Cooking
Although I normally plan out a menu for each week, sometimes for a whole month, occasionally a day arrives where I realize I have no idea what I'm making for dinner.
I found myself smack-dab in the middle of one of those days last month.
I decided this was a good time to go Yankee on my kitchen, and 'use it up'.
Matt already had chicken, defrosted, in the refrigerator. We had some rosemary left-over from another recipe. There was some slightly aged garlic, semolina that would be much happier if used...and thus, a plan was formed.
I made my usual focaccia, using the left-over rosemary, the not yet-old garlic, and the remainder of a large tin of olive oil.
I knew I'd do some sort of chicken, and I wanted soup. It was quickly becoming an Italian-esque meal. Authentic? Who knows? But it smelled good.
I started by cooking down onions (also nearing the end of their productive lives), then garlic. After a rummage through the cupboards, I added in tinned tomatoes and eventually, garbanzo beans. I added vegetable broth. Seasonings. I cooked away.
Then I added the pasta. It became less a soup, and more a...ragout. Go with it, I decided.
For the chicken (and Veat), it was very simple: chicken, seasoned only with pepper (you'll soon see why), in the olive oil left from the focaccia topping, and the extra rosemary and garlic. as well as a bit of the sea salt. Cook, turn, repeat.
It wasn't pretty. I'm not even sure if it made sense.
But, oh my; did it taste good!
This month, Blog Party's skipping to the good stuff: Dessert! Your favorite virtual cocktail party is all about the last course this time around. Cakes, cookies, pudding...as long as it's miniaturized, it counts!
And don't forget the drinks---it wouldn't be a cocktail party without them. Alcoholic or no, it's up to you. But we need something to wash down all that sugar, right?
Any time between now and Thursday, 20 December, send your bite-sized dessert and sweet drinks entries to thehappysorceress at gmail dot com, or leave a link here in the comments.
Don't miss the party...get on the guest list by sending your entries in early. And I hope to see you there!
Tagged with: Food and Drink + Dinner + Chicken + Focaccia + Ragu + Rosemary+ Garlic+ Beans
- Blog Party Reminder
This month, Blog Party's skipping to the good stuff: Dessert! Your favorite virtual cocktail party is all about the last course this time around. Cakes, cookies, pudding...as long as it's miniaturized, it counts! And don't forget the drinks---it...
- Brave Little Boy
Having survived a night at the ER, it was time for Alex to get those stitches out. As you can see, he was pretty happy about it! Relatively scene-free, and his finger looks good now. And boy, does he give the food processor the evil eye these days......
- Family Tea Party
Cucumber cream cheese rounds, mild cheddar on wheat Despite saying I was taking the entire week off from cooking, I decided to have a tea party last Saturday. It was the three of us, plus one set of Alex's grandparents. I don't have enough tiered...
- Birthday Cookies
My parents were unable to come up for Matt's party, but the following Monday he received a package from my mom containing these wonderful cookies! She even matched the icings to the party colors. I've always admired my mom's frosting-manship;...
- Quick Supper, Healthy Kid
A very simple soup last night; garlicky broth, tomatoes, basil and cheese tortellini, with a chunk of focaccia. But Alex wasn't interested. He instead asked for a 'regular plate' with carrots and tomatoes. And 'something to dip',...
Cooking
Emergency Dinner
Although I normally plan out a menu for each week, sometimes for a whole month, occasionally a day arrives where I realize I have no idea what I'm making for dinner.
I found myself smack-dab in the middle of one of those days last month.
I decided this was a good time to go Yankee on my kitchen, and 'use it up'.
Matt already had chicken, defrosted, in the refrigerator. We had some rosemary left-over from another recipe. There was some slightly aged garlic, semolina that would be much happier if used...and thus, a plan was formed.
I made my usual focaccia, using the left-over rosemary, the not yet-old garlic, and the remainder of a large tin of olive oil.
I knew I'd do some sort of chicken, and I wanted soup. It was quickly becoming an Italian-esque meal. Authentic? Who knows? But it smelled good.
I started by cooking down onions (also nearing the end of their productive lives), then garlic. After a rummage through the cupboards, I added in tinned tomatoes and eventually, garbanzo beans. I added vegetable broth. Seasonings. I cooked away.
Then I added the pasta. It became less a soup, and more a...ragout. Go with it, I decided.
For the chicken (and Veat), it was very simple: chicken, seasoned only with pepper (you'll soon see why), in the olive oil left from the focaccia topping, and the extra rosemary and garlic. as well as a bit of the sea salt. Cook, turn, repeat.
It wasn't pretty. I'm not even sure if it made sense.
But, oh my; did it taste good!
This month, Blog Party's skipping to the good stuff: Dessert! Your favorite virtual cocktail party is all about the last course this time around. Cakes, cookies, pudding...as long as it's miniaturized, it counts!
And don't forget the drinks---it wouldn't be a cocktail party without them. Alcoholic or no, it's up to you. But we need something to wash down all that sugar, right?
Any time between now and Thursday, 20 December, send your bite-sized dessert and sweet drinks entries to thehappysorceress at gmail dot com, or leave a link here in the comments.
Don't miss the party...get on the guest list by sending your entries in early. And I hope to see you there!
Tagged with: Food and Drink + Dinner + Chicken + Focaccia + Ragu + Rosemary+ Garlic+ Beans
- Blog Party Reminder
This month, Blog Party's skipping to the good stuff: Dessert! Your favorite virtual cocktail party is all about the last course this time around. Cakes, cookies, pudding...as long as it's miniaturized, it counts! And don't forget the drinks---it...
- Brave Little Boy
Having survived a night at the ER, it was time for Alex to get those stitches out. As you can see, he was pretty happy about it! Relatively scene-free, and his finger looks good now. And boy, does he give the food processor the evil eye these days......
- Family Tea Party
Cucumber cream cheese rounds, mild cheddar on wheat Despite saying I was taking the entire week off from cooking, I decided to have a tea party last Saturday. It was the three of us, plus one set of Alex's grandparents. I don't have enough tiered...
- Birthday Cookies
My parents were unable to come up for Matt's party, but the following Monday he received a package from my mom containing these wonderful cookies! She even matched the icings to the party colors. I've always admired my mom's frosting-manship;...
- Quick Supper, Healthy Kid
A very simple soup last night; garlicky broth, tomatoes, basil and cheese tortellini, with a chunk of focaccia. But Alex wasn't interested. He instead asked for a 'regular plate' with carrots and tomatoes. And 'something to dip',...