Soon

Well, the end of the semester totally kicked my butt...
I've been eating meals on the run, out of hand. The dishes piled up. The inspiration ran dry.

But soon (soon!) the farmer's markets will be opening and I will be able to work at the community garden a few times a week. I'm hoping to bring home 20lbs. of produce a week at the height of the season! I'm excited to eat green things, and cook lovely, simple meals bursting with flavor.

But for now, the only foods that seem to be getting my attention are Indian in nature. I'm hoping to throw a dinner party soon and here's the menu I've devised so far: chana masala, basmati rice, raita, pita chips or naan, and an adapted version of palak paneer (spinach with Indian cheese). And dessert? Chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting. Naturally.

Until then....

A week of meals

I don't have much time to write today - I have eight thousand things to get done before the sun goes down. But, I did want to share some of the yummy things I've been eating this week. I take great satisfaction in the fact that, througout, I ate dark leafy spinach and kale, artichoke hearts, deeply orange pumpkin, tomatoes, farm fresh eggs, fish and a plethora of grains....and yet at the end of the week, cookies. But no ordinary cookies. These are the famous NY Times cookies that are "aged" for 36 hours. That's right, I made the cookie dough on Saturday night and didn't bake them off until this morning (Monday) at 8am. In theory, the wait time is supposed to hydrate the cookies (sort of like how you let a pie crust rest before rolling...but much, much longer) and allow the flavors to deepen. The recipe also calls for bread and cake flours...though I only had all-purpose on hand. Again, the science behind it is that the bread flour develops a gluten-chewiness, while the cake flour provides the melt-in-the-mouth texture. Food science nerdiness at maximum level. Awesome.

I baked one cookie immediately after I made the dough (duh, how could I not?) and then obviously tried a warm one this morning at 9am (an excellent way to start the day...and the week for that matter) and truly, the flavor was more complex; less straightforward sweetness and more deep, buttery, toffee-y undertone. Though you can't go wrong either way I guess.

Anyway, back to the meals. I cooked and ate, in order: Pasta with artichoke hearts, peas and mushrooms, Cod and orzo w/goat cheese, green beans and cherry tomatoes (in the pic above), two fried eggs w/garlic sauteed spinach and toasted baguette, pumpkin pasta with sage (unctuous), lemon risotto with peas and kale, and a marinated mushroom sandwich with spicy sweet potato fries. Oh, and the cookies.

By the way, you know how people are always saying that healthy food is expensive? This week's grocery total was $35 (for 3 meals per day)....about what you'd spend on dinner out for two people at a mid-range restaurant. But, that's a post (i.e. rant) for another day. :)