May 21, 2012
Sometimes texture can be just as important to a dish as flavor. It’s harder to enjoy something that’s just a bowl of mush. Ok, aside from perhaps enjoying a whole dinner of say, mashed potatoes with copious amounts of butter or oodles of macaroni and cheese. I have those days, too. But sometimes there are some things that need a little crunch.
Enter this delicious and surprising garnish for a ho-hum dinner in need of some oomph. Consider moderating the spices based on your dish. I think a curry granola or a chile scented granola would be equally tasty. And if you’re local to Columbus, stop by North Market Spices to pick up one of their many spice blends (which are amazing) to use.
Savory Cumin Granola
1 c rolled oats
read more »
Like this:
Be the first to like this post.
Posted in Recipes, Music, Spices, North Market Spices, Vegetarian, Garnish, Granola |
1 Comment »
February 19, 2012
I have a new pastry crush.
It’s on Michelle from Pâtisserie Lallier. She is a French-taught (Le Cordon Bleu, natch) pastry chef that has an almost mystical way about guimauves (that’s marshmallows to you and me). Her Crème de Violette ones are particularly swoon-worthy. The chocolate ones already have a loyal following.
And wouldn’t you know, she is lovely in every way else, too. I met her recently when she and I judged at Taste of OSU, and after that I just seemed to keep bumping into her. She is bright, kind and amazingly hard-working (she’s a full-time banker) all the while making marshmallows and pâtisseries and all manner of laminated doughs practically in the middle of the night for her Pâtisserie. She also has a penchant for local ingredients, even making pawpaw Madelines each September. She’s a girl after my heart.
She is debating a jump to full-time Pâtisserie work because it’s what’s in her heart and
read more »
Like this:
2 bloggers like this post.
Posted in Bakery, Dessert, Dining Out, France, Gluten-Free, Local Foods, Music, Pâtisserie Lallier |
1 Comment »
February 16, 2012
In Georgian cooking, Khmeli Suneli is a spice mix that can be used as a dry rub or as an enhancement to soups and stews. It is essentially a curry, since it’s just a mix of spices. You can choose to use all dried ingredients, or include some fresh, if you have it or it’s in season.
I used this in a mixed braise with lamb and short ribs (expect a post about that soon). But it would also be great mixed with some olive oil and bread crumbs as an herb crust on chicken or fish. Or sprinkle in a heaping tablespoon once you’ve sweated down some onions as a base for soup.
It’s fragrant, beautiful stuff, with forgiving measurements.
Persephone’s Khmeli Suneli
Mix equal parts dried of (I used a tablespoon each):
Whole fenugreek seeds
Bay leaf (I used 2 huge ones)
read more »
Like this:
4 bloggers like this post.
Posted in Music, North Market, North Market Spices, Ohio, Recipes, Spices, Vegetarian |
Leave a Comment »
November 30, 2011
Pie. Tart. Deliciousness in a dish.
The recipe for this Any Season Fruit (or Vegetable) Tart (page 19) is from Gilt Taste. It’s a surprising base that can skew sweet or savory. But on first blush, you could only assume it would be sweet as the base is butter and sugar creamed together. It has to be cake, right? But no, with a full teaspoon of salt in it, as well as some savory and thyme (thrown in by me), this autumnal pastry was devoured by everyone, including Cherub.
I used a combination of parsnips and butternut squash, parboiling them for just five minutes in heavily salted water before draining them and adding them to the tart. I also sprinkled in some dried thyme and savory. To add a little extra oomph to the final dish, I shook up a quick chili and sriracha cream in a half pint ball jar until thick. A tablespoon per slice adds a nice kick of heat.
Playlist included Video Games, by Lana Del Rey.
Like this:
One blogger likes this post.
Posted in Baking, Butternut Squash, Fall, Music, Parsnips, Pie, Seasonal, Squash, Tart, Vegetarian, Whipped Cream |
1 Comment »
October 2, 2011
I’m excited! It’s Local Foods Week again. Coordinated by the wonderful Local Matters, the week is designed to heighten awareness about the benefits of eating local foods (it tastes better! it has more nutrients! it’s benefits small businesses!). All week long there are fun events and activities for the whole family. To encourage participation in an already tasty endeavor, there are even prizes for diving into local foods.
This year, I will again be posting locally-focused recipes all week. Stop in every day for some local flavor!
Like this:
Be the first to like this post.
Posted in Columbus, Eat Local Challenge, Local Foods, Local Matters, Ohio |
Leave a Comment »
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.
read more »
Like this:
2 bloggers like this post.
Posted in Beef, Casserole, Cheese, Columbus, Family, Kid Friendly Fare, Local Foods, Mushrooms, Music, Ohio, Pasta, Recipes |
5 Comments »
August 30, 2011
Although summer corn here in Ohio is some of the sweetest and loveliest I’ve ever eaten, I still can’t help but occasionally add to an already great thing. Gilding the already golden lily, if you will. This is an easy, flavorful recipe that I’ve made countless times this summer, because it seems to go with everything. And left to my own devices, I would eat bowls of this all alone for dinner. It’s so delicious.
Maque Choux (say mock shoe) is a traditional Cajun dish of braised corn, along with
read more »
Like this:
One blogger likes this post.
Posted in Columbus, Corn, Farmers Market, Local Foods, Music, Ohio, Olive Oil, Quick, Recipes, Seasonal, Side Dish, Summer |
Leave a Comment »
Clever Comments