Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Vegetarian without trying


Last night, I had this wonderful gourmet menu planned of lamb with truffle crème frauche paired with a champagne vinaigrette arugula salad.  However, when I got home, I was greeted by an exhausted boyfriend half asleep on MY couch!!  So I decided to postpone my decadent dinner, in order to make something quick and easy.
I placed a sauté pan on a burn and turned the heat to medium.  As the burn warmed up I rummaged through my overcrowded frig.  I found the Irish butter I love despite the fact it is in NO universe low fat or low calorie.   I decide to put a tablespoon of this yummy creaminess in the warmed pan.  Then I spotted leeks and a bell pepper.  And to tell the truth, this leek was bought pre- wash, so no hasal was involved.  I simple did a rough chop on the bell peppers and leeks then threw them in the pan with the melted butter.  I squeeze a quarter of a lime I had left over from the night before.  When the peppers and leeks were nice and wilty I tossed them with arugula.  Then I pour the warmish salad on to two plates.  I garnished with one Roma tomato each plate.  To top it all off,  I crumbed feta cheese.  Ta da…dinner was serve in less then thirty minutes….So there Rachel Ray!!!!!
After, eating and tucking my boyfriend into bed, I realized my dinner was vegetarian.  Go figure???   The reason I bring this up is, when I actually am trying to make dinner for a vegetarian friend, I go BLANK.  I can come up with a million elaborate time consuming recipes but nothing funky and filling.  Afterall, most vegetarian I know are bored of the typical house salad.  But arugula with sautéed leeks and peppers topped with tomatoes and feta in a simple vinaigrette… That is unusual and so easy!!!  The perfect  throw together at the last minute because I forgot I invited you dish….What I am forget?

Monday, March 15, 2010

WOW has it been a while or what???

Hello again, friends and  the wide world of cyber space.  I am sorry I have not been contributing to you lately.

However, life, the real world I mean has taken me in some strange directions.  I lost my job,  found a new job and decided to go back to school.  All with the  "help" of my Jewish family!!!!! That and comfort food!!!!  Yes, I have gone through tons of cheezits and vodka...maybe a few dozen bottles of wine...don't judge

One thing I have learned through this whole thing, is cooking for me is about emotions.  I dont cook well when I am stressed or upset!  I just dont listen to my senses and make CRAP!!!!  Something, it my head that creates good and interesting food turns off when i am upset.  I guess it is like how my eyes get red when i cry!!!!     When I am upset, my cooking brain turns off!!!

I guess that is why I wouldn't make a good professional chef.....  Though, I notice, my food gets spicer when I am angry.  My food gets adventurous when I am feeling flirty and quirky.  I guess the artist in me comes out in my kitchen.  All those flute lessons and art classes have now manifested themselves in my kitchen somewhere behind the two kichenaids and chef knives.   I use food as a way to express myself!!!Food is an escape to Morroco or the Greek isles.....Or a way to feel pain through heat!!!

  I think my boyfriend should be concerned when dinner is spicy!!!  Run boyfriend.....run