with crumbled black pepper goat cheese. On the side was olive bread from Nashoba Brook Bakery (from Savenors on Charles St) and the whipped feta from Sofra. Michelle brought yummy chocolate and caramel popcorn from Dale and Thomas. Deeeelish! I could do this every night...Michelle? You in?

This Ain't No Sausage Party

2009-04-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

As I grow older, I become less forgiving of certain character flaws. I'm beginning to realize what I cannot put up with. Are you really religious? Peace. Are you a Republican? See ya. Do you cheer so loudly for a game on television, passerbys might think you're actually affiliated with the team? I'm out.

But most importantly, food has become my true barometer on which my relationships are judged. If you have a laundry list of food allergies or are unwilling to try everything or just generally don't get jazzed about what's happening on your plate, it's going to be very hard for me to get close to you. Unless of course we share blood or I've known you since I was twelve. I've literally broken up with two boyfriends because of their horrible eating habits. One would tell every waitperson at every restaurant that we ate at that he was allergic to shellfish, strawberries and peanuts and the other wouldn't eat anything that wasn't white.

So I am happy to report that several of my college girlfriends score off the charts on my food barometer and now I know we will be friends for a long time. At a recent bachelorette party, we didn't suck on penis pops, go to strip club, get hammered or participate in a sexy scavenger hunt. We sat around a grandmother's pool in Palm Springs and ate our faces off. Here's the barbie one night.

And some pre-dinner snacks.

The food was all made by Logan, owner of the Buttercake Bakery in LA (www.buttercakebakery.com). Even though she's famous for her desserts (and we had some of those too, believe me, helloooo red velvet cupcake!) she whipped up some deeelish meals. Grilling were marinated steaks and shrimp and pre-dinner snacks included homemade bean dip, salsa and gauc. Also notice Logan's concoction nestled between the salsa and bean dip - peach and berry sangria!

There was so much more of a spread every day... but my camera kept getting distracted.

Who said penis pops weren't classy?

Talk About a Rough Winter

2009-04-07T19:00:00.001-07:00

The Best Way to Pass The Time Before Breakfast Arrives

2009-04-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

These drawings were done on the tables at Egg in Williamsburg. The best biscuits and sausage gravy that don't come from my aunt's kitchen in West Virginia. They jumped down my throat before I could photograph them. So enjoy the aht of me, my ma and my sis.

My sis' stick figures

My weird blob and eyes...clearly not the artist of the family.

Mom's flowers

When You Gotta Go - Good Bathroom Award Take Two

2009-04-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

I wish I could remember where this bathroom is or what the restaurant is called...all I know is that my sis and I were in Manhattan and suddenly all the lunch cocktails struck. And we waltzed into this tiny Asian restaurant and the well-decorated, clean, bathroom was there right off the front door, so no interaction was needed with the staff. Maybe it wasn't lovely enough to warrant a photograph, but to me, that tiny bathroom, for a second was like a little slice of heaven. You know how it is sometimes.

I loved the line of pebbles under the mirror...

And the sink..

My (relieved) partner in crime.

This is the reason...

2008-11-07T20:46:00.001-08:00

Why I haven't done anything lately except go to dog parks, shop at dog boutiques, and speak in a baby voice reserved for weely weely cutie guys like you, yeah you, come here, want kisses? oh such a good boy! such a good boy!

Ahem

A really good olive salad

2008-11-07T20:10:00.000-08:00

Find it in the deli at Russo's in Watertown. Deeeeeelish!

A montage of cheese plates

2008-11-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

A family that eats cheese together stays together.

For real. We all like each other in my family, which I hear is rare. Our favorite thing to do together is eat and drink, or as my dad says "barble over." We're also really good at making cheese plates. No matter what the occasion, holiday, birthday, Oscar party or regular ole supper, we always start with an amazing array of, as my dad calls them "nibblies." Here are some of my favorites.

Al Fresco dining in Nampsh

Marinated Feta and Olive Skewers from Ellie Krieger's cookbook "The Food You Crave"

Nothing better than enjoying cheese in Florida

Who knew a chicken had thighs?

2008-11-07T19:56:00.001-08:00

I mean isn't it an insult to tell someone with really skinny legs (ie. no thighs) they have chicken legs? My mom always poked fun at my uncle when he wore shorts, she would ask him "Are you riding a chicken?" which still cracks me up, every time I hear it.

