« The Canon and the Coop | Main | Swan Lake »
January 10, 2006
New Year's Resolution Update
Miracle of miracles, we managed to avoid eating dinner at a restaurant unless absolutely necessary last week. Instead, I've been making great use of the Le Creuset pots Derek got me for my birthday.
First, I tried a vegetable frittata with the skillet. That was decent, but not fluffy enough for my taste. I think I need to beat the egg whites or add cream. I started with onions, added green veggies and some Italian-deli marinated artichoke (possibly my favorite vegetable), poured in the egg and cooked until firm on the bottom, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and cooked in the oven. In no cookbook did it say to add parmesan cheese, but I remember a friend doing this and it definitely helped.
Next, I made a 50s style casserole for the folks at home (adding sherry to the mushroom-sautée step helps), and a beet and mandarin orange salad that I love (and cannot find the recipe for, but all it has are cubed cooked beets, mandarin oranges from the can, salt, minced garlic and olive oil). Finally, I made pea soup, twice. Once in New Jersey in a stock pot (takes decades), and once here in the dutch oven (only take a few hours). It takes time, but it's so easy -- just throw a quart of vegetable stock and a quart of water together with 1 lb. of split peas, 1 carrot, 1 celery stalk, an onion, a bay leaf, marjoram, and some diced ham (you can leave this out, but I haven't found a great substitute yet). Let simmer until it looks like pea soup. Voila.
Posted by csageday at January 10, 2006 11:30 PM
Comments
The pea soup, frozen in small containers, has been sustaining me for days -- especially wonderful for lunch at work. Since my office is right next to the kitchen, I have to endure the enticing smells of everyone else's home-cooked leftovers that they bring in to work. My usual pb&j fare is pathetic. For at least a short time I, too, can hold my head high when the microwave wafts the aroma of my (your) delectable soup!
Posted by: Mom at January 14, 2006 07:31 PM
Glad you're enjoying it! I was worried that it might sit in the freezer for an eternity.
Posted by: Cindy at January 17, 2006 01:42 PM