December 23, 2011
We’ve been making these in my family as long as I can remember. Even when Momma’s old cookie cutter was almost broken in half, we – but perhaps more kindly she – still managed to turn out dozens upon dozens of these intricate, almond-y cookies.
Fast forward to the age of the internet and a quick Google search can help you turn up just about anything. Even a replacement (or three – one for her, one for me and one for my sister) for a thirty-year old cookie mold. The Merry Christmas set has this mold in it.
So start a tradition in your house with these. Charming as well as tasty, they are entirely worth all the effort.
Playlist included Little Saint Nick, by She and Him.
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Posted in Baking, Christmas, Cookies, Family, Holidays, Kid Friendly Fare, Seasonal, Winter |
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November 3, 2011
There is a vast expanse of Europe between the Black and Baltic Seas commonly known as “Eastern Europe.” Millions of Americans can trace their ancestry from this region, but many of them don’t know exactly where. They came through both the front and back doors of the East Coast in search of something more. They came to mine coal, bend steel, crunch numbers, and maybe raise hell. Many of them saw the horrors of the 20th century up close, and came here to escape. They might not have brought much, but they brought their culture, their spirit, and their food.
At the center of this culinary tradition are Pierogi. It’s the unofficial national dish of Poland, and they are eaten, with different names, from Ukraine to Latvia. They are traditionally filled with potato, cheese, sauerkraut, or fruit preserves.
But most importantly to me, it’s Hades’s favorite food and the in-laws’ official celebratory dish. Needless to say,
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Posted in Fall, Family, Friends, Kid Friendly Fare, Leftovers, Potatoes, Recipes, Vegetarian |
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October 22, 2011
Birthdays call for cakes. Half birthdays, pudding. Cherub celebrated her four and half years in this world just this past Friday. We had pudding as a special I-turned-four-and-a-half dessert. Homemade chocolate pudding is no harder than a box mix, honestly. Just just need a few ingredients. Like anything else. But these few ingredients can make a little person feel awfully special. Or a big person for that matter.
PK’s Celebratory Chocolate Pudding, Serves 4
3 T corn starch
3/4 c granulated sugar
1/2 t ground cinnamon
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Posted in Chocolate, Dessert, Kid Friendly Fare, Music, Pudding, Quick, Spices |
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September 23, 2011
My friends and I have been kind of fawning over Sean Brock, chef and owner of Husk and McCrady’s in Charleston, South Carolina. Add to that that he was a James Beard Award winner in 2010. And Bon Appetit named Husk best new restaurant this year. Sean lives and breathes local. And he’s just so cute.
And he loves pugs.
I am smitten.
I was so happy to see that he was featured in September’s Southern Living and that he gave up some great recipes. I made his Lowcountry Shrimp-and-Okra Pilau for dinner tonight. Fabulousness in a bowl, really. Plus, Cherub’s first experience with okra was a successful one thanks to this recipe. I used some local Schmidt’s Bahama Mama smoked sausage as well as the okra I picked up at the Worthington Farmer’s Market. Don’t be afraid. Okra is delicious, even when unadorned and not fried.
While you do simmer this dish for about 30 minutes in the middle, you can use that time to clean up the kitchen. Because who has time to cook? You do.
Wine pairing: Chateau Bonnet 2009 Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon – Muscadelle.
Playlist included Police Dog Blues, by Hugh Laurie.
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Posted in Fall, Family, Farmers Market, Kid Friendly Fare, Local Foods, Music, Ohio, Okra, Rice, Sausages, Shrimp |
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September 19, 2011
Food trends come and go. And ideas, ingredients, or dishes that you might think aren’t exactly cool, always seem to have a way of coming back around. Being thrifty and using offal and off cuts is fashionable. It’s hip to garden again. The values of my Gran are suddenly in vogue. How charming!
My friend John loves Columbus, loves food and thought it would be great to celebrate Johnny Marzetti with a collection of blog posts from local Columbus food bloggers. I was so pleased to be included in the crowd and to learn about this dish, not being a Columbus native. I assured John I’d never heard of or eaten this dish before. But now what truly fascinates me is that there is a version that made its way to the Rio Grande valley of Texas, a stone’s throw away from where I grew up. And as it turns out, it’s something that my Grandma often made for Sunday dinners and potlucks. I knew it as Macaroni Crunch, but many others knew it as Johnny Marzotti. Maybe this is the sort of unspoken influence that food has on our lives.
Here’s my version of this Ohio and South Texas classic. I’ve put my own spin on it by using heirloom tomatoes, fresh mushrooms and peppers from my back garden. The result is a fresh take on the already entirely delicious French’s-fried-onions-canned-mushroom-soup-and-canned-tomato version with which I grew up. And somehow, I think Grandma might be proud. Proud of my garden and my thriftiness and my comfort in the kitchen.
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Posted in Beef, Casserole, Cheese, Columbus, Family, Kid Friendly Fare, Local Foods, Mushrooms, Music, Ohio, Pasta, Recipes |
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September 7, 2011
Something has been stirring in me to make some more ricotta. It’s so easy, you know every ingredient that goes in it (milk, salt, lemon), and there’s such satisfaction in making your own cheese. I have, however, been distressed every time I’ve made it that I have so much whey left over after the curds separate out. I mean honestly. The cows at Snowville are such beautiful productive girls, how could I carelessly dump half of that milk down the drain?
I happily came across this great recipe for whey crêpes that are the most delicious ones I’ve ever had that weren’t made by a French person. They are staggeringly good.
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Posted in Cheese, Cooking Tips, France, Kid Friendly Fare, Local Foods, Milk, Music, Ohio, Recipes, Ricotta, Snowville Creamery, Squash |
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September 4, 2011
My sister-in-law can bake.
These blondies are her latest creation and chock-full of wonderful, local-to-Columbus ingredients from Krema Nut. They’re perfect for back to school snack and equally great for the beginning of football season. These will be devoured almost instantaneously at any tailgate you bring them to, I daresay even a Michigan one.
These are fabulous. Just like my SIL.
Krema Nut Buckeye Blondies, makes one 8 x 8 pan
Preheat oven to 350/360F, lightly butter 8×8 pan
Mix:
1 c flour
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Posted in Baking, Blondies, Chocolate, Columbus, Dessert, Kid Friendly Fare, Local Foods, Music, Ohio, Peanut Butter, Recipes |
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We’ve been making these in my family as long as I can remember. Even when Momma’s old cookie cutter was almost broken in half, we – but perhaps more kindly she – still managed to turn out dozens upon dozens of these intricate, almond-y cookies.
Clever Comments