November 2011
10 posts
6 tags
Cranberry-Pepper Jelly
For me, Thanksgiving is a day of great smells, nice family talks and overstretched stomachs. The real treat though is the leftovers. I wait all year for my indulgent turkey and stuffing filled sandwich - it’s the only day of the year where bread on bread is totally fine. To spice things up this year, I made some Cranberry-Pepper Jelly to bring another flavor notch to the meal. I plan to...
4 tags
Buffalo Chicken Calzones
My boyfriend, a Massachusetts native, always complains about California’s lack of sub shops. He says our sandwich and pizza shops are just not the same. One of the staples offered at these shops back east is the Buffalo Chicken Calzone. On my last trip back, I tried one at Crow Point Pizzeria and though I found it tasty, I thought it could use a bit more sauce. Since this week’s...
6 tags
Pear, Sweet Potato and Soyrizo Hash
There was a period in my life where I did not like breakfast. I don’t know why but after loving scrambled eggs as a little kid, I suddenly decided that I hated eggs for a period of five years or so. The dish that brought me back was huevos rancheros with a sunny side up egg at the Sausalito Yacht Club. Runny yolks converted me back into a breakfast lover. I often forget about cooking...
6 tags
Chinese Chicken and Asparagus Soup
Rainy Sundays are perfect for cozying up, reading books and watching movies. They’re also begging for a warm steaming bowl of soup. I spent part of my afternoon looking for a soup recipe to use up the rest of the purple and green asparagus I had on hand but the majority of recipes I found were cream based — which seemed a little heavy after an indulgent meal the previous night at...
4 tags
Roasted Chicken and Parsnip Fries with Spicy...
Last Sunday while running errands I stumbled upon the Beverly Hills Farmers Market where I picked up some parsnips, sweet potatoes, artichoke hummus and flowers. I’ve only cooked parsnips a few times before and wanted to try a new recipe. Some Googling unveiled a Bon Appetit recipe for Chicken and Parsnip Fries with Spicy Vinegar which sounded nice and cozy.
Alterations: I halved the...
4 tags
Pumpkin and Ricotta Penne with Sausage
Today I’m missing one of my favorite work events of the year where my office throws a Thanksgiving potluck. Since I work remotely now, I’ll miss today’s smorgasbord but decided to make something yummy and fall-like so I could feel like I was part of the party too. Cara’s recipe for Creamy Pumpkin Penne fit the bill and also fed my desire to use up some ingredients in my...
5 tags
Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili
My mom was in town this week visiting my aunt who is sadly very sick. I’ve always been close with my aunt and have been afraid to visit for the last month living nearby because then I’d have to come to terms with the reality of the situation. But I knew that I could lift her spirits by coming by for a visit and bringing her something comforting. Since I had a bag of pre-cut squash in...
5 tags
Yaki Nasu (Baked Miso Eggplant)
Some days are long. Today was one of those days. The devil on my shoulder said order takeout. The angel told me to cook that eggplant that was in the fridge. I compromised and paired one of our favorite lazy man’s dinners - frozen mandarin chicken - with the beautiful Japanese eggplants that I picked up from Mitsuwa Marketplace. Since I wanted to make dinner as easy as possible, I opted to...
8 tags
Palak aur Sabut Moong Dal (Green Spinach Lentils)
As I have mentioned before, I’ve come to really appreciate the crockpot this year. After an experiment making Indian food with my parents, I decided I wanted more… and as luck would have it, a genius named Anupy Singla has authored an Indian specific crockpot cookbook called The Indian Slow Cooker. I’ve been trying to use up some of my pantry staples and since I had some green...
8 tags
Spicy Honey Chicken and Orzo Salad with...
While the East Coast was getting snowed in this weekend, we grilled and dined al fresco on our new patio set. I paired a recipe I had tagged on Pinterest for Spicy Honey Chicken with a Whole Living recipe for Orzo Salad with Broccoli-Pine Nut Pesto.
Alterations: For the chicken, I used a spice rub with a similar flavor profile that my cousin Kari made for me and let it marinate in the fridge...
