It seems we’ve been on a soup streak here lately, and that is A-ok with me. I love soup — to the point that I don’t even discriminate against the canned stuff. I know it’s a sodium bomb and full of all sorts of processed crap, but on a cold day with crusty hunk of sourdough or a drippy grilled cheese, I’m not super picky. If given the choice, however, a velvety, seasonal soup like this one — which can still be made start to finish in less than an hour — is an easy winner. Sweet, subtly spicy and … Read More
Recipe: Black bean, kale & farro soup with smoked olive oil (no bacon! whaaaat?)
Here’s a recipe that’ll knock your socks off. It’s a soup — no biggie — chocked full of veggies — no biggie — that would be excellent kicked off with a little rendered bacon — duh. Few soups wouldn’t benefit from getting things started with a little smoky, salty, fat. Except for I’m out of bacon. And, as you can read more about in a post I’m hoping to get to tomorrow, we’re kind of trying to limit bacon intake in this house, among other things, at least for a little while. Something to do with wanting to live a … Read More
Recipe: Dirty chayote & rice soup with bacon
You know what’s even better than working with people you like? Working with people you like who love to eat. On both fronts, I have won the co-worker lottery. Better, even, than colleagues that love to eat are colleagues that are significantly better than I am at hunting, gathering or growing food stuffs with their own two hands. One of those people is my buddy Gordon. To date, I have Gordon to thank for two Chinese fish dinners (fresh caught lingcod!); a hearty stir-fry made with winter melons plucked straight from the vine — and tonight’s soup: a mild, rustic … Read More
Recipe: Bacon, bean & bells chili
Seems like it’s been a while since I posted something actually related to food, doesn’t it? Bacon bummer aside, that is. Must be my preoccupation with the ski house that we rented with some friends for the winter. I know, right? Ski house. We went up last weekend to get things settled, and I can already tell we’re going to have a heck of time both on and off the slope. Our group is awesome, the snow season looks far more promising than last — and I have a feeling we’re going to hit the jackpot when it comes to slow … Read More
Braised Pork Belly Tacos (my first Pigsgiving!)
First off, Happy Birthday to my Father-in-Law, John! I’m spoiled by having totally normal and highly lovable in-laws. They’re the best, and super supportive in everything we do. Love them. Second: Turkey. Schmurkey. That’s right, I said it. Every year, knowing that most everyone has a turkey dinner in their plans for Thanksgiving, my mom’s side of the family gets together for a decidedly Turkey-less holiday lunch. We’ve done a Chinese potluck with black bean spareribs and sticky rice. We’ve done an Italian feast with lasagne, piccata and fluffy desserts. We’ve even done an entirely Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving where we … Read More