Christmas Pizelle

My Italian grandfather always had licorice flavored candies of some description around, and every so often a batch of pretty pizelle cookies from the Italian bakery. Love 'em or hate'em, that's usually the case. And guess what? I love pizelle! Some people are turned off by the traditional anise (licorice) flavor, but I enjoy their light texture and that zingy flavor. Although they are a cookie, they're not terribly sweet, and compliment the Christmas sugar overload nicely. They're delicious with coffee or hot chocolate too!

I was perusing the Crate and Barrel sale section and this CucinaPro pizelle maker jumped out*. I liked the idea of making my own fancy cookies, because I'm historically not great with baking cookies, so this will be foolproof, right?! Reviews told me this model is well-made, and easy to use. Tonight I tried it out with high hopes of becoming a pizelle making machine, maybe it will be a Christmas miracle...

Backyard Chickens in the Snow

Now that most people know we have chickens, the number one question we get is, "Are they okay in the cold?!" And the short answer is, "yes, they're fine".

Generally chickens are hardy little beasts, and just like other wild animals they have ways to keep themselves warm in the winter. They mainly use body heat from one another to stay warm in the coop, which is enough. We also took note to get breeds that are relatively "cold hardy". Our two Rhode Island Reds will venture out in yard with a light coating of snow, brave little girls they are. But 2 inches and above, all five of them hang out in the run and coop. Here are a few things that we're doing for the flock to help them get through the winter weather.

You can see the girls poking their heads out of the run.

December Playlist: 2013 In Review

When you need a breather from non-stop Christmas tunes, here a few tracks from some of my favorite releases of 2013. 

Thanksgivingworthy Apple Pie

Apple pie is a Thanksgiving staple in my book. Although I'm an expert at eating them, I'm not an expert at baking them, yet. Emily was with me on Saturday night and walked me through this recipe because she clearly possesses superior baking skills and she's also admitted to making mini versions of this for herself from time to time, check it out here. Why did we make an apple pie a whole week before Thanksgiving? Because we can, that's why.

Homemade Horseradish Sauce

My aunt gave me a horseradish plant in the spring. Fun, I like horseradish. I planted it in a sunny spot outside of the garden beds because I was warned that it will take up a lot of space. The plant flourished throughout the growing season, producing long large leaves that sprouted into a big dome shape. I never watered it or tended to it, it just grew in the corner of the yard. Yesterday as we prepped the lawn for winter, mowing, raking and mulching, I figured it was time to unearth the horseradish that I had all but forgotten about.

DIY Mason Jar Pendant Lamp

If you're ever on Pinterest surely you've seen a version of this, a million times. But I liked the look, and we wanted to replace the pendants that came with the kitchen without spending too much. I looked into changing just the glass shade but nothing would fit properly. A decent-looking full pendant assembly costs at least $50 per lamp, and we needed three. Making our own mason jar lamps looked like a good alternative at a cost of $20 a piece. Worth it!

Coconut Curry Acorn Squash: Two Days, Two Ways

It's the season of the squash! One of my favorite, the acorn squash, is a staple in the supermarket and I always tend to throw a few in the cart. Unlike the unyielding butternut, acorn squashes are easily halved and roasted. Wednesday I wanted to make a mild side to go with Rogan Josh spiced chicken and lentils (very similar to the Maharajah Curry). A smooth and coconutty mashed squash would compliment the heat nicely. Since I had two squashes I roasted them both to make enough for two meals.

DAY ONE:

November Playlist

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Happy Halloween! I already posted about all the treats I was making for myself, so today here's a little something festive for all the puppies in our lives. Emily made Dante homemade dog treats last year for Christmas and he went berserk for them, which says a lot because he is extraordinarily picky about his treats. The one store-bought treat he loves is a duck jerky, but unfortunately there's been a lot of warnings going around about harmful chemicals used aging the jerky made in China and making many dogs very ill. Yup, ours is made in China, into the trash it goes!

When I was in the pet store looking for new treats I saw a stack of pumpkin puree for doggies. I read the label and it's meant to be good for their digestion. The ingredients read: organic pumpkin puree. Hmmm, why would I pay extra for this can because there is a cute dog on the front? I went home and baked these with the canned pumpkin I had, for humans. These are easy enough to make for the baking impaired, like myself.

