Hungarian Shortbread

April 30, 2012 · by · 26 Comments
Hungarian Shortbread

When I read through today's recipe for the baking group, Tuesdays with Dorie, I immediately fell in love. In. Love. Although I don't bake it very often, I do love shortbread. And the completely new-to-me technique of freezing and grating the dough was intriguing. I imagined a tender, fluffy cookie, yet somehow still sandy (the hallmark, of course, of really good shortbread). Indeed, this recipe should be called "Hungarian Shortbread Cake," or maybe "Hungarian Shortbread Cookie Bars" … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baking, Holidays ·

Moroccan Radish & Carrot Salad

April 30, 2012 · by · 8 Comments
Moroccan Radish & Carrot Salad

My garden is positively bursting out in radishes, the first officially picked vegetable of 2012 at Casa SoupAddict. I know this makes some of you groan inwardly — radishes might not be your thing, but they are entirely my thing, and I can scarf them up raw, roasted or tossed in a salad. Their black-peppery bite is, for me, the perfect heat: it sits on the back of the tongue, instead of the sometimes-irritating (and cough-inducing, when you're not expecting it) back of the throat, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pescatarian, Salads, Savory Cooking, Spring, Summer, Vegetables, Vegetarian · Tagged: , ,

Roasted Banana Bread Scones

April 26, 2012 · by · 15 Comments
Roasted Banana Bread Scones

It's been a weird week. And weird weeks find me contemplative in the kitchen, pondering life, purpose and path. We handed over the keys to my parents' house to the new owner on Tuesday, bringing to a somber close one of life's unavoidable chapters. Once home, I wandered into the kitchen, as I do when I'm fidgety, whether in joy or sadness or a ponderous foggy funk. I had purchased bananas last week with the intent of making weekend scones before The Cold from Hell knocked me flat, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baking, Bread, Breakfast + Brunch, Desserts + Sweets, Pescatarian, Vegetarian · Tagged: ,

15-minute Cacio e Pepe

April 24, 2012 · by · 5 Comments
Cacio e Pepe

Forgive me while I whine for a few minutes. Some folks get sniffly colds that pink up their noses and cheeks and bring on squeaky little sneezes. It's almost cute — you just want to hug them, wrap a fuzzy scarf around their neck, and hand-feed them chicken noodle soup. Five days later, they're back to their regular jogging schedule, laughing with bright eyes and talking in a normal voice. Not me, people. Once a year, I get a knock-down-drag-out cold that knocks me flat for a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Autumn, Pasta, Rice + Grains, Pescatarian, Savory Cooking, Vegetarian, Winter ·

Roasted Spring Vegetable Salad

April 20, 2012 · by · 4 Comments
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Some people just don't like raw vegetables (especially Spring vegetables). I get that. I really do. But that doesn't mean that I'm going to stop trying to get everyone to eat them. It's my summer mission. (You've been warned.) And I'm not above trying a few tricks. Like sneaking in fresh leafy greens and sugary snap peas with some of the season's finest produce, roasted to savory goodness. And then topping it with homemade croutons and the most fabulous dressing I've had in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dinner + Entrees, Lunch, Salads, Savory Cooking, Spring, Vegetables, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , ,

Lemon Loaf Cake with Lavender Glaze

April 17, 2012 · by · 30 Comments
Lemon Loaf Cake with Lavender Glaze

One of the reasons I joined the baking group Tuesdays with Dorie was to force myself to bake more often. I go through odd stretches where baking just seems so time-consuming, so cumbersome. So demanding. Cooking is spontaneous and inventive and fresh. Baking is measuring spoons and batter-coated bowls and oven timers. Stifling. But not really. Because once I get myself started, once I pull out the Kitchenaid and the mixing bowls — once I get into a recipe, I remember. Baking … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baking, Desserts + Sweets, Spring · Tagged: ,

Loco Moco Risotto

April 13, 2012 · by · 11 Comments
Loco Moco Risotto

I'm not gonna lie — it makes me feel a little bit squirmy and downright where-have-I-been!  deficient when I learn something new and useful from pop-culture television shows. Especially when it comes to food. I expect to learn foodie things from, say, Saveur or Food52, but I do NOT want to hear about a culturally significant dish for the first time from Hawaii Five-0. No, uh-uh. Mama likes her H50 eye candy with a big dose of slack-jawed mindlessness. Fight scenes — … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Autumn, Pescatarian, Savory Cooking, Vegetarian, Winter · Tagged: , ,

Tom Kha Gai (Thai Chicken Ginger Soup)

April 10, 2012 · by · 10 Comments
Tom Kha Gai (Thai Chicken Ginger Soup)

I've fallen head over heels in love with coconut milk. And I don't get it. Honestly. Because the mere sight of shredded coconut makes my tummy heave. Just yesterday, I was at my real estate agent's house, where she proudly showed off the leftover Easter bunny cake she had made herself, covered, of course, in the ghastly shreds. While she delightedly pointed out the cuteness of the eyes and nose, and the fluffiness of the ears, I was concentrating on breathing through the gag (breathe, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dinner + Entrees, Lunch, Pescatarian, Savory Cooking, Soup, Spring, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , ,

Spring Superfoods Salad

April 6, 2012 · by · 8 Comments
spring-superfoods-salad-4-031812

I think that if there were one food whose reputation I wish I had the power to transform, it would be the salad. Carnivores, please don't run screaming. I'm not here to convince you that gnawing on raw carrots all day long is where it's at, man. But, I do want you to see what my idea of a salad looks like. It's neither the super-bland "house salad" of your typical restaurant (all bitter ribs, too-thick cucumber slices and screamingly raw red onions drowning in a weird vinaigrette); … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dinner + Entrees, Lunch, Pescatarian, Salads, Spring, Vegetables · Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Homemade Herb Ricotta

April 4, 2012 · by · 15 Comments
Homemade Herb Ricotta

Let's cut right to the chase: this is one of the easiest DIY food projects you'll ever do, and the effort-to-reward ratio is super high. I just wanted to get that out there, in case the word "homemade" made you want to run screaming for the Back button. I don't know what it is about dairy, but it's been a sort of hobby of mine to try DIYing the homemade goodies that can come from a simple glass of milk. Butter, compound butter, buttermilk, ice cream, mozzarrella [from my other blog, Leaf … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Edibles, Savory Cooking · Tagged:

Pizza Rustica

April 2, 2012 · by · 30 Comments
Pizza Rustica 1

Every once in a while, life hands you a reminder that you're just not all that. My reminder usually comes in the form of karmic revenge — a topic not for this post (nor this blog) — but now and then, it jumps me in the kitchen. I have more knife scars than I can count (no doubt in payment for my knife-skills pride). And just when I become emotionally attached to a kitchen tool — usually a spatula or scraper — I manage to burn or melt the handle (totally true - I have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baking, Bread, Dinner + Entrees, Pescatarian, Savory Cooking · Tagged: ,

Garden Update – Early April 2012

April 2, 2012 · by · 10 Comments
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I feel like I'm in some sort of crazy time warp. Just yesterday (I pinkie-swear!), I was dreading the turn of the yearly calendar and staring down cruel, snowy January and February. But here it is, April already, and it's warm and sunny in the Midwest. In stark contrast to last year (which was problematic on a number of fronts), all of my planting efforts are taking off like a shot, indoors and out. For my fellow gardening fiends (and, of course, armchair gardening aficionados alike), … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gardening ·