getting real/intimacy

christmas is over, normal eating is near.  everything is good.

i've recently begun feeling convicted over the idea of local, seasonal- and been inspired and rather moved to re-direct the way I eat, and what food enters my home.  these things are ridiculously important, the reasons, abundant.  for someone who creates food on a more than regular basis, for me, these convictions are everything.

overwhelmed, i've spent most of the week avoiding food, which, if you know me, isn't a regime i enjoy following.    its winter.. which means root vegetables, comfort, good coffee, bourbon, forgiveness, sentiment..

these things are good. however, we'll see if one can survive off apples, cabbage, turnips and dairy.  can seasonal eating be cool?  we'll see. hah!  i will be updating this blog more often, attempting to suggest seasonal recipes, or local choices.  my attempts will not always be successful.  i really am terrible at this! join me!

please download this document if you are interested in what is available to us in this beautiful province.  http://www.getlocalbc.org/files/Seasonal_Chart_4_2010.pdf


pizza with my favourite person!

Pizza with pink beets, garlic & almond pesto, kale, radicchio, garlic/herb goat cheese.

november.

there is a lot of talk about the weather.  its pink, orange and rusty outside- the air is tight out there and inside is better.

most of me wanted to devour an entire box of mandarin oranges for dinner, instead i made this.

caramelized onion + thyme linguine
strip steak salad with arugula, dandelion greens, radish and blue cheese

fast, love.

I fall in and out of inspiration so suddenly, its often scary.  Tonight I feel inspired again by simplicity.  Easy, comfort cooking.  None of that foodie shit.  Just real food.  Beautiful, read food.


Roast chicken sandwich with pickled purple cabbage, horseradish mustard, spinach, brie on pumpernickel.

grocery bliss, server i am not, and pork.

after a long day, serving at school and dreading each moment of it, i find myself at home, full, satisfied, comfortable.  hunger has long passed, and the comfort of sleep is slowly approaching.  life is good once again.

cupboards and bellies full.

fennel, coriander and honey crusted pork tenderloin
chorizo stuffing

no art food art.

food has been everything lately, which has been inspiring.. and easy.

its been nice exploring my food perspective as well as others in my class.

it is so nice to be cooking at home again.. comfort, comfort..

the house smells like food.

roast chook stuffed with grapefruit
honey roasted rainbow carrots and purple potatoes
grilled turkey figs with balsamic reduction.

dinner for one.

At last a day to relax at home, clean, cook, read, this is good, real good.

I slice thinner now, and can prep ramps like no ones business (whatever that means) and it feels good to have accomplished something that once seemed so distant from me.

I, however miss my bed, long buzz- free sleep, and slow cooking for two.  

But for now, this is good.  

Super simple garlic/white wine clams 

baked frites

..and good beer.

really good beer.

a night, home.

A lot of salt has been taking up some space in my life lately, leaving me to reflect a bit on the hazards of this beautiful and complex mineral.  I find the most mysterious and special aspects of life are those surrounding indulgence, excess, satisfaction.  I will never, never ever turn down an offer for a brodo (even after a big meal) and nothing can complete my day more than butter bursting risotto or a perfect slice of bacon.  However, i've been avoiding the foods closest to me lately, the ones which I find to be the most classic, faultless, and pure.  Cooking less at home has left a bit of a void, and lately (though eating A LOT) feel a bit far away from food.  Vegetables, I'm back, I love you.

Other stuff (I still love you too)

Exciting news: Fiddleheads now available at Granville Island.  YES.

