Last night for dinner I attempted to make those cheesebreads we get at Chima (the Brazilian steakhouse in Tysons). Whenever I go to Chima I have often wondered (as I gorge myself on cheesebreads and roasted leg o’ lamb) how these wonderful little things are made (are they essentially soufflés? is it dark magic?). The [...]
Posts under ‘Side Dishes’
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Ewwwwwww, brussel sprouts are gross!! Why do brussels sprouts have such a bad rap? Is it because they, unlike spinach, never had a Popeye-like character to extol their virtues to the public? I have so much love for brussels sprouts, but when I offer to bring them over people generally look at me blankly or [...]
Creamy Tomato Veggie Soup (Healthy Edition)
During a recent volunteer shift at Miriam’s Kitchen, I had the good fortune to taste a truly delicious creamy tomato vegetable soup concocted by the chef. He mentioned that instead of using actual cream to thicken the soup, he pureed white beans! I set out to make a reasonable replica of the soup, and it [...]
Adventures in veganism (part 1 of… 1?)
For the next couple of days I’m staying with my college friend Ryan in the Chicago “gayborhood” (god I hate portmanteaux). He’s a lactose-intolerant vegetarian, which means he’s a vegan most of the time. I thought it would be nice to thank him for letting me stay at his place by trying my hand at [...]
The Best Broccoli of Your Life
If you haven’t already seen this, you MUST check out this recipe for oven-roasted broccoli: http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2008/11/the_best_brocco.html You basically just mix up broccoli, garlic, pinenuts (optional), salt and pepper and roast in the oven, and then squeeze lemon juice over it all. Somehow the combination of the caramelization and the citrus is insanely delicious. Try it even [...]
beefs
In case you were wondering, Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon IS that complicated. Spelling it right is, too. Kim and I set out to recreate this epic dish and, even starting as a two-person team, it was still about a six-hour process. I also don’t know how Amy Adams had time to fall asleep, because there [...]
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
N.B.: I make this all the time and we have no photo documentation of it because it gets eaten real fast. I have supplemented with an artist’s interpretations of what the potatoes are like. Ingredients: Potatoes (yukon golds are best) Whipping cream Butter salt to taste 1-2 bulbs of garlic olive oil Gloria will tell [...]
Brown Butter, Part II
I recently purchased a copy of “I Know How to Cook” by Ginette Mathiot, which is a translation of the French classic Je Sais Cuisiner. I’ve made a few things from it already, and here’s one of my favorites so far: Sole à la meunière (Translation: Fancy-ass fish sticks.) 1 lb Dover sole filets* salt, [...]
No picture, but hint: it’s orange!
Henry and I made this somewhat ad hoc a long time ago, but since Michael didn’t really enjoy it (owing to his tragic inability to reconcile savory and sweet flavors in the same dish) we were reluctant to repeat it. Luckily last week my cravings for marmalade chicken and a CS conference coincided! So we [...]
Una cena típica de mi niñez
Everyone is familiar with the Mexican tortilla (“wut tacos &c r made of”), but in Spainish cuisine, a tortilla is a thick omelet which contains layers of (usually) potatoes and onions, and occasionally other Spanishy ingredients (tuna, chorizo, tomatoes, and cheese are common). This delightful dish is a staple of Spanish cuisine and is usually [...]