tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388839562012-01-25T16:56:42.801-06:00The Write IngredientsAll about growing food, cooking food,
and, of course, eating food
in the lovely, midwestern town of Minneapolis.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.comBlogger1341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-75787433836266899302008-02-20T14:50:00.002-06:002008-02-20T14:52:59.808-06:00I Always Say, I'll Never Move Again. And then I do. And even though this was a virtual move, it was really no less of a pain the the you-know-what. But I've done it, and I've put away most of the books, and found space for all my bundt pans. So please stop by and visit me at my new home. Now, where did I put that power cord?http://www.thewriteingredients.comORhttp://Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-46055905585551937002008-02-17T18:18:00.002-06:002008-12-12T17:50:01.060-06:00Introducing Ethicurean. And Lots of Chickens.Not that it's new, but it's new to me. Here's a bit of what they say about themselves:The Ethicurean was founded in May 2006.... What we have in common is that we spend a lot of time thinking about food. Not just about how to prepare it, or how it tastes — although those things are very important to us — but to exploring where and how it was grown and Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-33821662489804056942008-02-14T21:09:00.003-06:002008-12-12T17:50:01.838-06:00Mushrooms, Truffle Oil, Strawberries and Chocolate. Must Be Valentines Day!Going out to dinner on Valentine's Day is overrated. Restaurants are crowded, expensive and the staff would rather be home with their sweeties instead of bringing me plates of overpriced goods. So, this year, we stayed at home and cooked. And man, it was good. (Oh, and the photo? That's Dog, with his V-day gift. Stuffed Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-24889175930457129932008-02-13T20:14:00.002-06:002008-12-12T17:50:02.741-06:00Moroccan Chicken ThighsYum.So for dinner the other night I chose an easy new recipe from Cooking Light. Husband had a hockey game, so I started it while he was gone and let it simmer for an hour. I don't usually cook with chicken thighs because of the whole bone-thing. But these were boneless, skinless chicken thighs, and really easy to work with.This dish is inspired by North African Tagines. I Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-86317236753400320632008-02-09T13:50:00.000-06:002008-02-09T14:07:03.734-06:00Relief, and Some Wine I spent last night in the town of Mankato, before a colleague and I spoke a student group about Sustainable Graphic Design (that's what I do for my day job). And if you know me, you know that I don't really do the public speaking thing. Maybe it was the public speaking class I took in college, where the professor criticized us for every little thing we did wrong. He was Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-72223141544286867222008-02-05T19:29:00.000-06:002008-02-05T19:31:57.163-06:00It's Time For A Soup Swap!!Just about every other month, my friend Jen hosts an Art Party, also known as pARTy. Coming in February we're combining pARTy with a SoupSwap!There are some rules to be official, and since our Swap will be quite a bit smaller (about 4, versus 40), most of the rules will not apply. Once we get a head count, we'll know how many quarts we'll each have to make.1. Bring a Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-65101840755136055242008-01-31T19:45:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:03.718-06:00Lost Returns!In honor of the return of Lost, we made fish for dinner.And really, I should have chosen a better recipe. Or a better fish. I tried a Cooking Light recipe from the current issue (as you can see from the above photo), called Roasted Tilapia with Tomatoes and Olives, but replaced it with Mahi-mahi because the store did not have any Tilapia. Anything I just wrote might have been the Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-71996218118117175742008-01-30T16:01:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:04.265-06:00Okay Padma, We Tried a RecipeI know, I know, I kind of tore into Padma and her new cookbook, Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet, but some of the recipes looked good. We tried to Tamarind-Glazed Cod the other day, and unfortunately, were again, disappointed. Not sure if it was the cod, or maybe the tamarind, but the result was bland.So, I ask all of you out there, was it the Tamarind? I bought this little Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-64975300631293992942008-01-29T14:18:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:04.487-06:00Girls Weekend Salad RecipeFinally, Lori sent the recipe for the amazing salad she made Up North. I've been trying to mimic it this last week and now I know the missing ingredient... brown sugar. Huh.For those who inquired, here is the recipe for the SKANK spinach salad:Dressing:2 parts oil to 1 part vinegarcolovita oil (blended olive and vegetabe oil)balsamic vinegarchopped garlic brown sugar(allJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-1918701771694556642008-01-27T18:07:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:04.503-06:00Lunch and ArtI met a couple friends for lunch the other day and I enjoyed a very lovely little plate of sushi. There was tuna, hamachi, salmon, white tuna and shrimp sashimi, as well as a california roll. It was good, not the best I've ever had, but a pleasant break in an otherwise busy (and cold) day.We then walked over to the Minneapolis Library and checked out the current exhibit in the Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-79642783900751225182008-01-25T14:52:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:04.659-06:00The Paper Has Never Made Me So Hungry!!Yesterday, in the Taste section of the Star Tribune, Rick Nelson reviewed three new Asian restaurants in SE Minneapolis. And if you saw it, you'll understand how my paper got all wet and gooey. I was drooling, really, seriously, dangerously drooling. And almost ran out the door to go try them, but it was after 9pm, I was wearing flannel pants, had just eatenJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-69286161262341702372008-01-23T20:06:00.001-06:002008-01-23T20:12:19.649-06:00Writing About Food.Almost as much fun as cooking and eating, but with a fraction of the calories.There's an article on Chow.com today food and literature. Or more about literature that talks about food. Some of the books I've read, some I've only heard of, some are new to me. I'd love to know if you've read them, or if you thought they had some foodie aspect to them.