I have a fairly disgusting confession to make: This past week, I ate red meat for four consecutive days.
Between the steak at Spoleto Thursday, barbecue Friday from a place I’m hoping to review in the next few weeks, kielbasa at our friends’ Jack and Jill party Saturday and a birthday cookout Sunday, I feel like I might have eaten a cow and a pig all by myself. This is rare for someone who – at least in the past – has gravitated toward chicken and seafood. Obviously it was time for something fresh and healthy.
Read the rest of this entry »
Looking for a ridiculously easy and tasty side dish? Yes. Yes, you are.
I had “eggplant fries” at Hartford’s Taste of the Nation event May 6, courtesy of Joey Garlic’s Pizza. They were crispy, savory, cheesy sticks of heaven, especially with accompanying pomodoro sauce for dipping. But when fried, these can be heavy, as eggplant is a virtual sponge for oil.
At home, I improvised my own baked version. I peeled an eggplant, sliced it into skinny “fry” shapes, tossed the sticks in flour, dipped them in egg white and rolled them in seasoned panko crumbs. Baked at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, these came out as crunchy and irresistible as their fryolator counterparts. I gave them a small drizzle of olive oil, a small shake of garlic powder and a shower of Parmesan.
A healthy and interesting alternative to potatoes, for sure. I love eggplant, but until now, I haven’t done anything with it beyond baked eggplant parmesan.
We made these last night to go with a pineapple-chipotle marinated pork tenderloin. To drink: Boutari Moschofilero, which I picked up at Table & Vine last week. It’s been seven-plus months since we arrived home from Santorini and I miss it Every. Single. Day.
P.S. Boutari loves Fun With Carbs. Though I’m not sure I’d call it a “healthy eating blog,” based on my multiple KFC Double Down posts alone.
(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Come along with me as I take baby steps toward eating more local produce.
Strawberry season is upon us in Connecticut. The crop is a couple of weeks early, due to beautiful spring sunshine. By the end of June, they’ll be gone. So I made sure to stop by a local farmstand this afternoon. They weren’t cheap – a quart cost $4.99. But just one bite will turn you against the 2 for $4 California-born clamshell boxes at the grocery store. These berries are bursting with juicy sweetness – good enough for dessert on their own.
I also bit the bullet and finally bought a basil plant. I don’t have a yard with planting space, so any ‘crops’ of mine have to be of the potted-plant variety. And since I unintentionally murder any plant in my possession, I’ve been reluctant to do this. But I decided I’d be damned if I bought another $3 container of basil from the grocery store. (I know. I should be slapped.)
Pesto, pizza, tomato mozzarella sandwiches, salads….here I come.
Meet some of Connecticut’s entertaining, passionate food bloggers.
My story for the Courant’s Flavor section ran June 3. I spoke to several bloggers across the state about their experiences documenting restaurant visits, cooking adventures and finds at specialty food stores and farmers’ markets.
Here are links to those mentioned in the story:
- Emily Cahill, A Change of Eatery: Emily focuses mostly on dining experiences and food and wine events in the greater Hartford region.
- Dave Sacerdote, Dave’s Cupboard: Original charcuterie recipes, odd food finds, local restaurant reviews.
- Jan Ellen Spiegel, CT Food: Jan, a professional food writer, focuses on fresh food, local farming and Connecticut farmers’ markets.
- CT Bites: A multi-author blog covering the food scene in Fairfield County: dining, cooking, kid-friendly eats. Stephanie Webster serves as editor-in-chief; ‘taco specialist’ Amy Kundrat contributes (she also authors MotoAmy)
I also spoke to Zoe of Nutmeg Kitchen and Michelle of Fun and Fearless in Beantown, but was unable to include the interviews because of space limitations. (my apologies!)
Another worthy visit: CT Museum Quest. Steve Wood has taken on the daunting task of documenting Connecticut’s museums, attractions, parks, trails and other noteworthy spots. Along the way, he eats. His archive of visits to diners, pizza places, burger joints, clam shacks, bakeries, cheesemakers, dairies, wineries, breweries is vast and extensive. He’s also making his way through two “eat before you die” lists, compiled by the Sterns of Roadfood and Connecticut Magazine.
If you’re looking to add to your blogroll, check them out. Fun, interesting, vibrant writing and some excellent photography.
Yesterday, Rob and I hit up the seafood department at Big Y, looking for some fish suitable for grilling. We settled on halibut, which for the record is excellent topped with fresh fruit salsa.
That should have been it. But of course my eyes wandered to the shellfish on display. Among excellent-looking jumbo shrimp and lump lobster meat rested two Dungeness crabs, on sale for $5.99/lb.
I first had Dungeness on a 2004 trip to San Francisco, where it was everywhere, from street carts to fancy restaurants. The meat is sweet and tender. Suddenly, the halibut wasn’t enough – I needed that crab.
(Rob is the master of going to a store and getting exactly what he needs, no deviation. The look on his face was nothing short of “Are you serious?”)
But what to do with it? Thankfully, the crustacean was pre-cooked. The seafood clerk advised us to toss it into boiling water for a few minutes before eating. I decided we’d eat it like boiled lobster – crack open the body and legs and hunt feverishly for meat.
As an homage to Homer Simpson, we nicknamed the crab “Pinchy” before we gave it a very hot bath. It wasn’t until I took this picture that I realized Pinchy had a face. Oops.
But the crabmeat was delicious, especially when sprinkled with Old Bay seasoning and dipped into melted butter, then washed down with a 2007 Bonterra Chardonnay. California wine for our West Coast seafood. Yummy.
I have a fairly disgusting confession to make: This past week, I ate red meat for four consecutive days.
Leeanne Griffin is a freelance writer and food enthusiast.