Kale Pesto

1 bunch Kale              1/4 cup EVOO

2 cloves garlic            2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/2 cup parmesan      salt and pepper

throw all ingredients (except oil) into the food processor, puree, then slowly add oil until incorporated. stir into pasta or whatever. it is surprisingly delicious and fresh-tasting!

Farmstand 59

Fresh, organic, non-GMO, locally grown produce in our 'hood! Look at how beautiful these eggs are. I even got to see the chickens they came from. They were wandering around ("free-ranging" if you will). I can't wait to revisit, and I may even volunteer to work the field or greenhouse when I can!

Mid-week burgers

Another mid-week hero: Ground beef Burgers doctored with ricotta cheese, mustard and Worcestershire with Roasted beet, arugula, toasted pecan and goat cheese salad

Just 8 more days!

I've been jonesing to get outside lately. To hike, to garden, to dine alfresco! (No, husband, if you're reading this, that does not mean to eat naked). The days have been longer, the temperature slightly warmer, and although I still plan on wearing tall boots for a good couple of months, I am ready for the time to change. Spring forward already!

Showing my fervent anticipation of Spring and the need to celebrate nature and the outdoors, here is one of the succulent pots I arranged last weekend.

Beef Stroganoff with radicchio salad

This recipe is from my friend Dennis (check out his blog), he got it from Saveur magazine. He claimed it was easy, fast and they make it all the time. Trusting his taste (he loves food the way I do) I decided to give it a shot. He was right! I did veer off-course by skipping the potatoes (though it sounded wonderful), and I threw the whole thing over egg pasta noodles, because that's how I grew up on the dish. The only other thing I would change for next time, I would double the sauce as I like a lot of 'gravy' on mine. On the whole, a definite winner of a meal!
The radicchio salad was supposed to be a red cabbage salad with shaved parmesan. But I was out of parmesan, and in a hasty move at the market, I actually bought radicchio instead. So I made a nice and bitter radicchio salad, with lemon/garlic/oil and parsley, plus I threw some avocado on mine (not on the husband's, he's not down with the avo). It was delicious! I didn't really process the fact that it wasn't cabbage until a day later. Kind of slow I guess, either that or hungry.

watching, reading, listening, looking, cooking

watching - Frazier reruns
reading - A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg (I highly recommend!)
listening - to hip hop
looking - at lots and lots and lots of blogs
cooking - not sure yet, hoping for some inspiration later today at the farmer's market

Oy Vey

Why did I try one? They were a gift from an associate at work, to say hello and Happy Purim! And to enlighten us with some of the lovely (and tasty) Jewish traditions. They sent a box of Hamantashen from a bakery in Brooklyn. Damn these things are delightful!

Your average square meal

Turkey Meatloaf with parsley garlic potatoes,
and roasted broccoli and cauliflower

The everyday square meals don't get the credit they deserve. They're not flashy, they're sustenance. They are peace of mind. We often make something with ground turkey, in an attempt to be healthy. Usually turkey tacos, or turkey burgers. I felt the need to pull up an old favorite this time, plus I wasn't quite starving yet (meatloaf takes time). So, mid-week meatloaf with veggies. Tomorrow night (leftover) meatloaf sandwiches!

Pork Sunset

I have a convoluted method for putting my images to posts in this blog. It usually involves me emailing myself images from my phone, opening them on a big screen, and evaluating and editing what to include, then writing. When I emailed these photos, I wrote "Pork Sunset" as the subject. A couple days later when I saw the email, I had no idea what the subject meant, but got all daydreamy thinking about what it could mean. Then I remembered I had gotten the recipe from Sunset Magazine. Ah-ha! That makes sense. Kind of a boring reason, when Pork Sunset just sounds so exciting and intriguing. Maybe even disturbing. Think: what does Pork Sunset mean to you?

Anyway- I often make rosemary pork tenderloin with brussels, and know that I love that combination. This recipe is different and even combines a few more of my favorite flavors. It is Pork and Charred Brussels Sprouts with Chile Lime Sauce. It was delicious.

Ready

Set

Go

Arizona

Recently took a trip to Arizona with the husband. We stayed in Scottsdale for two nights at the Saguaro, then drove to the mountains, and stayed in Jerome for one night. We saw many saguaro cacti, rows upon rows of lady slippers, and all other sorts of desert plants. Went to the Botanical Gardens in Scottsdale. I wish we had had more time (and sweatshirts) because it was beautiful, I could have spent hours there. We also visited an art compound (?) called Costanti. We saw Louis C.K. perform (the impetus for our trip), drank nummy wine, ate delicious food and relaxed a bit by the pool. All in all, a perfect getaway! Here are some pics..

Scottsdale

Cosanti

Jerome, photo by Greg Jacobs

Caduceus Tasting Room, Jerome