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-12071752358657558852008-01-21T20:54:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:05.632-06:00More Food at Girls Weekend, Part 2And then there was more....After dancing and wine until 2 in the morning, we woke and started eating again. I learned that a Bloody Mary and super huge apple fritter do not make for a healthy breakfast. But after an hour of snowshoeing in the -25 windchill and a few trips down the big slide at the INDOOR pool, I felt much better. Even good enough to eat Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-68542445256796629162008-01-20T21:40:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:07.166-06:00(meet Tom, he spent the weekend on the refrigerator)Girls Weekend Means Lots of Cheese and other Goodies, Day 1The annual girls weekend was this past weekend, and among other things we tend to eat a lot. In fact, from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning, there's always some snacking going on. Everyone brings some snacks and cheese and wine and other munchies (M&Ms, Hot Tamales, and Cheetos madeJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-91819874182965710492008-01-15T16:18:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:07.922-06:00Mashed Potatoes vs. Smashed PotatoesI grew up eating potato buds. Yep, the flakes out of a box. I think this was due to the fact that my mother is just not fond of potatoes. She and my father are also not fans of peas or asparagus, both of which I eat regularly. Okay, I can understand avoiding a vegetable, especially a green one, but a potato? Anyway - I have grown to love potatoes, in any formatJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-29013329012507429192008-01-10T13:09:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:08.620-06:00 Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet and Full of Ego.I've heard a lot about the new cookbook by Padma Lakshmi of Top Chef fame. I even heard her interviewed on two of my favorite radio programs, Satellite Sisters and The Splendid Table. She sounded warm and humble, and truly interested in food. Even so, I couldn't part with the 30 bucks to own a copy. Instead I went the old fashioned route and checked it Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-70412624133718619842008-01-09T08:11:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:08.641-06:00I Love Tivo (and Jamie at Home!)Obviously, I watch a lot of the Food Network. And lately, they've been hyping their new shows. (On a side note, there's been some upheaval there, and that's lead to some interesting reads). But anywho, there's this one show that caught my eye. Not because of the chef,whose been around for awhile, but because of the name and that fact that the chef is cooking out ofJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-1783933186561585312008-01-08T08:06:00.000-06:002008-01-08T20:27:27.482-06:00Something To Think About: Take-out ContainersWe all know that canvas bags are the answer at the grocery store, but what about take-out containers from restaurants. We all do it, run to the coop and just grab some rice or chicken masala for lunch. But it goes into a container, that then hits the garbage, right? And when you're served one of those gargantuan meals at a restaurant, you want to bringJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-72756366023238862992008-01-04T19:52:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:09.673-06:00A Couple Easy, Tasty Weeknight DinnersWhat could be better on a cold winter night, but tomato soup and grilled cheese? Oh, I know, tomato soup made with the tomatoes from your own garden and then frozen for just this occasion. I only wish I could find or remember which recipe I used for the soup. But it was good, with just a hint of spice and a true tomatoey taste (is that word). To go with the Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-43446770682809189942008-01-01T19:53:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:09.886-06:00Happy New Year!!King Crab Legs and Butter. We're off to a good start.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-40168043997973765392007-12-30T16:25:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:11.200-06:00Party Food!!Husband and I threw our second annual holiday party, and of course, the theme was food. Not only did we serve lots of food (and wine) but we asked our guests to bring a donation to the food shelf, and they really surpassed our expectations. Now, we just need to drop off the 8 full bags of goodies in the next week.As for the food, there were some basics. Sliced peppers and musrhooms Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-67237833232276395962007-12-29T14:00:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:12.245-06:00A Great Christmas Menu, Part 2So, after all of that good food, Husband and I drove north for another 24 hours of good eats. We started that evening with wine, and salmon and those beautiful truffles I wrote about a couple weeks ago. We tried the Key Lime, HOT Chocolate and the Chai Tea. My favorite was the HOT chocolate, which did have a kick, but wasn't overpowering (Mother-in-law might disagreeJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-11772541136648076962007-12-26T20:30:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:12.388-06:00A Great Christmas Menu, Part 1Like most people, I usually celebrate the holidays twice. Once with Parents, Brother and his family, and Sister if she's in town. The second time is with the In-laws. And both events this year were full of just amazing food, and lots of it.For my side of the family, Sister-in-Law was kind enough to host (with Brother, of course) and their three kids. Hosting such an Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-9050572202749344512007-12-21T13:18:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:12.792-06:00No Longer A Bank...We took some clients to lunch last week to celebrate the holidays, and I used it as an opportunity to check one of the new restaurants in town. We chose Bank, not for any one reason, but because it's new and in the heart of downtown, which can always be fun. (You will have to forgive me for the lack of photos, but I didn't think it appropriate to pull out the camera and start Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-79628266671740753772007-12-20T08:23:00.001-06:002007-12-20T09:31:07.111-06:00MarshmellowsMakin' marshmellows on Design*SpongeThis is the cutest thing ever. Jen sent it to me from a favorite site, Design Sponge. And I love the idea