Insane?

I have joined NaBloPoMo and will blog once a day, EVERY DAY, in the month of November.

Yes, you read me right.

Since MB only has a weekly videos, that leaves approximately 26 days to fill with other MB news. Good thing I just got his Everything Vegetarian book, and will start working through it this month. Then there is my "where I would take MB for dinner" theme. Expect that one to be a recurring one.

Why am I doing this? Why would anyone with a full-time job, a double commuting life that includes hour long drives and flights, a geriatric dog and book contracts commit to write everyday and make that a public commitment? Here's the thing: life is bloody hard sometimes, and I am betting that something challenging and demanding like NaBloPoMo will help me keep my head above water. So in the midst of professional and existential cruxes, I am adding one sure thing to the mix.

Because whatever else happens, you gotta eat. And you'll know all about it, starting November 1st.

Stay tuned! And a happy Halloween!

MB, brussels spouts and bacon - I am in heaven

I haven't watched one of MB's video is months, months!

And my re-introduction to him today is by way of two of my favorite foods : brussels spouts and bacon. It is a tragedy that the man I share my life and kitchen with is 1) a vegetarian, and 2) a brussels spouts hater. My love of these two ingredients is therefore a rarely satisfied, very guilty pleasure, which of course makes today's MB video even more akin to pornography. The very best and most titillating kind of pornography.

I could smell the bacon sizzling in his pan, and I heard the shreds of brussels sprouts arrange themselves in the tightness of that crowded skillet. The clincher, the money shot as it were, was the dash of balsamic MB poured over the sweltering dish. Do you know what happens when vinegar hits a hot oily pan? The astringents of the vinegar pierce your nose first and then the sweet smell lodges on your tongue, in anticipation of what you'll taste when the dish is done.

I have 4 tomatoes and 2 apples in my fridge right now, so there's no chance of actually eating this dish tonight. But that doesn't matter, because today's video is 3 and a half minutes of heaven,

And if I smoked, I'd probably want a cigarette now.

We are lame, we know.

I think about posting, but somehow that doesn't make it happen. However I have been cooking up a storm lately and will post about some of those meals soon. I must admit, I haven't been watching Mark's videos on the NYT website of late. They just aren't popping up as much. I did watch one yesterday about nori chips, which I plan to attempt soon.

With harvest in full swing, there have been many meals of just me and les filles. The husband returns home in the wee hours of the night while we all sleep. He and I actually chatted for ten minutes last night! I am hoping that he might make it home in time for a late dinner this evening - what to cook? Something with sweet potatoes from our CSA I suspect.

I am back!

Your two bloggers are back in the same area code!

I don't know that it'll improve the quantity of our posts, but I can assure it has already improved the quality of my life.

And I have a new place to take Mark Bittman to, should he visit our corner of the PNW - pizza's at Nick's for lunch. That's right - I challenge New York to on-up these lovely creations.

That's it for now, there are strawberries to be purchased and jammed. Results will be blogged about soon.

This may be a bit sacriligious . . .

I am done with Alice Waters.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all she had done as the mother of the Eat Local and Slow Food movements in America. Her influence has reached the farthest, tiniest corners of the country and parts of the world. She is a powerful advocate for her cause. But I am just over her. It is all a bit too precious now. Maybe because I have been tuning in for a while, I am ready to tune out, I don't know. Preaching to the choir.

Noodles and the Anti-Ramen. I made it the other night and it was great. Easy, fast and tasty. I added sliced ginger, scallions and shallots and some left-over roasted chicken we had in the fridge. I also blanched some rappini and chopped that up for a bit of color and texture. Everyone is feeling a bit under the weather, so it was perfect.

Now, if we could just start getting some sun here, we will all be able to dry out. I know that postings here have been slim (sorry!) but I haven't been feeling inspired. Although I have rediscovered my crock-pot...

-S

only in LA

Only in LA will you have lunch at a small neighborhood sushi restaurant and end up having an admiring chat with Cleve Jones and the brilliant writer of "Milk". And only in LA will that very sushi place have a dish called "biscotti" that has nothing to do with biscotti, and everything to do with Mark Bittman's recipe of the day.

MB's post this week is about grains, and about how to get more of them in your diet. And Ajisai's "biscotti" are not biscotti in the italian definition. Their biscotti are crunchy rice cakes (I'd like to think oven fried, but I am afraid it might just be fried fried) covered with a divine dollop of spicy tuna. Filling, protein and fiber laden, perfect with an espresso for breakfast, a diet coke for lunch or a beer for dinner.

In reference to MB's recommendations for left over rice and oat recipes, this one is replicable: take left over fiber of any kind, cut and shape into 3 bite sized shape, stick in oven or toaster.
Add an egg, or an egg white and scallion, or a slice of tuna or chicken or cheese or any other form of protein, sprinkle with sea salt/tamari/gomasio.
Enjoy.

I can't promise the remake of these rice cakes will immediately put you in the company of Gay Rights Movement heroes and brilliant writers, but they will certainly make a lovely light meal.

eat here now

Look who's talking about us (http://www.alli411.com)! Click on her February 10th review about a GREAT restaurant in LA. And yes, that would be us with the crush on MB, and yes, I would take him there. Truly, the world needs more great Ethiopian restaurants. There's nothing like a sharing a plate with friends, eating with your hand, washing a fabulous meal down with Harar beer.

Come to think of it, this wouldn't be a bad Valentine's day meal... Happy hearts and all that.