Professor Sibyll Trelawney Costume

I love Halloween. Dressing up in homemade costumes is so much fun for me and I kinda wish I had an excuse do it more often. So I usually jump at any opportunity where it's socially acceptable to get my geek on. This get-up was for a Harry Potter weekend in Chestnut Hill.  If you already own a lot of bangles, you're half-way to a decent Professor Trelawney costume!  I chose to imitate Emma Thompson's version of the character in film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. You don't have to be spot on, but there are a few must-haves to convey the look of the looney Divination teacher... or be mistaken for a new-age ceramics instructor living in Tucson*.

Homemade Halloween Candy

As a kid it was a cardinal Trick-or-Treating rule to not eat any homemade or opened items. Which is a shame now because I love the idea of making my own Halloween candy. But who says you have to make it for the Trick-or-Treaters? Instead, be a hit in the office or at a party. Here's a few recipes for better-than-store-bought-candy. Although I've only attempted the peanut butter cups (my favorite) I hope to be indulging my sweet tooth in the next week, and maybe getting a stomachache or two.

Beet and Spinach Orzo

So I have to admit I haven't been stellar at keeping up with Meatless Mondays, but we do have a lot of meatless other days. I feel like I've significantly reduced our meat consumption, which is the end goal anyway. And now that the chickens are laying we can get a lot of our protein from eggs. I got some tasty beets from the farmer's market and wanted them to be the star of something. I found this recipe on Food52, I know, I'm on there a lot, but I had this recipe saved and decided to make it last night.

Tea Treatments for Your Hair

I remember the day I colored my hair for the first time and essentially lost my natural highlights forever. Sigh. My mother warned me, but I did it anyway. My natural color is a dirty blonde, and growing up playing sports year round, I maintained golden blonde highlights. But that wasn't enough for me, I wanted something different and new! I wanted something dark. After I made up my mind my friend spent a fair amount of time coloring my hair in our apartment kitchen, and I loved it! Until I wanted my golden highlights back...

Using Natural Dyes

I have the pleasure of volunteering with Greener Partners, a non-profit in the Greater Philly area. I'm working specifically with their organic farm, Longview Farm and Market. Basically I get to hang out around the farm and attend awesome events and workshops! I was excited to attend this one, presented by the Marafiki Arts, about dyeing with natural plant dyes. It's one of those things that I've wanted to try but haven't got around to it. It turns out that the process is pretty simple...

The instructor already had three colors going. Big stainless steel pots simmering with the "dye", water and vinegar. The vinegar acts as a fixative to the fabric. Shown below are marigold flowers, which yield a brilliant golden yellow. They also have a magnificent fragrance as they simmer. In true sustainable fashion, the marigolds were grown at Longview over the summer. It makes me want to grow my own marigolds next year. I'm pretty certain chickens are fans of them as well, bonus!

We started off with white pieces of cloth and used various techniques to create patterns. Ah, brings me back to the childhood days of messy tie-dying... We used rubber bands, washers and clamps to make designs. the tiny clamps were really handy and effective at securing the pattern.

Look at that color! You can achieve an endless amount of hues by leaving the fabric in the dye for varying times. 

There also was a brilliant purple made from a crushed South American insect, ew, but it made a gorgeous color. The third color was indigo, that was also harvested from the farm.  I knew what the color looked like, but not the plant. The color is made from the dried leaves of the plant, below. The color in the pot looks like a dark sea green, but when the dyed fabric hits the air and oxidizes it turns into that bright blue.

These little wooden flowers made a cute pattern. After the dyeing process, you set the color by rinsing it in cold water, then allowing it to dry.

This is most definitely an art. Because of the nature of the method you could spend a lot of trial and error tweaking your process to achieve the perfect colors. I think I'd like to use natural dyes to do some batiks, where you use wax to draw your patterns. Pioneer Thinking has an extensive list of dye sources and the color they produce, here. Think of all the colors you can create!

Recommended: 25 Indie Movies on Netflix Now

It's my favorite time of year, when the leaves are changing and everything is pumpkin flavored. Unfortunately it's also the time when my allergy stricken immune system throws up it's hands in defeat. I'm sick. Currently, I'm on the couch, snuggling with Dante, drinking plenty of fluids and vegging out with Netflix. So I thought it a good time to share a bunch of movies that I'd recommend, that are available right now, depending on what you're looking for...

