Tag Archives: basil

Ham and Spring Vegetable Soup (a.k.a. Hot Ham Water)

Happy Day 3 of Arrested Development Week!  Only 6 days to go, and you, my little chicken dancers, must be hungry.  And that’s what this is for.  A solid springtime meal for a solid springtime Monday.

You may be in a sweets coma, after all–did you see these insane frozen bananas that Elizabeth at SugarHero made for you/us?    They put the Bluths’ bananas to shame, but we all know the Bluths are only in it for the money.  This is frozen bananas, with love (i.e. sprinkles).

So, to help you recover, we’re making soup.  In honor of Lindsay Bluth Funke, born Nellie Sitwell: charity event-thrower, cause taker-upper (HOOP, anyone?), shopper, unsuccessful business launcher, hands-off mother (to someone who just happens to be one of the coolest characters in television–so “Maeby” there’s something to the Funkes’ parenting style; I’m just saying).

(Yes, if I had children, it’s possible I would gather parenting insights from sitcoms.  Let’s all be grateful that I do not.)

(photo from http://fashionandhistrionics.blogspot.com/)

Lindsay is by no means domestic, but when she tries, you get a big spoonful of Hot Ham Water.  It’s a fine idea–and revolutionary, to boot–but I’m thinking Hot Ham and Vegetable Water would be even better.

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Strawberry Caprese Turkey Burgers

Tomatoes!  I miss tomatoes.  It’s been too long.  Sometimes I wonder if they miss me, too.  Maybe they check my Facebook and accidentally like an old status, then frantically unlike it before I find out.

I’ll just have to wait patiently for summer, for crates upon crates of ripe, juicy, flavorful tomatoes.  We will be reunited, and it will be glorious.

In the meantime, say we’re craving the classic combination of tomatoes+basil+mozzarella.  Say it’s spring, and we’re eager to start grilling again.  Say we’re really excited about gorgeous strawberries this time of year.  Say we’re open to making substitutions for tomatoes.  Lo and behold…  Look.

It’s red, and green, and white.  It’s slightly sweet, fresh, with a slight balsamic touch.  It’s not really a caprese salad, but it’s inspired by one, and it wants to be your dinner!  Right now.  Seriously.

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Basil Chip Ice Cream

I had a very serious conversation with the family at Easter dinner…  About our favorite ice cream flavors.  It seems every human being is obligated to have one, but if you asked me about my mom’s go-to, I really wouldn’t know.  Turns out, she doesn’t know either, and none of us has a definitive one, really–what might have been a simple Q&A in other families became us just naming flavors.  Yeah…  I’m related to these people.

I should also add that we were eating ice cream.  Before eating cake.  Again–these people are definitely my people.

However, I think my maybe-favorite, the one I would pick if you held a gun to my head (which you wouldn’t do, because that’s dumb) is mint chip.  There is so much to like: the freshness, the balance of sweet with bitter dark chocolate, the crunch…  I am a fan.

But why don’t we branch out today?  You may not think of basil as dessert-appropriate, but why not?  Mint is only used in desserts because we’re used to it.  There are so many other green, fragrant, delightful things that grow in the dirt on our planet.  Let’s play with them.

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Habanero and Turmeric Linguine & Clams

Imma tell you about this outrageously delicious dinner in a hot minute.

But first, let me show you some fun weekend stuff.  San Francisco!

What is it good for?  I’m so glad you asked; let me show you.

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Thai Basil and Lemongrass Mojito

Oh, hello.  Meet the summer cocktail of my dreams.

Also in my dreams: Alec Baldwin follows me around all day (wearing a tuxedo, natch–what is he, a farmer?) and does all of my speaking for me.  I just scribble on note cards and wear sunglasses.

Can we make this happen?  Maybe I could get on Kickstarter and collect donations.

Meanwhile, I’ll just tell you: This drink made my life better.  It’s refreshing, it’s interesting, it’s downright scrumptious.  It’s the reason for this:

Looks positively yikes-worthy, huh?  Don’t worry; I also bought a cantaloupe that I pushed out of the frame.  For comedic effect.

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Green Goddess Dip

I imagine this is ranch dip after it has had a good talking-to from RuPaul.  ”No no no NO.  You get out of that plastic Dixie cup; you are too fabulous for this.  Get yourself some fresh herbs–all the herbs–and anchovies.  You heard me!  Now go werk.

I have never seen her show.  Is it obvious?  Should I do something about that?

It’s the “goddess” part.  It sparks the ol’ imagination.

Anyway, green goddess dressing was REALLY created in San Francisco in the 1920s to honor the actor  George Arliss and his play, which happened to be called…  The Green Goddess.

Still, it’s really fantastic: lots of green, fresh herbs, plus anchovy, for savory depth.  It’s a multidimensional showoff.

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