Christmas

I hope that everyone had a lovely Holiday. Ricky was deployed last year, so this was actually our first Christmas together in our new home. It was so wonderful to have him here, presents were just a bonus. ;)

One of my gifts was a beautiful Le Creuset set! I was shocked and thrilled, he did such a good job picking it out. Boy did it come in handy, too. On Christmas morning the bottom heating element on our stove overheated and literally melted in half. In half! Really?!?

So I made a lamb leg roast, asparagus, and potatoes in dutch ovens (and a grill pan) on the stove top. My lamb was a tad over, but other than that it was an awesome meal.

Dessert was another matter altogether. How can I bake?!
Well, only the bottom met it's demise that morning. The top element still worked, thus so did my broiler.
So I baked a Forelle pear tatin in the oven, on the lowest rack, with my broiler set on low.

Yup. That's a Christmas Booyah, if I do say so myself.

Irish soda bread with currants and Buddha's hand zest, this slice is smothered in lemon curd.

Tofu and broccoli stir fry over glass noodles.

Tonight's dinner: Thai pork and peppers over coconut rice.
Little known fact: I'm in love with fish sauce.

Rigatoni bolognese. I like bolognese because it's loaded with veggies, and that somehow makes me feel good about consuming colossal quantities of carbs. My little trick is to chop up the celery leaves along with some parsley and sprinkle it over the top, it's awesome. I've become a huge celery fan over the past couple years. I'm not sure how that happened.

Sushi!

Ricky finally tried octopus nigiri, and loved it as much as I do.

...and that made me chopstick smile.

We're awesome.
♥

A thanks to Rydney Rue, and Slap Yo Mama Chicken!

The other day at work Syndey True was talking about this pork loin she had made with orange and fennel.

It sounded like an awesome idea, so I stole it!

I didn't have any oranges at the house, so I just marinated a pork loin with orange juice, fennel seed, salt and pepper, and fresh garlic. It was delicious! I didn't make a starch of any kind, just some steamed green beans. Simple and fast. And pretty. And delicious. And thank you Sydney!

-click here to read more about the Scoville Scale, by which chili heats are measured-

Last night I wanted some sort of spicy chicken dish, but I didn't want curry. I always make curry!

I did have these little suckers hanging around, and I did miss the Caribbean...

Spicy chicken with coconut rice. Chicken, carrots, celery, onion, half of a jalapeno, fresh thyme, chicken stock, and two habanero chili peppers. I didn't even chop them up, I just poked them a few times with my knife and threw them in whole. Holy Moses was this hot! Hence the name, "Slap Yo Mama Chicken" haha!

I loved it! I love love love super spicy food, and it was so nice to make something that wasn't at all Indian. Not that there's anything wrong with Indian, it's my favorite!

-Coconut Rice-

1 cup long grain white rice (I find that the best stuff isn't in a box, it's in a big bag in the Latin aisle of your grocery store)

1 cup water

1/2 cup chicken stock

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk

1 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 of a white onion, finely diced

some sliced scallions

-Method-

In a medium pot, heat the butter and olive oil over medium high heat, then sweat out the onion. Don't brown! Just sweat!

Add your rice, and let it get all coated in buttery oily awesomeness, and a little bit toasty brown.

Add all of your liquid at once, add a little salt and pepper, and stir it all together.

Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until all of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is fluffy.

Remove from heat, stir in your scallions.

Done!

This stuff is amazing! I was very proud of myself for coming up with a coconut rice that wasn't too coconutty.

Yes, coconutty. It's a word.

Today at least.

typing with a kitten on your lap is hard.

By hard I mean it's GD near impossible.

Breaded veal cutlets with a little mustard-dill pan sauce, mashed red potatoes, and red kale cooked with apples and onions.

I love kale. My husband does not love kale.

I don't understand people who do not love kale.

Broiled chicken breasts (laaaaaazy!!!) with the most amazingly tasty baked pasta dish I've ever made.

For real.

Baked ziti with roasted cauliflower, parmigiano reggiano, mozzarella, and cream. I topped the whole thing with some panko tossed with a little Italian seasoning and baked it until the cheese was bubbly and the breadcrumbs were brown. Aside from roasting the cauliflower first, this was super easy to make. You should do it.

A few days ago at The Fresh Market (I love this place) in Destin I picked up a Buddha's Hand Fruit.

Why? I don't know. Because it makes me think of Predator? Because it was there? Because it smells like lemony jasminey wonderfulness?

All of the above, really. Now what do I do with this darn thing? There's no juice, so curd is out.

I know I know, it was my first idea too.

;)

sisterly love ♥

Yet another Christmas party. Thank you Loft for the awesome outfit. I'm wearing an above the knee black skirt and some black suede pumps as well. But you can't see them. Obviously.

My wonderful beautiful little sister!

Us at the beach.

She is special. =)

New Orleans

My sister came to visit last Sunday, she left this morning. She flew into and out of New Orleans, which is a 3.5 hour drive, but it's worth the drive to wander around this beautiful, historic city.

This handsome devil had the great idea of taking Jordan and I to Cafe du Monde for coffee and beignets... and what a swell idea it was.

Sister is obviously a fan of all things doughnut.

As am I, but WOW that's a lot of powdered sugar. Just... wow. Wowee wow wow.

Bourbon Street is... well... it's an experience. Even at 2 in the afternoon.

The mouth of the Mississippi, and my two favorite people in the whole world.

Look! It's one of those!

How sexy is he in his Ray Bans? Love it.

Love love love.

This was a good day.