Thursday night, having the privledge of a night off work, I decided to embark on a new soup adventure and involve a couple of friends in it. I know I make a lot of soup, I can't really seem to help it, these days. In fact, the next two things I am planning to make are soups!
This time, it was butternut squash, red lentil, and ginger soup. This was another puree, it had onion and tomatoes in it as well, and it was just perfectly gingery although processing the butternut squash was somewhat obnoxious, it was definitely worthwhile. The recipe called for two inches of grated ginger, though if you just can't get enough ginger you could probably use more if you wanted. In addition to the soup, we had a white corn/edamame salad with rice wine vinegar and sesame oil dressing that was a very tasty cold salad and went quite well with the soup. We also had a bottle of 337 Cabernet Sauvignon, which wasn't bad but also wasn't great. I wouldn't get it again, I don't think.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
salt caramel cupcakes!
I had a religious experience at Cupcake Royale today, and it is all I can do to not just run back there and buy tons of these cupcakes to give to everyone I love. I was tempted to buy one to go, but resisted.
I walked into Cafe Verite, ready to get my usual red velvet cupcake and an americano and do some intense studying with Heather, when I saw something different in the pastry case. The cupcake flavor of the month was salted caramel. Now, I love salted caramel, I can't get enough of them, and without a moment's hesitation, I ordered the cupcake and carried it back to our table. Heather, as it turns out, had already eaten one, and gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up on my cupcake choice.
This cupcake was divine. Magnificent. Excuisite. I am told that Cupcake Royale recently changed their chocolate cake batter, and the cupcake was great on its own, but the frosting! It tasted just like werther's caramels, wasn't too sweet, and complemented the chocolate perfectly. On top of the frosting were chocolate shavings and a generous dusting of fleur-de-sel. I found cupcake perfection.
I walked into Cafe Verite, ready to get my usual red velvet cupcake and an americano and do some intense studying with Heather, when I saw something different in the pastry case. The cupcake flavor of the month was salted caramel. Now, I love salted caramel, I can't get enough of them, and without a moment's hesitation, I ordered the cupcake and carried it back to our table. Heather, as it turns out, had already eaten one, and gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up on my cupcake choice.
This cupcake was divine. Magnificent. Excuisite. I am told that Cupcake Royale recently changed their chocolate cake batter, and the cupcake was great on its own, but the frosting! It tasted just like werther's caramels, wasn't too sweet, and complemented the chocolate perfectly. On top of the frosting were chocolate shavings and a generous dusting of fleur-de-sel. I found cupcake perfection.
eating my way through January
This weekend was chock full of tasty things, as all weekends should be.
I went to a really nice potluck at the frat haus on Saturday night, and there were many other guests who brought a nice variety of dishes and booze and good company. I was a little stressed out that day because I decided at the last minute to make falafel again, having made it the previous night with the intention of bringing it to the potluck. I was worried that it wouldn't be as delicious the 2nd day, so I rushed to the store at 7pm (potluck started at 8), and ran around my kitchen chopping, blending, and frying things, but the falafel turned out really well and I was pleased with it. I got to the potluck just in time to dish up a plate full of exciting things like macaroni and cheese (which I am pretty sure was made with beecher's cheese), tabouleh, chickpea & spinach curry, roasted sesame eggplant, falafel, veggie tart, and vegetarian chili. I think I actually ate more things than that, but there were so many dishes that looked good, I was overwhelmed and had a hard time deciding. Also available at this party were a number of different caramels from Theo's chocolates, which is where Becca works. I ate many different kinds of caramels, and was really into the sage caramel.
Sunday night I made a vegetable stirfry, and was going to concoct an almond sauce (like peanut sauce... but with almonds) in order to not kill my roommate, who is allergic to peanuts, but ended up making a while new sauce instead. I juiced two oranges (minneola I think), zested them, added sweet chili sauce and fish sauce, and then grated a ton of fresh ginger into that and gave it a good stir. I used onion, garlic, broccoli, sugar snap peas, water chestnuts, carrot, and red bell pepper as my veggies, which didn't leave any room in my pan for tofu, so I opted to just leave it out. I sauteed everything in a little bit of canola oil and a bunch of sesame oil, which I am very into right now because I love the flavor it lends to vegetables that cook in it. The stirfry ended up being very tasty, and VERY gingery, which is great because I adore ginger, especially in the winter. It was just what we needed, a huge helping of fresh vegetables, and tons of cold-fighting vitamin C.
