I Love Leftovers.

The title says it all.  I love leftovers.  Even better than eating scrumptious food for the second time is reducing your personal food waste.  It's a delightful win-win situation.

I decided to write this post not only to talk about my love of leftover food from the night before, but also to share a tip on the last post concerning the homemade tomato soup.  I ate the last of the batch last night and decided to add some ingredients to mix.  Yes, it's still quite delicious after being chilled for a couple of days in the refrigerator.  I added too much red pepper flakes to mine and it was just a little too spicy for my preference (but I've been eating it anyways).  To counteract the spicy-ness I added about 4-5 teaspoons of tomato paste and 1/3 cup half & half.  Not only did this even out the soup a bit, but it also made it just a little creamy.  If you're a typical canned tomato soup person, I'd recommend you add 1/3-1/2 cup of half & half or whole milk to the soup for creamy goodness.  

Also, I discovered crushed tortilla chips make fabulous toppers on tomato soup!  Add a little tortilla chips, sour cream, and/or shredded cheese and you've got a pretty tasty dinner (especially on these colder nights).

-Caroline

Homestyle Cooking: Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Crustinis

I'm pretty sure I've said this before (and probably will again)...I could eat soup all year round (easily). 
I love soup.  I do enjoy canned coup when I'm feeling lethargic, but canned soup ain't got nothin' on homemade soup!  We've just had our first couple of light snowfalls central New York (a couple of inches) and occasional snow flurries throughout the week.  The winter coat is already in use and the snow brush has come out of its long slumber in the trunk of my 90s grandpa-sedan during the warm seasons.  Winter really feels like it's just around the corner.  Or down the block.

This recipe for homemade tomato soup comes from a cooking blog, Sips and Spoonfuls, that I stumbled upon doing some recipe research.  I followed the recipe loosely and also blended for a fraction of the time recommended for a chunkier soup.  I also used what I already had on hand, so a little improvisation was made.  Listed below are the ingredients I used.

Ingredients:

(soup) 
2 tbs olive oil

1 small onion, diced

2-3 green onions, roughly chopped

8 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped

8-10 plum tomatoes

1 tsp dried basil powder ( you can use fresh)

2 cups vegetable stock

2 cups chicken stock

1 tsp sugar

salt, pepper and red chili flakes to taste

handful of chopped parsley to garnish

other (optional) garnishes: 

french-fried onions

croutons

sour cream

shredded cheese/parmesan cheese

(crustini)
Bagette of choice in 1/2" slices (I used a Tuscan bagette)
butter
sliced cheddar cheese

Heat oil in large saucepan and add onion. Once it starts to get translucent, add garlic.  Cook for 5 minutes or low-medium heat or until fragrant.  Add diced tomatoes, basil powder, chicken/vegetable stock, sugar, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Simmer on low covered for about 40-60 minutes.  Blend soup with an immersion blender until desired smoothness or transfer to blender half at a time.  For crustinis, butter each slice of bagette.  Add 2-3 sliced of cheddar cheese between two slices.  Heat large pan to low-medium heat and spray with a little extra virgin olive oil spray.  Cook until each side is lightly brown and cheese is melted.  Enjoy! 

I originally bought the Tuscan bagette for butter slices and dipping into the soup.  Mini grilled cheese sandwiches seemed like a better option after I was done making the soup.  I also was able to cook six crustini in a large pan at once, which made me think of this side morphed into a party appetizer.  Hmmmm....

-Caroline

Post-Thanksgiving

If you acknowledge the American holiday of Thanksgiving, I hope you had a hearty and comforting family holiday.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays simply because it's about family, food, and gratitude.

Greg and I spent our Thanksgiving between two homes and a long stretch of Interstate-90.     First stop was my family's home for a simply Thanksgiving and then back on I-90 to the capital district.  This was all followed by a long drive home to Syracuse on none other than I-90; getting back before midnight.  I'm quite thankful for cruise control (among other important things like my family, friends, education, and Greg).

We both work in the retail field, and it's about to get a little hellish with the upcoming day-after-Thanksgiving…Black Friday.   Very long shifts and an abundance of patience are the plan for today.  In rebellion to this American consumer madness, I swear not to buy one item today. Maybe it won't matter any in the grand scheme of things...but it's my stance against this financial storm I'm about to weather.

