Mmmmm, Dinner

Yeah, so it has been a month almost. Here's some things I made:

First up was boneless pork "ribs" with an Orange Asian Sauce.
This did not turn out well. The ribs were really a cut up pork loin. I was duped by the Whole Foods butcher. They ended up dry and not very good, but the sauce was great.

The broccoli was sauteed in a bottled black bean sauce. CJ said he liked it, so that means it must have been good. He claims to not like vegetables.

Next up is steamed fish. Whole Foods says that this Chilean Sea Bass isn't terrible and it isn't endangered. I really tried to make this pretty, but I failed.

It is cooked with quinoa, sugar snap peas, and a soy sauce reduction. It was very, very good and healthy.


This never was posted because the condiments are just too much. It obstructs the numminess.

This is a Mexican Pork Stew. It came straight from my Rick Bayless cookbook. It had a very smoky flavor due to chipotle peppers. A little spicy and nicely flavored, this was a hit. The Mexican cheese and avocado made the overall taste wonderful.

Labels: broccoli, fish, mexican, pork

BBQ Pork Sandwich with Coleslaw and Homemade Baked Chips.

This is so easy, it takes a long time, but it is easy.

Cut a pork shoulder into chunks, it doesn't matter what size really. I cut them about 1 inch by 3 inches. Place them in a very wide pan and cover with water. I also added about a half of a chopped onion and a couple teaspoons of salt.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Simmer for an hour.

After simmering, take off lid and bring back to a full boil. Boil off the liquid. When it gets down to where the pork is starting to fry a little (most of the water gone), drain off the remaining liquid.

Here's the tricky part. Go to your fridge, grab a bottle of barbecue sauce and dump about half in. Simmer on low for about 5 minutes and break apart the pork.

Serve on buns with coleslaw.

Labels: bbq, coleslaw, pork, potatoes

I love greens. I love kale, mustard greens, chard, and collard greens. CJ likes greens, but they don't like him.

I love curry. Vietnamese curries, Thai curries, Indian curries, Malaysian curries, all types. CJ likes curries, but they don't like him.

I love dairy. Ice cream, cream soups, custards, gratins, everything. CJ loves dairy, but dairy doesn't like him.

I love spicy food. Vindaloo, hot peppers, chilies, hot wings, hot sauce in general. CJ likes spicy food, but it doesn't like him.

You get the picture.

It drives me crazy, but it also gives me a challenge: how do I come up with interesting and tasty foods that we can both eat?

I love a challenge in the kitchen. Bring me your vegans allergic to soy and wheat, I'll make a great meal. Give me your picky eater, your onion hater, your allergic to garlic neighbor, and I'll come up with something. I love it.

But sometimes I have to have my greens. So CJ and I compromise. I make foods that don't like CJ on Fridays and Saturdays, and pair it with something CJ really likes, like pork.

It works out pretty well.

Labels: greens, pork

Sorry about the weeks of not posting. It wasn't that I haven't been cooking, I have. It is just that I didn't get pics of everything and that I'm lazy.

So, here you go, a big long list of things I've made recently, with some pics.

1) Roasted chicken- One of CJ's favorites. Super easy and real tasty.
2) Split pea soup
How I love split pea soup. I made a whole bunch last week, froze some, and have been eating it for a few days.
3) Squash- Sauteed with some onions, one of my favorites.
4) Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Ugly, but good.
5) Fava beans and tomatoes- I threw this together real quick one night, and it turned out good. By real quick, I mean under 3 minutes.
6) Homemade applesauce


7) Carnitas

These were really good. Take a couple pounds of pork shoulder and cut into cubes. Add enough water to cover, the juice from a small lime, and a couple pinches of salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 40 minutes on medium low covered. Uncover once tender and let water boil off. When it does, it will start frying itself in its own fat.

We ate it as we do tacos. It was really good. REALLY GOOD. The recipe came from my new cookbook, The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters. The cookbook is also great. If you are interested in learning to cook real food, it is a great starter. She does the basics, then goes on to other things, all which look excellent and simple.

Labels: apples, beans, chicken, muffins, pork, soup, squash

The damn CSA folded, but I still made a great dinner with some seasonal, locally produced veggies and meat.

Pattypan squash, stuffed with tomatoes, rice, and peppers. Locally raised pork chop. Corn on the cob.

Labels: corn, pork, squash