January 31st - February 6th
We have been eating simple things this week. Yeah I know, you guys have messaged me before that my "simple" is not simple at all but really, we have been eating the classic comforts. Maybe the Harissa Chicken was a little involved but at the end of the day, it is just grilled chicken. I have rediscovered the majesticness of a smoothie. Not a green chalky healthy smoothie, a fruity yogurt base Jamba Juice vibe smoothie. I did a bunch of GF chocolate chip cookie tests and made Marco taste all 8 versions. Poor Marco. Friday night we made pizzas in the Egg because WHY NOT?! Sometimes the simple things are all I crave.
In an effort to change up the routine I suggested we have a movie night. A special in bed early weeknight movie night. We can watch movies any time we desire but they are often saved as a Friday or Saturday night event. There is something fun about committing to a two-hour movie during the week. Normal weeknights are filled with "wrapping up work," dinner, dishes, maybe laundry, and general getting stuff done. So ignoring all of the adult tasks to stare at a screen feels semi-special. In Alicia Kennedy's newsletter this week she talked all about marriage and referenced the book Eat Pray Love. I knew I wouldn't read it as I still have half of My Fair Junkie on my bedside table waiting to be read, so I requested we watch the movie (free on Netflix). It came out in 2010 and we had both seen it around then. A time just before Instagram and all I could think about was how she would be Instagramming her entire trip if it took place in 2021.
To make things extra special I made a pot of popcorn. We rarely eat popcorn but I remember eating it all the time growing up. I can't be the only one? Back then I think it was considered a semi "healthy" snack that was incredibly convenient but also a nice treat. A snack that required zero skill because the microwave had a special button for it and was something you could always smell from miles away. It's easy to lose track of how much you shove in your mouth because of how light, airy, and perfectly crunchy it is. That's exactly what we did while enviously watching Julia Roberts eat pasta in Italy, meditate in India, and frolic around Bali.
In my adult life, I haven't owned a microwave. Originally because microwaves were "bad for us," then because of the lack of counter space, and now because it's broken. Maybe that's one reason why I don't eat popcorn often? Things may take a bit longer to heat up but I believe they taste better when they are given the extra 10 minutes of love and care while reheating. Plus they actually get crispy. Our current microwave, which was in this kitchen when we moved in, is used as extra storage for my plate props but I did enjoy the convince it brought during the few months it worked. To enjoy popcorn now, I make it in a pot on the stove. I don't have a tried and true recipe. I just throw things in the pot and hope for the best. It goes something like this:
Enough avocado or coconut oil to coat the bottom
An even layer of corn kernels
Medium heat, wait for the sizzle, and cover
Pop, pop, pop, shake the pot, pop, pop...
No more popping?! Remove from the stove
Vent the steam and coat in the seasoning of the evening
My favorite seasoning is a drizzle of olive oil and porcini salt. The perfect flavor combo. Nutritional yeast is a house favorite for a cheesy bite without the dairy but you can buy cheddar cheese powder for the real deal. Everything bagel, za'atar, a packet of French onion dip powder...the possibilities are endless. Although running my finger along the inside of the microwave bag to lick the artificially colored, sodium-filled, butter powder will always be a favorite past time, stovetop popcorn is hands down the way to go.
*Unless you are camping in which case you need a campfire popcorn popper.
I love lamb. Big big fan over here. I didn't eat much of it before I started dating Marco. The whole baby sheep thing made my mom sad and the only time I ate it was maybe with my grandparents. I have started cooking more lamb in recent years since finding out about Marco's beef allergy. The flavors pair well with warming spices like cumin, cinnamon, and coriander and I added all of them in this ragu. Red wine and tomatoes make a rich base that is lightened up with fresh mint and salty feta. This dish deviates from the traditional Italian flavors of pasta but it satisfying in the same ways. If you are new to cooking with lamb, this is a nice recipe to start with. The flavors meld together and do not taste gamey. We enjoyed this dish three times in the last month. It's THAT good!
Two easy meals perfect for a weeknight:
Meatball Soup. I don't follow a recipe for meatballs. I throw in GF breadcrumbs, spices, herbs, usually pecorino, and always walnuts. There is an old Bon Appetit recipe for crispy sheet pan meatballs that is 10/10. Walnuts are added for texture and I have done it ever since. While my meatballs baked I simmered an onion/leek, carrots, and celery in chicken broth. If there was ever a time to use your super flavorful homemade chicken broth it would be now. Add the meatballs to the soup and that's it!
Harissa Grilled Chicken. Okay, grilling the chicken low and slow for two hours might not be weeknight dinner friendly but you could most definitely roast the chicken instead. Ottolenghi has a recipe for harissa that needs no adjustments. Its flavors are perfectly balanced. To speed things up you can buy premade harissa at the grocery store. Rub it on a chicken and roast. Serve it with veggies, salad, in a rice bowl, or as a wrap. Endless options.
Perfect crispy edge and chewy center GF Chocolate Chip Cookies are coming...but I'll tell you the winner was 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Recipes From This Week:
Thing Everybody Needs:
Quinn popcorn for making a pot of popcorn at home.
Animal Cuteness:
A dog in her raincoat.
Random Thing From This Week:
This week I made homemade vanilla extract to give as gifts for the holidays. I have a big jar that I use for everything and love so much. All you do is add beans to a glass jar and cover it with alcohol. You can see more in this video.
Moist plump vanilla beans are expensive and preferred for most uses. Less favorable drier beans are less expensive and perfect for making extract. I buy them on Amazon for $11.
Check out this HUGE wild pompona bean. I'm dying to get my hands on one.
Book I'm Cooking Through (& LOVING) This Month:
India: The Cookbook, Pushpesh Pant
Recap + review 2/28
Remember those big tins of popcorn with three flavors eaten around Christmas? Why are those eaten around Christmas? They should be enjoyed year-round because popcorn rocks.
See you next week,
Marcella
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