But despite chickens having skinny legs, they also do have thighs and turns out, they're delicious. The dark meat is there and therefore they're always really tender and flavorful. And they're always much cheaper than the breasts at the grocery store. It seems people have a prejudice against dark meat so there is always a good selection of cheap, chicken thighs. Now whenever I cook chicken, I always use the thighs. Breasts are for dummies.

Why couldn't he just do the dishes?

2008-11-07T18:21:00.000-08:00

It's the dumbest thing I could have done, scroll through them. But it's so easy, too tempting, they're all right there on my computer, within eyesight with one touch of a button. Vacations we took, holidays we shared, parties we attended and even ordinary days, frozen forever in tiny frames.

I still haven't even taken the pictures of us off the shelf in my living room. Every time I go to do it, it feels so final, like a death, and yet he and I are still alive, living only a couple miles apart. But there was a death, the relationship died. Or I killed it. And lately I've been wondering if it needed to be put out of its misery. At the time it seemed like it had no future and it was cruel to let it slowly die, suffering with compromise, every annoyance, every resentment. He didn't like my music, he didn't read books, he didn't travel, he didn't exercise, he didn't like food - all of these things and more little ones just like them make up my personality, my lifestyle and if he doesn't know all of these little parts, it adds up to a huge chunk of me that I felt he didn't know.

But now, I wonder what are the things one shouldn't sacrifice, shouldn't compromise? Because now, looking back at the pictures of us together I see so clearly that he knew my humor, my crabby morning self, happy on too much wine self, he knew how to love my family as much as I did, he knew I couldn't leave the house without checking 14 times to make sure the coffee maker, oven and lights were all off, knew I was bad at follow through but listened to my grand plans anyway, knew how to hug me and when, and knew when to back away. He knew to be goofy. He kept me grounded and made me feel safe. He knew I couldn't leave for a trip with dirty dishes in the sink. And remembering that reminds me to get angry, because anger is easier than sadness and regret and confusion.

So here's me mad. I always cooked dinner for him and I always had to make chicken and a salad and rice because that is literally all he would eat - no veggies, no fruit, no seafood, nothing but bland, white foods. And he acted scared of the morsels on my fork when I asked him "please, just try this, you might like it." Why couldn't he try a bite of something for me?! Or pick up a book and read it?! Why didn't he try harder to change my mind, to make me stay, to save us? And every time I tried hard to make chicken, rice and salad interesting, why couldn't he just get up and do the dishes?!

Ok, now I can look at these pictures much more easily.

A Sunday Dinner
Chicken, Rice, and Salad Made Interesting

Italian White Wine and Tomato Braised Chicken
(from Whole Foods website, Sept 2006)

1 tbl EVOO
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
sea salt
ground pepper
3/4 cups white wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 bay leaf
3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
3 medium vine ripened tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 tbl chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup pitted black olives, cut in half
lemon zest

In a med pot, heat EVOO over med heat. Meanwhile, season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper and working in batches, brown them on both sides. Remove chicken thighs. Add white wine, bring to a boil and let cook for around 5 mins, uncovered, at a simmer. Add chicken stock, bay leaf, garlic and fresh tomatoes. Bring to a boil and let cook for another 5 mins uncovered at a simmer. Return chicken thighs to the pot, adding the rosemary and olives, cover and cook at a simmer for a bout 15 mins or until chicken thighs are fully cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with sauce on top and sprinkle with lemon zest.

Garlicky Oven Fries
(from Cook's Country magazine Feb/March 2008)

6 garlic cloves, minced
6 tbl veg oil
3 russet potatoes (about 8 oz each) scrubbed and each cut into 12 wedges
2 tbl cornstarch
1 1.2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 475 degrees. Combine garlic and oil in large bowl and microwave until garlic is fragrant, about 1 min. Transfer 5 tbls oil (leaving garlic in bowl) to rimmed baking sheet, turning sheet to coat.

Add potatoes to bowl with remaining oil mixture and toss to coat. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and microwave on high power until potatoes are translucent around edges, 3 to 6 minutes, shaking bowl to redistribute potatoes halfway through cooking.

Combine cornstarch, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in small bowl. Sprinkle over hot potatoes and toss to coat. Arrange potatoes in single layer on prepared baking sheet and bake, turning once, until deep golden brown and crisp, 30 to 40 minutes. Serve.

Braised Green Beans
(my variation, original recipe from Cooks Illustrated "The Best Recipe" cookbook)

1 lb green beans, ends snapped off
garlic, chopped
salt and pepper
3/4 cup chicken stock
2 tbl oil

Heat oil in large saute pan over med heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add stock and simmer for 5 mins.