of making Marshmellows, even though I learned a few years ago that they are not vegetarian. I didn't realize that gelatin contains bones. I did some research : Gelatin is a protein, made from the hydrolysis of collagen, a protein that makes upJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-53648957098901281792007-12-19T22:07:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:13.080-06:00I Love Gingerbread Men!!All of 'em, all sizes, all genders. I grew up making many, many cookies with my sister and mother, and have never really slowed down. So far this year I've made 8 batches of cookies, and I have two left to go. Is that kind of insane for a family of two? I don't think so. I pass the cookies around during the holidays and serve them at all the Christmas functions. But I haveJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-75254843364901677662007-12-14T11:21:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:13.210-06:00There's this Truffle store on Grand Avenue....That makes just the most insanely beautiful truffles. It's called Just Truffles. We stopped in the other day to load up on holiday treats for some clients, and a little box of 8 of the gorgeous things ended up in my hands. The individual truffles are listed on their website, but I'll walk you through the box I brought home. Starting from the front, Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-29380274230574433942007-12-10T14:22:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:13.808-06:00A Perfect Hostess Gift Every year I try to come up with something creative to give as hostess gifts for all the crazy parties I go to. This year I didn't have to go far. The December issue of Bon Appetit had a recipe for these fabulous Candied Espresso Walnuts. Yum.I don't drink coffee anymore, so just the scent of espresso beans in the kitchen made me smile. The walnuts ended up tasty like Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-55316261431773650342007-12-09T19:07:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:14.025-06:00First Round of Holiday CookiesI've started the holiday cookie baking, and so far I am not impressed. All three of these recipes are from the December issue of Cooking Light, and I have to remember that baking can't be light. Anyway, from left to right are the Chai Shortbread, the Crunchy Sesame Cookies and the Chocolate Almond Cherry Crisps. The Chai shortbread needed more spice, but the texture Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-37623872710702877582007-12-06T16:49:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:15.457-06:00A Quick Field Trip A co-worker and I had a few minutes to kill today after letterpress printing our holiday cards, so we stopped at one of our favorite markets, United Noodles. The photos show the wide array of food available at the Asian grocery. I just like checking out the packaging. But this one is great. Its "Uncurdled Bean Curds"!Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-85603801300636665172007-12-04T13:48:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:15.616-06:00The Best Part is the Crust, Right?I heard about these Bakersedge pans last winter, and just ran across them again. How much fun are these? The zig-zag shape makes sure that everyone gets a bit of the crunchy outer edge of the brownie, or cake, or bread. Yum.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-60524622003729047682007-12-03T19:54:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:15.798-06:00A Snow Day We were supposed to get 6-10 inches of snow this past Saturday, and for once, the forcasters were'nt completely wrong, just a bit ambitious. The snow started as soon as I went outside in the morning, and it continued until late in the evening. It was beautiful, though, large flakes, that swept through the air on their way down. The temp was in the high teens, so it was very Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-29828772146104582022007-12-02T16:57:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:16.238-06:00A Happy Happy Hour and a Bit of SushiMet J and T for dinner the other night and after much debate of where to go, we chose Calhoun Square so we had multiple options. And I think we made a good choice. We started at Chang Mai Thai and were happy to learn they have an awesome happy hour. We had $3 glasses of wine and $3 appetizers. We shared the Happy Shrimp (fried coconut shrimp served with two Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-30310613509007466772007-12-01T20:06:00.000-06:002007-12-01T20:09:44.085-06:00Christmas Cookie Time!!Thursday's Taste section featured their annual Christmas Cookie winners, and there are a couple I think I need to try. The Lime Coolers sound fabulous, and different. As do the Chai cookies. More after I give them a try!Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-55087806361971842802007-11-30T12:56:00.001-06:002007-11-30T13:04:23.965-06:00I've Been Slacking. Today is the last day of NaBloPoMo. And I was doing so well...... But i missed a couple days. Things have been busy, and strangely, food has not been a priority (WHAT??)For example, while fending off a nasty cold with Airboune and Cold-Eeze, I just couldn't even think of something to make for dinner last night. The only thing I was craving was ice cream. I called Husband for Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-49753159012589190382007-11-27T19:40:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:16.486-06:00An Impromptu Stir-fryFor Sunday's dinner, we both wanted anything but turkey, and nothing to do with mashed potatoes. We chose, then, to make a stir-fry. I ran through the new Super Target and picked up as many fresh, organic vegetables as I could find, including green and red peppers, carrots, zucchini, onions and mushrooms. A bit of chicken and a packet of sauce (is that really cheating) and weJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-19281264271255081712007-11-25T18:54:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:16.945-06:00By Special Request, The Good Earth.A good friend, who moved away years ago and just refuses to move back, has a favorite restaurant in town and requested I post about it. Well, this past Saturday, Husband and I were in the neighborhood early in the morning and stopped in for breakfast. It was his first time there, and it didn't disappoint. I rarely get there for breakfast, and was happily Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-29012642232889780682007-11-24T14:43:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:17.558-06:00Thanksgiving, Part 2.On to the main course.On paper, as