Corned Beef Flavored Crackers? Really? I almost want to try them, because in some bizarre world, they might actually be good... But let's be real, they're probably salty and weird. What kind of brain decided this was a good idea? Did someone go to Ireland and say, "Wait a minute, this corned beef stuff is good, but it would be AWESOME as a cracker!" Perhaps this is a mystery we'll never solve...
When Halloween candy time arrives, I always fight the temptation to pick up a bag of candy corn (preferably the brown variety, which I think tastes better...people think I'm nuts, but whatever).
This is it...our little plot at Stony Kill is finished for the season. Saturday was clean-up day, so Nance and I zipped out to help clear stakes and rocks from the field. We harvested what was left of the collard greens, then went on our merry Halloween way.
What is it about this time of year that makes me want to roast everything? I’ve been pondering trying to make a roasted vegetable soup, so I set to work with some of the things hanging out in my vegetable drawer. I totally improvised and ended up with something really weird at first, but after tossing in a little bit of this and that, I eventually ended up with a very happy-making, comfortable soup. Here’s the recipe as of last night, though I think I’ll definitely play with flavors the next time around.Put the vegetables into a soup pot. Deglaze the cookie sheet with about ½ cup of the stock, then add that liquid to the veggies, along with the rest of the stock. Add garlic and pepper, then simmer everything for about 20 minutes. Purée until smooth, and add a little water if it’s too thick. Add the bullion cube, herbs, cayenne, and a little salt to taste.
It’s wonderful on it’s own, but I swirled in a little dollop of sour cream, which added a nice little zing.
I don't know for sure...but I think I may have cross-pollinated my hot pepper plants? Every day I play paintbrush bumble bee, zipping from flower to flower pollinating my chilis. I never really thought about what I might be doing...messing with nature and all...
Then the other day, I noticed that some of the young peppers on one of the chili hot plants were shaped like biquinhos. So, I guess we'll just have to wait a few weeks to discover the spicy monster I've created...
When the dish arrived, it wasn't at all what I expected (I thought the chips would be crushed and the fish would be completely coated). Instead, it kind of perplexed me and made me laugh: it was a sort of ironic, almost hipster take on a sort of old-school idea. I wanted to like it, but alas, the mustard sauce was too fennel-y for my taste, so the dish was merely OK.
Yesterday was a beautiful day in NYC...one of the particularly spectacular ones that only occur in the fall. I went a-wandering after hitting the New Amsterdam Market and ended up zig-zagging my way from the Seaport, through Tribeca, up The High Line, then home. Niiiiice...
As I walked up the hill from the East River, I noticed a new building with a wave-like silver façade that looks like it might actually end up being a nice addition to the city. I'm kind of digging some of these retro-deco designs that have been popping up around town recently.
This discarded refrigerator on Greenwich was unusually immaculate. For whatever reason, it fascinated me...like it was just ready to be filled with happy, fresh groceries...
I don't wander around Tribeca enough... I discovered Staple Street--a fairly interesting-looking alley in the midst of it all. Kind of cool.
And then...Autumn on The High Line. Wonderfully different from the summer, and they've done a nice job with the seasonal wildflowers. I love that the park has been dramatically different every time I visit.
After September's colorful edition of the New Amsterdam Market, I decided a visit to its October event was in order. Using my search for one of the garlic vendors from last time as an excuse (alas, he wasn't there), I happily explored... There was definitely more meat this time (but still very little in the cured department), way more wine, less chocolate (what?!), and many, many people.
The super-nice duo from Ithaca's The Piggery were selling some spectacular pork products (a couple of patés, prosciutto-like ham, cooking lard, and much more). I was drawn in by their pork confit (first thing listed on the sign!), and when I mentioned having taken a stab at making it myself, Heather gave me a card and offered to help with any future pig meat forays. So nice! Two thumbs up.
For lunch, I partook of what might be the best sandwich ever, filled with the spectacular porky goodness from Porchetta. I heard about this East Village heaven about a year ago, but--perhaps as some sort of self-preservation--I hadn't actually gone for a meal. But I caved yesterday when the beautiful Roman style herb-infused flesh with gleaming skin called to me through its little glass display. Wow. I couldn't put my finger on it yesterday, but looking at the ingredients on Porchetta's website this morning, I think fennel was the key ingredient. Crazy. I need to go have a plate sometime. Totally worth the trek.
Yesterday evening, it was time to take the A train to check out Mandy and Sté's new kitchen, which is absolutely spectacular! (We finally have the space for a cooking show!) They have a HUGE counter, awesome faucet (with a touch sprayer function!), stove with a super-charged burner, lots of storage, and a fridge with a space-age water dispenser. Niiiiice...
Funny...this weekend I was pondering the fate of restaurant/bar matchbooks, and lo-and-behold, today's Times dining section answers my question! I've never been a smoker, but always grab matchboxes/books when leaving restaurants, and am amassing quite the collection (I recently discovered that I have a couple of boxes from The Greatest Bar on Earth, which was at the top of the World Trade Center).
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