Add green beans and a few grindings of pepper to pan. Stir well, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender but still offer some resistance to bit, about 20 mins. Adjust seasonings.

Ruth Reichel's Show Off Salad
(my variation, the original recipe appeared in her book "Tender at the Bone" )

2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup EVOO
1/2 cup cubed stale French bread
Arugula and Romaine mix
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper
1/2 lemon
freshly grate Parmesan cheese

Make croutons: crush one clove of garlic and heat gently in 1 tbl EVOO. Add bread cubes and saute over med heat, stirring constantly, until croutons are crisp and golden on all sides. Drain on paper towel and set aside. Cut the remaining garlic clove in half and crush the half in the bottom of the salad bowl. Add lettuce and remaining EVOO and toss thoroughly. Add Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze the lemon juice over the lettuce and toss again.

Steamed jasmine rice

Wine: Twenty Rows Cabernet

My job ain't so bad

2008-10-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

A vendor at the Cambridgeside Galleria

Wait, why is the Super 88 so cheap?

2008-10-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

I've heard different theories ("There's no middle man," "It's the Chinese mafia") but I have yet to hear an answer that really makes sense to me. No matter. My friend Meredith (the one with the amazing palate) and I made a delicious dinner the other night and I think the total for all of the ingredients was $12, split between us. And this included some extra fish sauce or something that Meredith wanted for her pantry.

Pot Stickers

Thai Style Beef with Cilantro, Mint, Crushed Peanuts and Lime

Jasmine Rice

Hi, I'm Dr. Douche-bag, what seems to be the problem?

2008-10-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

I have had a cold for two weeks. So I finally went to the doctor the other day because I was afraid at this point that I had walking pneumonia or mono or some sort of potentially fatal condition. My regular doctor wasn't available (the one I love so much I want to ask out, I think I've written about him before) so I had to see someone else, let's call him Doctor Douche-bag.

I waited for 45 mins in the examining room before Dr. DB walked in. After listening to me explain my life-debilitating illness for approximately 2.5 seconds, his cell phone rang and he told me he had to take it. I nod my head, of course, assuming it must be an emergency with one of his patients, until I hear him ask his sick and maybe dying patient, "Did you get a ride home from football practice?"

When he came back in the room, after solving yet another medical crisis, he, instead of washing his hands, rubbed a ton of anti-bacterial lotion on them and then placed them directly on my sinuses and asked me to breathe deeply. I almost passed out from the fumes. I wanted to tell him that if he is this afraid of catching germs, he might want to think about another line of work. As he was making my nostrils burn and my eyes water from his toxic hands, he asked me how much alcohol I drink in a week. When I told him 1-2 glasses of wine a day plus more on the weekends, he told me my behavior was unsafe. Really? This dude who is about 50 lbs overweight and has a huge beer, or probably more accurately, huge hot dog gut is telling me my lifestyle is unsafe? So is stuffing your face with ho-hos, you jerk. At least I'm not fat and I work out every day. I would put money on whose arteries are clogging faster.

He also asked me if there was any chance I could be pregnant. Oh yeah, you know what? Come to think of it, I don't have a cold at all, I'm just pregnant and hung over from my latest alcohol and unprotected sex binge. Thanks doc!

His diagnosis? "I think you had a virus and then you got another one. I don't think it's bacterial but I could give you anti-biotics if you want." As he says this, he is literally sitting under a sign that says something like "DON'T ASK YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANTI-BIOTICS! Flu and cold season is upon us and most of what makes people sick this time of year is viral and cannot be cured by anti-biotics. Although we wish there was a cure-all for the discomfort of a cold or the flu, there isn't. All you can do is rest and drink plenty of fluids. Please don't ask your doctor for anti-biotics because they will do more harm than good if you take them when it's unnecessary."

I decided instead to take the advice of one of my professors from when I studied in London. She told me "drink some whiskey, that will kill any germ in your body."

Why are people dumb?

2008-10-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

I was walking home last night and I passed this white guy in his late twenties (in typical dude-style he was wearing a fleece, jeans, sneakers that were more appropriate for the gym than the streets, and a baseball hat) walking with a white girl and a white guy of the same age and same fashion sense. I heard him say to his friends "I would take 100 years more of Bush before I voted for Obama."

