Entries from February 2009
I have somewhat of a fascination with French bistro cooking, which may have been obvious considering the name of this blog. Perhaps it’s the thought of eating in a cozy little bistro, the idea of getting a homey meal when eating out, or simply that it’s far removed from the perceived glamour of French cooking. It’s likely a combination of all three, and perhaps a little something more.
To me, bistro cooking is really the perfect Sunday lunch. On a rainy day like today, what better to soothe you than a steaming bowl of soup topped with toasted bread and melted cheese? Now, imagine this soup has taken three hours to cook, you’ve deglazed the pan not once, not twice, but three times, and you’ve taken the time to search out imported Swiss Gruyère and a freshly made baguette. Doesn’t this labor of love sound like heaven? Okay, I admit, it’s heaven after the first hour or so. The first hour that the onions are in the oven, my nostrils stung and my eyes watered, and I feared my home would never smell the same.
But after that first hour, as the slices started to turn golden in my oven, a sweet aroma filled the air. As my onions were about to come out of the oven for the first time, both my giddiness and trepidation grew. Would this soup meet my high expectations? Would it be worth the time and effort? At that point, I could still only wonder, and continue to cook.
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Categories: Soup
Tagged: Cheese, comfort food, Vegetables
A bowl of risotto and a glass of wine are quite possibly the perfect simple dinner in my world. Really good risotto has me closing my eyes and tipping back my head in pure delight. It’s so good that I really savor that first taste, and the second, and the last, searching for each layer of flavor, enjoying each texture.
I suppose it really shouldn’t be a shock that risotto is a favorite of mine. When I was in college, I was addicted to Rice-A-Roni. Yes, that San Francisco treat was a mainstay in my kitchen. Anytime I would be up studying until the wee hours of the morning, it’s probably safe to assume I had rice cooking away on the stove.
I’d like to think I’ve made progress since then.
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Categories: Gluten Free · Main Course · Side Dish
Tagged: mushrooms, rice
As winter drags on, I find myself craving salads more and more. Perhaps it’s to delude myself that the grass isn’t still blanketed in snow, that the trees are still without leaves, that my garden is simply a memory.
But salads are not confined to the warmer months of the year. With this particular salad, I took advantage of both a winter fruit, and added a few splurges to make it a little more interesting and well-rounded.
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Categories: Gluten Free · Low-Carb · Main Course · Quick Meal · Salad
Tagged: chicken, fruit, raspberries, Vegetables
A couple of years ago I had a restaurant dinner that was quite delicious, and the memory has stayed with me for quite some time now. All I could really remember was that there was rosemary chicken and a few cherries. Oh, and some white rice.
I decided to take what I remembered from the dish, and just start cooking.
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Categories: Gluten Free · Low-Carb · Main Course · Quick Meal
Tagged: chicken, fruit
After Christmas, I swore I wouldn’t eat a cookie again for…well, a very long time. I don’t believe I actually quantified this timeline, but frankly, I was cookied out.
I guess I’m healed. I should have known I wouldn’t even be able to last two months before feeling the need to make another batch of cookies. There’s just something about the the chewy texture, the crumble, the chocolate, the…booze?
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Categories: Dessert
Tagged: chocolate, cookies
There are two kinds of people in this world, those who like cilantro, and those who hate it. I am a cilantro lover and as such, it’s difficult for me to understand why some people have such an aversion to it. What, exactly, is so offensive about it?
Then again, I should probably keep my mouth shut, as my food aversions list is rather long.
If you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner, give this dish a try. If you prefer starving to cilantro, simply skip it in this dish.
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Categories: Main Course · Quick Meal
Tagged: chicken, pasta, whole grain
