Sandwich I Invented

What do I want?

ARUGULA!

When do I want it?

NOW!

How do I want it?

With brie and hard salami on a Zingerman's baguette.



Try it. Gut essa.

Do I Look Hunky in This?

In talking with D. yesterday about the paucity of comestibles around the Kimmijo abode, I neglected to mention a half-forgotten half-head of cabbage (shown here sliced, salted and fried with egg noodles in butter). Add a side of my grandmother's pickled beets and that's about as east-central European as you're gonna get.

Stuffed Chicken

Chicken stuffed with spinach, feta, and garlic by Fresh Seasons Market. Mashed potatoes by Kimmijo.

Baking

Snow is flying.



A good night for cookies.

Super Quick Scallop Soup

Start with the ingredients so many good things start with: olive oil and garlic. When the garlic is softened, add two cups broth, grated carrot, and sliced leek. Bring to boil, then reduce and skim. Add fresh pepper, parsley, and half a pound of bay scallops. Simmer until scallops are opaque, about five minutes. Makes enough for two or some for tomorrow.

Eating Locally

All of this food grew up within 20 miles of my home, and that makes me really happy to eat it. I'm especially pleased to have made the acquaintance of the folks who raised and butchered the chickens (I bought two). They live out by where D. first showed me the snow buntings.

The other thing I like about farmers' markets: the fresh vegetables cost me $5 total. There's enough arugula in that bag for me to have salad for four or five days. And the cute little cabbage was only a quarter.

Update, 6:40 pm:



Don't fear the parsnip. I mashed one with two of the leeks and a potato.
I give the recipe three forks up.

College Football Saturday

I miss P. He would have enjoyed the cheap beer paired with the vegetarian chili.

Made It to the Weekend

Homemade pizza for everyone!

Quick Dinner

Sorry, I know the pix have been crap lately. I'm preoccupied with my furry purry companion. She flat-out stopped eating on Thursday and nothing has enticed her to consume more than a mouthful or two, not the snottiest Fancy Feast nor the organic human-grade fare. She's not drinking much water either and I've hydrated her twice today subcutaneously with lactated Ringer's solution.

There's something about the way she lies there and purrs while I stab an 18-gauge needle into her that has me aware that this might be a final illness.

Though I've been wrong about dying animals before. In two years of volunteer experience at the Ohio Wildlife Center I saw geese I thought for sure were goners fly away from the transport crates, and a male cardinal died in my hand barely two seconds after I marked him down as BAR (bright, alert, responsive) on the intake form.

The vet said Sylvie's blood panel looked mostly fine on Saturday. The office called to tell me to start her back on her insulin today to prevent ketosis. Hopefully I can get her to finish this can of Shredded White Meat Chicken Fare in a Savory Broth with Garden Greens later this evening. Right now, she's tired of me fussing at her. So much so that she nipped at me. Which is a good thing, a bit of her usual brio.

Picnic

Welcome to Café Exsanguination, where the Heinz ketchup flows freely, the high fructose corn syrup is fresh, and the mosquitoes are as well fed as our guests.

Short Stack

The charger hath restoreth my batteries.

Cioppino

Trader Joe sez the bag makes two servings, but it looks like one to me.

Bed & Breakfast

Weird, I Know

Despite the heat and humidity, I felt like making soup today.

Kimmijo's Random Soup

Heat minced garlic and onion in olive oil until onion is transparent
Add carrot, celery and one cup chicken broth
Simmer until carrot softens
Add two hands-full pasta and another cup of chicken broth
Bring to boil, then reduce
Skim the stuff off the top
Add oregano, freshly ground pepper and paprika to taste
When pasta is tender, stir in peas and dark leafy greens
Serve with shredded cheese and croutons

Breakfast table

If I hadn’t

had a Russian Cabbage Patch doll
liked literature
stayed in touch with friends
dropped out of grad school
stayed in that apartment
cracked a bad joke
learned the yellow-rumped warbler’s name
read a book on particle physics
bought a pin-striped suit
been abandoned
decided to forgive you

If I had

converted to Judaism
married that medical student
gone back home
taught English in Hungary
hated Les Miserables
listened to my parents
liked Phoenix
started a successful soap-making business
held onto my anger
let you scare me
blocked your e-mail

I wouldn’t be

scrambling these eggs for you

I Can Has Gardenburger

Reincarnation

An old banana comes back as muffins.

Dulcinea

Those of you who know me know I am no frugivore. Apart from the occasional banana, the only fruit I typically eat is covered with two cups of sugar and baked in a flaky crust. The need for dietary change has me forcing myself to eat more fruit, most of which I don't really enjoy.

So imagine my surprise when the thought crossed my mind that I may eat this entire watermelon in one sitting.

It's one of those miniature watermelons, round and seedless, sweet as summer and juicy as an issue of Scarlet magazine. According to the nutrition information I looked up online, it contains nothing but vitamin C and sugar.

Yum.

Mixed Baby Greens

If you've ever grown your own salad, you know how good this is.

Started Out as Soup

Intended to make a barley, bean, and mushroom soup, but I overcooked the beans and it became a sort of stew. Accompanied a small steak nicely.