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.
Read moreSeafood
Fragrance is in the Air: Asian-Inspired Noodle Shrimp Soup
Star anise, cinnamon, chili, ginger and garlic makes a fragrant broth for cooking chicken or seafood. The smell was spicy, warm and seductive. After the solid ingredients were gone, there was extra broth left over. It was strained and placed it a freezer for a future dish of steamed or braised fish.
Read moreSherry Scallops over Sautéed Spinach
When I told the boyfriend we were having scallops for dinner, his response was neutral. In previous times, he claimed he didn’t like tomatoes. Now, he only eats my tomatoes. His blatant disdain answer about eating spaghetti squash was patiently received. He later asked for seconds. This time, his dislike for scallops was carefully revealed, “You’re making it… I might like the way you cook them.” His only criticism about this dish: it was an appetizer portion.
Read moreSpaghetti Squash with Sautéed Shrimp
This is my first Sunday meal after moving in with the boyfriend. The kitchen is finally a quarter decent to finally cook a meal. It’s still unfamiliar territory, yet the benefits are worth taking the time to familiarize myself in our new home. A larger kitchen; a sit down mini table for eating and rolling out dough; amble counter space; a new fridge in the near future; and dreamy decorating ideas making cooking meals a comfortable affair. After we completed our grocery shopping in the late evening, we were a little hungry. Thinking up a good, quick light dinner for our first meal here, I was going to prepare for a salad and a risotto. I overheard another shopper ask her boyfriend to pick up the spaghetti squash. I quickly changed my menu and picked another one for myself. Initially, I told my boyfriend the new dish, and he quickly replied, “Yuck.” An hour later he was helping himself to seconds.
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