Chicken Thighs with Ginger Rhubarb Sauce

Baked Chicken Thighs with Ginger Rhubarb Sauce over Brown and Wild Rice

One of the initial plans when returning back to a full-time career was to immediately start saving for a washer and dryer for our apartment. There were few times in my early life I remember going with Mom to the laundromat. As a young child, laundry day was dreaded. It’s a boring place. The afternoons were worst, because the televisions only ran soap operas. Back then, there were only a few channels. The wash and spin sound was irritating. The combination of various dryers turning consistently was boisterously loud. As a young family working hard to better our lives, we eventually moved out of apartment living into a newly constructed house with our own laundry room. Even in college, I would come home on weekends to do laundry to avoid the school’s laundromat. Today, using a public laundromat at my age is beyond the farthest imagination of how I was going to live as an adult. Read more

Spicy Saffron Heirloom Tomato Sauce with Clams and Shrimp

Spicy Saffron Heirloom Tomato Sauce with Clams and Shrimp over Spaghetti
Spicy Saffron Heirloom Tomato Sauce with Clams and Shrimp over Spaghetti

There was a “to do” list written for a productive, busy day. There’s a design proposal that needs to be delivered to a client. The food blog needs a new post. Pictures need to be downloaded. Work beckons my creative-thinking skills. All I want to do is lie down and sleep. I admire all my coworkers and friends who were able to leave out of town for at least a week this summer for a real vacation. New York City has been my vacation hot spot for years.

Despite being stressed from all of life’s beauties and fiascoes, the boyfriend casually announced he was going to the beach. He coyly smiled, “You can come, too.” He knew there was a slight chance, a break or a second option of me saying yes. Beating the odds, I said, “I’m getting my swimsuit.” I needed a break. Some rest. Splashy fun. This was my only chance of escaping from this summer’s excessive heat for a few salty airs of change. Read more

Applesauce Instead of Bacon

Applesauce

The boyfriend was sent to the bodega to buy bacon and orange juice for breakfast. He has a beautiful memory, but this time he returned with a pound of overripe bananas, two cartons of orange juice and four old, red apples. “Oops,” he kissed my cheek, “I forgot what you needed.” “No problem,” I replied. Here’s a bit of cliché relationship advice: Pick your battles. “Hey,” he added, “If you can’t use the bananas, I can make smoothies with them next week.” I beamed a pretty smile, and we enjoyed the rest of the day. Read more

Cilantro Almond Pesto

Cilantro Almond Pesto
Cilantro Almond Pesto

The other day, a friend curiously smiled as I discussed experimenting with a Cilantro Almond Pesto. With confidence, we talked about several versions of pesto, not being limited to the traditional ingredients of basil, cheese and pine nuts. The Witchy Kitchen blog made a Basil Sunflower Seed Pesto. The sunflower seeds are economically alternative to pine nuts. Although, Despite Nuisances I Will Be Happy’s blog creatively referred to her Arugula version as a spread; it’s still a derivative of a pesto. Aimée at Simple Bites, posted a recipe of the traditional basil pesto, and she offers ideas on how to incorporate it into recipes. This week, I pick up my household’s first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box full of greens, fruits, vegetables and eggs. In addition to prepping and cleaning the vegetables and fruits for proper storage that will extend their freshness, several of them will turn into a pesto and frozen for future use. Read more

Steamed Salmon Served with Herbal Yogurt Sauce, Roast Fingerling Potatoes, and Green Bean Walnut Salad

The first time I saw fingerling potatoes, I was confused in a Danish supermarket. I was looking for the large potatoes that I was familiar seeing in American grocery stores. Produce and meat in Denmark are expensive. The portions are small. The vegetables are imperfect. The taste far exceeds American food. I returned to the United States with a determined effort to shop at farmer’s market than the average grocery store, when time permits. The fingerling potatoes in Denmark had a thin paper shell, similar to an onion or a tomatillo, that needs to be rubbed or peeled off before prepping for a dish. The small size, like most produce and meat, produces a sweet and tender taste.

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