Something new

Our fridge started dripping a slow flow of water from the freezer. Small pools formed under the crisper drawers. I placed a plastic bag near the drips to try to catch them. By the end of the week the bag was frozen over. Instead of trying to fix it, the owner of our house replaced the fridge - it was delivered this morning. To say that I enjoyed cleaning out the old fridge and organizing the new fridge, well, you know. It was lovely.

I fried my first round of corn tortillas the other day. I have never fried anything before, on my own, at my home. It was so easy, satisfying even. They turned out beautifully. Our days have been filled with a lot of pasta, a kick if you will. The best being orzo with cream, parmesan, asparagus. Weekend breakfasts of eggs, bacon, bagels. The grocery has the best winter coffee, specially made for the holidays. For weeks after Christmas the coffee was half off so I stocked up. But this week we had our last cup. I might have been sad for a whole morning. But something to look forward to for the next round at the end of the year, yes?

I have been saving parts of vegetables that we do not use, freezing them for a stock. The container I am storing the vegetables in is almost full. I will let you know how it turns out.

Do dried beans expire? I would love to know.

A day to remember

It is a snow day here (in a way). The news and every media outlet (it seemed) was abuzz with talks of snow yesterday, of sleet, of freezing rain (isn't that sleet?) It was kind of fun to get lost in the buzzyness of it all, the anticipation. We kept checking the Austin ISD website for updates (Steven is a teacher), kept looking out the window for signs of ice, snow. Around 8 pm our cars were completely covered in ice. A sure bet! At four this morning (oh yes I was up with the baby) they announced school was closed. Such a relief - to not be on the roads today, not have to worry about Steven getting there safely. I had already planned on working from home and went to the store yesterday to pick up a few things just in case. You know, the usuals - coffee, coconut milk, apples for Mickey, and celery. I had a hankerin for egg salad and had everything at home, except for celery.


This morning, after tons of coffee, I put the eggs on to hard boil. A couple things about eggs. They used to terrify  me when I was younger. I think I saw them jiggle and that was the end for me. So I used to tell people I was allergic. Since that just seemed cool, and a bit legit. How could someone force me to eat them if I would die? In third grade I remember telling a classmate I was allergic to eggs and he responded, oh yea? so can you not eat cake? That got me. Caught me! My mom made deviled eggs quite a bit growing up (hello Midwest, hello pickle wraps) and I would watch the water, count the seconds waiting for the water to boil. The eggs always turned out on the gray side. A few years ago I found the right way to boil eggs. This post is my secret (egg prep halfway down).

A winter's day egg salad:

Boil six eggs. Once cool, peel the eggs and cut them in half, lengthwise.

Place the yellow yolks in a small bowl, set the whites aside. Smash the yolks with a fork and add a bit of salt and pepper. Continue to smash. Chop three celery stalks and half of an onion, add to the yolks. And then add a little bit of the following - white vinegar, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise. And a ton of dill. Mix all together. Slice the egg whites into long slivers and fold into the yolk mixture. Oh, and very lightly toast French bread and thinly slice sharp cheddar cheese. Et viola. The perfect lunch for two.

And I almost forgot to tell you. One of my clients used the term 'Eggcellent' in an email to me this week. Don't be jealous.

Colors, bowls

I bought Spanish paprika the other day. It is in a cute little square glass jar and is now front and center in my spice cabinet. Do you ever sneak peeks in your cupboards, just to look at things? I find myself doing this often. A quick glance at my small porcelain jar that holds herbes de provence (really from Provence!) A peek at my pretty (colorful) bowls I picked up thrifting the other weekend. Another look to admire my violet and coral bowls (steal of the century from Anthropologie, $3 a bowl).

I'm sure after a while the magical feeling these things provide will wear off a bit and I won't feel the constant urge to check them out. But for now, I will be the creeper in my very own kitchen.

There are a few recipes that I keep re-reading. Apple Cheddar Tart. Fettuccini with Herbs. Carrot Soup. Peas with baked ricotta and bread crumbs. Piperade. I need to figure out a way to create time to make these. On a weekend afternoon would probably be best. Most of my time in the kitchen is making things for Mickey. Easy weekend breakfasts for us (toast with avocado and cheese). And the endless pots of coffee that we make. One new recipe a week. I can at least try.

Reading nook

I am constantly day dreaming about the reading area that I want to create in our breakfast nook. I have been on the hunt for the perfect chair and after lots of researching I finally decided on the Woven Jacquard Hayden Dining Chair from World Market. It's currently $90 off and I had a coupon for 15% off. I can't wait to add more pieces to this space. We haven't bought any new pieces in a few years. It's pretty thrilling. Below are some pieces I think would like great with the chair.

Reading nook by saraburns919 featuring an ethan allen table

Arch floor lamp / IKEA RÅSKOG Kitchen cart, turquoise / World market dining chair / Metal bookshelf / Ethan allen table

A monday evening

The news let me know yesterday that we haven't experienced cold weather like this since the late 70's. And it is very cold. But I am used to the frigid cold of the Midwest, the icy air of Colorado. So I know that I can't complain. I kind of enjoy it, since it doesn't happen down here too often. So tonight we will have chorizo sauteed in garlic (lots) and olive oil, goat cheese and a baguette. And a 'saucy' red Spanish wine.

We are getting settled into our new place. It has been so fun figuring out the rooms. The main floor has a bit of an odd floor plan - there is a large living room, a small den, and the kitchen with a breakfast nook. We decided to create a dining space in front of the fireplace in the den and make the breakfast nook a little sitting area. I am thinking a cozy arm chair is necessary for this space (it will back to a huge picture window.) I imagine a floor lamp, a small bookshelf holding my cookbooks, and maybe a bin type of contraption to hold root vegetables, fruits. Every few years I re-read all of Marlena di Blasi's Italian memoirs. I always think about when she moves into a new space she covers areas in warm rugs and beautiful blankets and tons of lamps. Have always been moved by this notion. I have been thrifting a bit and found this gem of a blanket at Goodwill.

And this wool rug at a flea market.

Next up, lamps galore.

The start

I had a cup of soup today and the first bite took me back to a certain time. It was a chipotle tomato soup and at first I couldn't place the spice that was standing out. But then I figured it out - cinnamon (or maybe nutmeg, they taste the same to me). When I lived in Iowa City ten years ago my boyfriend at the time cooked a lot for us and he would add cinnamon to his tomato sauce. And I didn't really like it, the odd sweetness, the almost tangy spice. I wanted savory herbs, which seemed to fit so well with the tomatoes. I have been thinking about my cooking experiences lately and trying to figure out when my passion for cooking began and it started in an old house in Iowa City when I was in my early twenties. We re-decorated the dining room so that we could throw dinner parties. We took down all of the Bob Marley and Grateful Dead posters and hung odd prints from thrift stores. We cleared books and papers off of the window seat and added pillows. We bought a few old lamps to set about and then we got to cooking.

I have so many memories about food. And I need a place to document them. I need a place to write about what is currently going on in my kitchen. I want to remember everything.

We are in the process of moving into a new place. I have not yet cooked in my (new) kitchen but I have sliced a pear for some friends. Standing at the counter, in an almost dark kitchen, thinking about entertaining people in a new home - such a special little moment. I have been making a list of the first few things I would like to cook. At the top of the ingredient list - apples, cheese, phyllo dough.

So here is my winter kitchen diary. And when the weather warms it will turn into my spring kitchen diary, and then summer. And then you know. It's finally time to start putting this down, the story that runs constantly in my mind. I can't wait to share things with you.