Cult Classics

1. Donnie Darko - Jake Gyllenhaal is a teenager that's seeing things, namely a terrifying bunny named Frank and portals into the future. 
2. Lost in Translation - An unexpected duo of Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray connecting in Japan.
3. Trainspotting - This is not a happy movie. You have been warned. That said, it is a classic.
4. Clerks - The first of Kevin Smith. If you haven't seen this, you've probably missed out on a lot of references to it in life.
5. Strictly Ballroom - The first part of the Baz Lurhman Trilogy. Trilogy? Strictly Ballroom: Dance, Romeo + Juliet: Poetry, Moulin Rouge: Song. Go.
6. Being John Malkovich - A completely bizarre concept. If you've watched this before, but when it first came out, watch again.

Coming of Age

1. Saved! - It's funny and heartfelt, and surprisingly a good commentary on Christianity. Mandy Moore is the "mean girl" and Macaulay Caulkin is her wheelchair bound brother.
2. Goats - David Duchovny plays a total hippie nomad that helps guide a teen through adolescent trials, with the help of some goats. 
3. Cashback - A twenty something develops insomnia after a difficult breakup. With nothing better to do, he starts working the night shift at a supermarket where he let's his artist imagination run wild.
4. Sassypants - If you hated Skyler in Breaking Bad, you'll love hating her character in this. 
5. Billy Elliot - You haven't seen Billy Elliot?? Watch this first! Just try not to feel good at the end. I dare you.

Cute, Funny, and (Most Likely) Awkward Romances

1. Timer - Romantic Sci-fi? This one takes place in a world where finding your "true love" a scientific reality.
2. Love Birds - Adorable rom com from New Zealand. Remember Murray from Flight of the Conchords? He plays a handsome bloke who takes in a wounded duck after his girlfriend leaves him. Aww.
3. The Giant Mechanical Man - This falls in the awkward category, but I couldn't help but empathizing with Jenna Fischer's character.
4. Ceremony - This rides the line of romance and coming of age. Many literary references, and has an overall feeling of the plight of the Great Gatsby.
5. Outsourced - They tried to make a TV series out of this, which sort of flopped. Disregard that and enjoy the film.
6. 2 Days in Paris // 2 Days in New York - I cheated, this is two separate movies. Not necessarily a sequel but definitely go together. 

Just a Little Dark

1. Lucky - Definitely dark and definitely funny. Gotta love Colin Hanks.
2. It's a Disaster - It's not exactly funny, but it's probably the most realistic outcome, I've seen, of a global disaster. 
3. The Brass Teapot - A good lesson can be learned here. It also makes you think about what you would do in their shoes.
4. Bernie - A dark comedy with my favorite, Jack Black.

Something Else All Together

1. Butter - A pseudo mockumetary about butter carving competitions in a Mid-West town. Olivia Wilde's prostitute character has very little to do with plot development, but is awesome all the same.
2. Lars and the Real Girl - I didn't get what the fuss was over Ryan Gosling, until I saw this film. That boy can act. I thought it was going to be depressing, but it has a great ending.
3. Magicians - Who loves "Peep Show"? Anyone? Robert Webb and David Mitchell play professional magicians. The plot mildly parodies The Prestige.
4. Unicorn City - Let your geek flag fly! Are you a gamer of any description? Watch this.

8 Things I'm Glad We Did For Our Wedding

Today is my two year anniversary of marriage to my awesome husband, Chris. And as with most annual celebrations I can't help but to think back and reminisce about the day. To anyone planning a wedding on their own, it's tough, though extremely rewarding. We tried to be as realistic as possible, and kept reminding ourselves that we don't have to conform to traditions, and that this was just one giant party. I'm not going to give a play by play of the planning process, but rather share the highlights of things I'm happy we did. Perhaps a little perspective for any future "big party" you might have.

1. We set our priorities - Right from the get go we knew we wanted have great food and drink and good music. It seems simple enough, but because we were working with a tight budget, we allotted most of our money to a fabulous "classy BBQ" caterer, Tommy Gunns. The buffet style food was a hit, guests raved about the food. You don't need a sit down meal with a steak option to be delicious! Of course, we also wanted an open bar because anything else is just not right. And after we agreed on what was most important us, the rest of the budget fell into place.

