Dinner with Kirsten

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Entries from April 2008

Cheese Log: Feta

April 26th, 2008 · 59 Comments

Feta Cheese
Origin: Greece
Type: Fresh—Young, tart, tangy, lemony, smooth, moist, creamy, with no rind. (from the Murray’s Cheese Handbook)
Description: An aged brined curd cheese traditionally made with at least 70% sheep’s milk, along with either goat or cow’s milk. The Murray’s Cheese Handbook says, “The sheep’s milk delivers a round fattiness in the mouth […]

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Tags: cheese log · dinner · quick fix · recipes · salad

Asian Noodle Night

April 20th, 2008 · 53 Comments

Whenever I make Asian food I end up thinking, “Why didn’t I get take-out?” I used to satisfy my Chinese food cravings with a Styrofoam box of Almond Chicken and an egg roll. (Hello, I’m from Nebraska!) Then I started dating Geoff, a Hong Kong native who lived in Japan and grew up in […]

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Tags: asian food · dinner · recipes · salad · seafood

Cheese Log: Raw Milk Raclette

April 15th, 2008 · 62 Comments

Raw Milk Raclette ($9.99 /lb. at Fairway)
Origin: France and Switzerland
Type: Washed Rind—Washed during aging in salt and water (a brine), beer, wine or spirits. Pungent, stinky, fruity, meaty, intense, and aromatic with a vibrant pink to orange edible rind. (from The Murray’s Cheese Handbook)
On the package: “Aged for 60 days, raclette has a full, […]

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Tags: cheese log · french

A Pancake Revolution

April 13th, 2008 · 64 Comments

When I was young, I used to have “sleepovers” at my Grandparents’ house. Even on the weekends, they would be out of bed at 7:00 a.m. (reading the paper, drinking coffee, and doing whatever people do that early in the morning), while I was still snuggled under the covers in the guest bedroom. Then, around […]

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Tags: breakfast · fruit

Risotto Night

April 7th, 2008 · 13 Comments

I’m a bit of a risotto snob. Reality television cooking shows have fostered this arrogant “I know what risotto should be like” attitude, but I can’t seem to help it. When a congealed scoop of risotto was served to me at the Pearl Room last weekend, I could imagine a red-faced Chef Ramsey (from FOX’s […]

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Tags: dinner · italian · recipes · seafood

My Meyer Lemon Weekend

April 2nd, 2008 · 59 Comments

I didn’t even know what a Meyer Lemon was until I noticed them popping up on New York restaurant menus a few years ago. I guess they’re stylish. I try not to be seduced by trendy ingredients, but in this case I was curious. I like lemons. What was so special about these so-called “Meyer […]

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Tags: fruit · recipes · weekend project