#1 fan

I am the #1 fan of my mom's cooking - and for good reason! Look at this magnificence...

*Insert Homer Simpson droul noise*

While some at work complained today about the upcoming holiday season and spending time with annoying family and eating awful food, a vision of last year's beef wellington popped in my head. "Haha! Enjoy your green bean casserole whilst I devour tender steak, sauteed mushrooms and crispy puff pastry!"

Just the sight of this photo gets me excited about the holidays and all the opportunities my mom has to use her culinary talents. She just...gets it. Cooking makes sense to her. It's easy, rewarding, demanding and fulfilling at the same time. That woman knows her flavor profiles. She is the MacGyver of food. Give her a half-empty jar of peanut butter, 2 packets of splenda, oreo cookies, lemon zest and a paperclip -- you'll have Thanksgiving dinner in 15 minutes. I kid you not.

So, thanks mom. You are a great cook and wonderful company.

Except when you get into the liquor cabinet.

Actually, you are a lot of fun when you get into the liquor cabinet.

Let's raid the liquor cabinet together, mom.

cookie-palooza!

A few friends from my trip to London invited me to a reunion this January. Fortunately, they are foodies, so I know that many wonderful recipes are in store. In preparation, I'm attempting to recreate the cookies from Ben's Cookies in Oxford which I mentioned in an earlier blog. http://www.benscookies.com/

These culinary delights bring back some great memories - including eating three white and dark chocolate chunk cookies for lunch one day. The antioxidant powers are amazing, I'm sure. The ginger chunk cookies were a big hit as well.

I'll be testing different recipes in the next few weeks to try and find one that meets the standards of these incredible cookies. Keep your fingers crossed that I will start testing this evening - after the Charlie Brown special, of course.

"To alcohol! The cause of - and solution to - all life's problems." Homer Simpson

Baltimore beer week has come and gone, but the celebration of all things malt, yeast and hops is still celebrated in my house. I'm one of those strange women that enjoys a good pint at the end of the day, compared to the glass of wine that seems so stereotypical. Sure, a nice glass of heavy red wine, such as shiraz, is great, but I'm happier with a lager. I especially love to order beer at dressy occasions just to get looks. I imagine on-lookers thinking, "My word! That nicely dressed woman is ordering a lager! She best sip that out of a glass. So help me if she doesn't raise her pinky whilst drinking!"

Beer, to me, is a great celebratory drink and fits any occasion and mood. Let's discover the beer moods of Jen:

Mood: "It's summer!" *sunburn* Beer: Red Stripe
Mood: "It's fall!" *allergy sneeze* Beer: Sam Adams Oktoberfest
Mood: "I need to relax." *snore* Beer: Blue Moon
Mood: "St. Patty's Day!" *green dye overload* Beer: Smithwick's
Mood: "You're driving, right?" *hiccup* Beer: Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA

And, I personally like serving beer with food more than wine. Go out and buy some Flying Dog In-Heat Wheat Hefeweizen and pair with Indian food. Fabulous. My new favorite pairing is a mix of two wonderful items of the season: Blue Moon's Harvest Moon Pumpkin ale and curried pumpkin seeds.


This unassuming pumpkin turned jack-o-lantern was the inspiration for this pairing -- a fall version of peanuts and beer. After his surgical procedure, I whipped up this recipe from the goodies waiting inside. Muwa haha

Curried-Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds

- seeds from a medium pumpkin
- tsp of curry
- tsp of cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp of ginger
- 1/8 tsp of nutmeg
- 1 tbs olive oil
- pinch of salt
- pinch of sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Thoroughly wash seeds to remove pulp and dry completely under paper towels. Combine seeds and all ingredients in a bowl and mix. (note: feel free to add/delete spices according to your taste) Add more olive oil if needed to incorporate ingredients.

Add to cookie sheet and WATCH in oven. The seeds should take no longer than 20 minutes to brown. Stir in pan once the first side browns.

Once lightly brown, remove from oven and place seeds in a bowl to cool.



Cheers to fall.

It just feels like a big hug.

I adore comfort foods. Honestly, who doesn't? The term "comfort food" gives us the opportunity to indulge using the excuse that food will make things all better. It's like a band-aid and kiss on a boo-boo. Bad day? What bad day? All gone!

I needed some comfort the other day, and while the calorie police were probably ready to knock on my door, I knew that nothing would satisfy that need like breakfast at dinner. I resisted the temptation of cheesy grits and hash browns - Lord, help me - but bacon, yes, the bacon is always included. The result? Runny egg, bacon and cheese sandwiches.

I toasted two honey wheat rolls from Yia Yia's Bakery http://www.yiayiasbakery.com/ and added thick-sliced pepper bacon, provolone cheese and eggs fried in...bacon grease. Oh, snap!

Enjoy, bacon lovers, enjoy.

Merry Christmas, Jen!

Santa displays in department stores? Black Friday sales rumors already posting on the internet? *Looks at calendar* Yup, it's just October 9th and the spirit of Christmas (money, money, money) is already grabbing the attention of shoppers. I'm game, so let's run down a list of my top picks for the holiday season, shall we? Join me in line at the mall as I wait to give my list to Santa.

*Hops on Santa's lap*

Pleezee Mr. Kringle...