2. We made our own playlist - Our music component cost zero dollars because from January to October of 2011 we crafted our entire playlist, from cocktail hour to departure. There's nothing like loving every single song that's played on your wedding day. We used a laptop and a PA system, as well as our friend, and Chris' former band mate, who played emcee. The biggest floor filler of the evening? Chumbawumba, I Get Knocked Down. Go figure.

3. We incorporated friends and family - We're extraordinarily lucky to be in the company of so many talented friends and family, and we did our best to exploit that! As I mentioned, we had Chris' former band mate emcee, we had a friend do the photography, Chris' mom expertly did the entire bridal party's hair and makeup, Chris' uncle supplied us with his amazing homemade bottled hot sauce, "Botto's Bitchin'" as favors, and lastly our friend, Sean, added a trumpet solo onto our first dance song. Did I already say we're lucky? Everyone, especially our super bridal party, was ready and willing to help us set up the space the day before. Having friends and family help us in so many ways made the day that more special and uniquely "us".

4. I bought a dress that I was comfortable in - This probably goes against all womanly instincts, but I opted for a dress that was flattering, yes, but I was comfortable in it. I didn't have to re-position things, I didn't have to worry about eating too much and sucking in my gut. And it had pockets! I firmly believe that all dresses should have pockets, even big white ones. I danced all night in it without the slightest concern. And speaking of dancing...


5. I danced with my husband - After all the introductions, speeches and first dances, I danced with Chris all night long. Sure we made rounds and thanked guests, but I remember having fun with him. Although we planned everything ourselves, we actually enjoyed the wedding like guests and not hosts.

6. We had the guests leave us messages - This is the gift that keeps on giving! I most likely saw this on Pinterest; we asked guests to write messages to us on the inside of the table number card. Now we open and read the card on our corresponding anniversary. So tonight we'll read what table #2 had to say! It's a fun time capsule that we can openly yearly until our 23rd anniversary.

7. We left for our honeymoon the next day - I was worried it would be too stressful to jet off to Ireland the day after. But it wasn't! I found it quite romantic to just have a big chunk of time dedicated to wedding and honeymoon. We still were on a wedding high, and it felt more special than just another vacation.

8. We spent less than $10K - That includes everything! Honeymoon, rings, attire for ourselves and the bridal party etc. With a little under 200 guests, I thought it was quite the financial accomplishment. The last thing we wanted to do was to start our married life in "wedding debt". Because we stuck to our priorities, it was much easier to make decisions. It also helped that we did ALL of the decor and invites ourselves. So what didn't cost us money, cost a whole lot of time. Worth it! Wedding high-five!

In the end, it was a reflection of us. We had fun planning it, living it and now remembering it!

Easy as No Bake Vegan Granola Bars

I don't know where the expression "easy as pie" came from, but making pie isn't exactly easy. However, I'll tell you what is easy, this granola recipe by Gena Hamshaw.

I've tried to take my own advice and start snacking on healthy things throughout the day, rather than just eating a container of leftover dinner from the night before. This recipe caught my eye because of the "no bake" factor. The last time I attempted baking granola (late at night) after hours of super low temperature baking, I took it out and was immediately puzzled by the fact that it wasn't hard and chewy. Oh, impatience, you strike again.

Do you want your granola ASAP? Quick, to the cupboard! I used:

2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

1/2 cup of sliced almonds
1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup dried cranberries
2/3 cups almond butter

1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 cup agave nectar (adjust based on how well things stick together)
1/8 teaspoon sea salt (adjust based on which nut butter you use)

Mix the nut butter and agave separately at first to get a homogeneous mixture. Then stir everything together and shape it into a square on a wax paper lined baking sheet. 

Pop in the refrigerator for an hour, or so, to harden it up before you cut it into little bars. I got about 16 bars from this square.