I expect this type of comment from my dad's upper middle class white male real estate buddies who vote for whoever will tax them the least, but a young-ish guy in Massachusetts?! Why? Why wouldn't you vote for Obama?! What could Bush possibly be doing to make your life better?! I wish I had stopped to ask him...actually what I should have done is stopped to let him know that Bush isn't actually running again. I wouldn't want the poor lamb to be surprised when he goes to the polls and sees that his options aren't "Bush for 100 years" and "Obama."

Let's look at all the people who love Obama to make ourselves feel better.

Good Bathroom Award

2008-10-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

I know this is my second shout-out to Eastern Standard, but it's one of my favorites in the city, so I might just mention it again and again and again.

This time I have to talk about the bathroom. It's a real pain to get to because you have to walk all the way through the entire restaurant, up a bunch of stairs and down this strange hotel hallway. It always seems like a real trek and you wait and wait and wait to go until you can't wait anymore. And then you get there and it feels like a sanctuary and you breathe a deep sigh of relief and you never want to leave. And then you realize you kind of liked walking through the restaurant, checking out all the peeps at the bar, and the strange hotel hallway provided a nice quiet and cultural break from the debauchery because you were able to window shop and gawk at the pretty bottles at Nantucket Naturals and admire the photography on the walls.

And every time I go, I always wonder what the hell is going on with the humongous, weird-o portrait right outside the bathroom door. It's of a man with a dog by his side, in what looks like a proper British study, but the man has a rabbit head, Donnie Darko style. It's HAH-mazing.

Here's one of my most favorite friends, and fellow Eastern Standard lover, Michelle, sharing good times in the bathroom.

Now if only they would bring back the Molton Brown soap and lotion. What the hell happened there?

Dinner Party Nuggets, first installment

2008-09-19T05:34:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite things to do are to host a dinner party and to attend a dinner party. So I am starting a new segment on my blog called "Dinner Party Nuggets." (Title? Eh?) In this feature I will set the scene and then share a snippet of the conversation that was particularly memorable to me for one reason or another. It's amazing what wise sage your dining companions can become after several glasses of wine and bellies full of homemade food.

The Hostess: Meredith Smith

About Meredith: She has an incredible palate. We'll go to dinner and she'll make a face and say something like "Eck! They added garlic to the cocktail sauce! Why would they do that? I can't even eat this." And I'll be sitting there, eating oyster after oyster, each with a dab of cocktail sauce thinking, "There's garlic in here?"

The Menu:

Before Dinner:

a cheese plate (I completely forgot to write down the cheese selection)

olives

meats from the Butcher Shop (again, no memory but I think there was a buffalo sausage)

marcona almonds

Dinner:

Stew with duck sausage

Mixed green salad with homemade croutons tossed in a vinaigrette.

Dessert:

Homemade pecan pie with vanilla ice cream

Nugget of wisdom:

The following is from a guy to a girl at the table about what matters in a mate:

"I should have married the girl I lived with for five years. Part of the reason I didn't is just that it wasn't time for me to do that kind of thing, but also because she's not outwardly exceptional. She's a pretty normal person, she had kind of a sunny, sing-songy outlook that wasn't really compatible with my angry-young-Masshole act. And, in my defense, she was a little content and simple sometimes. I wasn't necessarily wrong about all of her flaws. Some were real. But shit, as flaws go, being terminally easygoing isn't a bad one. A happy, content person who happens to love and tolerate you and sleeps very soundly every night and always wakes up smiling? Not the most exciting thing in the world, and sometimes deeply annoying, but so many have done so much worse.

I think you really love your boyfriend, but secretly wish you didn't because you have a different sort of man in mind. You didn't imagine you'd fall for a guy who drinks beer and doesn't eat duck. But you did. What's more important-all the qualities you love about your boyfriend or the superficial imcompatibilities?"

I am such a good photographer

2008-09-19T05:29:00.000-07:00

I was in Portsmouth for dinner recently (The Green Monkey is my favorite restaurant there) and Bill Clinton happened to be speaking. This is when Hillary still had a shot at the White House and he hadn't turned into a grumpy old man. It was such an amazing surprise to literally kind of stumble into him and hear him speak, because no matter what he does, Bill Clinton remains a hero in my book. I got to shake his hand and was able to snap this brilliant shot that I know will be worth money some day. It's currently framed in my living room.

A good fall appetizer

2008-09-19T05:11:00.000-07:00

Figs

goat cheese

prosciutto

honey

pumpkin pie spice blend

I purposefully didn't put any proportions in the recipe because it all really depends on how many people you're feeding and how much you want them to fill up on apps before dinner. These are pretty filling and I feel like no guest should have more than a couple. Unless you're unsure about the main course and then fill 'er up!

