It's warming up here in AZ up to the 80's and well, this could very well be the last beef stew we're going to have for a while:



My family usually has it with tomato sauce or paste, but I skipped that having ran out of both.  But this still turned out great.  We enjoyed this hearty stew on one of the last cold nights of the season, I'm guessing.  The cumin that I added worked wonders, especially for my boyfriend who loves his food spicy.  [Here's the recipe.]

This isn't mine, but I just had to share the gloriousness of this bacony food porn. Forgive me if someone's linked to this already.

Bacon cups

...but the house I was renting was sold and it's been a hell of a time trying to figure what to with myself--since it was such short notice, I'm back with my parents (and it sucks so bad...) until I move to Atlanta in April to go to culinary school.

So, since my parents are total Southern eaters and won't eat anything remotely healthy or "weird"--as they term the things they see on cooking shows--I wanted to take the last opportunity I'll have for a while to make something I've never had but always wanted to try: scallops. Unfortunately, being so far inland and nowhere near a large city-center, the only ones I could get were frozen, but I went ahead and bought them.

I kept it simple, just seasoning with pepper and olive oil and searing them. For the rest of the meal, I picked up a bunch of asparagus, and roasted them for 10 minutes in the oven, after dressing them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of white balsamic vinegar. I also made my favorite side dish ever--couscous cooked in chicken stock, a splash of lemon juice, one clove of smashed garlic, and one tablespoon of fresh chopped chives and parsley. I serve it with practically everything; but I digress.

Anyway, I loved them (even my room mate liked them, and she normally doesn't like sea food); I managed to not overcook them, so they were sweet and tender. I liked it better than shrimp, which till now was my favorite. I can only imagine what fresh ones would have tasted like.

By the way, this is sort of off topic, but I have to share this with people who will actually understand my excitement: I found out that Alton Brown uses the library at the Art Institute (where I'm planning to attend culinary school) to research his show! *swoonfaint*

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Something Else:

If Batali asked me to marry him, I'd say yes. And we'd spend all of our time in bed eating.

From the Babbo cookbook.. crispy black bass w/ sticky rice + endive marmelatta.



( quickie instructions inside )

xposted.

Sickness is over and to celebrate, I made onion soup and shepherd's pie, two of my favorite dishes of all time. Both recipes are great, so I would definitely recommend them. 

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I watched Paula Deen make this one night and I had to make it immediately. This is now a regular dish in our house, and it’s the only meatloaf I make. It truly is delicious and such a simple meal to cook. My husband is leaving the country and requested I make this for him before he goes. Boy, is he going to miss my cooking.

I don’t know what’s better… a slice of this fresh out of the oven, or a sloppy meatloaf sandwich made with the leftovers.

( Another picture )

The Recipe!

So tonight is my second last night with my husband. He's leaving the country for several months and I have been trying to make every dinner special. He is going to miss our fine Canadian foods.

Tonight I made Brie En Croute. I think I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.





( 1 more picture - Hot out of the oven )

The Recipe!