One of my goals for the future is self care. And, this blog began as that -- having something fun and enjoying it. I am grateful to my partner who suggested it and helped make it real, and for the world that made it fun. I have been distracted form it for some time, and among other things, not cooking as much. But, as we move into a new year, which I hope will be filled with good and compassion and hope, here are a few words:
1. Today, I made things with what was in the fridge. I remembered that I like to chop, I like to make treats for others, and I enjoy invention sometimes. The latter is kind of new to realize as I think of myself as kind of rule bound, but hey -- today, I took three mushrooms out of the fridge, removed their stems, chopped the stems with some carrots, and dry roasted (in a pan) the mushrooms, added the sauteed thises and thats and called them stuffed mushrooms.
2. Did you know that when you "dry" roast mushrooms in a covered sautee pan, especially when they are whole and have a hole in the middle, the holes fill up with a lovely, tasty, mushroomy juice? I did not. Now I do.
3. Today I drank eggnog. I drank it in my coffee, I drank it alone, I drank it from a coffee mug and (ok, I admit it, just this once) from the carton. (I admit it this once, not I have never done this before.)
4. I made some feta cheese dip; or that was what it was supposed to be. It involved (surprise) feta, lemon and lemon zest, and olive oil. The feta was cold. I was impatient. While microwaving feta makes for an amazing warm sludgy mess that smears well, it is not the best way to make dip. Lessons learned.
5. I love left over guacamole with extra lime juice.
6. I may have more egg nog. None of it has had rum in it. Nor nutmeg.
7. Today I threw a bone for a dog who eats an entirely raw diet. Hmmm.
8. In the absence of a cleaned stove, I laid some asparagus in that same sautee pan and kind of steamed it. Tasted dandy with loads of salt on it.
9. I can attest that some recipes are better not messed with. Years ago, I/we discovered a great recipe for dates. You remove the pit. You add a sliver/chunk of parmesan, a bt of parsley and some olive oil. Yum. Does NOT work with cheddar cheese, even if it is nice cheddar. Just no zip to its doodah.
10. Deviled eggs, sometimes called on this blog be-deviled eggs (after Laura Childs' book) -- do not always have to be hot (by which I mean spicey) to be good. Today's were plain -- and the other variant involved a seedy mustardy bit. Both were good. Neither involved hot anything.
11. The reason for the absence of heat in number 10 above is some indian food I made recently -- or at least some curries -- which turned out somewhat too hot for . . . well, for at least one of the diners. I mde a version of carrot curry (not so good weithout the cocnut milk) and a version of mushroom curry (which in this case included chickpeas as well). I loved the mushroom curry, but went a tad over board with the heat. I have been sneaking around eating it in the middle of the night. Not bad cold.
12. I had purchased sage ages ago to make potato chips -- but then did not. So, I did make and eat crispy sage leaves. I like them. Though they are better with only butter not butter and olive oil.
13 It is almost a new year. I did not meet my 2012 desire to make more moles, unless making one is better than none, which is, I guess, true. But: I am a lucky person, and it is almost 2013.
13 -- a lucky number? A year of patience, compassion, silliness, and?
May 2013 be a good one for us all.