in a recipe in a magazine, cooking a turkey sounds really easy. Start it in a hot oven, turn it down and when the dark meat is 165 degrees, pull the bird out the often, and let it rest. But what happens when the carver announces that the bird is still bleeding? I guess put a cover on the potatoes, put some foil on the yams and pour another Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-25565568074072706422007-11-23T17:42:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:18.163-06:00Thanksgiving, Part 1.Lets start with appetizers...It has become a bit of a tradition to make Husbands favorite, Tuna Tataki, on Thanksgiving. Its fairly simple, some ginger and sesame seeds, soy sauce, lime.. sear the tuna for just a minute and serve. I just adore raw or seared Tuna, look forward to this fabulous treat every time.And then, of course, cheese. We had a garlic cheese, a brie, Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-31893410052688527532007-11-22T09:31:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:18.417-06:00Happy Turkey Day!!I wish everyone a very, merry thanksgiving. I'll be cooking and sipping wine and cuddling with the dog. So enjoy your day off and always have fun in the kitchen!Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-20542387856525314212007-11-21T13:48:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:18.595-06:00I finally tried it. Bewiched. There's a new deli in the neighborhood, and while I've stopped by there many a late afternoon for one of their butter-laden oatmeal or peanut butter cookies, I haven't truly attempted a meal. the main reason is the price. These guys have gotten a lot of press. The paper covered them last week and gave them a great review (3 of 4 stars). There are a couple of Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-8497012188825785072007-11-20T16:32:00.000-06:002007-11-21T13:45:49.619-06:00Spelt BreadI've been experimenting with alternative foods, and discovered a tasty treasure with Spelt Bread. It is really very low in wheat and gluten, so easier to digest. And the best part, is that it actually tastes like bread! I have to have peanut butter on something for breakfast almost everyday. And this spelt bread stuff is ready to tackle my Real Chunky Peanut Butter.Here are a couple Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-78927921854881130892007-11-19T19:52:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:18.803-06:00Yams!!Such a fun word to say. Yam, yam, yam. I'm making them for one Thanksgiving dinner and got this response when I offered to bring them to the second Thanksgiving."No, Sam-I-Am, I do not like yams. I do not like them on a tram, I do not like them served with jam - I do not like them Sam-I-Am!! Sorry I couldn’t resist." I don't like them served with jam either, just a bit of butter and Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-10090984085345215592007-11-18T19:25:00.000-06:002007-11-18T19:38:34.111-06:00Thanksgiving MenuThere's not much eating going on since I've been under the weather for the last couple days, but we did plan our thanksgiving menu, so I'll share that since it sounds fabulous.For an appetizer, Husbands favorite Tuna Tataki (we like Wolfgang Pucks recipe on foodnetwork.com), and my favorite, a cheese platter.Roast Turkey with Truffle Gravy (Nov. 07 Cooking Light, page 136)Wasabi Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-49758951482719582742007-11-17T18:58:00.000-06:002007-11-17T19:23:29.932-06:00AwesomeIngredients: Truffles A teammate and I were driving to Duluth this weekend and we got to talking about Truffles. Not the tasty bites of chocolate, but the ugly, earthy fungus that make savory dishes taste orgasmic. I've tasted truffle oil at various restaurants over the years, but last fall at the now closed Willi's wine bar, we were introduced to the ethereal combination of green appleJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-57747430950060317542007-11-16T10:30:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:19.040-06:00 Chicken with Cherry Tomato Sauce from Cooking Light.Husband made dinner last night! Yeah! It was a recipe we've made before and I planned to make it, but he beat me home and I was very happy to see dinner was started when I got home. The recipe is called Parmesan Chicken Paillards with Cherry Tomato Sauce. The chicken is coated in parmesan cheese and them pan seared. Overall we found the dish Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-55107698417947882442007-11-15T21:33:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:19.272-06:00Quail Eggs at Spoonriver. Or not.I met a couple friends for lunch at one of my favorite restaurants the other day, Spoonriver.This gem of a restaurant is owned by Brenda Langton, of my other favorite restaurant, Cafe Brenda. Before we got there, JD called and said she would not eat Quail Eggs. Try as I might, she absolutely refused. I didn't even realize they were on the menu, but then I Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-44176022889542654842007-11-14T16:39:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:19.391-06:00Something Pretty to Clean that Kitchen WithI saw these cool dish towels on Chow.com the other day and thought they looked really fun. Why not add some lively linens to your kitchen.And then, I remembered a woman I met this summer, who makes her own and sells them locally. Sarah Kusa makes beautiful pieces, including placemats, table runners, dish clothes and napkins. Its holiday season, someone Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-7308054455943456122007-11-13T14:17:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:20.389-06:00Nothing Like a Bowl of Chili on a Chilly November Day.Except when its 63 degrees outside, and we've just come in from playing tennis in shorts. But still, a spicy bowl of chili sounded good, so we made a big pot. I used a pound of the ground beef from my meat package from Otis Family Farm, and for the first time in my life, the groundness didn't freak me out. So a sizzling pan with onions, green Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-17567738761450533302007-11-12T19:23:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:20.570-06:00Yes, I had Cheese for Dinner.So, the other night was Husband was out with the guys, I had what every foodie really wants to have for dinner. Yep, wine, cheese and bread. Yum. I ran over to Lund's and asked the cheesemonger what she would recommend. The bottom one in the photo was a double cream brie. It was oozy, even right out of the cooler. Spread on warm bread, it melted. And even better Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-43254984872978948762007-11-11T17:00:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:21.033-06:00 Burgers, Beets and Birthday Cheesecake?Part 2 of my great-aunts birthday celebration at W.A. Frost included a whole lot of burgers. My beautiful niece devoured a lovely cheeseburger and I had a plate of beautiful beet risotto with mushroom sauce and broccolli.The burger looked great. H got the portebello burger, which she absolutely loved. My biggest fear about a portebello burger is that the Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-76647724886710158262007-11-10T20:00:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:21.317-06:00Birthday Pumpkin SconesIt was my great-aunts 94th birthday last week and its been our tradition (since her 90th) that all the ladies in the family take her out to tea. This year the tea house was booked, so we took her to lunch at another favorite historial site, W.A. Frost.Frost has a beautiful patio out back and its a favorite of mine for a mid-summer cocktail. Or brunch, or lunch like we did Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-39547916450705634102007-11-09T13:16:00.001-06:002008-12-12T17:50:21.502-06:00A Cute Holiday IdeaIf you're like me and like to give homemade gifts for holidays, these paper pans are perfect. I spotted them in the local newspaper yesterday, and I can't stop thinking about them. There are many shapes and sizes out there. There are even really great wood pans.... the ideas for homebaked goodness are flowing in!!Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-37110809118007935682007-11-08T15:32:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:21.698-06:00Cozy, warm stew.We whipped up a tasty seafood stew (Southwest Cilantro Fish Stew from November 2007 CL) last night from the current issue of Cooking Light. A bit of chopping and 20 minutes of waiting, and dinner is served. I would make a couple changes next time, though. More spice to begin with. The recipe calls for one sliced jalapeno, but next time I'll add two. It also called for 1/2 pound Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-42853251845755517202007-11-07T15:52:00.000-06:002008-12-12T17:50:22.509-06:00(Almost Great) Dinner and (Not So Great) DrinksA group of us went to the new restaurant Temple the other night. It was S's 31st birthday and we joined up after she and J went to dinner at nearby Capital Grille. Husband, Jen and I also wanted to eat, so we made an earlier reservation at Temple since we had to be there anyway.We should have ended the experience after we put our forks down.Dinner Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-13521011238429942512007-11-06T10:57:00.001-06:002007-11-06T18:29:14.639-06:00A Request for the Pork Tenderloin RecipeMom called last night, I guess, and requested the Pork recipe from the dinner party. I didn't get the message until this morning when I actually picked up my cell phone. Huh. But before I post it, I have to give credit where credit is due. The recipe is from Chef Philip Dorwart, and I had it at Grazefest. And I'll say it again, because I want to support Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-31382164146285501512007-11-05T14:48:00.000-06:002007-11-05T14:54:37.398-06:00Yes, the Holidays are Coming.And I can no longer deny it. Halloween is barely over, in fact there are still pumpkin guts in the middle of my street, but the wreaths and decorations were a the mall yesterday. And then today, my weekly email from New York Magazine, really brought it to my attention. At least their article had to do with cooking for the holidays, which truly does get me excited. AndJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-850638934147868722007-11-04T17:59:00.001-06:002007-11-04T18:01:42.521-06:00Salad Dressing Request...J has requested the name of the super-kick-a$$ salad dressing that T brought over the other night...(drum roll please)It's called "brianna's homestyle.... the new american, creamy balsamic vinagrette...."and its gooooooddddddd......Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-84929634200197208292007-11-03T14:57:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:23.755-06:00 Dinner Party, Reviewed (with Buttah) We had some good friends over for dinner last night and had a marvelous time. We ate a bit (or a lot, I guess) and then moved into the TV room to play the Wii. Its a great way to burn off all those calories! K&C brought some really amazing spicy cauliflower bits to start with. Just small pieces of the stuff coated in cayenne and panko and lots of butter. Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-52332943709384822352007-11-02T16:30:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:23.966-06:00Bourbon Pecan Tart with Chocolate Drizzle from Cooking Light.We're having a dinner party tonight (more on that tomorrow) and I'm so excited about the dessert I just had to post about it a day early. And to get something up to continue National Blog Posting Month.If you subscribe to CL, you'll recognize this recipe. It is featured on the cover of the November Issue and is irrestible. My chocolate Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-40704813042157940832007-11-01T21:55:00.000-05:002007-11-01T22:00:25.546-05:00Alrighty then...I just heard about the National Blog Posting Month from Jen. The challenge is to post every day for the month of November. It's related to the National Novel Writing Month, which I'm also hoping to meet. But this (really) seems more manageable. Not sure if this post is cheating, but I plan to write something actually about food tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a link to a site I Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-43148041278200116942007-10-31T13:45:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:24.742-06:00BOO!I can't take credit for these beautiful cupcakes, but I still wanted to show how beautiful they are. The artistic director from a non-profit client made them and I snapped a picture when I stopped by their offices today. Aren't they fun? There are skulls, and rats and a finger. Even candy pumpkins and a skeleton crawling out of one. Beautiful.Happy Halloween everyone!!Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-9748946338434006992007-10-29T21:02:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:25.053-06:00 A Warm Autumn Soup and a Fun New Toy.This Carrot-Ginger soup made a great Sunday lunch on a cool day, after raking the leaves. The carrots provide a subtle flavor and the ginger surprises you with its bite. And like most of the recipes I make, it was easy. Some chopped garlic and ginger, sliced carrot and chicken stock, and simmer. Then I got to use the new Cuisinart Cordless Immersion Blender IJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-3873825691067235362007-10-28T20:07:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:25.248-06:00A favorite (spicy) weeknight meal.I found this recipe a couple of years ago and immediately fell in love with it. It's called Broiled Tilapia with Thai Coconut-Curry Sauce and I found it in Cooking Light. And the best part? It's really easy. Shhhh, don't tell your guests that.Start with a dash of sesame oil, garlic and fresh ginger. When it starts smelling really delicious and you can't pull yourJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-45448973032116041622007-10-23T16:14:00.000-05:002007-10-24T20:46:16.686-05:00Halloween Candy Made Better!!Who would have thunk, but Chow.com has recipes for our favorite Halloween Candy from childhood. Yes, the Almond Jay (Almond Joy) is/was one of my favorites. They also have my Mother's favorite, the Snickles (Snickers), my second favorite, the Twixt (Twix) and, of course, PB Cups (Reese's). Chow has recipes (and directions) for each. And now that I'm not traveling to Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-10082213637658345002007-10-19T08:09:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:25.767-06:00City Pages' Iron Fork!We made it over to the Iron Fork last night. I guess this is the second year of the event, which is a local chef cook-off to benefit Second Harvest Heartland. And it was fun. We got there at 530 when the doors opened to avoid the crowds, and I'm glad we did. The food was really much better, and there was much more, than we expected. Obviously, we headed right towards the Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-15570745644402105722007-10-17T14:26:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:26.209-06:00I finally made it to Common Roots CafeI made it there early this morning and brought a dozen beautiful bagels and some scrumptious cream cheese to the Office. First impressions are important, and the interior of Common Roots is all I could have expected. The atmosphere is clean, and airy and very inviting. The baked goods and pasta salads all looked divine, as did the vegan chili and the cherry Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-22361547752523911062007-10-15T10:04:00.001-05:002008-12-12T17:50:27.434-06:00Again, Cafe MaudeWe went out for girls night the other day, and again tried the lovely neighborhood hotspot, Cafe Maude. I went there for my birthday a few months ago and was very impressed. And this time, although service was spotty and slow, the food was well worth the wait. There were seven of us, and K started the evening by sharing a great bottle of champagne. Just celebrating our Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-35705493773430797042007-10-14T15:06:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:28.311-06:00St. Paul Farmer's MarketI know I've written about the market before, but this time I'm dedicating an entire post to my favorite farmers market. Located in the lowertown part of downtown St. Paul, I find the market much more manageable, with much better products, than the Minneapolis Farmer's Market. The unique thing about the SPFM, is that anything sold there, must be grown or made within 50 Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-60747483866788434742007-10-10T20:04:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:28.611-06:00Seasonal Ingredient: Figs (A new thing here at The Write Ingredients; We're going to try to post on a seasonal ingredient once a week. We'll provide information you don't need to know, but will like.) In New York a week ago, I passed a street vendor who was selling pints of fresh figs for $2. Two dollars I asked him, in a high-pitched, shrieking voice. Just last fall I paid about a dollar a Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-18850285380290664182007-10-09T08:18:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:28.762-06:00So, there's this new cafe in town with real bagels. And this morning they were featured on MPR. It's the Common Roots Cafe. I've been meaning to get there, it's just that it's in a crowded part of town that's not really on my way in (or out of town, for that matter.) In addition to creating real bagels, they offer food from local farmers and space for community groups to meet. I just need a Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-28363944893776030372007-10-08T11:17:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:28.935-06:00Sea Salt does it again. One of our favorite restaurants, Sea Salt Eatery, is closing for the season in just two more weeks. It's a sad day when they lock their doors. Not only does it mean summer/fall is over, but the best seafood restaurant in the area is n longer serving their scrumptious crab cakes, loaded po'boys or crispy calamari. It's very sad.So we had a date night Friday night and walkedJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-69502271630249283332007-10-04T11:51:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:30.028-06:00Perilla. We're both fans of Bravo's show, Top Chef. Or at least I am, and Husband watches with me because it's on. So our trip to New York wouldn't have been complete with at least trying to get into Harold Dieterle's new restaurant. Harold, as you all should know, was the season one winner of Top Chef.I called to make a reservation our first night, and the only opening was 11:15pm. Hello. I'm Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-12158677486758064252007-10-02T18:42:00.003-05:002008-12-12T17:50:30.531-06:00There's nothing like eating in New York City. Yep, I went traveling again. This time I headed east, following Husband to NYC for a business meeting. We only went for a few days, but that's still plenty of time to eat, drink and walk throughout the town. There are over 000000 restaurants in New York City, and everyone I know had a recommendation of a place WE HAD to try. Which is tough, because Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-81829362684952911752007-09-22T21:53:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:31.245-06:00A very tasty local dinner. Let it be known that we said Local Dinner, not Lo-Cal Dinner. Although I don't think it was overly sinful. K and I decided it would be fun to get our group of creative gals together for a lovely, local dinner. She hosted at her beautiful house (minus dog) and I sent out the emails. The goal was to have an entire meal (seven people - seven dishes) that