Fun With Your Food

11pm, I’m settling in for bed, reading some of my daily blogs, when I stumble on Happy Herbivores’ Thai Spicy Basil Eggplant post.
Well, I’ve had some eggplants that are beginning to slowly die off in my vegetable drawer. Why not make this dish now?!
And that’s what I did- tweaked a little, of course. An average person could say spicy and I know it’s not spicy enough for me. Every dish must be (as Emeril may say) kicked up a notch.
I used a couple of squirts of Sriracha hot sauce and TONS of garlic. My spinach was screaming consume ME too. Thus a handful or two of that was added as well- besides, I like to see green in my dishes and the basil just wasn’t enough.

The verdict- very spicy but just right for me. Although it did teach me the importance of using thai basil. That really does change the dish a bit. It’s still good with regular basil but hands down it would be best with the thai basil.

Enjoy!

Teddy

Cara Cooks Wednesday is already here?

My, my this week is going by too quickly. Yesterday I fulfilled my civic duty and went to the central court for jury duty. Although I wasn’t called in I did enjoy watching the Price is Right (which I haven’t watched in years but loved as a child) and over hearing some elderly women bicker about what exactly was wrong with the world today… I won’t get to experience that again for at least a whole year

I’m not going to lie, I actually like jury duty. Hordes of citizens with completely different backgrounds gathering for a common purpose. It makes for fantastic people watching.

Back to dinner.

If there is one food/dish I could eat multiple times in a week and not be completely bored or get sick of it- it’s beans and rice. 1st I like the beans to be spicy- I just like spicy food- 2nd I like my beans in more of a CA Mex style with tons of cilantro and tomato.

Lucky for me, this is how Cara likes her beans too

Thanks for another yummy Cara Cooks Wednesday

How do you like your beans??

Teddy

Basil is one of my favorite fresh herbs. At the farmers market right now a bunch of it is only a buck so I’ve been buying quite a bit. Last weekend I convinced my parents to come to the farmers market with me and they picked up some basil too.
I went over for dinner last night and they whipped up this creamy pesto dip.
It contained walnuts, Parmesan, basil and cream.
John fried up some Japanese eggplants and we dipped them in this basic concoction. Although I’m not sure this was the intended use or consistency of the dip, I liked it! I mean, can you go wrong with basil?

Teddy

My advice is move as close to Castroville, CA as possible….

Worlds freshest artichokes. I am fortunate enough to reap the benefits of this town without having to actually live there. I’ve driven through the area a few times and have been more than tempted to stop the car and hack down a few of the budding veggies.
I refrain BUT when I see a nice artichoke at the farmers market I must buy. The artichokes were looking particularly fresh.
I’m a plain jane when it comes to eating these- I don’t want anything on them at all… no butter, no mayo, nothing… I guess you could say I like them naked

Mayo and butter are the only things I’ve tried though, what are other dips??

Teddy

We’ve all had a long busy week I’m sure. Now Saturday has rolled around, our fridge is near empty and the tummy is starting to get a little rummbley. This is that time where were I raid what’s left of last week’s farmers market supply. The 3 pints of strawberries have dwindled down to 1/2 a pint of past their time strawberries.
Solution:
Cut those berries up to remove any bad spots, throw in some frozen mangoes and top it off with lemon and agave. Letting it sit for about 10 minutes on the counter make it even better.
Simple, quick and delicious. My kind of Saturday breakfast. Halfway through munching I wanted something crunchy so I added in a handful of raw pecans (not pictured).

To drink? Why french press coffee of course (organic, shade grown, and fair trade because I am a little bit of a hippy.)

I added a little agave to this as well. When I have the need for creamer instead of reaching for any soy creamer, I go straight to my pantry and grab coconut milk. I’m telling you, it’s a FANTASTIC substitute for creamer.

Now that my tummy is full, my day can begin!

Teddy

I decided a soup was in order. Just last weekend it was sunny spring and suddenly it’s transformed into rainy days here.
Good thing I adore rainy days.

They give me an excuse to make soups like these. Noodles, tofu, cilantro, garlic, scallion and, of course, oyster mushrooms make this dish a filling one. My preference for soups I can chew should come across in this recipe. Don’t get me wrong, a smooth pureed soup is nice as well. I think I have a need for some texture though. It feels like I don’t get full without chewing a little, you know?

Here’s to hoping it stays rainy this weekend so I can sit home, eat soup, watch movies and do those pesky taxes that have been looming over my head.

Teddy

I’m not one for posting non food related items but tonight I went to see one of my favorite bands since high school.

All I have to say is
1) I am tiiiired
2) It was a fantastic evening- a very small venue and a very small/adorable 3 year old playing the shakers with his daddy on stage.
3) Check out: The New Amsterdams (a side band of The Get Up Kids)

Must sleep

Teddy

I bet you thought I was going to post about what happened with those mushrooms huh?
NOPE

I’m taking it a completely different route (well until tomorrow, when I’ll post about them). Tuesdays is family dinner night for my fam. Mom has been wanting to try out Savannah’s in Huntington Beach.
There was a lack of veggie options (seafood mostly) but what they did have was flavorful. I had a Grilled Romaine Salad which included, lettuce, tomato-corn relish, pumpkin seeds & creamy cilantro caesar dressing- I think I saw some jalapeño bits as well.
I’ve never made a grilled salad before but now I’m thinking it could be fun because I don’t grill much. The night proved to be a bit of a culinary inspiration for me to try a new cooking technique.

Have you ever grilled lettuce?

Teddy

I made it in time to grab the last of the Oyster Mushrooms

One problem, I’ve yet to be inspired to use them…

Any suggestions??

What is your favorite mushroom recipe?

Teddy