Déjeuner sur l’herbe avec Anna

My friend Anna and I lunched in Prospect Park on Saturday. The weather was lovely and we saw lots of cool dogs. I would have liked to take pictures of the dogs, but I always feel weird snapping photos in front of the owners. :)

I made some brie, pear, fancy lettuce, and balsamic vinagrette sandwiches along with a mango/cannellini/cilantro/lime juice/red onion/yellow tomato salad.

I even went to the French bakery to get fresh bread in the morning. Oh là là!
It was quite yummy. :)



I think Anna liked it. heh.

Nopalitos!

Eureka! I found nopalitos at the Associated Supermarket near my apartment!



I think I'm going to make breakfast burritos con nopalitos for dinner one night this week.

Post to follow! ;)

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Edit: Nopalitos con Huevos! Dinner on 5/20/08



Nopalitos sort of taste like mildly spicy peppers. Mmm. So, they went really well with eggs.

I made some breakfast burritos with them ... which included:
2 baking potatoes (diced and steamed before put in the frying pan to toast)
4 eggs
tortillas
some jarred nopalitos
cheese
onion (diced and sautéed in a little oil with the potatoes)
salsa
some leftover chopped fresh basil and parsley

I scrambled the eggs and threw everything else in there with them ... and wrapped it all up in tortillas. Yum.

Pics from my bday and our trip to AZ

Click here to see the slideshow:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=vm4isqm.944xwru2&x=0&y=-l4h9gr&localeid=en_US

Polenta with Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes

Last night I felt like having some polenta. I never really cooked polenta before except to microwave it and throw some spaghetti sauce on it. *ick* ... I know ...

I really need to get better at taking pictures of the yummy things I make. We ate it before any pictures were snapped, but it was so simple to make and delicious that I had to share. Maybe I'll make it again tonight and take a picture this time. *laugh*

It looked very much like this though...


Ingredients for Polenta with Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes:
♥ 1 tube polenta (I used non-flavored, fat free, plain)
♥ 1 box fresh cherry tomatoes
♥ 1 red onion
♥ bunch fresh parsley (finely chopped)
dried oregano
dried basil
salt and pepper
olive oil

Method:
♥ Cut cherry tomatoes in half, cut polenta up into small cubes, and thinly slice onion.
♥ Put some olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat.
♥ Throw cut cherry tomatoes, onion, and polenta in a sauté pan.
♥ Heat through for a few minutes and then add oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to taste.
♥ Sauté ingredients for about 10 minutes and then fold in chopped parsley.
♥ Sauté for another few minutes and eat! Yummmmmm.

Image of tube of polenta in case you're curious...

Baigan Bharta

HAPPY MAY! Now if only the 40°F weather would go away. ;)
Tonight I'm making Baigan Bharta (an Indian roasted eggplant dish) with a spiced beet salad or chana chaat (cold spiced chickpea salad).

I haven't cooked much since my move because the majority of my spices and whatnot were still at my old place. The move is finally done. Damn, I hate moving. =( Once Lucas and I get our own place, I am staying put for a long time.

Baigan Bharta

image source = http://ruchii-madhu.blogspot.com/

Ingredients for Baigan Bharta:
2 large Baigan (eggplant)
1 large onion, cut into slices
1 can of diced tomatoes
4 garlic cloves, chopped fine
1 inch peeled ginger, chopped fine
Olive Oil
Salt to taste
Cumin seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Coriander powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Red Chilli - 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Amchur (mango powder) - 1/2 teaspoon (can be found in Indian grocers)

Method for Baigan Bharta:
♥Wash Baigan (eggplant), brush the skin with olive oil, prick skin with knife, and roast at 400°F until collapsed
♥Remove the skin of the eggplant
♥Mash the insides of the Baigan (eggplant) with a fork and juices into a pulp.
♥Heat the oil in a pan, add cumin seeds, let them splutter.
♥Add onions and salt fry till onions are clear.
♥Add chopped garlic and the chopped tomatoes.
♥Fry together for a minute
♥Add coriander powder, red chilli amchur and Turmeric powder. Stir and fry for 2-3 minutes.
♥Add mashed Baigan (eggplant). Stir and sauté on medium heat until flavors are combined.
♥Enjoy Baigan Bharta with basmati rice and/or naan. Mmm.

**recipe from http://www.indian-food-recipe.com/content/view/163/74/

Update 5/2/08:This was delicious! I made some cucumber raita and a spiced chickpea salad to go with it. Mmm