-Caroline

Homestyle Cooking: Cottage Pie

This was my first (ever) attempt at baking homemade cottage pie.  The photo above does look like a mess, but it was a very scrumptious and worthwhile mess to eat.  I chose to create a hybrid between two American recipes and one British recipe and bake it all in a glass (11x7") Pyrex casserole dish.  The American recipes were found between Food Network and TheKitchn.  The British recipe was found via the BBC.  I honestly am not familiar with any other British cooking websites/blogs other than the BBC currently, but would love to try some out.

The recipe I created (or mashed together) between the three, filled the casserole dish nicely, though it did look like quite a bit of food at first.  Both Gregory and I had heaping seconds and it ended up being the perfect amount (for two foodies) and leftovers for tomorrrow.  Next time I intend to try them out in individual ramekins for Gregory and myself (or if anyone else happens to be over for supper).   

Ingredients:

(filling)                                                                                       
2 carrots (washed, peeled, and diced)                                                                    
2 celery stalks (washed, peeled, and diced)
1/2 cups frozen peas
1/2 cups frozen corn (I used canned corn, which also worked very well)
1 onion (I used a red onion-any will do)
6 cloves of garlic (smashed and diced)
1 pound 90% lean 10% fat ground beef
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup diced tomatoes
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons Worcestshire sauce
2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
freshly ground black pepper (added for taste)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

(topping)
4 small-medium russett potatoes 
2 small parnsips
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1/4 cup half & half
2-3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (optional-but delicious)

Prepare a large pot to boil potatoes and parnsips.  Wash, peel, and dice potatoes, parnsips, and carrots.  Wash and dice celery and onion.  Boil potatoes and parnsips aare soft enough to easily stick a fork into.  Drain potatoes and parnsips.  Add half & half and butter and mash away until smooth.  Stir egg yolk in and set aside.

Heat extra virgin olive oil on low/medium heat in a large saucepan on the stove (the stove I use has numerals, so I put it on a 3- 3 1/2).  Add garlic and onions.  Saute for five minutes and then add the carrots, celery, and tomatoes.  Add ground beef (or ground lamb for a shepherd's pie) and cook until ground beef is browned all over.  Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir until everything is mixed in.  Pour in the chicken broth and bring mixture to a boil.  Add worcestshire sauce, rosemary, and pepper (and/or any other spice you may like).  Reduce heat to low and cook for another 10-12 minutes.  Add corn and peas and mix together thoroughly.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  Transfer filling mixture to a casserole dish and smooth out to an even layer, covering the bottom completely.  Scoop potato/parnsip topping unto filling and evenly smooth out.  Bake for 30 minutes until potatoes are slightly browned on top.  If you would like to add a top layer of cheese, bake for 20 minutes.  Add cheese and bake for an additional 10 minutes.  Let the casserole cool/rest for a bit once it's finished before digging in (it may be tempting, but it isn't worth a burned mouth).  Serves 2-4 (depending on how many "seconds" you decide yo go for).  

This was a fantastic one-dish comfort food that was surprisingly light.  To put it in plain terms: it's a warm-tasty-mess-of-vegetables-and-cheezy-mashed-potato-goodness all in one dish!  I'm certainly saving this recipe for a cold wintery night when it will be the perfect warming food.  

Happy cooking!
-Caroline

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Note: I actually forgot to put the egg yolk in the mashed parsnip/potato mixture.  I'm sure that's why it came out without any kind of solidity in it's form (oh well).  I reassure you, it was still darn delicious.

Oh!  And since I forgot to update on the U.S. Election (I'm sure you all already know the results since it's been a week) I wanted to say I'm very happy Barack Obama won.  I personally rely on his healthcare; it helps me stay on my mother's health insurance until next June.  Which means in case of an emergency I am covered more if I need to go to the hospital-instead of having to pay out of pocket (which would NOT be affordable).  Contrary to popular belief of those older (and better off) than me, not all graduates can easily find jobs with decent pay and health care benefits.  I appreciate what Iittle support I do have for the time being.  Also to mention, Mr. Obama also supports Planned Parenthood, who I'm a HUGE supporter of.  I rely on these clinics for my annual check up, as SO MANY other men and women do.  

