Week 36

Ah, Mr. Spring. Though it seems like it should be Mrs. Spring, with all the fertility and such going on. But whatever the gender, spring is here. Though it was a bleak thirty-nine degrees outside, I had some blissful pea starts appear in the garden yesterday, and hence, there is life!! It is a dreary day today. But those pea shoots are so very happy, thus, I am too. This week, is almost, all meatless. I stuck a little chorizo in, but that is it. Maybe next week I can go all the way. I am like a third-base vegetarian.

So it is all Jamie Oliver (my little Brit cooking boyfriend) and Melissa Clark this week. A lot of asparagus, because, why not? Tis the season for the asparagus. I bought some plants, so maybe one day, I will have my very own asparagus children. Until then, I steal them from the grocery.

Menu:

Asparagus Soup with poached eggs and bread (Jamie at Home - p. 22)

Salad Pizza

Broccoli Pasta and salad (JAH - p. 32)

Pan-Roasted asparagus with fried eggs (MC - p.46)

Crispy Tofu and Chorizo, broccoli (MC p. 174)

Phyllo and Feta Cheese Torte (p. 234)

Dessert please -

Olive oil blood orange cake - MC

Also, I will post our Easter menu later this week. I haven't decided yet, most call for ham or lamb, both don't appeal. So I will think this out.

Week 35

I am late on posting this, already did the ole grocery run. But here is what is in the cards:

Jamie Oliver's Macaroni and Cheese (with creme fraiche, peas, mint, and bacon). I have made this before, good stuff.

Cabbage and egg noodles (from Laurie David's new cookbook), and garlicky kale.

Pork and Milk, brussel sprouts, potatoes

Salad Pizza

Red Lentil soup (from Melissa Clark's cookbook - In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite), bread

Barley Risotto, broccoli

Also, going to try this "power salad", as I am in a bit of a lunch rut.

Lemon Tart, for the old, sweet tooth, again, from Melissa Clark's book.

Week 34

We have been out of town the last three weekends of this month. So cooking has been on and off. But now I am squarely at home. Really. I Out-of-Town Ari is a disagreeable insomniac who will only eat cheetos and drink juice. He is a tyrant. But At-Home Ari is sweet, though still prefers to only eat cheetos. However, home does not have cheetos, so it's not an issue.

So to celebrate homenessess, here is the week's delightful menu:

Cauliflower soup and bread

Salad pizza. I am feeling the love.

Pork Ragu and greens

Salmon patties and broccoli slaw

Chicken and Wild Rice salad sandwiches with kale salad (lots of salads going on here)

Also, I got a new cookbook from the library - In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite, by Melissa Clark. This has exciting prospects, but not a lot on the vegetarian meals. So I will probably try out a chicken recipe. But she does have a sweet item named Gooey Honey Butter Cake with Lemon and Cinnamon (p. 364). I am not a huge fan of cinnamon, but I REALLY like butter, and this cake has a large portion of butter. It looks to be a bit more like cinnamon roll than cake - the crust rises - but I will take it.

And another also, I have been thinking about making my own sandwich bread. So here is a recipe to try. I am so lame, I don't even really know what it means to proof the yeast, but I will put on my thinking cap, and figure it out.