Amateur Gormand
I made real mushroom risotto for the first time ever tonight and I nailed it.
Yeeessssss! *punches fists in the air*
I got this great new cookbook a few weeks ago that was written by Mark Bittmann, the same guy who writes the minimalist column on Wednesdays in the New York times. I love it for being straight-forward and concise; he maps out exactly how much time everything takes, variations and what to do if you forget certain ingredients. To make things even more exciting I have FINALLY found the local gourmet food market- it's called Dean & Deluca and I am in love. Wine, fine pastries, exotic cheeses, cooking equipment, and even a little deli so you can buy whatever you want, have the clerks open your bottle of wine, and sit there in the store with your Foodie friends and go nuts. The people who work there aren't just sullen teenagers working an after school job either; when I asked for the aborio rice the lady I asked smiled and said with a thick Italian accent, "Ahh, for risotto?". *blissing out*
So I bought a bottle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (Calina Reserve) that Rita told me I couldn't live without, some fresh parmesan, the rice of course, and two slices of fresh cake, red velvet for me and carrot for Jamie. Kinda pricey but dinner was worth it. We had grilled pesto chicken breasts with fresh grilled veggies like onions and squash and my friggin' awesome risotto with mushrooms and shallots.
If I could live one dream of mine it would be that I could have a job that allowed me the financial security to be able to buy the freshest, highest quality food stuffs and come home and cook like that everyday. I would love to be able to cook wonderful things for Jamie and others; to always be able to afford the best wine and have the most gorgeous facilities in which to work. Til then I'll poke about in my own narrow kitchen and do what I do which is feed Mr. James.
Yeeessssss! *punches fists in the air*
I got this great new cookbook a few weeks ago that was written by Mark Bittmann, the same guy who writes the minimalist column on Wednesdays in the New York times. I love it for being straight-forward and concise; he maps out exactly how much time everything takes, variations and what to do if you forget certain ingredients. To make things even more exciting I have FINALLY found the local gourmet food market- it's called Dean & Deluca and I am in love. Wine, fine pastries, exotic cheeses, cooking equipment, and even a little deli so you can buy whatever you want, have the clerks open your bottle of wine, and sit there in the store with your Foodie friends and go nuts. The people who work there aren't just sullen teenagers working an after school job either; when I asked for the aborio rice the lady I asked smiled and said with a thick Italian accent, "Ahh, for risotto?". *blissing out*
So I bought a bottle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (Calina Reserve) that Rita told me I couldn't live without, some fresh parmesan, the rice of course, and two slices of fresh cake, red velvet for me and carrot for Jamie. Kinda pricey but dinner was worth it. We had grilled pesto chicken breasts with fresh grilled veggies like onions and squash and my friggin' awesome risotto with mushrooms and shallots.
If I could live one dream of mine it would be that I could have a job that allowed me the financial security to be able to buy the freshest, highest quality food stuffs and come home and cook like that everyday. I would love to be able to cook wonderful things for Jamie and others; to always be able to afford the best wine and have the most gorgeous facilities in which to work. Til then I'll poke about in my own narrow kitchen and do what I do which is feed Mr. James.