Healthy snack accomplished! They are a tad sticky and if you hold them in your hand for too long they start to fall apart. But if you're holding onto granola for that long you deserve to get messy ;)

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 bars
Amount per Serving: Calories 123, Calories from Fat 83.4

Total Fat 9.27g

Saturated Fat 0.93g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 10.76mg

Total Carbohydrate 22.91g

Dietary Fiber 2.71g

Sugars 9.25g 

Protein 4.48g

October Playlist

Whether you're hosting a Halloween Party or not, get yourself in a spooky mood with this playlist; Photo source

When Peppers Attack

The other day I was on a roll in the kitchen. It was a leisurely Sunday afternoon, I had already baked some bread, roasted some squash for dinner and was in the middle of canning some salsa verde. We got a good amount of poblano peppers this year and I thought I'd add them to some salsa verde in lieu of jalapenos.

Things were going well, the house smelled of deliciousness and I had nowhere else to be. Unfortunately I was in for a turn of events. This story is going in the misadventure column.

I've previously posted a recipe for salsa verde. Using tomatillos, jalapenos, lime, cilantro, salt and sugar. Check it out here. I decided to double, maybe triple, the amount of poblanos because, to my recollection, they're rather mild. I set up all my canning gear. Stock pot, jar grabbers, jars, lids rings. This would be a small batch, about 5 pints worth. As I let the tomatillos boil, I halved the peppers and started roasting them.

As many peppers as I have cut up, I've never had a problem with pepper oil burning me in awful places. I've heard horror stories of burning hands, eyes, and even genitalia... BUT it's never happened to me. Until then. As it's allergy season, I rub my nose a lot. Suddenly I felt the burning at the top of my lip, then at the base of my nose, around my nose, and up inside my nose. Oh, crap. As I breathe in, I can feel the intense burning travelling further up my nose. All I knew was that attempting to wash it off would only spread it further. I quickly left everything that was happening in the kitchen and flew upstairs to where Chris was enjoying his afternoon. "Quick, Google something to counteract pepper oil on your skin!", I say in a panic. In my hypochondriac mind, I'd be asphyxiating in mere minutes...

I'll save you from the drama in between. The lesson learned here, is that lemon juice will relieve your skin from a run in with peppers on your skin. Chris's dad was the hero in the end, telling me to just go ahead and rub that lemon juice all up my nose. As the juice dried it put out the flames in and around my nose. Phew.

Don't worry, I continued to can the salsa! It was totally worth it.

Microwaved Eggplant: I'm a Believer

If the title of this didn't scare you away, but rather intrigued you, I promise you won't be disappointed. This was another recipe I found through Food52, one of "genius" proportions that involves microwaving eggplant. It was quite timely because I found this the day after I wrote the post on Baba Ganoush, and the neediness of eggplant, for lack of a better word. Eggplant ripens just at the end of the summer and most times it's still way too hot to be using your oven. Enter, the microwave. Barbara Kafka's Marinated Eggplant Recipe has made a believer out of me; you can microwave eggplant, and it will be glorious.

You'll need:

• 1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons loosely packed cilantro leaves
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 1/2 medium-size cloves garlic
• 3/8 ounces fresh peeled ginger (a 1-by- 1/4-inch piece), cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices
• 4 small Chinese eggplants (2 to 3 ounces each)

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients, except eggplants, in a blender. Process until smooth.
2. Prick the eggplants several times with a fork and pull off the leaves. Cut in half lengthwise. On the open side of each half, make three deep diagonal slashes in each direction. Place eggplants skin side down in a 13-by-9-by-2-inch microwave-safe oval dish.
3. Spoon 1 1/2 teaspoons of the marinade over each eggplant half. Rub the marinade into the flesh so that it runs into the cuts. Turn eggplants skin side up. Pour remaining marinade into dish. Let stand for 45 minutes.
4. Turn eggplants skin side down. Cover tightly with lid or microwave plastic wrap. Cook at 100 percent power in a high-power oven for 10 minutes. Prick plastic to release steam.
5. Remove from microwave and uncover. Serve warm or at room temperature.

So you'll notice this requires the use of microwaving plastic wrap. My first thought was, "that's not safe, right?" The one unused roll of SARAN wrap I had in my drawer actually says, "microwave safe" on the box. I did a quick search, and it seems as though these plastics have tiny perforations to let out steam. Okay. I'll go along with it. 

In my excitement to try this out, I failed to notice the "marinate for 45 minutes". At the time, I was really impatient, but I think it's a crucial part.