The Sea Wolf

I literally just finished yet another wonderful Jack London creation, The Sea Wolf, on Sunday.  My personal copy of the book is a softened and yellowed-with-age paperback printed in 1965, though it was originally written in 1904.  It was a valued find at Books & Melodies, a local used/vintage bookstore (that also sells used records).  It's a great used bookstore that is filled to the brim with great books for excellent prices (by excellent I mean cheap).  I don't hold a strong preference to paperback books, but I do enjoy the malleable feeling a book acquires from age as well as the softening of its pages.  

There's something intimate in becoming completely enthralled in an exciting read.  Bending the pages around the spine and curving the paper.  Consuming the text to satiate one's mind.  It's such a different feeling from the new laser-printed books you can easily find at your local Barnes & Nobles.  Blah!  Give me aged pages and lost spelling (dated).  Intricate vocabulary and gripping mental imagery.

The book follows a young gentleman in his mid-thirties, Humphrey Van Weyden, the scholarly protagonist and his voyage from a sinking passenger ship to being rescued and then imprisoned on a sealing schooner by the name of Ghost.  Captain Wolf Larsen, a cook, six to eight mates, and six seal hunters make up the sealing schooner that are all 100% testerone and 100% souls of the sea.  The theme of life and death is always prevalent and is also classified as the cheapest currency in existence.  Wolf certainly calls the shots on board the Ghost, and exercises his philosophies of human life, existentialism, and the views of 19th century theorists (for he's not only super-strong and sea-experienced, he's also well read).   

This is a book filled to the last page with nautical terms and life confined to a small buoyant vessel in the Pacific Ocean.  I was also happily surprised to find out the physical story in the book was printed to the very last page!  That may seem like piddly-posh to most people (or everyone)-I was honestly really astonished; one usually sees advertisements for other books, printing information, or even just four or five blank pages at the very end of a bound book after the story has ended.  I also really enjoy the small bits of 19th century romance from a man's perspective through Jack London's books.  Three I've read so far (Adventure, The Sea Wolf, and Valley of the Moon) have small examples of innocent appreciation and curiosity of the opposite sex. 

I was captured by it to the very last page and like the rest of Jack London's books, I loved this one dearly.  If you have yet to read any of Jack's books, please give it a second chance.  His work is a milestone in American Literature (in my personal opinion) and I believe every American should at least know who he was and a little of his writing.

As you've probably guessed I'm quite passionate about Jack London and have been completely absorbing myself in his writing.  I love the feeling of falling in love with how an author writes and how he/she makes you feel when you read his/her work.  Sometimes, you just find that one particular author that knocks your socks off-and you're addicted!  I hope you share the same sentiments about a favorite author(s).  

Happy reading!
-Caroline

Portfolio Update/Last Year's Illustrations

I added these two smaller (7x10") illustrations to my website today.  I was digging through my wooden crate full of my sketchbooks from 2006 to the present.  There's about 18 total, though I can say I did not fill each page.  The majority of them are working sketches that are pretty personal, because they're experimental.  I was hoping to find some inspiration in some forgotten sketches and illustrations in these, and I came across these two illustrations.  Even though I drew them last year I wanted to give them a little more spotlight.  Plus, I had forgotten to scan them and publish them on my website to accompany my portfolio.

I also stumbled on this sketchbook, Sketchbook with Voices, that I purchased at the Hirshhorn Museum, when Gregory and I were visiting his brother and sister-in-law.  It's blank except with a quote or a one-line instruction from a contemporary artist.  I hope this will jump-start my creativity.  

-Caroline

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Note: I absolutely LOVE galleries and museums!!!  I highly recommend visiting the Hirshorn Museum in Washington, D.C.  It's a part of the Smithsonian museums, which means it's free to the public and it's contemporary and super neat!  

Homestyle Cooking: Baked Potato Crisps

Homemade baked potato crisps are easy to bake and healthier than the popular brands you find conveniently ready for consumption.  If you have a couple of potatoes (any kind will do) around the house, a little oil, and an oven you're set to make these tasty crisps.  

