illdothedisheslater

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

Or the story of a sublimely happy dog. I haven’t attempted anything truly ambitious lately.  Work has been so crazy-making and stressful that all I want to do when I get home is sit on the couch and eat cheese.  So today is a compromise – this is an impressive and ambitious project, but one… Continue reading Fresh Egg Fettuccini: