Archive for March 2008
Tomato Bulgur Soup
Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup diced carrots
2/3 cup diced celery
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tsp dill
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp fennel
2 cups vegetable stock
2 cups canned chopped/peeled tomatoes
1/4 cup of wheat bulgur
I got this recipe from Copia in Napa. We attended a cooking demonstration up there over the weekend. This was a very filling meal. We served with the homemade wheat bread from the night before. I didn’t have dill so I left that out. Also, I haven’t made my own stock yet so just used vegetable bouillon. I forgot to grind the fennel but, you know what, I really liked it whole–it was like a nice licorice taste you’d get in every other bite.
4 out of4 spoons.
Add comment March 10, 2008
Whole Wheat Bread
I got a Kitchen-Aid mixer for my birthday (fire-engine read). The first thing I made with it was whole wheat bread. While we were in Napa, we got to see a talk by Edward Espee Brown, the Buddhist monk who cooked at Tassajaro. I also picked up his “Tassajaro Bread Book” which is full of great recipes. Somehow, I don’t think Ed would approve of the mixer since, in his words, “you have to work on the bread while it works on you” but I enjoyed how quickly it kneaded the bread.
Best served right out of the oven with honey!
4 out of 4 spoons.
Add comment March 9, 2008
Cardamom Ice Cream
I discovered this recipe in Napa. Just take your basic Vanilla recipe and substitute ground cardamom for the vanilla. It is very flowery and delicious! Makes a great ice-cream for grown-ups. 
4 out of 4 spoons.
Add comment March 8, 2008
Dining Out in Napa Day 2
The second day, we did the sample course at Ubuntu, a vegetarian restaurant in Napa. Lots of small courses featuring vegetables done up in visually interesting and (usually tasty) ways.
3 out of4 spoons.
Add comment March 6, 2008
Dining Out in Napa
We went to Piccolino’s Italian Café in Napa. Not an especially notable restaurant; we were walking around the downtown corridor trying to get our bearings and, it being after six, this looked like the only place open.
I had the potato Gnochi and the Chimney Rock Pinot Noir. The wine was excellent.
2 out of 4 spoons.
Add comment March 5, 2008
Sweetcorn and Lentil Soup
2 tbsp lentils, washed
4 cups vegetable bouillon
1/2 inch ginger root
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp dry sherry
1 1/2 cups canned corn kernels
1 egg white
1 tsp sesame oil
garnish with scallions.
Nice soup; you get these wisps of egg-white on top which look like cream. The ginger gives the soup a nice flavor. Very enjoyable!
3 out of 4 spoons.
Add comment March 3, 2008
Lentil and Tomato Soup
Ingredients:
1 tbsp corn oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1 lb tomatoes, skinned, chopped
3/4 cup lentils, washed
5 cups vegetable bouillon
Garnish with finely chopped cilantro
This turned out really well. I likes me some deadly nightshade, I tell ya what. Served with some fresh bread with a butter/thyme spread.
3 out of 4 spoons.
Add comment March 2, 2008
Green Tea Ice Cream
Ingredients:
3/4 cup milk
2 egg yolks
5 tbsp sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream
7 green tea bags
3 tbsps hot water
I usually take the weekends off from cooking and eat leftovers or let my girlfriend cook. However, I thought I’d try to make some delicious ice cream. This was really good. I got a candy thermometer and used that to make sure the egg yolks and milk were cooked at the right temperature. The milk has to turn into a custard. You also have to steep seven green tea bags in the milk for a half hour before cooking. Most delicious, friends!
4 out of 4 spoons.
Add comment March 1, 2008
