Lunch graffiti outside The Morgans restaurant.
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September 29, 2010
Lunch graffiti outside The Morgans restaurant.
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September 28, 2010
Graffiti scratch pad in the alley on the block next to my building.
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September 27, 2010
Week 20 CSA Box
1 lb. strawberries
5 fair trade bananas
2 Japanese sweet potatoes
1 bunch broccolini
5 shitake mushrooms
1 bunch curly kale
10 red radishes (with tops)
1 FL local avocado
1 head savoy cabbage
7 thin zucchini
September 26, 2010
I finally found a wine I can drink (and share with Chris)... Mom would be so proud...
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September 24, 2010
Didn't know these little DQs were still out there... And right in Hollywood, too.
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September 23, 2010
@ The Improv after the Chris Hardwick show. Thought about taking a "with the star" shot, but decided I was too cool for school afterall. The show was awesome--I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe--and Chris Hardwick is much like we'd imagined him--down to earth and genuinely interested in his fans/the geeky things they're into.
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September 21, 2010
No mas aprons!
Luckily, these were the last 2 I need to make for project #4. on to wallets & portfolios!
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Dancing In The Kitchen With Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef
Today's post is somewhat of a departure from my general picture of the day-only posts, but I think its worthwhile. All pictures were taken today :)
I recently got the chance to preview a few recipes from the recently-released cookbook "Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef" by Shauna James and Danny Ahern. You may know Shauna from the blog "Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef" or from their joint National Pork Board blog "Pork, Knife & Spoon". Following is an account of my adventures making three recipes from the new book. In preparing this (huge) meal, I followed the recipes as dutifully as possible, resisting the urge to throw a big handful of greens into the mix.
Fresh Gluten-Free Pasta and Pasta with Anchovies, Lemon and Olives
This picture is a cheat.
From the outset, I suspected the fresh gluten-free pasta might fail. Despite scouring Miami (ok, looking at Publix and Whole Foods), I couldn't find two ingredients; guar gum and quinoa flour. According to Bob's Red Mills' website, xanthum gum can be used in place of guar gum and quinoa flour can be made from ground-up quinoa. So, I thought maybe I was in business, since I had quinoa at home and had just picked up a bigillion dollar ($11) bag of xanthum gum. Wrong! My dough wouldn't combine to save its life, resulting in a tacky mass that, although resembling play doh like the recipe said, would not suffer being put through the pasta machine or being rolled out. So, I cheated. I cheated big time. Since I don't have wheat allergies and since every bit of rice-based pasta that hits this house gets gobbled up in seconds, I turned to my trusty bag of egg noodles. Sorry, Shauna, I feel like I let the recipe down. I gave it the college try, the beginnings of tears… my husband even came over to try and salvage it. All to no avail. I didn't even have the heart to take the sad little lump's picture.
The taste: I loved this pasta, cheat or no. I thought the brine of the olives and capers balanced well with the umami of the anchovies and the brightness of the lemon. My darling, dearest husband (DH) even ate a bit, though he detests olives so much I can't even sneak them into dishes, despite my best efforts.
Seared Shrimp with Garlic-Almond Sauce
This shrimp dish was great and the garlic-almond sauce is going to make it into the growing rotation of sauces-to-be-tossed-with-dinner. Right alongside Italian Salsa Verde from Bon Appetit, green pesto, red pesto and chimichurri.
Chocolate Peanut-Putter Brownies
Yum! Let me say, this recipe is great (and I made it right! Go me!). I am not a baker--far from it; I usually beg my DH to bake on the rare occasions (holidays) we have desserts--I have zero patience and I hate, detest, and abhor measuring. Well, I did it. I did it and I did it right. These brownies (possibly the first I've made since college), were light, fluffy and satisfyingly peanut-buttery. I don't even generally like brownies; these might just not last the night.
The Takeaway
Gluten-free cooking isn't hard. Sure, recipes like pasta might take a little planning and some special ingredients (I'll have that bag of xanthum gum till kingdom come), but once you get the guidelines down, its really no harder than "regular" cooking. Come to find out, most of my (non-pasta) cooking is naturally gluten-free already.
As for the book, I can't wait until I get the rest of it. I've been following Shauna's blog for little over a year. Her love of family, food and life sparkles through the screen--so much so, that I feel I know her just a bit already; reading her new posts are always like talking to an old friend. I can't wait to curl up with the book and continue our conversation.
Further Reading: Shauna is also author of the book "Gluten-Free Girl: How I found the Food That Loves Me Back… And How You Can Too". Go Buy It! Go buy the books together: both will only run you $28 on Amazon; a small price to pay for an author with such a deep love of food and life. I guarantee they'll be a good read.
Read more
I recently got the chance to preview a few recipes from the recently-released cookbook "Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef" by Shauna James and Danny Ahern. You may know Shauna from the blog "Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef" or from their joint National Pork Board blog "Pork, Knife & Spoon". Following is an account of my adventures making three recipes from the new book. In preparing this (huge) meal, I followed the recipes as dutifully as possible, resisting the urge to throw a big handful of greens into the mix.
