mmmmm, easter


i love sausage.

if I weren't bursting at the seams...

...from eating my face off (again) this holiday weekend, i'd write a whole long story about my first thanksgiving (the first one I cooked a lot for) and post the pix. but, i'm too full and the thought of talking turkey right now has me burping.

i'll be back tomorrow or the next day with a full (no pun intended) report.

Only 9 days left and it's hard to remember....

...to write something here every single day. I have to do it when I wake up or it's a crapshoot as to whether I'll remember. Lately, the colder nights and rainy, dark mornings keep me cozy in bed later and later. That and I consulting gig I have requires late night work that makes me want to get off the computer as fast as I can.

Today is exciting because I get to pick up a monster sized turkey and some mashed potatoes & gravy. Now I understand why many moms I know have a second fridge. That turkey is going to dwarf my fridge, therefore it shall reside in Kate's welcoming fridge and I'll hold onto the mashed potatoes & gravy.

I can't believe how I'm getting so caught up in planning and cooking for Thanksgiving, but at the same time I'm so excited to be doing it on my own (with a friend, actually) for the first time. I feel like I have something to prove to my own excellent chef mom.

I have to go to work now, or I'd make this post better.

sample sublime

One of my favorite things of every weekend is doing the week's grocery shopping. I don't view it as a chore, instead a chance to do participate in two top activities: shopping (and I don't have to worry about jeans fitting) and FOOD! I dutifully make a shopping list before each trip, planning out the week's meals in the process. Ben happily participates too and it's a routine to go together Saturday or Sunday morning.

We usually try to get through the errand before noon on a given day, but we both put it off until 11 a.m. rolls around because store samples kick-off then. The past three weeks, New Seasons Market's sample counter has focused on holiday meal planning. There was turkey week, sides week and my favorite, stuffing week! This week, it seemed to be the prepared foods week, with deli-made corn risotto, brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce and bread.

You cannot beat the sample table at New Seasons. No siree, bob. Cookie day is the best one.

foodie cyberspace

there are all these food websites and food blogs to keep up with out there.... from eGullet to local site Portland Food and Drink to FoodCandy, the new self-proclaimed "Foodie Friendster." I love going out and reading them, but it can seem like a full-time job to read people's comments on your comments, their recipe ideas, and just keep up with it all.

I wonder if this is a signal of where the world is going and we'll eventually all never leave our homes and just communicate virtually. I hope not. But, I did see the Matrix...

delicious invention

I had a lot more to write when I was talking myself through the dinner I made tonight. Sometimes I just think I would like to have a cooking show. I like telling people what to do and not having a present audience who talks back. :)

I bent toward bulk comfort food tonight. I need lunch for tomorrow and dinner for tonight; I have romaine lettuce threatening to brown in the veggie drawer; and I like dessert. Here's what resulted (can you tell I like lists):

- An experimental vodka cream sauce for my Pastaworks ravioli di funghi (that's mushrooms) made with bottled Seeds of Change Puttanesca sauce (they've been underperforming) and sour cream in lieu of heavy cream.

- A lemony caesar salad with stale wheat sourdough croutons and homemade dressing (garlic mashed with salt to create a paste was the remembered trick, try to do that more often, takes the bitterness out)

- A big fat overpriced rice krispies treat from New Seasons. Ate the whole thing. Oops.

And with that, I'm off to bed.

Sorry that this is a food diary, I hope you like food.

i'm baaaa-aaack. and so is thanksgiving.

Just landed from a trip to the Northeast, and have to excuse myself for missing two days, there was no internet where I was.

So, last year, I stuffed myself at Thanksgiving supper and decided that the holiday was dégoulasse (that's French for disgusting as hell). This year, I'm in charge of Thanksgiving, which is the way I think I needed to do it this year. Suddenly, I'm intensely interested in every element of the holiday. Well, my friend KP and I are in the aprons, both. She's hosting at her house, with hubby BenP & son Will, his parents and of course, PFE (Elliot).

We've ordered the turkey (we'll roast it), prepped mashed p & gravy. I'm in charge of all but turkey & stuffing I think. Hey, maybe I need to talk to Kate about that....Either way, I spent all weekend talking about it with a friend and I can't wait to have a kitchen party with myself to get ready. And because I like lists:

- Roasted turkey (deliver roasting pan & hot plate, what about carving/serving plate)
- Dijon & brown sugar-glazed carrots (carrots)
- Roasted green beans & shallots (green beans)
- Apps: Baked brie with jam and a flaky crust, sweet potato pancakes, mini-quiches, crackers & cheese
- Deliver white place setting, what about apple & leave votives? Placemats, or trivets and serving dishes needed?

Whoa, that's maybe too many appetizers. I just want to fit it all into one year.