Somehow in the brilliance of my organization I managed to lose my camera's charger, which is why I've been MIA. I have had some sweet sweet meals but unfortunately no photographic evidence. Here's what's been going on around here lately:
Leak number 4 in as many months. Second letter written to the Regie. Roofers came on Thursday so hopefully this means the leaks are done. Sent my notice of non-renewal for the lease so I'm free to look for somewhere else to live. Fresh start--yes!! P.S. Montrealers, do not rent from C.I.F. they are dicks.
Yesterday was Good Friday, and there was a parade for jesus on my street. Man, he gets everything, his birthday's even on Christmas!
They were walking to Notre-Dame Cathedral. Nice day for it.Later I went to a matinee of Alice in Wonderland 3D with a friend. That Alice has got balls. So refreshing from the conventional Disney crap. She refuses to marry, and the plot doesn't center around getting a man in the end. Then we had bad coffee and good chats: burkas, France, consumerism etc etc.Soon it was dinner time and I had a craving for sweet potatoes and nothing but. A recent attempt roasting them was an epic burning charred fail. After perusing the reviews of various recipes debating between parchment and foil vs. Pam and olive oil, I decided to throw caution to the wind and just do what i normally do: grease the pan with olive oil for roasting. That I did for one batch. Then I hatched a foolproof plan...fry the shit out of them in coconut oil for the other batch. How can that go wrong?
Ingredients for the baked: flour seasoned with salt and pepper, eggs beaten with a bit of water, a mix of shredded parmesan and romano cheese.
Cut your sweeties into wedges. Dredge them in the flour, then the egg, then the cheese and place on a greased rimmed baking sheet.
That is the most perfect one. My favorite.
As you can see there was minimal sticking. Win!
The ones going into the medium hot frying pan with a good plop of coconut oil were first dusted with chili powder and garam masala.
They didn't take too long to crisp up and brown nicely...about 4 minutes on each side.
Then I got crazy/fancy and wanted to recreate the Laughing Buddha's banana ketchup they serve with their sweet potato fries. My attempt was edible, but only semi-successful. I used way too much banana. Next time I'd use only 2 slices. Key ingredient: curry powder.
Dinner is served.
Midnight snack. Please note the variety of various dips, from top left. Rice vinegar/soy/sesame, salsa, sweet chili and underneath that salad is some plain yogurt with a tad of mayo. These taste buds need variety after midnight.
Hello food loving people! Holy crap, last time I was writing there was snow on the ground and everything looked and felt different. Now things are different from that last different and everything will never be the same. But there is food! Food is good. Rocky came home from a prolonged absence and we were due for a spring time potluck. On the menu was homemade salsa, my grandma's baked rice, but jazzed up with tofu, scalloped potatoes with fennel and gouda courtesy of the most wonderful roommate in the world, tomato quiche, fancy cheese plate, homemade jalapeno poppers, mom-style coleslaw and banana bread with bananas foster and chewy molasses ginger cookies. I love my friends, and I love that they love to eat!
This is all you need for salsa. Add some salt and some olive oil and you're ready to inhale with corn chips.
In the process, Rocky is suitably impressed with my mad cutting skillz.
As Rocky pondered what to make for potluck, I mentioned she had loads of potatoes in the pantry and suggested she make scalloped potatoes. I was thinking your basic cream, butter and cheese business but oh no, she took it to the next level. Fennel, fennel seeds and gouda cheese made this dish smell divine as it was baking and really, how can one not enjoy potatoes cooked in whipping cream?
These potatoes changed my life.
A peaceful pre-potluck interlude with rearranged furniture...
Summer in my bones.
Jalapenos getting ready to become poppers!
Melanie popperizes the peppers with cream cheese, chevre and other delicious things.
Just heavenly...if heaven tastes like a mexican fiesta of flavors with the devilish surprise of the odd fiery pepper...most of the are mild, but sometimes you get that one that sets you on fire.
Yummy fun!
I am becoming a huge fan of coconut soup and all things coconut in general. On my visit to the Asian supermarket I bought all the fresh leaves, herbs and roots to make quite an authentic version of Thai coconut soup--Tom Kha Gai. If you can get a hold of fresh Kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and lemongrass then you're good to go. Everything else can be found in a regular grocery store.
To make the most delicious soup on earth you will need:
For the broth:
- a can of coconut milk
-a can of water
- a one inch piece of galangal
-a long stalk of lemongrass, chopped into 1 inch pieces
-ten Kaffir lime leaves, torn in half
Put these ingredients in a soup pot and simmer for 25-40 minutes, depending on how fragrant a broth you want, and how much time you have. Strain the herbs out of the broth. You're almost there.
To put in the soup:
-a protein...shrimp, chicken, tofu...
-veggies: mushrooms, celery, carrot, tomato...whatever's in your fridge.
Put these things in the broth and let them cook until slightly tender.
Throw these in at the end before serving and simmer for about a minute"
-a couple spoons of sweetener, such as Agave syrup-the juice of a lime-a squeeze of Bragg amino liquid, or fish sauceThat's it, enjoy! Be warned that you might want to eat this every day...
Here's some more of those awesome snow pea greens stirfried with garlic, ginger and spring onion.
Leak number 4 in as many months. Second letter written to the Regie. Roofers came on Thursday so hopefully this means the leaks are done. Sent my notice of non-renewal for the lease so I'm free to look for somewhere else to live. Fresh start--yes!! P.S. Montrealers, do not rent from C.I.F. they are dicks.
Yesterday was Good Friday, and there was a parade for jesus on my street. Man, he gets everything, his birthday's even on Christmas!
They were walking to Notre-Dame Cathedral. Nice day for it.
Ingredients for the baked: flour seasoned with salt and pepper, eggs beaten with a bit of water, a mix of shredded parmesan and romano cheese.
Cut your sweeties into wedges. Dredge them in the flour, then the egg, then the cheese and place on a greased rimmed baking sheet.
That is the most perfect one. My favorite.
As you can see there was minimal sticking. Win!
The ones going into the medium hot frying pan with a good plop of coconut oil were first dusted with chili powder and garam masala.
They didn't take too long to crisp up and brown nicely...about 4 minutes on each side.
Then I got crazy/fancy and wanted to recreate the Laughing Buddha's banana ketchup they serve with their sweet potato fries. My attempt was edible, but only semi-successful. I used way too much banana. Next time I'd use only 2 slices. Key ingredient: curry powder.
Dinner is served.
Midnight snack. Please note the variety of various dips, from top left. Rice vinegar/soy/sesame, salsa, sweet chili and underneath that salad is some plain yogurt with a tad of mayo. These taste buds need variety after midnight.