You can add more or less of any ingredient depending on what you like. This appetizer is great because it looks really fancy and tastes decadent but it's actually really easy to make. You can leave out the pumpkin pie spice blend if you don't have any (and this is a real spice blend you can buy in the store, I didn't make it up) but if it's on hand, it adds a nice depth to the honey. If you want to use it, just whisk some in a bowl with honey to taste.

Take a fig and make a slit in the middle, forming a little pouch. Take about a teaspoon of goat cheese and stuff it inside the fig. Then take a slice of prosciutto and wrap it around the fig. Place all of the stuffed and wrapped figs on a baking sheet and drizzle them with the spiced honey. (I know this sounds self-explanatory, but I also put foil down on the baking sheet so the clean-up is a breeze) Place them under the broiler for just a couple of minutes. You're not really cooking anything, you just want to make the cheese and the honey all gooey. Stick a toothpick in each one, place them on a tray and share the beautiful sweet and savory goodness.

Nick's cousin?

2008-09-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

This waiter at Eastern Standard looks exactly like Nicholas Cage. For some reason, the photograph doesn't capture the resemblance, you really have to see him in person, it's uncanny. While you're there, waiting to catch a glimpse of what could be a Cage, order the Au Provence cocktail which is a gimlet of taragon and lime and is like summer in a glass. For food I really like to order the chicken confit salad with a side of french fries. I'm really into this salad lately. Shredded tender chicken is tossed with greens and slices of apples in a mustard vinaigrette. The french fries are skinny and crispy. Dip them in a side of the restaurant's homemade mayo and you have yourself a meal.

My heart is strong and ready for love

2008-09-18T18:46:00.001-07:00

I've been averaging a couple tomatoes a day for the past week. They're so good right now and I cannot get enough. I've had success with the heirlooms from Siena Farm at the Copley farmers' market and regular guys from Whole Foods on Cambridge St. I've been making tomato sandwiches for lunch. I take two slices of Iggy's bread and lightly toast them. When the bread is hot out of the toaster, I spread a thin layer of mayo (preferably homemade) hummus, plain cream cheese or butter, (but never all four) and then place thin slices of tomato on top and sprinkle some salt and pepper. I eat the sandwich open-faced and I never get tired of it. I think mixing up the condiments each day helps.

Yesterday, in addition to my tomato sandwich I made the following recipe from Gourmet Aug 2008.

Pressed Chicken with Yellow Squash and (you guessed it) Tomatoes

4 chicken breast halves with skin and bone

2 Tbsp EVOO

3/4 lb yellow squash, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1 lb tomatoes, coarsely chopped

2 garlic cloves

3 tsp chopped marjoram, divided

1. Pat chicken dry and season with 3/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers

2. Add chicken, skin side down, Cover with a round of parchment paper, then a heavy pot or skillet, followed by a 3-5 lb weight (such as two 32 oz cans or a br

ick wrapped in foil.) Cook 10 mins, then remove weight, pot and parchment

3. Turn chicken over and re-cover with a clean round of parchment, pot, and weight, then cook for 8 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate and keep warmed, covered.

4. Add squash, tomatoes, garlic, 2 tsp marjoram, and 1/4 tsp salt to fat in skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until squash is ju

st tender and tomatoes have become saucy, 6 to 8 mins. Stir in any juices from plate and season with salt and pepper. Spoon over chicken

5. Sprinkle chicken and vegetables with remaining tsp marjoram.

I ate this with my favorite salad ever - arugula and mache tossed with EVOO, fresh lemon juice, chopped walnuts, grated parmesan, salt and pepper. Sometimes if I'm feeling bold I add a dash of Worcestershire. You can't go wrong with this winning combination.

I know it would be really easy to weigh the chicken down, like the recipe says, to get a really moist meat and more chicken juice in the skillet for the veggies. But I had just gotten home from the gym and was starving so I just used thinly sliced chicken cutlets instead. I also halved the recipe since it was only me. It came out really delicious, so summery and fresh-tasting. I was thinking the squash and tomato mixture would be good over pasta too. I don't use marjoram that much in my cooking and I'm not sure why because I really enjoyed the flavor it provided. It gave the tomatoes and squash an Italian essence without being a strong recognized flavor like oregano or basil, if that makes any sense.

