Wednesday / Roast Chicken and Kale

Earlier in the week, Molly snagged a whole Chicken which we've been quite stoked about cooking up since as you may have noticed its been a while. While I try to avoid shopping at Sunac at all costs, I found myself there after work entranced by some beautiful purple kale. We've also been wanting to experiment with our old standard, Polenta, making it more creamy, using half stock and half whole milk. We stuffed the lil bird with lemons, herbs, and garlic. While that was in the oven, Molly made the polenta and I sauteed the psychedelic kale in a little salty fatback. Molly finished it with a pan gravy and the results were satisfying beyond belief; everything worked perfectly well together and the kale somehow stayed crisp despite being so cooked down. As the great WR would say it was like 'Restaurant' good. - dmp

Kombucha Pt. 2

My first batch of Kombucha was made and happily devoured. After a little over a week of fermentation I bottled it and let it carbonate for a few days. It didn't get quite as fizzy as I would of liked (I think the bottle was too big for the amount of liquid) but it was still really good and honestly I like it better than any store bought Kombucha I've had as of late. My next bigger batch is in the works! - dmp

Tuesday / Hanger Steak

After enjoying an incredible lunch of Pate, I started scheming for dinner. While at Marlow & Daughters, I also grabbed some Hanger Steak, Fresh Leeks, and Swiss Chard. Eating Steak doesn't happen too often around these parts so I wanted to be sure and do it up proper. First I made some veggie stock to braise the Leeks in. Then using the fat from the Pork Chops earlier in the week, I sauteed the Chard nice and slow. While the leeks were braising, I cooked up the steak hot and fast. Then while that was cooling, I made a quick pan sauce with garlic, shallots, and red wine. Simple and delicious. - dmp

Tuesday / Country Pate

With a Tuesday off and some money in my pocket I finally made my way to Marlow & Daughters, the all-local, all natural butcher shop owned by the Marlow & Sons/Diner folk. As those of you in the NYC area will know, the weather was not on my side, it was windy and grey out but I persevered, determined to get my hands on their delicious Country Pate I had previously tasted at BK (thanks Harry).
A lot has been said about the 'culinary brooklyn' movement as of late so I won't further play cheerleader but I advise all of you to go there immediately if you haven't already. I bought all kinds of great things at bargain prices including this Country Pate, consisting of pork liver, duck, and a pig tongue running down the center!
Generously spread on some baguette with Cornichons and Parsley, this may be the most perfect bite of food I can imagine. If the Sheriff ever catches up with me and I'm on death row, please bring me some Country Pate before I make peace with my maker. - dmp

Thursday / Pork Chops & Salad

Yes, yes... I know there have been a lot of Pork Chops as of late, but they are too delicious too resist! These chops are from Flying Pigs. I realized I may have been a bit unclear before, they are not pure Ossabaw's but Ossabaw/Tamworth mixed breeds. Ossabaws, beyond being a bit closer to beef in flavor and color due to their gaminess, also have a good deal of delicious fat (notice the layer in the second picture below pre-trimming). While we been eating a lot of chops, cooking them so much really gave me a chance to get it right and I definitely did this last time. -dmp

Above: Pork Chop with pan jus and lemon zest, Salad of arugula, fennel, apple, & cracklings.
Below: Jeff made some cookies the same night, this is a pretty glorious sight.

Homemade Kombucha Part 1

One of the few things I really missed when moving back to New York from Texas in 2005 was GT's Kombucha. I became highly addicted to this fermented probiotic tea drink in Dallas, which was plentiful and cheap-ish but next to impossible to find here in NYC. For the first time in my whole life, I actually wrote to a company wondering where I could find it. A few years later it was everywhere and for twice the price. I still love the stuff but have been wanting to make it myself at home. A few weeks ago I got my hands on a Scoby or 'symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts' from Eric of Brewed in Brooklyn vis-a-vis the Kombucha class at BK (I recommend it to all). Fermentation is under way my friends and I couldn't be more excited.

Saturday / Breakfast Hash

Fried Egg over Breakfast Hash made with Garden of Eve Potatoes and DiPaola Farm (NY) Turkey Sausage.

Wednesday / Pork Tacos

Braised Pork Shoulder Tacos with Cabbage, Fennel, and Radish Slaw.

Spring / Carrot Inspiration

Last week at the Williamsburgh Greenmarket we found the loveliest surprise at the Garden of Eve stand: a whole basket of the season's first baby carrots! They had been pulled out of the frosty earth on Long Island that very morning.

We bought two pounds, brought them home, gave them a good scrubbing, and I spent all afternoon admiring these first little signs of spring.

And then we started cooking:

For Spring's Newborn Animals Potluck hosted by the ever-lovely Jenn N.:

Simple Spring Veggies with Yogurt & Dill Dip
Curried Deviled Eggs

For supper:

Spring Soup with Garden of Eve baby carrots & new potatoes, local crimini mushrooms, chicken, onions, parsley, and homemade vegetable stock

What a hopeful and inspiring week it has been. After a long, bleak winter, it's so nice to be reminded that the summer harvest is just around the corner!

-mro