Gregory and I are watching the United States presidential election as the votes are being polled state by state.  I decided to make a batch of these baked potato crisps as the updates roll in.  We're waiting in anticipation, and a little merlot, for who will run our country for the next four years (I hope it's Barack).  Earlier, we went to our local library to vote and then celebrated with some fresh bagels from Wegman's (simple delight).  

To make these baked potato crisps, first preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.  Slice a handful of potatoes (I used four smaller ones) in 1/8 slices or thinner if desired.  Spray a cookie sheet with a little extra virgin olive oil spray and spread potato slices so they are not overlapping.  I coated all these slices with a little extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl with a basting brush, but you could also spray the slices with oil as well.  Top with your choice of spices: creole cajun seasoning, salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, dill;etc.  I chose to use some fresh cracked pepper.   Bake for 10 minutes, flip slices, then bake for another 10 minutes (or until they're golden brown/brownish).  Plop freshly baked potato crisps unto a paper towel lined plate and blot excess oil.  Accompany with dipping sauce of your choice.  I suggest a side of ranch dressing.  

We'll see what the final presidential votes are tomorrow.  There's usually some voting machine fiasco...
           ...in the meantime enjoy! 

Happy cooking!
-Caroline

Squash Season

I love squash.  I didn't always enjoy eating this vegetable, however.  Years have passed, I've grown with age, and my taste buds have certainly changed.  I've taken quite a liking to the taste and texture of different squashes as I've grown older.  One of my favorites is spaghetti squash (the pale yellow squash/noodle-like entree mixed with marina sauce pictured above).

I happened to luck out this year and purchased six squash (two spaghetti, two butternut, and two acorn squash) from a regional farm, during a visit home with my family.  As you can see pictured above, we've already consumed one butternut and one spaghetti squash.  But we did just have a new member to the squash bushel,a carnival squash, given to us from Gregory's sister Lara.  This will be my first time eating carnival squash-it is really cute looking.  I've cooked up both a butternut squash soup and baked spaghetti sauce with marinara sauce and cheese, but I still have yet to pin-point the recipes I want to use for the other ones.  

If you haven't had squash yet this autumn, go out to your local grocer or local farmer's market and purchase one!  It's just not fully autumn without some little squashy delight.

Happy cooking!
-Caroline

Halloween/October Roundup

This October was low-key, but I don't mind.  I still feel content with how I spent the holiday as well as leading up to it; managing to cram in some typical seasonal activities to enjoy the season.  I had the chance to pick pumpkins off the vine at Bellinger's Farm in Fultonville, New York (a family favorite) with my mom as well as catch the last bits of apples on the trees in the orchard.  It's been another rough year for apples and pumpkins in central New York with the summer drought and the autumn hail we've been getting.  

I carved pumpkins with Gregory for Halloween (which was a lot harder than I remembered).  Made a butternut squash soup (forgot to photograph) and spaghetti squash.  Baked all the squash seeds from both said squash.  Filled the living room with a candy-corn scent from a woodwick candle I bought from work.  Indulged in as much pumpkin and pumpkin-tasting things as I could...homemade pumpkin cookies with Hershey's milk chocolate kisses, pumpkin and sausage penne (forgot to photograph), and a little pumpkin coffee creamer with my morning coffee.

Our Halloween was spent with a couple of our friends watching Rob Zombie's version of Halloween, having a couple of brews and some homemade taco dip (photographed after we brought it home and had a little more), and playing with their new adorable French Bulldog/Boston Terrier puppy.  As you can see from the impromptu mini photo shoot in our kitchen that Gregory dressed up as Hunter S. Thompson and I went as the crafting mogul, Martha Stewart from the 1990s.  I'm pretty happy with the way my wig came out after some slight styling and a lot of hairspray, as well as the dated ensemble.  It was cheap, witty, and dated housewife frumpy.  Oh, and yes, we managed to find the real TarGard cigarette filter that Hunter S. Thompson swore by at our local Walgreen's to really pull off Greg's costume. 

I love hearing about what other witty costumes that friends come up with or people they have witnessed.  It's also never too early to be inspired by a design for next Halloween.

-Caroline