were all based on Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-86814385132006654672007-09-20T21:16:00.001-05:002008-12-12T17:50:32.334-06:00The KitchenThe next day I brought sister and her husband to a restaurant in Boulder that I had read about. It's called The Kitchen, and they're known for serving local, fresh ingredients in innovative ways. We chose to go for lunch to simply everything. From the moment we walked in, I felt at ease. The decor was light and airy, one wall was brick, another stone. There were two large paintings on Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-55246117690624713312007-09-19T20:14:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:33.127-06:00 A happy weekend of cooking and eating in Denver.The mountains, the open space, the wide open sky, Wild Oats and lots and lots of food. I spent a long weekend visiting the sister and her husband and since we all love to cook, we opted to stay in rather than spending the money at pricey restaurants. For their wedding, they received a Tagine. And I've been dieing to use it. We found a recipe on Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-62786313539675122042007-09-07T15:31:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:33.288-06:00Help your local farmers!Tomorrow, on Saturday, September 8th, a number of area restaurants are raising money for the sustainable farmers in southeastern Minnesota who were affected by the recent floods. There is also a live auction with some great things for foodies. Personally, I'm planning to pick up a pizza from the Birchwood. Yum.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-36386248423125057732007-09-05T22:46:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:34.877-06:00The MN State Fair, part 2I made it back. Every year I think about returning to my beloved State Fair on its last day, Labor day. And this year, L and I made it back. We took the city bus, route number 84, which cruised fairly close (2 blocks) from my house and dropped us off right at the door of the fair. With our free ride coupons, it couldn't have been easier. The hardest part of the day was Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-72178433709452755952007-09-02T11:05:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:36.731-06:00State fair, part 1...It has become a tradition for me to go to the fair with friend L, as well as friend C from DC. Sometimes the three of us have gone together, other times, like this year, we go on two separate trips. Which is fine with me, because it means I get to go to the fair twice.So last night was trip number 1. I met C from DC after work, and we wandered through the streets and vendors Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-67748786886268875742007-08-31T13:47:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:37.487-06:00Happy little thai eggplants.What a find. At Garlic Fest last week (yes, still more on that later), there was a vendor selling just the cutest little thai eggplants. I recognized the little green balls from the Sweet Green Curry that I can't get enough of from True Thai Restaurant in Minneapolis. The ones I found ranged in size from a cherry tomato to that of a small peach. The skin is crisp, and Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-37644896539689573942007-08-26T19:42:00.001-05:002007-08-26T19:50:09.360-05:00It's time to be honest..This eating local thing is really hard. Just ask K! I've snuck a couple bananas, but only one diet coke, and I even (shame on me) had a mango smoothie. (Although I don't think there were any actual mangos in the packaged mixture.But I've had some successes. The local corn right now is fabulous. I've been enjoying Cultural Revolution yogurt with farmers market raspberries. Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-19620515428352802162007-08-18T22:21:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:37.814-06:00Freezing corn on a Saturday night!!I really need to get a life. On the drive back from Garlic Fest (more on that later), I stopped at a roadside stand and picked up a dozen beautiful ears of corn and a few pounds of tomatoes. (note the tomatoes and the glass of wine in the photo.) I should have noticed the name of the farm, because the woman helping me couldn't have been sweeter, and even walked Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-807606192911008972007-08-16T21:40:00.000-05:002007-08-16T22:02:03.214-05:00Day 2, well, we can't control everything. After a locally baked scone from Yum, loaded with beautiful mixed berrys that I'm sure couldn't have come far, I ended up at, of all places, T.G.I Fridays for lunch.Yuck.But the clients picked it, and we tried to change their mind to The Good Earth, but you can't win them all, eh? It turned out to be a pleasant lunch, despite the food. One client brought Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-72833244814718164662007-08-15T20:24:00.000-05:002007-08-15T20:33:09.997-05:00Eating Local Day 1Cultural Revolution yogurt with farmers market raspberries and co-op granola.Toast with local honey and scrambled eggs from Otis Family Farm.Bison burgers from Eichtens, with my homemade refrigerator pickles served with Minnesota Sweet Corn and garden tomatoes.There's some watermelon in the fridge for dessert.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-65569144283136592032007-08-12T16:44:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:37.998-06:00A local, and very tasty, breakfast. Okay – so its not ALL local, but most of it is. The eggs are from Otis Family Farm. The bread was baked across the river. The plums and raspberries are from local farms, but the peaches are from Colorado and the bananas, well, they’re fairtrade and organic. So we’re close. The butter is from Cedar Summit Farm, so I think I get bonus points for that, right?Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-75543074096036284862007-08-11T16:59:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:38.871-06:00"Honey, it almost smells like Oceanaire in here!"Well, almost. Or maybe for a few minutes. Regardless, the kitchen smelled great. And now, you want to know what we made? Well, let me begin. Husband was in Colorado for a couple days and was able to hop on an earlier flight. Sick of eating pasta and leftovers from the depths of the refrigerator, I grabbed a copy of Gourmet and started paging Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-50020687117944002682007-08-08T14:53:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:39.212-06:00Eat Local Challenge In just a week, starting August 15th, I'll be talking part in the Eat Local Challenge. There seem to be a number of challenges, but I've chosen to go with the one organized by my friendly Mississippi Market coop. There is one sponsored by a group called "eatlocalchallenge.com from Portland" and there's the "100-mile diet," out of Vancouver. Both locations have slightly Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-69405312845041648652007-08-03T15:29:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:39.662-06:00A few days in Duluth, Part 2: Chester Creek CafeOn our second day in Duluth, we found another little gem, also known as Chester Creek Cafe. Given, after a meal at the New Scenic Cafe, any restaurant has a lot of live up to. But CCC did a fine job. The atmosphere was casual, and homey with big wooden booths and packed bookshelves lining all the walls. We noted that the books were all for sale, andJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-91823260841189559722007-08-02T21:11:00.000-05:002007-08-02T21:32:00.053-05:00unbelievableI'm sure by now you've all heard about the terrible tragedy that occurred yesterday in Minneapolis. The I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed during rush hour. My thoughts are with my fellow Minnesotans and to those families who are suffering. Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-20031466680626103672007-07-31T21:52:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:41.554-06:00A few days in Duluth, Part 1: New Scenic CafeWe spent a few days in Duluth last weekend, and when we weren't hiking, biking or swimming, we were eating. Our first night, we decided to drive further up the shore (just 8 miles) to the New Scenic Cafe. This place was highly recommended my the In-Laws (and pretty much anyone else who's ever been to Duluth and has good taste). From the moment we Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-56268220223892498422007-07-22T20:35:00.001-05:002008-12-12T17:50:42.232-06:00Grazefest 2007I am so far behind, and have enjoyed so much good food recently. It seems to make sense to start at the farm. Last weekend, sister, her husband and KJ drove down to New Prague to visit Grazefest 2007.Essentially, its a festival celebrating local and organic farming, and it was hosted by Cedar Summit Farm. There were fresh brats, lectures from farmers and a fabulous cooking Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-68191385757599988702007-07-19T20:40:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:42.372-06:00This is why I watch Iron ChefThis is a piece of sushi by Iron Chef Morimoto. He created it during "Battle Asparagus." It is surrounded by a Dashi Foam. And Alton called it a church window. All I know, is I've never had any sushi this beautiful, and honestly, I'm not sure if I could eat it.(And yes, I paused Tivo and took a photo of my TV.)Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-42725354117472437802007-07-18T09:59:00.001-05:002008-12-12T17:50:42.565-06:00A Tiny Harvest.I pulled my first tomatoes out of the garden today. Two perfect little grape tomatoes. They're actually much larger than a grape, and I haven't the heart to eat them quite yet. Maybe tomorrow. Along with them, I pulled off the first banana pepper and the remaining sugar snap peas. Dog got a little one on the walk to the house. And I think our neighborhood deer has been helping Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-81507020719211405422007-07-17T18:15:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:42.971-06:00Taste #32: Cookbook Queen - Paulette MitchellProlific ought to be Paulette Mitchell’s middle name (actually, it’s Gwendolyn, and she’s not fond of it). It suits a dynamo who has produced a dozen cookbooks since 1984, each one brainstormed and tested in the culinary think-tank otherwise known as her inviting Edina kitchen. Mitchell’s work has often embraced one of two themes: envelope-pushing Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-73990072406481525722007-07-15T14:08:00.001-05:002008-12-12T17:50:43.341-06:00A light, impromptu lunch. K took me out yesterday so I could learn how to ride my new scooter, and along the way we stopped at the lovely Birchwood Cafe for a glass of lemonade. Once inside, the idea grew into maybe something sweet. There were slices of cake, scones, berry cobblers and one totally to die for bread pudding. Then K saw the soup list and tried a sample of the chilled Thai Tomato Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-86724511561053621552007-07-09T21:51:00.001-05:002008-12-12T17:50:44.221-06:00A Weekend of Eating - Right (Part 2)On to part two (2). After that fabulous lunch we stopped by Coastal Seafoods to pick out our dinner. Coastal Seafoods is a local seafood market with just three locations (Minneapolis, St. Paul and Wayzata). Their quality is by far the best in the city and some of the best restaurants around stop in there daily for their fish and seafood. That day, the Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-46989257647710936892007-07-08T16:39:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:45.790-06:00A Weekend of Eating - Right (Part 1)I have no problem planning my days around food. And Saturday was no exception. The In-laws came down for the day, and we decided to head downtown for lunch, walk through the new Guthrie Theater, and just putz around town. The temperatures were going to be in the upper 90s, so a day of indoor activities seemed like a good idea.We had lunch at a favorite Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-32344942377373476212007-07-06T21:28:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:46.294-06:00Cumin Pork Tenderloin, Tomatillo-Poblano SauceI try so many recipes, and hope that all of them end up in the "make-it-again-pile," but so many don't make the cut. Most of them are good, many of them are great, but few of them are really heartfelt-this-must-be-made-again-right-now good. The recipe below made this cut. And just an hour after eating, I'm already craving it again.I pulled this recipeJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38883956.post-4603657477433217212007-07-03T15:14:00.000-05:002008-12-12T17:50:46.633-06:00A Crop Share Dinner - sort ofSo, the extent of my crop share this summer has included some greens, some catnip and some peas. To be fair, they've had an insanely warm and dry spring, and most of their spring crops just weren't able to pull through. Its a risk of going through a CSA. However, friend K is getting weekly share from a different farm and has been kind enough to share what she's not Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305519442827564851noreply@blogger.com0