morning and night.

i make coffee for my living.  this is what i do.  it is fun and coffee is a special thing.

i haven't cooked a new meal to share for some time.

but why not.

school, work, and watching cooking shows when i should be working and schooling.

sheesh.

ack.

but seriously.

i am finishing up my last semester of school, as i've decided to go to culinary school in june.

i suppose it is time to start believing in myself.

yikes.

here are some photos of my coffee journal, a requirement of my job.

i think they are pretty.

i edited them to suit my mood.

it was a fun day.

i will cook something wonderful soon.  i will, i will.

food, heaven.

spicy day.

it will snow tomorrow.

need more coffee. pens, and papertowel.

moroccan carrot soup (carrot, onion, cumin, honey, lemon, all spice)
horseradish potatoes via epicurious - you should try these and serve it to everyone you love.  so good.
multi-pepper stuffing! (serano, red, chile, sweet) - need to try it with cornbread next time.


oh, yum.

falling off.

yummy. this felt healthy. oh i like cheese too.

cumin sweet potatoes with smoked chipotle dip
black thai rice
asparagus, artichoke, soy beef stir fry
cubed cheese

cheese x 4, or 5. (lots of cheese)

5 cheese macaroni with spicy bread crumb topping
.. served with spinach.

perhaps 5 cheeses is pushing it.  i really think so.  however, there was cheese in the fridge.

it was yummy.

sharp cheddar, mascarpone, fontina, mozzarella and parmesan (in the topping)

rush rush lunch lunch.

pick up piece of salmon from market.

pick up spice.

pick up spinach.

cook and eat.

lunch is important.

food fail/ it happens/ shoot!!

i overcooked everything.

however, everything was sort of tasty.

sort of.


potato/pumpkin puree with sage
pesto, asparagus lasagna with fontina

lucky.

savoury french toast means happy al.

this is my favourite breakfast.  i just need homemade tomato jam to go with it.

last night's dessert

it's a bit of a rare occasion when sweets are made.

but i was in a good mood!

baked apples stuffed with figs and roasted walnuts with nutmeg caramel sauce

this was quite good.

great food/ sad pictures

a small dinner party.

i was too hungry to take pictures i am proud of, but here are a few anyway.


the menu was:
wilted spinach with nutmeg and candied walnut peices
roasted turnip, parsnip, golden beat, rutabaga with ancho chile honey glaze

eggplant gratin (not pictured) (because the picture is ugly!)
pizza! my first! (fig preserve, arugula, brie, pear, truffle oil)

i need a new tablecloth.

lunchtime!

vegetable stacks
garlic orzo with peppers, lemon, zucchini
wilted spinach with nutmeg

i should check my email more often.

so i am very happy today.  i got one of the top 5 pictures for september on the food network.  you can check out the link on the side, via twitter (haha) or HERE


i have been encouraged to celebrate the little things lately.

so wee-woo!

very inspired by my new textbook for school.  check it out, its really great. 

gluten?

nope.

spicy pepper stirfry with tofu
orzo salad

thankful. for. MOM.

my mom is such an outrageously good cook.  it makes me so happy.  she's like me and gets ridiculously stressed in the kitchen when cooking for others, but its always laughable.  i joined my folks for dinner last night, and this is what it looked like.

needless to say.  i am still full.

caramelized brussels sprouts with almonds
scalloped potatoes
vegetable/stuffing with crumble
russian chicken w sausage
ham
apple + pumpkin pie

there was more but my camera died.  my mom is the best. 

thanksgiving. in a box.

it smells like thanksgiving outside and everyone is in pretty moods.

it's real nice.


i've been browsing recipes all day and am intensely impressed with the creativity in thanksgiving meals, both carnivorous and veg.  i'm so jealous of everyone over a stove.

thanksgiving sunday this year will include market food, still yummy, however lacking in home-cooked love.  i am planning to celebrate thanksgiving wednesday after school has quieted down a bit.

have a nice thanksgiving.  there are a lot of funny things to be thankful for.  woo hoo!

for now, i await wednesday.


oh yes.  and thank you a la mode and duso's

soup is on.

okay.  i'm excited about soups.  

 roasted sweet potato and macadamia nut salad with grainy mustard dressing
corn, zucchini, chile, parmesan soup

last night i dreamed/dreamt in calories.

i'm glad i am cooking again.  and out of food funk.  we are spinning the spice rack this week.  and today was garlic.  that is a good thing.

greens with raisen/oregano/orange dressing
coconut braised new potatoes
scallion and garlic stuffed tofu