“Not for me the pile of buttered carrots on the plate. Too sweet, too orange {too bloody cheerful more like it}. But the carrot’s place is assured in my kitchen as the bringer of earthy sweetness, a backbone vegetable on which to build layers of flavor.” ~ Nigel Slater, Tender
Braised Chicken Thighs with White Wine & Dijon | Brown Basmati & Wild Rice | Baby Arugula with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette The girls and I arrived home at 2:40am Monday morning…almost exactly 5 days {to the minute} from when we left in the darkness and rain the Wednesday before. The early morning departure for a Continue reading → «Braised Chicken Thighs with White Wine & Dijon»
MONDAY Prosciutto~Wrapped Chicken Thighs with Anchovy Butter | Charred Green Beans & Scallions I should know by now, after thirteen years into this horse “habit”, that things rarely go according to plan. Yet, when plans go awry {like they did this weekend}, I am still surprised. I won’t bore you with all of the horrific Continue reading → «Prosciutto~Wrapped Chicken with Charred Green Beans & Scallions»
WEDNESDAY Jane Grigson’s Celery Soup | Buffalo Chicken Wings It is just about 5:30pm on a very wet Friday evening. Rain…glorious rain…has been coming down, steadily, for hours. Not a shower, mind you, but a thoroughly soaking rain streaming down from a sky the color of battleship gray. It has eluded us for months, this Continue reading → «Celery Soup»
WEDNESDAY We have been easing back into the reality of the New Year. Monday, Michael returned to the office. Tuesday, school resumed for Mallory. Yesterday, Max returned to school and had his first winter training session for football in the afternoon. Today {Thursday}, Maddie began the last half of her senior year in high school. Continue reading → «Spicy Pork & Kale Soup»
TUESDAY Chickens Roasted in Milk with Lemon, Cinnamon & Sage | Spigariello with Lemon~Garlic Vinaigrette | Roasted Potatoes We like chicken. We eat a lot of chicken. Grilled, pounded, fried, stuffed and skewered…chicken is a virtual blank canvas in the dinner arena. But of all the ways we enjoy this member of the fowl family, roasting Continue reading → «Chicken Roasted in Milk & Spigariello with Lemon~Garlic Vinaigrette»
MONDAY Creamy 4 Cheese Shells & Cheese with Brie and a Buttery Ritz Cracker Topping | Salad of Baby Lettuces with Roasted Tomato Vinaigrette The week before Christmas, when Madison and Michael were both traveling, I made this version of mac & cheese for Max, Mallory and I. It was the food we were craving Continue reading → «Creamy Shells & Cheese with Brie and a Buttery Cracker Crust»
New England~Style Clam Chowder | Spinach Salad with a Warm Bacon Vinaigrette “Soup is the solvent of memory. For many of us it is love. When I am tired and want comfort, when I want to share happiness, or when I want flavor, my first desire is soup. The pots and bowls and cups of Continue reading → «New England Clam Chowder & A Spinach Salad»
TUESDAY Kung Pao Chicken I apologize…to all my fellow Northern Californians…for it is I that could very well be blamed for the sudden, and very noticeable, drop in temperature here in the Bay area. You see, I recently rambled on about the disparity between our abundant sunshine & mild temperatures and my childhood memories of Continue reading → «Kung Pao Chicken»
MONDAY Pumpkin Soup | Thyme~Roasted Grapes with Ricotta and Grilled Bread “One day many years ago a man walked along and stood in the sound of the ocean on a cold sunless shore and said, “We need a voice to call across the water, to warn ships; I’ll make one. I’ll make a voice Continue reading → «Pumpkin Soup & Thyme~Roasted Grapes with Ricotta and Grilled Bread»