After the eggplant is microwaved, it comes out looking like it's been roasted for a long time. They're not spongy, they're smooth and completely infused with the marinade. Wow. I decided to make some soba noodles and extra cilantroed shrimp with this. Shrimp wouldn't be my first choice, but it was all I had, and it tasted mighty fine. In the future, I might include some marinated, pan-fried tofu. OR just eat the eggplant on it's own because it was DE-lish.

Now I know we're at the end of September, and you can probably use your ovens without sweating all over the kitchen, but this dish will still be awesome. Quick, go out and get some eggplant before you start spending all your days making roasts and stews! 

Chickens and Yogurt

Chris's mom told me to give our chickens yogurt, "it's hilarious to watch"...

Why, yes, it is quite hilarious.

Well, besides being a hoot to watch them get it all over themselves, it is a good source of probiotics. Poultry probiotics are sold as a supplement, but why spend so much when my plain Greek yogurt has the same cultures? However, it is important to remember that it is a treat. Too many treats, of anything, isn't great for them. It's best to offer feed that has been specially designed for a balanced diet, and to let them forage for insects naturally. Here's the most comprehensive resource I've found  for what, and what not, to feed your flock.

End of Summer Apple and Fennel Soup

I recently purchased some fennel from the farmers market with the intent on grilling them, but I came across this soup on Food52. A tart apple and fennel soup sounded perfect for a Meatless Monday meal. This soup was so light and sweet. With apple season at our door, I'll certainly be making this again!

I used:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large shallot, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 large bulb fennel, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 large Granny Smith, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 stalks celery, sliced in 1/2-inch pieces, leaves and all
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
3 cups chicken stock
1 cup watercress
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fennel fronds
1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I didn't have any heavy cream as suggested, but I thought this was an acceptable lighter option)

As it says in the title, this soup really did only take 20 minutes. Saute the minced shallot, garlic and butter in a heavy bottomed sauce pan. After a minute or two, add the cubed fennel, apple, celery, chicken stock, honey, lemon. Simmer for 10 -15 minutes so that everything gets soft. Add the herbs and puree. The recipe says to strain the puree, but I prefer a little texture. Stir in the yogurt last, and garnish with more herbs. In the future I might swap butter for reserved bacon fat. I think a lil' hint 'o bacon will give it extra oompf. But for Meatless Monday it was perfection!

Grapefruit Gin & Tonic

I've been enjoying G & T's recently during (hopefully) our last muggy weeks of the season. When I ran out of limes, I used lemons, and when I ran out of lemons, I bought a grapefruit. Probably one of the lesser favorites of the citrus family, I really enjoy it's flavor and tartness. As I mixed this, I recalled a lovely cocktail served to me before the ceremony of an outdoor summer wedding. It definitely was grapefruit based, maybe with champagne? But what stuck me was the sprig of lavender that stuck out. It was so delicately fragrant as you sipped the drink, and went so well with the grapefruit. I had just clipped out bunch of lavender to dry, so I popped one in the glass for a little fanciness.

To make you own incredibly refreshing cocktail you'll need...

• A glass half full of ice
• About a shot of gin
• A shot or two of freshly squeezed grapefruit 
• Top off the glass with tonic
• A sprig of lavender for fragrance

Best enjoyed outside with a good book!

Dim Sum at the Imperial Inn

Last Saturday was perfect weather for anything but being indoors, so we put our lengthy weekend to-do list aside and hopped on a train into Philly, destination: Chinatown.

Philadelphia boasts the fourth largest Chinatown in the country, located in Center City between 11th and 8th streets. Chris is lucky to work nearby, so he and co-workers can pop into Chinatown for delicious and authentic eats. Chris has spoke of the Imperial Inn before, as it's touted as one of the best dim sum establishments in Philly. So Saturday afternoon I went for my first dim sum experience!

My knowledge of dim sum comes from a mix of food and travel shows, so I was expecting a Chinese tapas sort of dining. Close, but not quite. A dim sum experience goes something like this... You are seated and are offered a pot of tea. Waitstaff pushes carts piled high with various small dishes. Much like a Brazilian steak house, as they pass by they offer whatever they have on their cart and then they mark what you've taken on your table's bill. After you've eaten your fill, you take your bill up to the counter to pay.

