Happy Turkey Day!

Or, Game Hen Day, as the case may be...

Matt and I spent the day watching THE parade -- which apparently time-traveled back to the 1980's for the occasion -- then  napping, then watching a dog show, then cooking up a storm for the two of us.

Our family feast isn't 'til a week from Saturday, so this gave me a chance to try out some things.

Pictured above: Cornish game hen treated with butter, thyme, and garlic oil, stuffed with lemon and sage; chipotle mashed potatoes; kale dressed with garlic and sesame oil; and a baguette stuffing with apples and chorizo sausage.

The stuffing might've been my favorite part. 

Which is awesome, considering I came up with the recipe an hour beforehand.

Soundtrack with dinner was the amazing  'In Sound from Way Out,' instrumental psychedelic funk from my beloved Beasties.

Currently enjoying coffee topped with homemade marshmallow, and about to have some roasted garlic ice cream for dessert. 

Clearly I have some updating to do on this thing.

But in the meantime:

Things I am thankful for:

Good Friends

Good Family

Good Food

The Ability to be Full

A Roof Over My Head

A Cat in My Lap

A Job I Don't Hate

Joss Whedon

... What?

SPRING!!!

YAY, SPRING!!!

^

My annual Spring Equinox meal of peas, mint, and eggs, this time done up fried rice style and served on butter lettuce leaves.

Matt says it's the best Spring meal yet.

:-)

FROMAGE!!!

Advertizing banner from FOODIE HEAVEN.
30" x 40"
It's gonna look fabulous in our dining room.

Bunny!!

I've wanted to try rabbit for years, but until recently I had no idea how to go about doing it without searching out a local farmer or something. And then, something glorious happened. An honest-to-god butcher opened up half a mile from my house.

Suddenly, I had access to bunnies!!!

Yet I was still intimidated, because...
That's a whole freakin' rabbit.
Very obviously a four legged creature without a head.

But a few days ago I took the plunge, bought a bunny, and was relieved to find it had already been gutted. (Yay!)

So I, uh... deconstructed it, took a short rest, and went at it. I browned it for a few minutes on each side, then finished it in a sauce of tomatoes, olives, and capers. Paired it with some boiled potatoes left over from my exploits with the bugs detailed in my last entry.

OH MY GOD, IT'S DELICIOUS.

BUNNY IS DELICIOUS!!!!

I apologize to my vegetarian friends, but I might have a new favorite food.

...Oh, who am I kidding; I could never forsake cheese.

Nonetheless!!!

Some choice quotes from The Fella:

"I see you've officially rescinded your 'No Cute Animals' rule."

"What are all these tiny bones? Is that for hopping?"

"What took someone so long to come up with the tomatoes and olives combo? I guess people have probably been doing that for thousands of years. Probably not thousands. Five hundred, maybe."

"We should eat a baby chick... Why not? Ooh - or an old person!"

...Yeah... so...

Anyway, it's delicious. It does not taste like chicken. I don't know why the general population insists that everything tastes like chicken. It's sort of like with rattlesnake - rattlesnake tastes like rattlesnake and bunny tastes like bunny. It's sort of rich and buttery and has a delicate flavor and a nice chew to it. If you're at all inclined, you should definitely try.

Yummy.

Bugs!!!

^

Look at those precious little monsters!!!

This was our first ever crawfish boil, and it was FANTASTIC.

IQF crawfish, new potatoes, smoked sausage, and fresh corn on the cob.

Used the left-overs to make some damned good etouffee, and have the heads and claws left over to make some delicious stock.

...This is the true meaning of life for a freezer; I'm sure of it.

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

Soft Polenta with red chili flakes, purple Oriental Kale with asian spices, and bacon-wrapped Chicken!!!
(Taken with awesome new camera that we've yet to learn how to use.)

Feels good to be back in the kitchen again, even if I am sick (don't tell the diners). Screw the illness, I don't need to breathe or stay conscious -- I just need to cook! Or knit! Or... something!!!

Viva la cuisine!!!

I made an awesome pasta last night involving chickpeas, tomatoes, and the above mentioned kale. Might post about it later.

Until then --

HAPPY 2012, EVERYONE!!!!!!!!

(Prosecco to follow. Probably Mimosas and fried polenta for breakfast. And by the way... Does PBS hate us? Today they played "Les Mis," "Chess," and "La Boheme." In a row. I love all of those things, but I don't want to start the new year weeping....)

Latest Order.

Contents
Marrons Glacés Candied Chestnuts
1 $some amount each
Nonnate di Pesce
1 $15.00 each
Galician Chestnuts
1 $15.00 each
Spanish Dark Drinking Cocoa
1 $9.00 each
Roasted Butternut Squash Seed Oil
1 $20.00 each
.....
One of these things is not like the others.
Sometimes I really love the holidays.