How about some lovely bacon merchandise? http://www.mcphee.com/shop/categories/Awesome-Stuff/Bacon-%26-Meat/?page=1&sort=featured

Bacon soap, bandages, air freshener and lip balm?! You mean that I can always be in the presence of such an intoxicating scent and have stray dogs follow me all day? Oh, joy of joys!

Another goodie is the bacon of the month club. No, not the one that made Clark Griswold explode at the end of "Christmas Vacation." That was the jelly of the month club -- get your facts straight. http://gratefulpalate.com/?p=Category_11

Artisan bacon every month! Think of the possibilities! And look at all the cool swag that comes with the membership!

- A membership card
- A t-shirt
- Pig nose!
- A toy pig
- A ballpoint pen

*Squeal*

I deserve ALL of this, Mr. Kringle. I have been a good girl and an excellent ambassador of all things swine...except H1N1. Upon your arrival in two months, you will find caramelized bacon instead of cookies.

Yours,

Jennifer

"Mind the Gap!"

I was very fortunate to take a trip to England this past January to receive credit for my graduate degree. It was not only the best class I ever signed up for, but also the most expensive. (Blast you, monetary conversion rates!) After only one day in London, I had to spread out past the Russell Square area to find anything other than fish and chips. My quick, cheap and delicious find were Pret A Manger stores conveniently located near underground stations and throughout London. (They are also located in the U.S.) http://www.pret.com/

Sushi, curry and pesto - oh my! Such an assortment of culinary adventures and - 'allo, 'allo - a lack of fried Mars bars on the menu? Fabulous. Come on, how can you deny such a cute bento box of Japanese delights after a lunch consisting of two pints of beer?


About four days into the trip, we were herded onto a tour bus to gawk at crazy motorists driving on the wrong side of the road en route to Oxford.


*Gasp* Finally! Good. English. Food. I stopped here for demi-baguette with butter and coffee for breakfast.

Don't look at me like that. You would have done the same after four days of porridge in the hotel's free breakfast nook.


Oxford's market was beautiful and filled with food vendors...


flower shops...

and specialty shops. Specializing in...


Egads! Umm...specializing in great photo opportunities.


You must also check out Ben's cookies, where I filled a red tin of white chocolate chunk, ginger and dark chocolate and triple chocolate chunk cookies. http://www.benscookies.com/

The graduate students needed a break from the undergrads, so we traveled the Eurostar through the chunnel to Paris for the day. http://www.raileurope.com/train-faq/european-trains/eurostar/index.html

The seven hour whirlwind around Paris only served as an "amuse-bouche" for future explorations, but I thank this crepe stand for gratuitous amounts of vin chaud and nutella to keep us warm during the trip.

I'll leave you with your own amuse-bouche:

Another round of tums, please.

What an indulgent weekend. A day off on Friday allowed me to enjoy some time with family before a fabulous wedding. My boyfriend, mother and I started the day at Miss Shirley's new location in downtown Baltimore. We are huge fans of the original location in Roland Park, and are very pleased to report that the new location has the same atmosphere and great food without the crowds. Who would have thunk?

I ordered the sweet corn cake eggs benedict with incredible grits, the bf ordered raspberry cheesecake stuffed french toast with eggs (egads!) and my mom had the half soup and sandwich with tuna and crab soup. http://www.missshirleys.com/index.php

The staff gladly rolled us out of our seats onto Pratt St., where we took a necessary walk around the harbor.

We then attended a fabulous wedding with fabulous food and merriment. I helped myself a little too much to the mini dessert selection. (How many bite-size cheesecakes equal a full slice? 10?!?! Don't mind if I do!)

Saturday was spent celebrating the first weekend of October at Weber's Farm. http://webersfarm.com/

I worked here many years ago as a cider donut girl, trying not to get stung by the inevitable bee swarms from the gallons of apple cider and sugar glaze. This is the second year that I have dragged the bf, but he seems to enjoy the experience. It was his idea to go, gosh darn it! We did a pretty decent amount of damage in under thirty minutes, but I still don't know how two people were able to carry out a half gallon of apple cider, a cider slush, half dozen of cider donuts, three pumpkins, apple butter and jar of local honey.

After an hour of cardio tonight, I felt my body urging me to stop the intake of all apple related items and mini cheesecakes. *sigh* I obliged, and made my favorite salad of grilled asparagus, artichokes and cannellini beans. It truly is a detox meal for a weekend of over-indulgence, but still delicious enough to feel like a treat.


You will need a cast-iron grill pan or outside grill to achieve the smoky flavor.

- one bunch of asparagus
- one can of artichoke hearts
- one can of cannellini beans
- olive oil
- lemon
- sea salt and pepper

-Rinse first three ingredients and allow to dry under paper towels. Separate items. Cut, or bend asparagus to break off the woodsy ends. Heat grill and rub with olive oil. Add the asparagus, turn once after grill marks form. Add olive oil, salt and pepper while cooking. Remove and place on plate.

-Add artichoke hearts and follow same grilling instructions for asparagus.

-Place cannellini beans in a bowl and add a little olive oil. Add to the grill. Wait until the skins burn slightly; this process will sound and smell slightly like popcorn popping. Remove and place ingredients on a plate.

-Add one last drizzle of olive oil and a splash of lemon juice.

Simple, right? The beans make the dish because of the creaminess that remains and is enhanced with the charred flavor on the outside. It is best served warm or room temperature.

Let's keep that cheesecake thing to ourselves, shall we??