I went to a really nice potluck at the frat haus on Saturday night, and there were many other guests who brought a nice variety of dishes and booze and good company. I was a little stressed out that day because I decided at the last minute to make falafel again, having made it the previous night with the intention of bringing it to the potluck. I was worried that it wouldn't be as delicious the 2nd day, so I rushed to the store at 7pm (potluck started at 8), and ran around my kitchen chopping, blending, and frying things, but the falafel turned out really well and I was pleased with it. I got to the potluck just in time to dish up a plate full of exciting things like macaroni and cheese (which I am pretty sure was made with beecher's cheese), tabouleh, chickpea & spinach curry, roasted sesame eggplant, falafel, veggie tart, and vegetarian chili. I think I actually ate more things than that, but there were so many dishes that looked good, I was overwhelmed and had a hard time deciding. Also available at this party were a number of different caramels from Theo's chocolates, which is where Becca works. I ate many different kinds of caramels, and was really into the sage caramel.
Sunday night I made a vegetable stirfry, and was going to concoct an almond sauce (like peanut sauce... but with almonds) in order to not kill my roommate, who is allergic to peanuts, but ended up making a while new sauce instead. I juiced two oranges (minneola I think), zested them, added sweet chili sauce and fish sauce, and then grated a ton of fresh ginger into that and gave it a good stir. I used onion, garlic, broccoli, sugar snap peas, water chestnuts, carrot, and red bell pepper as my veggies, which didn't leave any room in my pan for tofu, so I opted to just leave it out. I sauteed everything in a little bit of canola oil and a bunch of sesame oil, which I am very into right now because I love the flavor it lends to vegetables that cook in it. The stirfry ended up being very tasty, and VERY gingery, which is great because I adore ginger, especially in the winter. It was just what we needed, a huge helping of fresh vegetables, and tons of cold-fighting vitamin C.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
le panier
One of the better ways to start your morning, should you happen to be in/near Pike Place Market, is with a trip to Le Panier, a fantastic French bakery whose butter-scented air lures in many tourists and locals alike. If you are lucky enough to get there before the crowd (8am on a Saturday in this case), you will have ample space and time to peruse the pastry cases before carefully selecting your flaky, delicious treat. I love their féuilletes, which are pastries with a variety of savory fillings. I am a huge fan of the broccoli, but I just love broccoli in general. The puff pastry is somewhat delicate, and flakes fall off as you bite into it--perfection.
My latte was excellent, as always. Le Panier uses Caffe Umbria espresso beans, and has adorable baristas. When I get a latte to go from le Panier, I sprinkle a little cinnamon on top, and it's heavenly.
My latte was excellent, as always. Le Panier uses Caffe Umbria espresso beans, and has adorable baristas. When I get a latte to go from le Panier, I sprinkle a little cinnamon on top, and it's heavenly.
Falafel!
Last night I was feeling decidedly vitamin-C deficient, and thirsty. I juiced two tangerines (and these were extremely juicy, fat tangerines) and slurped the pulpy, tangy juice as I was cooking.
I have been wanting to make falafel for a while, for many reasons--first of which being, I love falafel. There was a tasty-sounding recipe in a cookbook I recieved for Christmas, so last night I went for it. I mixed chickpeas, turmeric, onion, parsley, garlic, flour, salt, and orange juice (should have been lemon juice but my lemons went bad), blended them down in my food processor (that wasn't really large enough for this job, poor thing), and then fried up some falafel patties in olive oil. The falafels turned out really well! I ate two of them and nearly danced with excitement at the idea that I can now make my own falafels whenever I want. I think chickpeas are going to make it onto my regular list of grocery items.
