Tuesday, February 22, 2011

chicken stew with biscuits

Ina Garten, let me count the ways you love rich food. I have learned to replace all the cream and half&half in this recipe with milk. I have learned to cut down on the amount of butter. I use organic frozen veggies so I don't have to parboil carrots. I have learned to make a half recipe, 8 portions?! Who are you feeding with those giant sized portions? However, with all the amendments required this is pure comfort food and I adore it.

On another note: It is also impossible to take a picture of stew that looks good.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

gratuitous cat post


How can you not love that face?


Sometimes I wish I had a top hat and a monocle for this little man.


That is all.

touch of sea salt



I completely blame Jojo for my new addiction. And by blame, maybe I mean holy crap how did I not know about this until now?!

shake shack sunday



This past Sunday, Ami and I went outside to enjoy the sun and just happened to both be craving burgers. Now normally, we deny the existence of Shake Shack just a few blocks west of our place to save ourselves from morbid obesity but sometimes you just have to give into the desire for all things delicious.


Seriously, it tastes as delicious as it looks.


My first "Arnold Palmer," aka lemonade mixed with iced tea. Truly scrumptious! (Anyone else just have Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flash backs?) I also love that you eat outside at the Madison Square location and even with snow still on the ground it was busy!

Friday, February 4, 2011

tumblr obsession


I am currently obsessed with To My Wife tumblr. The one above made me laugh out loud to the point where I woke up sleeping afternoon cats. They were very unimpressed and luckily I managed to capture the pre and post-laugh moments. Note: the laughter was due to the fact that I have found airplane boarding passes from at least 3 years ago in Ami's jean pockets.




I do love how pissed Boris looks. Sorry for quality, iPhone's camera fails at dealing with black vs grey cat.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

freezing rain




Icicles on my AC unit and week old snow that is slowly turning into an ice cube.

gobi paratha for the win



Gobi Paratha is possibly the favourite meal I've learned to make from my mother-in-law. Flatbread stuffed with spicy cauliflower mixture that you eat with yoghurt and chutney? Yum!


Start by grating the cauliflower florets, spread out on a towel and leave to dry overnight. Add garam masala, chili pepper, ajawain and salt. Note: ajawain is not required, it just helps with digestion.


Make the dough with chapati flour and water. I learned to how to do this by feeling the dough and watching, so I don't have the best idea of the ratio.


Roll out two discs and pile on the cauliflower mixture. Put the other disc on-top and roll them out together!


Cook until golden brown on both sides, spread a small amount of olive oil on both sides. And finally the best part, eat! If you want to learn how to make it, I suggest you buy a ticket to New York and I'll show you in my kitchen. Otherwise I'll try my best to write out the recipe, but I make no promises that it'll turn out correctly.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

etsy-addict



Recently I lost an earring while walking outside all bundled up; I'm assuming that the scarf/toque-combo pushed it out of my ear. As a result, I have become more partial to post-style earrings during bundling weather! My most recent purchase is from Upper Metal Class and I'm obsessively refreshing the USPS website to see if they are getting closer to my earlobes!

mr.brown can cook, can you?

Alton Brown is possibly the most inspiring food network chef. I love Nigella, Jamie, and Ina; my love has been proven by my ever expanding cookbook collection (I will not admit I have a problem yet). Oh but Alton... Mr.Brown, you make me think I can do anything in my kitchen. Including rendering my own lard.



I'm not sure if I even have a use for lard... but the way he sells it makes me think I should rethink my love affair with butter.