The only problem is that I think I OD'd on tomatoes because for the first time in my life, I had really bad heart burn today. My chest felt like it was wrapped tightly and the wrapping kept getting tighter and tighter. I could still breathe fine, but it was this horrible painful feeling that only lasted for about 10 mins. Of course I assumed I was having a heart attack and went to the doctor where they performed an EKG and listened to my heart and told me everything was fine and the next time I feel the sensation I should swig Mylanta.

The trip wasn't an entire waste though because the doctor who saw me, not my normal doctor, was adorable! We had this great banter and he had an amazing warmth and reassurance and he didn't make me feel a crazy person. (not like the last time I thought I was having a heart attack when the doctor told me I was wearing an ill-fitting bra) I would go out on a limb and say that we were flirting with each other. But can you ask your doctor out? Isn't that against the rules somehow? I feel kind of bad for the poor guy. He must meet so many girls at work who want to ask him out and can't or don't because they just shared the secret of their embarrassing medical condition. The really limits your dating pool. The same must be true for therapists. Now those are two jobs I don't want.

Maybe I will swing by the office tomorrow and leave a note for him? I definitely will be laying off the tomatoes for a while, which is such a shame.

Please don't go, summer, I love you so, please don't go

2008-09-18T17:38:00.001-07:00

Tonight's weather report called for frost in some areas of New England and I had to turn my bike light on for the first time in months riding home after work. It's time to admit that just around the corner is the horrible hellish time called winter. I have nothing good to say about this spiteful season. I either have to get the hell out of here, or prepare to be a miserable wreck for the next several months. Thank goodness for red wine.

And for my pictures of Rosaly's Farmstand in Peterborough, New Hampshire, one of my favorite summer spots. I need to keep copies of these pictures in my wallet so that I can pull them out and clutch them to my heart in March when the holidays are over, skiing and snowshoeing have become boring and yet another storm is predicted. These pictures will remind me of brighter days when fresh produce is readily available. Before all the fruits and vegetables die, I recommend a trip to Rosaly's. There is a charming farm stand with fresh produce, and berries, flowers and herbs ripe for the picking . There also happens to be postcard-worthy landscapes on every inch of the property. Like this nook that's all dressed up and just waiting for the guests to arrive for a literal garden party. Beautiful charming moments like this just happen there.

Yay....can't wait for winter filled with cold days and very little sunlight.

Pasta from the past-a

2008-09-15T20:34:00.000-07:00

One of the best pasta dishes in Boston is found in the South End at Stella's on Washington St. orecchiette pasta is tossed with crumbled, homemade Italian sausage, cured, slow-cooked tomatoes, basil and chile flakes. The sausage inherently has a bit of spice so mixed with the chili flakes the dish packs a punch. But the sweetness of the tomatoes provides the perfect balance. It is a dish that even the most picky eater will finish and then crave like once a week. I know this because the addiction happened to an ex of mine and I was talked into eating at the bar at Stella so often that I began to know the bartenders by name. We would always begin with our own arugula salad, with shaved parmesan and slices of endive tossed in a lemon vinaigrette, and split the pasta. He would get his without parmesan and would eat around the endive slices. I would eat every last bit of my salad and let him have more of the pasta. I can't even look at this pasta now, much less order it without feeling sad. I hope he's still enjoying it every now and then.

La Casa Sena

2008-09-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

La Casa Sena is one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Fe, although not because of the food, which I know is delicious, but no dish particularly stands out. I love it because my family always has a good time together here. My brother and my sister-in-law had their rehearsal dinner here, we've enjoyed too much wine and the perfect amount of laughter mixed with puffs from my uncle's cigar at various family dinners, and we recently celebrated a decadent lunch here when my brother was sworn in after passing the bar. It's in a charming plaza in downtown Santa Fe with one of the best patios ever.

Turns out if there is a decent patio, the night can't go wrong.

Cafe Not So Grumpy

2008-09-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

Don't you love when coffee shops do this? It's like when bars put a shamrock in the foam of a Guiness. It makes me feel even more justified for paying the price for something that would have been half the price if I poured it at home. But I don't know how to make wildlife appear in my drinks, so thank goodness someone does.

This was created at Cafe Grumpy in Chelsea.

Someone has OCD

2008-09-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

Khim's Millenium Market on Bedford Ave in Williamsburg is the most well-organized food mart I've ever been in. Everything on the shelves is facing in the same direction in perfectly orderly rows. There literally isn't a single piece of produce out of place. Look how beautifully they display their sandwiches.