Ceci and a Loaf

There is something about the combo of dry sherry, thyme and sharp cheese that just makes me happy. Today is meatless Monday and the eternal question is……what’s for dinner?

I happened across this Ceci and Quinoa soup a few weeks ago on the Cooking Channel and this is the second time I’ve made it….. I don’t re-run recipes often so this one must be worth keeping.

My Husband’s Favorite Lamb Saag

 

 

Lamb Saag is one of my favorite things to order when I eat out at an Indian restaurant.  Its delicious subtle flavor is amazing. I have been toying around with some recipes to make this at home.  I am not sure how authentic this is, but it tastes (and smells) delicious.  The other day I was talking food with a good friend who asked me for the recipe…. here it is, maybe your wife will decide she likes lamb after trying this.

Blood Orange- You win some, you lose some

So, there are times when I actually follow the recipe.   This was one of those times… well, almost.

I enjoy making jam in the summer months when ingredients are fresh, local and plentiful.  Blood oranges are neither local nor plentiful here in the northeast. But, when I found a nice looking bunch at the local grocery store, I thought it would be an opportunity to warm the cold winter house with a huge pot of boiling water and have some delicious marmalade to show for my efforts.

I found a recipe in the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving,  I usually follow jam recipes exactly, and for the most part I did.  An internet search turned up this recipe using some liquid pectin.  I had never used liquid pectin, but decided to try the Ball recipe… but with the addition of liquid pectin.  Makes sense to me. What could possibly go wrong?

Just Another Meatless Monday

I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions and by mid-February they are usually long forgotten.  This year I decided to try a different approach, by making a New Year’s “lifestyle change.”   I decided to embrace the idea of Meatless Monday.

Now the challenge is to cook for my fussy 4 year old and carnivorous husband without having pasta every Monday.  This is week 7 of the new year and each week is a new opportunity to make a delicious curry dish.  This week’s selection is winter squash (Queensland blue, I think).  It is the last of my winter CSA share and I have been at a loss for a great recipe for the great big squash.

Things I Learned: Crock Pot Pho

 

Lately I have become more and more obsessed with recycling.  I have gone so far as to bring my plastic trash home from work to recycle it.  Something about doing this gives me a feeling of satisfaction that I am doing the right thing.  So, the natural progression would be recycling my food… right?

About once a month I roast a chicken for dinner. It is delicious and simple.  I had never given much thought to throwing away the non-meat parts, until lately.  Last week’s chicken carcass was stashed in the freezer, now what?  I wish my grandma were around to give me some pointers on this venture, she would have had some great ideas.  My grandparents were great recyclers saving cans for a few bucks, keeping a compost pile, and canning food for using later.  These are lessons I should have learned earlier, but I guess we come around to things in our own time.