Garlic Risotto with parsley puree
Leek, Dill and white bean salad
Stir fried kale with toasted walnuts

oh, get well.

jugi is sick today, from me.

it is a gross kind of sick.  but he is not gross.

only ginger, garlic and chili could help.

so i made this green curry soup.

spicy, spicy.

lemongrass, you are tasty.

feel well jules.

no bones.

i've recently begun at a restaurant serving bone marrow.  i want to eat this.  i am so curious.

my appetite is off.

here is dinner tonight:

beet pasta with kale, toasted walnuts and chevre
i made simple pastry and put spinach, red onion, nutmeg and feta too.

sexy/sweatpants/inside day

i am sick and feeling gross.

however, something wonderful happened today which encouraged me to cook.

for two, this was far too much.

mashed brussel sprouts with cream and parmesan
roasted potatoes and asparagus
eggplant, tempeh and tomato pot pie
chocolate chip cookies... that.. burned.

only vegetables.

i spent most of the day looking at recipes (except time spent at work.)

(gross)

(work)

i tweaked a few of them so i could fix something with the ingredients i had at home.

this is what we ate for dinner.


walnut, red pepper, green onion salad on a roasted yam cake - with a dijon dressing, and goat cheese.
roasted carrots and beets with thyme and honey
spinach gratin with gruyère

if you are hungry.

if you are hungry, and can handle a japanese breakfast in the morning.  you should really do it.

its remarkable.

miso, dashi, rice noodles (or steamed rice) wasabi, seaweed, raw egg yolk.

i feel very nourished.

try to finish the whole thing, and fail, for sure.

non-stop soup.

i am quite fond of this tortilla soup i made.

it seemed like quite a cohesive soup.

whatever that means.

flax + water = egg

a friend and i did some vegan (almost) baking yesterday and it was fun.

she did most of it, as i'm a bit goofy when it comes to creating perfect baked goods.

it was nice to bake with her, and it seemed therapeutic to some degree.

these oatmeal cookies were so good.  she didn't even follow the recipe.  holy.

what. a. pro.

our friend was a bit down, so we made him a special one.

i think he was happier.

nutmeg, yum.

can you korma?

it is cold outside but warm in here, so i am happy.

lately i've had a winter attitude (bad) so i am inside tonight cooking spicy food, watching hockey and organizing stupid things. like bills.

i made a cauliflower korma, which i was pleased with.

now i am warm. and full.

cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, cilantro - you are so good to me.

good girl, eat meat.

i had a good meal friday night with people who i think are great.

it was exciting to learn something new (chicken roasting!) and eat food that was perfectly comforting.

it was very fun, and the meal, very satisfying.

i think often this is rare.

we roasted the  chicken with plenty of garlic, thyme, butter and rosemary.

made a salad with fennel, apple, gorgonzola, and arugula.

and roasted parsnips and potatoes along side the bird.

we ate and ate, talked food, charlie sheen, cocktails.

yes!

vegetarian meatballs do not exist.

well, they kind of do.

i mixed together 5 beaten eggs, 1 cup cheddar cheese, basil, oregano, fresh parsley, bread crumbs, onions and crushed walnuts and wound up with this. this was easy-easy.  you want to reach a consistency where you can easily form the little veg balls!

jul liked them but i thought they were too heavy.  (they were)

i served them with vegetarian gravy made from shallots and garlic, a simple roux and a tiny bit of soy sauce.

okay.  stay out of the snow.

before. after. ready to eat.

butter biscuits/good time/i ate 6.

my grandma taught me her biscuit recipe which i am happy to know.

they are tasty, and simple.

we also ate them when they were hot which was also a plus.

oh yes. yummy

halloumi, thank you mint.

i made these for dinner this evening.

they were okay, but i'd change the recipe a bit if i were making it again.

halloumi, spinach-apple salad on crispy papadums.

the spice paste was tasty and was made with mango chutney, ginger, mint, cilantro, turmeric, paprika, cumin and coriander.

here i am.

i have been accepted to culinary school which is super exciting, and has been on my mind a lot.

i have been cooking lots but my camera was under repair.

today steve and i went out for a nice breakfast at paul's omelettery.

it was very delicious.  we ordered the zimmer.

i will start to update more.  woo!

my blog is currently being redone by david aitken.  he's a pretty nice guy.

http://www.davidaitken.com

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.