Thursday, April 27, 2006

I'm a believer...

This has been a good week, so far...

I have to work Sunday, and I'm not too impressed with that. I've settled into a nice rut and I don't like it when things get shaken up. Nonetheless, money is money and doing a good job secures more money. Yes, that is EXACTLY how I see it...

This week has been good for the food-stuff. Last night I made some Bourbon Street Country Ribs with French Fried Sweet Potatoes to go with the taped episodes of House, M.D. Kerrie and I needed to catch up on, and tonight we had Ricotta Stuffed Ravioli with a Creamy Sun Dried Tomato & Rosemary Sauce. I love Sun Dried Tomatoes, it's just a shame I don't use them more often. I keep a jar of them on hand at all times though for various reasons...

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato & Rosemary Sauce
5 or 6 Slices of Sun Dried Tomatoes, chopped fine
1 Sprig Rosemary, chopped fine
1 Shallot, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 Cup dry white wine
2/3 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
Salt & Pepper, to taste

Start by heating some olive oil in a 8-inch skillet over med-low heat. Add garlic, shallot, and rosemary and cook until fragrant. (DO NOT BURN!) Add wine and Sun Dried Tomatoes and cook until reduced by 75%. Add heavy cream and cook until just thickened. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Goes well with just about any pasta.


Tomorrow I'll be making Flat Iron Steaks with a Parsnip Puree and Lightly Sauted String Beans, so I'm looking forward to that. Speaking of things I'm looking forward to... Anthony Bourdain's new book, The Nasty Bits will be out on the 16'th of May. Also, season 3 of Scrubs will be out on the 9'th of May. So May holds a lot of media-goodness for me.

Now although I don't ever deviate from my normal food-related content, I feel it is extremely important for Jeb and Edwards to see THIS. Watch it at home boys, and laugh, and... just... yeah.


"Something that smells that good should not come from a kitchen that small..."
- Kerrie's Mom

spiritoftruthgroove
BT - Believer
Misfits - You Belong To Me
Andrew WK - She is Beautiful
Crystal Method - Community Service II

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

With nothing in your gut, you better keep your mouth shut...

I feel, right now, like a junkie on a really good high....

See, this weekend was good for me. Food-wise, this might have been the best I've done since the incident at St. Marks so many years ago.

Friday night, Kerrie's family came to Cinci for the Easter Holiday. We started off with a run to Ci-Ci's Pizza for dinner, then over to Jungle Jim's for a quick culinary shopping spree. I found some really good gourmet salts, which I plan to make chocolate covered caramel truffles with. After Jungle Jim's we went back to our apartment just ahead of some crappy weather. Severe Weather didn't stop us from enjoying my Lavender infused Creme Brulee with Candied Lemongrass. (I think next time I might try it with Flan though.) Boo Yaa...



Saturday was the money shot though. Kerrie and I got up early and went to Panera for Bagels and Coffee, then we went to the hotel her family was staying at to enjoy a little pool time. I, personally, just wanted to relax in the hot tub and that is precisely what I did. At 10:30am I came home and started my prep work for our 1:00pm lunch. My morning consisted of loud punk rock, hip hop and kitchen appliances; and I loved every second of it.

At 1:00pm everyone sat down for a meal that went like this...

Ginger Peach Iced Tea
Cosmo's Style Lemonade with Limes

Mixed Spring & Dandelion Greens with Lemon Oregano Vinaigrette
Sourdough Boule With Oven Roasted Garlic

Skewers of Grilled Sirloin & Chicken with Pan Roasted Squash & Zucchini, Crisp Potatoes and Rosemary Demi-Glace

Orange Rosewater Ice Cream


When all was said and done, everything came out perfect. Normally I have something that goes wrong. Something that I have to compromise on. SOMETHING... This meal was perfect. Nothing about it was lacking in style or flavor. I was amazed and fulfilled all at once...

The weekend came to a close all too quickly, but the feel of working and creating and enjoying an experience like that sticks with you for a lifetime...

-
Quote of the Day:
Matt: I'm gonna put you in the weeds now...
Eric: He doesn't look like he's behind at all Matt.
Jay: That's 'cuz I use weed-killer on my lawn motherfucker...
-

eastergroove:
Sex Pistols - New York
Rob D - Clubbed to Death
Overseer - Slayed
X-ecutioners - (Even) More Human than Human


Thursday, April 06, 2006

If I had "my time" again...

My clogs finally died this past week. It was sad to say goodbye, but they were in seriously bad shape. The staples we coming out of the sides and the soles were cracking and falling apart. So long lil' buddies...



This coming week will be a short one at work, being Spring Break and all. Kerrie's parents will be coming down so I'll need to come up with something spec-fucking-tacular for an Easter dinner. I was thinking of Grilled Flat Iron Steaks atop roasted slices of Eggplant with a TBD-flavor Demi-Glace. My mind is all over the place on this, so I guess I'll just whip out the Escoffier Cookbook and do a little reading. Maybe something good will pop out at me...

Tonight it's raining but I'm still going to do some grilling for dinner. I'm doing Balsamic Lavender Steaks with Straw Fries tonight, and tomorrow (when we're supposed to have some sort of sever weather roll through) I'm planning on doing Pork Chops With Lemongrass & Kosher Salt. Neither rain, nor snow, nor...

I made three Mini-Disc mixes this week. I revisited The Bakery Tape, and got my two Prep mixes going. (One for daily and one for the Weeds). There is something that gets me warm inside about making a mix of digital music but having something physical to hold. If I have time later on, I'll throw up my playlists...



Easterdinnergroove:
B.A.D. II - Rush
The Cult - Love Removal Machine
Sex Pistols - New York
L7 - Pretend We're Dead
Soul Asylum - Somebody to Shove