I have been wanting to make falafel for a while, for many reasons--first of which being, I love falafel. There was a tasty-sounding recipe in a cookbook I recieved for Christmas, so last night I went for it. I mixed chickpeas, turmeric, onion, parsley, garlic, flour, salt, and orange juice (should have been lemon juice but my lemons went bad), blended them down in my food processor (that wasn't really large enough for this job, poor thing), and then fried up some falafel patties in olive oil. The falafels turned out really well! I ate two of them and nearly danced with excitement at the idea that I can now make my own falafels whenever I want. I think chickpeas are going to make it onto my regular list of grocery items.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Soup on Sunday
I had a lovely lunch date with Erica and Laura at Solstice Cafe in the U-dist on Sunday. At first we were disappointed to learn that the Ugly Mug Cafe (one of my favorites) was not open, but then realized that it meant we had the opportunity to have tasty soup at Solstice.
Tomato Basil soup is the only soup I have ever seen or had at Solstice, and it is tasty and makes me happy every time. There are many ways to spend $4, and this is probably in my top 10. The soup is a hearty orangey-red, with nice big pieces of basil--though not so many as to overwhelm you. The soup is also served with tasty bread, and this time the bread had caraway seeds in it! Solstice was, as always, filled with students working dilligently (or not so dilligently as the case may be), and we grabbed the last table available.
Tomato Basil soup is the only soup I have ever seen or had at Solstice, and it is tasty and makes me happy every time. There are many ways to spend $4, and this is probably in my top 10. The soup is a hearty orangey-red, with nice big pieces of basil--though not so many as to overwhelm you. The soup is also served with tasty bread, and this time the bread had caraway seeds in it! Solstice was, as always, filled with students working dilligently (or not so dilligently as the case may be), and we grabbed the last table available.
Friday, January 2, 2009
cafe verite
Latte--Stumptown hairbender espresso. Cow milk. Sugar in the raw.
Cupcake--red velvet, cream cheese frosting. Red and white nonpareils.
This is pretty much my usual at Cafe Verite/Cupcake Royale. I'm a fan. I am currently without headphones and am reading the NYT, listening to the cafe's music (usually pretty good, no exception today), milk steaming, people talking, and feeling the occasional cold shock when the door is open too long.
It's a beautiful day in Ballard.
Soup!
I really, really like making soup. Especially when it is chilly outside. I like making huge pots of soup and freezing some to eat at a later date, or having people over and feeding them warm, nutritious, delicious, soup. Winter is great, I don't care what anyone says about the weather, it makes me want soup and I am down with that.
I made two tasty soups this week from these good vegan cookbooks I have by the same person--Sarah Kramer. I have "The Garden of Vegan" and "La Dolce Vegan!" and have made a lot of things that turned out really well from them.
The first soup is called garden carrot soup with fresh ginger, and it was light, but filling, and had really amazing layers of flavor. I sautéed carrots and leeks in sesame oil (!) which really added something awesome to the final product. I could taste the sesame, and it wasn't overpowering, but kind of gave a hearty undertone to the soup. There was also a yam in the soup, and nutmeg, and fresh grated ginger. It was completely lovely--a pleasing shade of orange, smooth and flavorful, and delicious. I will definitely make it again.
Last night I had some friends over for dinner and I made soup again. This time it was coconut curry red lentil soup, which I have made twice before. It turned out a bit spicier this time because I added more curry, but I liked it a lot. Good for the sinuses! It has onion, potatoes, a yam, curry paste, coconut milk, celery, and lentils, of course, and is a most excellent soup. The last time I made it, it was a really beautiful color. This time something in the proportion of ingredients was off, because it was less of a creamy orange color and more split-pea colored, but I also used french lentils instead of red lentils because I discovered I was out of the latter. Of course, it matters most of all that it turns out edible and it was proclaimed delicious by all at the table (which it was). I definitely think presentation is important. Next time I'll add more yam, maybe. I like not following recipes. I want to cook more things with lentils in 2009, because I like lentils a lot.
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