Monday, March 19, 2012

weekend review: i love food

Last week I was sick and couldn't stomach much of anything, and was struck by the emptiness this created in my life. Food, it turns out, plays a exceptionally important role in my happiness. I, simply, love food. There is nothing more satisfying than creating, eating, and sharing delicious food. What others' look forward to every day, I have no idea.

This weekend I had plenty of time on my hands and a raging appetite back for revenge. Combined with my above stated adoration for food this meant that I spent most of my weekend in a blissful eating/cooking binge.

Figure 1. Friday night's dinner: pecan-crusted trout, asparagus with balsamic tomatoes, and 1/2 bakery-purchased olive ciabatta roll.

Figure 2. Before the oven: remarkable hint o' mint chocolate chip cookies. Yes, remarkable.

 Figure 3. Saturday afternoon baking: St. Patty's Day hint o' mint chocolate chip cookies.

Figure 4. Inside a chickpea potpie with cornbread crust. Filled with carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, peas, and chickpeas, and soon to be topped with a from-scratch cornbread topping - this pie was a perfectly delicious St. Patrick's Day shepherds pie stand-in.

My solo St. Patty's night took a pleasant turn when two friends joined me for dinner and brought along a St. Patty's day side dish, bubble and squeak (mashed potatoes and cabbage).

Figure 5. Saturday night's dinner: chickpea potpie with cornbread crust, broccoli with cheddar-beer sauce, and bubble and squeak with bacon and garlic.

Figure 6. In preparation: homemade goat cheese ravioli. These ravioli were made from scratch and filled with creamy goat cheese and sauteed shallots and garlic.

Figure 7. Sunday night's dinner: homemade goat cheese ravioli and roasted zucchini and squash with parsley. This was my first go at making pasta from scratch. Next time, I know to make the dough even thinner, but these were relatively easy and delicious!

32 comments:

  1. Those cookies look delicious!

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    1. they are absolutely fantastic. like better than regular cookies. make them. and make them soon.

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  2. Oh no! I hope you're feeling better. Seriously, everything looks amazing - including that homemade ravioli! With the freshly grated cheese? Oh man. Too tantalizing for words.

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    1. thanks, faith! i ate well, no? ;) yes you made that ravioli the other day and i was inspired. so yummy!

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  3. Glad to hear you're feeling better! I also went on a cooking and baking spree--my pantry and freezer are now stocked with granola bars, veggie burgers, cookies, and hummus!
    Those asparagus look absolutely incredible!!!!! Asparagus is definitely one of the highlights of spring.

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    1. love stocking the freezer like that. asparagus are on the menu again this week for sure.

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  4. Cooking binges are awesome! Especially when paired with feeling better.

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  5. Ugh, having no appetite is so depressing. Glad you're back on your feet and cooking up the most amazing looking meals! I may steal that cookie recipe...

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    1. it was really depressing, fo sure. you need to make these cookies. i am so serious.

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  6. I've made ravioli a few times but it always take me so long to do, probably because I make them small. It is so good homemade, though. (And it's fun.)

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    1. yeah these were pretty big. probably more efficient, no? it was fun!

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  7. I want that ravioli! Wow! Anything with the words "homemade" or "cheese" is bound to be a winner :)

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    1. agreed. the ravioli were really great and i felt so domestic!

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  8. Goat cheese ravoli sounds amazing! I imagine them to taste like angel tears. I've made my own pasta before but never ravoli.

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    1. wow. this may be the most perfect description ever. "i imagine them to taste like angel tears". angel tear, indeed.

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  9. This is some really great food! I want to bake cookies now. :)

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    1. haha! thanks, brandi. there is something i find so relaxing about baking. and something so rewarding about the delicious end product!

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  10. the ravioli look delishhhhhh ♥ never contemplated making them myself though! too much work harharrrrr

    can you please come to Vienna and cook for me? Please? :)

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    1. yes yes yes i'll come to vienna any time!

      and ps the ravioli were really not as hard as i expected. worth a try!

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  11. Woah, everything look amazingly awesome. I love weekends cause there's so much time to cook and bake! Excuse me as I cry over your perfect looking ravioli while I STILL can't handmake the dough!

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    1. oh keep trying! it was really fun. practice makes perfect!

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  12. Chickpea pot pie sounds so good! Chicken pot pie used to be my absolute favorite as a child, I definitely need to recreate it, I just keep forgetting haha. That's awesome you made homemade pasta for the first time. I bug my mom for a pasta maker everyday!! haha. Looks like a great weekend with some delicious food :)

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    1. yeah it was my first go at the pot pie and it was really good. and healthy! especially compared to the traditional pot pie.

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  13. Everything looks amazing! I need to get out of my normal rut...

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    1. thanks! i tend to make similar foods during the week - we are all busy! but the weekend is my time to try new things and satisfy cravings for sure.

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  14. I LOVE handmade pasta, but never make it because it seems like a daunting task (even though I know it's not!) Yours looks incredible, especially with the goat cheese filling, that makes anything better!

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    1. thanks, jessica. it wasn't nearly as hard as i though it would be! and yes - goat cheese makes everything tasty.

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  15. wow, i am thoroughly impressed! that chickpea potpie looks so good! the asparagus and cookies and pasta (ok, everything) looks so delicious, too!

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    1. thanks. i ate well this weekend, didn't i? ;)

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  16. All of your food looks so good! I am going to have to make almost all of that food!

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  17. I am so impressed that you made your own raviolli! I've always wanted to make my own but it seems so intimidating. One of these days...
    And the cookies are so cute and festive! <3

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