Archives for January 2014

Oyster mushrooms Rockefeller

January 28, 2014

Oyster mushrooms Rockefeller from https://test.pleasepassthepeas.com

Every Saturday I go to the local farmer’s market and almost every Saturday I buy some of my produce for the week from one particular vendor, a kind and cheerful woman who sells several types of mushrooms and nothing else.

She is, hands down, my favorite vendor at the market, not least of which because she always makes time to dote on my baby. (What can I say? I’m easily won over.)

I buy the workhorse cremini mushrooms more often than any other type, but the ruffle-y, gray clusters of oyster mushrooms always beckon to me. The trouble is, oyster mushrooms are expensive and I’ve never been quite sure how to showcase them best.

Oyster mushroom cluster from https://test.pleasepassthepeas.com …

Pinto beans with swiss chard

January 20, 2014

The day my son was born, I had taken off from work with big plans to cook all day and stock the freezer in preparation for his impending arrival.

I’m not always great at planning ahead, but I felt really on top of things this time. I had freshly dried pinto beans from the farmers market soaking in a big pot of water on the stove, a vegetable bed overflowing with swiss chard and a pile of potatoes on the kitchen counter.

The baby wasn’t due for a another month and, if all went according to plan, I’d have a freezer full of homemade soups, potato knish, and pinto beans simmered with swiss chard waiting for me when that day finally came.

All did not go according to plan….

Skillet cornbread

January 16, 2014

Skillet cornbread from https://test.pleasepassthepeas.com

I’ve made a lot of bad cornbread over the years.

Dry cornbread. Gritty cornbread. Cornbread with no discernible corn flavor at all. Terrible, bitter cornbread that initially led me to believe my cornmeal was rancid, but which I eventually came to blame on my leavening instead.

Finally, after many, many disappointing bouts, I stumbled across a recipe with the boastful title “Perfect cornbread … every time.” The author promised no bitter aftertaste and, well, I couldn’t resist….

Carrot and red lentil soup

January 13, 2014

Carrot and red lentil soup from https://test.pleasepassthepeas.com

Things have finally warmed up around here after a vicious little cold snap — or at least what passes for vicious cold in these parts. Today felt practically like spring, but the cold weather of the past couple weeks still had me thinking of soup.

Also, I spent a good part of yesterday using up piles of butter and chocolate on what turned out to be a disaster of a baking project (lesson learned: get an oven thermometer). It seemed like time for something a little lighter. And foolproof….