Category Archives: Fall

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables with Caraway

Somebody hold me…  Because in nine days, it’s time to say goodbye to The Office.  Forever.  I don’t know if I’m ready yet.

(And the lines between TV talk and food talk blur once again…  Bear with me?  If you want?)

Critics say the U.S. version of the show overstayed its welcome, to which I respond: duh, and it’s all because of unsophisticated ding dongs like me, who kept watching no matter what.  Sorry, serious legitimate critics and Comic Book Guys (and Ladies) of the world.

What can I say?  I’m loyal.  And I, for one, am glad the show stuck around as long as it did, despite the peaks and valleys.  Here’s why:

1.  Its success practically spawned Parks and Recreation, which we can all agree is literally amazing, sharp television, no?
2.  It exposed the world to the girly genius of Mindy Kaling.
3.  The Office at its worst was still a thousand times better than Two and a Half Broke Whitneys or whatever.
4.  If it took that long to take Pam and Jim from nauseatingly perfect to real-life perfect, I’m okay with that.
5.  Finally, if we had to tolerate a weak season (or a few) to get an epic a capella showdown involving Stephen Colbert (can’t find a clip to link, so sad), I’m game. 

In short, I think this is a good time to give our insides a big old hug with springtime comfort food.  That’s not as weird as it sounds…  I don’t think.

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Farro with Roasted Carrots and Preserved Lemons

I’m afraid I am becoming predictable.  Smoking! Gorgonzola and goat cheese in everything!  Experimental ice cream flavors galore!

And here I am, once again bringing you farro.  Thank goodness I can’t physically see you rolling your pretty little eyes at me.

This reminds me of some interview I’d seen with Mariah Carey, where she addressed criticisms that her songs sound the same. Being the capital-d Diva that she is, girlfriend was just like, “Well, excuse me for having a style.”  Boom!

I apologize.  That interview is firmly lodged in my brain where Spanish verb conjugations ought to be…  And it’s probably never leaving.

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French Onion Soup

Pop quiz!  You know what’s wack?

Right now, it’s 37 degrees in Juneau.  Here? 19.  I don’t know what is going on, but my guess is that Alaska is some kind of witch.  I’m onto you, Alaska.  If I weren’t so busy staying very still under this pile of blankets, I’d getcha good.

Yeah…  It’s cold.  Really cold.

In other news, I am such a big baby.  What’s wack in YOUR world?  I want to know, because complaining about the weather is majorly boring and I’m being majorly boring.  So, tell me.  We can all be in this together…  And then we should eat soup.

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IPA Cocktails with Aperol and Pomegranate

Whoa.  Say hello to the manliest fizzy pink cocktail of all time.  Actually, I prefer the more unisex “most suited for grown ass adults who like to drink like adults fizzy pink cocktail of all time.”  It’s a mouthful, but it’s accurate: what we have here is sheer sophistication.

There are only three ingredients, and all of them are fragrant and delicately fruity, with a bitter bite.  Naturally, if you throw them all into the sandbox (or a cocktail glass), they play nicely.

I really wasn’t sure this would work, but I nearly cried tears of joy when it did.  There’s a lot of fun to be had with beer as a cocktail ingredient, whether you’re looking for a light maltiness or big, bold flavor, as is the case here with IPA.  Trivia bit: India Pale Ale was created out of necessity–more hops and more alcohol in traditional English pale ales meant they could be shipped to India without spoiling.

(Personal sidenote: There was once a time when the initials IPA immediately made me think of the International Phonetics Alphabet–when I was busy studying linguistics, not drinking.  Times have… changed.)

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Butternut Squash and Black Bean Tacos (Vegan)

I realize this is my third (wait…  fourth) vegan post in a row.  This is not intentional.  I’m just digging the array of textures, flavors and colors of plants right now.  You know?  And truth be told, I have been googling things–very, very dangerous carnivorous things.  Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, if you, like me, have been on the vegetable bandwagon lately, TACOS.  Pull up a chair and let’s talk.

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Roasted Garlic Hummus

How to have a stress-free holiday season:

Step 1: HAHAHAHA.

Step 2: No, really, that’s hilarious.

Step 3: Don’t leave the house on Black Friday.  I mean it.  If you need milk, put coffee or beer on your cereal.   If you need an egg for pancakes, try sending smoke signals to your neighbors.  Toiletries of any kind?  Let’s quit all this worrying and love our disheveled selves exactly as they are.  It’s a jungle out there!

Step 4: If you’re stressing over gift ideas for kids, look no further than this sweet raptor hoodie.  I won’t lie–I totally want one myself.

Step 5: Drink!

Step 6: Bring hummus to parties.  All the parties.  It’s basically the easiest thing ever, and tastes much, much better than anything store-bought.  Look at you, with your fancy instant party success.   I hear people are fond of you.

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