Here's a Serious Eats article on dim sum etiquette. In short, always share, and when in doubt, just eat it! Because there's no menu, I asked a lot of questions, "what's this, what's that?" But generally it's just fun to go by what looks appealing, and just try it because it's most likely delicious. Since Chris had been before he knew a few staples, wide rice noodles, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves and bao, below. We tried to get a variety of dishes, but there is only so much two people can eat. Which is why dim sum is perfect for a group to share dishes.

Shown above; pork and shrimp dumplings, beef rice noodles, and scallion bao. The sticky rice is steamed with various meats and spices inside a giant lotus leaf. This was the one dish that I wasn't too keen on. There was a flavor, I'm assuming from the leaf, that hit me the wrong way. It was reminiscent to an earthy tea aftertaste. My favorite were the scallion bao, oniony pork filling inside a glutinous steamed bun. The photos aren't the best representation because the inside of the restaurant was very dark, no windows, just typically ornately decorated with Chinese artwork. And on a side note, I hate taking photos of my food while I'm out! I feel like it takes away from the dining experience. But what's a blog without photos, right?

The restaurant was pleasantly busy, and you could tell that all the food coming out was fresh from the kitchen. Next to us was a table of older gentlemen that seem to be locals. It looked as if they were already there for hours, conversing, eating and enjoying tea. They seemed know how to spend an afternoon right. It's fitting that dim sum translates to "touch your heart", because isn't that what good food does?

I really wanted to get one of these, maybe next time...

Eggplants at Their Best: Baba Ganoush

I haven't ever gotten too excited over eggplant. Done right, they are heavenly, but there are so many ways to do them wrong. Under-cooked, they're weirdly spongy, and a bit bland. To me, they seem to require a little more finesse than other veggies, so admittedly I don't cook with them often. My eggplant love affair began after eating baba ganoush at an Israeli restaurant. I think, up until then, I imagined it was just a different type of hummus, au contraire! Baba ganoush is like hummus in that it also uses a tahini base, but instead of chick peas, the superstar is roasted eggplant. After reading the gist of the recipe, I thought, "that seems too easy"... To the kitchen!

I got this recipe from David Lebovitz, go ahead and read the entire post because he muses on dining in France, where baba ganoush is called caviar d’aubergines. Fancy.

Ready? You'll need:

3 medium-sized eggplants (perfect timing because eggplants are in season)
1/2 cup tahini (sesame paste)
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
3 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1/8 teaspoon chile powder (I also added a pinch of Hungarian paprika for more smokiness)

1 tablespoon olive oil
a half bunch picked flat-leaf parsley or cilantro leaves

Pre-heat the oven to 375°. After you've picked out your prize winning eggplants, poke them a few times with a fork. If you have a gas stove top, turn your burner on, and put those eggplants right on the burner, one a piece. If you don't have a gas burner, that's okay. Just pierce them and move on to the next step.

Rotate them to evenly char the skin for 5-10 minutes, based on how smokey you'd like them. Before making this I've never put any vegetables directly on my stove top, but it's a really helpful technique! Apparently you can skin red peppers easily this way too. Watch them, otherwise they could set off the smoke detector. The skin gets charred and papery. I used tongs to transfer them to a baking sheet.

Bake them for 20 - 30 minutes. A knife should easily slide in without resistance. I put the timer on for 20 and test them. 

Let them cool before halving them and scooping out the roasted goodness. The skin should peel right off, if not, they could probably use some more oven time.

Blend the innards with the rest of the ingredients. *Be careful when scooping out the tahini. The oil naturally separates and sits on the top, so it's best to try to mix it up a bit. Easy as baba ganoush! 

Serve with fresh pita, toasted bread, or if you're like me, and have giant bags of Stacy's pita chips hanging around, use them. David remarks on how this would actually be a little more flavorful if you made it a day or two in advance, making it excellent for entertaining. For that extra presentation panache, when you're ready to serve, put the spread in a bowl and using a spoon swirl a spiral in the top. Drizzle some olive oil over and let it nestle in the indentations. Top with finely chopped parsley.

*Kitchen casualty! While mixing the tahini a big glob of oil sloshed out. I didn't realize it also got to the floor... Later I noticed a big oil slick on Dante's head; looks like he was helping himself to it!