My Goodness! No Guinness!
March 17, 2008
Sammlung
March 12, 2008
(I was going to call this post of rounded-up links “Git Along, Little Blogies,” but the hand of God or Dorothy Parker or something stopped me.)
What’s caught my eye (and appetite) today:
From The New York Times:
Hackney: From “trendy-poor” to just plain trendy? It would seem so. I have to say, the reference to “arts refugees” makes me a little uncomfortable, especially since there are probably a number of real refugees in the neighborhood who seek asylum from more than simply unaffordably high rents.
Frozen pickle pops! Now imagine what kind of paletas one could create with Kool-Aid pickles.
From the Epi-Log:
In light of the recent fall from grace of Eliot Spitzer, a look at what America’s most scandalous politicians love and hate to eat.
From Gothamist:
A pizza parlor in Queens churns out standard pies, but wait — there’s also a small side list of delicious Ecuadorean fare on the menu that more satisfyingly reflects the heritage of the slicery’s owners.
The frenzy to snag reservations at Momofuku Ko began four hours ago. Care, care!
A Stew and an Oath
March 12, 2008
We had a cold snap in New York a few weeks ago — you know, the kind where it feels like the wind is demanding satisfaction from you. What made it worse, though, was the teasing intimation of spring that came right before it, a few days of sunny, cloudless skies and light-jacket weather.
I felt had, personally. Especially on the first day of the snap, when I underdressed pretty woefully for the weather. I hunched and shivered all day, downing mugfuls of tea at work and depressively thinking back to winter. That night, a quintet of us had plans to cook at R’s again. I was tasked with finding something that pleased everyone, which I decided meant that I’d find something that pleased me and then coax the rest of them into agreeing.
Vaguely Lebanese Couscous-Stuffed Peppers
March 11, 2008
I have something to confess. For someone who co-authors a blog about eating well and cooking creatively with limited funds, I am terrible at limiting my grocery budget. I do not cook based on what I have and need to use up - but instead tend to prepare whatever strikes my fancy, purchasing whatever ingredients are necessary along the way. Now, this doesn’t include sushi, pheasant or sirloin steaks. … but I do try to purchase organic meat and dairy whenever possible, and unless times are really tight, it’s one aspect of my spending that tends to be relatively unbridled.
What isn’t there to love about quinoa? I certainly can’t think of anything. It cooks up fine in a rice cooker, absorbs sauces and dressings without getting soggy and packs a surfeit of complete protein for those nights when meat seems too costly or unhealthy.
I make something with quinoa in it at least once a week. Its versatility makes it great for breakfasts (cook it in hot milk like oatmeal), lunches (dried fruit, nuts, a vegetable or two and a dressing) and, of course, dinners. Plus, eating it makes me feel virtuous. And surely a virtuous, healthy eater like me will always be able to find a seat on the subway, or win a medium-size lottery.
But there are times when I want something wicked to temper that piety.
The Taco Always Rings Twice: Baja Fish
March 6, 2008
It’s difficult to imbue fried foods — even the best ones — with freshness and snap, to shear away that natural feeling of overindulgence that goes hand-in-hand with eating them.
Except, I’d argue, in the case of fish tacos.
There are also dishes that wring richly intricate tastes from a few ingredients: Shirred eggs and preserved lemons come to mind, although there are many in the worldwide running — and again, I’d say fish tacos are definitely among the pack.
