Site Meter

Archive for December, 2008

Wintry soup

Posted on December 29th, 2008

It’s been cold, then hot, then cool, then hot, then cold here in Austin. I’ve decided to call it winter and leave it at that. So whether it’s 70 degrees or 30 degrees outside, it’s winter, darnit, and winter means soup. This one’s so simple…nourishing and comforting and delicious. It was also really easy to throw together. I often make this cauliflower soup, but it takes a bit longer with the roasting and the sauteing and all. The toasted cumin and squeeze of lime adds a little something special to what might be an otherwise humdrum soup. I’ll definitely be making this one again, especially now that the farmer’s market is full of huge, lovely heads of cauliflower. Cauliflower Soup with Toasted Cumin and…

Christmas with the folks

Posted on December 27th, 2008

We spent Christmas with my folks in west Texas, and I’m fairly certain I gained about 8 pounds in three days. When we arrived, we could smell corn masa and red chile, which can only mean one thing: Tamales. My mom, grandma and sister made them with pork and New Mexico dried red chiles (the only way to make them, right?). So good. And of course, my mom made menudo (again with dried New Mexico chiles) with hominy and tripe. Add a squeeze of lime on top, and you’re all set. There was also a massive bucket of sweet party mix, made with cereal, M&Ms, pretzels, peanuts, and almond bark. I think I single-handedly took care of that bucket. My sister made her famous…

A Pre-Christmas Quickie

Posted on December 22nd, 2008

We’ll be leaving early Wednesday morning to see my folks in Smalltown, West Texas for Christmas. It’s going to be fun…we’re not exchanging gifts this year, which makes both me and my pocketbook happy. Gifts can be so stressful…I find myself asking questions like: Is this enough of a gift? Is this something they’re not really going to like but feel too guilty to toss out? Do they already have this? Are they going to get me something more expensive/less expensive/more thoughtful/less thoughtful? Oh, it stresses me out! I’m such a perfectionist…I end up trying in vain to find the PERFECT gift. Every. Year. Thankfully, my family decided that instead of gifts, we would all travel to my parent’s house and just hang out…

Mushroom Pasta and the Naked Chef

Posted on December 21st, 2008

So I love Jamie Oliver. Back when I had a TV, and cable, I used to watch his original Naked Chef show, and I absolutely loved it. He was so energetic and all over the place, and it all seemed so real. After that, he had another show in a staged kitchen which I really didn’t like as much, but I still loved his philosophy on food and cooking. Somehow, I’ve never bought one of his cookbooks. I borrow The Naked Chef from my library ALL THE TIME, but for some reason have never bought it. Enter my lovely co-worker, Amy. She drew my name for gift-giving at work, researched my book selections on GoodReads, and bought it for me!! I’m so excited about…