Fresh Gluten-Free Pasta and Pasta with Anchovies, Lemon and Olives
This picture is a cheat.
From the outset, I suspected the fresh gluten-free pasta might fail. Despite scouring Miami (ok, looking at Publix and Whole Foods), I couldn't find two ingredients; guar gum and quinoa flour. According to Bob's Red Mills' website, xanthum gum can be used in place of guar gum and quinoa flour can be made from ground-up quinoa. So, I thought maybe I was in business, since I had quinoa at home and had just picked up a bigillion dollar ($11) bag of xanthum gum. Wrong! My dough wouldn't combine to save its life, resulting in a tacky mass that, although resembling play doh like the recipe said, would not suffer being put through the pasta machine or being rolled out. So, I cheated. I cheated big time. Since I don't have wheat allergies and since every bit of rice-based pasta that hits this house gets gobbled up in seconds, I turned to my trusty bag of egg noodles. Sorry, Shauna, I feel like I let the recipe down. I gave it the college try, the beginnings of tears… my husband even came over to try and salvage it. All to no avail. I didn't even have the heart to take the sad little lump's picture.
The taste: I loved this pasta, cheat or no. I thought the brine of the olives and capers balanced well with the umami of the anchovies and the brightness of the lemon. My darling, dearest husband (DH) even ate a bit, though he detests olives so much I can't even sneak them into dishes, despite my best efforts.
Seared Shrimp with Garlic-Almond Sauce
This shrimp dish was great and the garlic-almond sauce is going to make it into the growing rotation of sauces-to-be-tossed-with-dinner. Right alongside Italian Salsa Verde from Bon Appetit, green pesto, red pesto and chimichurri.
Chocolate Peanut-Putter Brownies
Yum! Let me say, this recipe is great (and I made it right! Go me!). I am not a baker--far from it; I usually beg my DH to bake on the rare occasions (holidays) we have desserts--I have zero patience and I hate, detest, and abhor measuring. Well, I did it. I did it and I did it right. These brownies (possibly the first I've made since college), were light, fluffy and satisfyingly peanut-buttery. I don't even generally like brownies; these might just not last the night.
The Takeaway
Gluten-free cooking isn't hard. Sure, recipes like pasta might take a little planning and some special ingredients (I'll have that bag of xanthum gum till kingdom come), but once you get the guidelines down, its really no harder than "regular" cooking. Come to find out, most of my (non-pasta) cooking is naturally gluten-free already.
As for the book, I can't wait until I get the rest of it. I've been following Shauna's blog for little over a year. Her love of family, food and life sparkles through the screen--so much so, that I feel I know her just a bit already; reading her new posts are always like talking to an old friend. I can't wait to curl up with the book and continue our conversation.
Further Reading: Shauna is also author of the book "Gluten-Free Girl: How I found the Food That Loves Me Back… And How You Can Too". Go Buy It! Go buy the books together: both will only run you $28 on Amazon; a small price to pay for an author with such a deep love of food and life. I guarantee they'll be a good read.
September 14, 2010
Screenshot of a flyer I'm Writing copy for.
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September 13, 2010
Week 19 CSA Box
2 Honeycrisp apples
1 big bag black grapes
2 oranges
2 Flavor Heart pluots
5 fair trade bananas
2 heads broccoli
2 Chioggia beets
1 bunch Rainbow chard
7 shallots
1 head celery
2 very pale slicing tomatoes
2 red peppers
1 Spaghetti squash
September 12, 2010
Went to the Arscht Center's Fall For The Arts Festival. This is La Camaronera's food truck, The Fish Box. I had the minuta sandwich--fresh snapper fried in a nice batter on fresh Cuban bread. Only ate half; it was really tasty, but a bit heavy for the weather (probably didn't help that I ate a pork belly sammich from Michael's Genuine right before that). I had intended to take pics of everything we ate, but promptly forgot.
September 10, 2010
Sewing project 3c.
Completed sewing project 3.
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September 9, 2010
Sewing project 3a
Sewing project 3b.
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September 8, 2010
New toy day. Now with 30% happier boys!
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September 5, 2010
Angel ghost (scrubbing bubble?) in the Lincoln Road/Miami Beach Convention Center parking deck.
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September 4, 2010
Camel carousel "horse" at the Bonnett House in Fort Lauderdale. Today was half price admission; worth going to once, and I don't feel gypped out of the $10 to get in, but not worth the $20 regular price admission.
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September 3, 2010
Hands down the prettiest piece of hardware I've ever owned. And it's frakin huge!
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September 1, 2010
Completed Cam & Wesson baby kit:
Cloth & canvas diaper bag with zippered pocket and magnetic closure
Flannel & cloth changing pad clutch with zippered pocket
Cloth & canvas travel wipe pouch
Cloth & flannel baby sling with pocket.
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August 31, 2010
My building from across the street. I live to the far left on the 5th floor.
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