Most people had a magic dish growing up that their mom would give them when they were sick – scrambled eggs, chicken noodle soup (canned or homemade), Campbell’s Tomato Soup with buttered Ritz crackers, plain buttered noodles.  Jello or popsicles.  Ginger ale, tea with honey, or lemonade.  Older readers might remember mothers giving them a… Continue reading Chicken Salad for the Soul:

Now onto something far more complicated (completely  ruining the whole point).  David Chang makes his ramen with a deep and rich pork broth – the fat is rendered into the broth and he adds bacon for smokiness.  As an advocate of adding bacon, I start preparing a broth the same way I make my Mexican… Continue reading Forever and Ever Ramen: Part Three

Step two is to use the ramen packet, throw out the seasoning packet, and try to create a dish that’s better.  For this we turn to my husband’s coworker, formerly of culinary school – this is his recipe, but as it was provided without any quantities or directions, we had to improvise. Start with a… Continue reading Forever and Ever Ramen: Part Two

Sorry for the long break, guys.  I have been sick with a capital-S for the last week.  A tiny cold mutated, hulked out, and laid me on my ass for four straight days.  I did not sleep, I did not eat – I only coughed.  Well, coughed and occasionally vomited.  Today is the first day… Continue reading Forever and Ever Ramen: Part One

Someone on a food website I frequent recently put it best: the worst pizza you’ve ever had was still better than the best kale.  I don’t know anyone who actively dislikes pizza – it may not be your favorite food, but to genuinely NOT like it?  To quote Ralph Wiggum, “That’s unpossible!” Now remember the… Continue reading Another Little Pizza My Heart: Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

Forty Acres and Mouli: Crack Dip So I have a lot of scattered thoughts today, and no real way to connect them.  I also came up with a great clever title, and have no idea how to shoehorn it into the topic at hand. Today’s theme is entertaining, which is something I am terrible, horrible, no-good,… Continue reading Forty Acres and a Mouli: Crack Dip

I have a confession to make.  I don’t make pretty food.  This post is inspired by the song, “Dance: Ten, Looks: Three” from A Chorus Line (better known as “The Tits and Ass Song”).  The song tells the story of a talented young dancer who couldn’t get a job because she was flat-chested and unattractive. … Continue reading Dance: Ten, Looks: Three – Mini Hot Brown Appetizer

“The greatest enemy to productivity must surely be the electric blanket.” ~ Jane Austen I woke up at 5:00 a.m. this morning for no reason whatsoever.  There are many, many things to accomplish today, but for whatever reason (laziness) I simply cranked the electric mattress pad up to 7, rocked into a comfy burrito, and just lay… Continue reading How to Lose a Cooking Contest: (a.k.a making Lemonade) Chicken Salad Saltimbocca

“Virtue is choked with foul ambition.” ~ William Shakespeare. ***** “Cleaning out the fridge, Cleaning out the fridge, Where’d this jar of capers come from? Cleaning out the fridge.” ~ The Beatles I know, I know.  I’m supposed to be doing ambitious, ridiculous things here like braiding homegrown garlic, spit-roasting whole hogs on a spit… Continue reading Color Me Beautiful: Fresh Pasta Part Deux