3 Feb 2011

Book 4 of 52: Big Sur Bakery Cookbook

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Today is one of those days when I wish I was independently wealthy and didn’t have a job.  If I were – I would purchase a ticket to the closest airport to Big Sur I could possibly find, maybe even tomorrow, and dine at the Big Sur Bakery along the Californian Coast.  Honestly, I wouldn’t go today – because its January and they may or may not be open – but maybe the first week of June.

The Big Sur Bakery was recommended to me by Jenna or Eat Live Run who lives in the area of the Bakery now and loves this cookbook as well.  I really was skeptical of how good a cookbook could really be.  This sets the bar.  A new plumb line for cookbooks.

Honest.  Ingredients.  Journal-type writing.  Amazing breathtaking, simply want to make you run to whole foods and make everything recipes, and beautiful mouth-watering pictures – the type I only dream to one-day take. 

They care about their friends and family, their local ingredients, and specializing in their craft.  And don’t let the term “bakery” in the restaurant’s name fool you.  They are about craftful baking, but they love their meat and potatoes as well.  They even have a pork and beer night once a year, complete with fake pig snouts.  Vegans not apply (that’s why I can’t go for  eleven months).

So…do you need a good read by a fire-place?  Pick this up.  I may not have a fire going at this moment, but this has been an amazing 3 hour journey into the lives of the owners and lovers of the Big Sur Bakery.

Tax return money, pleae come quickly, so I can buy my own copy.

30 Jan 2011

Book 3 of 52: a platter of figs (David Tanis)

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Reading cookbooks.  Such a delight.  Really – there is so much more to do with a cookbook other than to cook by it.  Read it.  Laugh at it.  Savor the pictures.  This will occur if it is a well-written cookbook.

I learned the art of reading cookbooks by reading Jenna’s blog.  Many of the cookbooks she recommends are now on my Amazon wishlist (linked here in case anyone wants to buy one from themselves, or me).  This one, a platter of figs, wasn’t on it – but it was at my local library.  I checked it out, read it, took notes, and added it to my wishlist.

David Tanis, of Chez Panisse fame, has a delightful approach to his recipes and his writing: fresh, simple, gorgeous, local ingredients.

There are four I want to try: fava bean salad, spinach cake, pears and parm, and avocado mozzerella quesadillas.  His recipes are divided into seasons – which is really the only way a good fresh, seasonal recipe book should be organized.  Perfect and helpful.

Here are two quotes that will stick with me:

“I was drawn to the idea that the experience of dining is an end in itself.”

“What a strange idea: comfort food. Isn’t every food comforting in its own way! Why are certain foods disqualified? Can’t fancy food be soothing in the same way as granny food?”

Enjoy a platter of figs.

15 Nov 2010

Much and Link Love (November 15 edition)

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Halfway through November today. Wow, the holidays will be here before we know it and our schedules will be super busy.

1. Busy weekend, but good: Meta 2010, Tedd Tripp Conference (see live blog notes here), great sermon I sat through twice, fall foliage, photog with a friend at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham (love.for.photos.)
2. Ate too much this weekend.
3. Much to do tonight when I get home at 9pm and it doesn’t include watching MNF.
4. The Gators looked HORRIBLE on Saturday night – but thankful, if we had to lose, we lost to Steve.
5. This week: 1.5 lessons to write, hang out times with friends, photog sessions, and hiking with a friend. 4 days off in a row. Love. I never thought I would appreciate vacations – now I do.
6. Cooking this week: roasted chicken tacos, balsamic roast chicken, zucchini, wheat bread, asian chicken and vegetables, and something for dessert which I haven’t decided on yet.

Link Love:
1. This is a great post on theology and photography. Thanks Kerry and Devin for pointing me to it and writing it!
2. Gils Gone Wise has done it again – great post about dating and dating the right person. I’ve been thinking about settling – just to have a date – NOT worth it.
3. I think I will participate in this for the next two months…I have way too many cookbooks I don’t use!
4. Love this post by the Resurgence on great women of the reformation. Great women we can aspire to be (or exam their lives).
5. Love this piece on culture and influence, especially for my friends who are pursuing this regularly…

Short and sweet this week!

1 Nov 2010

Much & Link Love (Nov 1) and November!

by | posted in: Books, Month, weight loss | 0

Well, thought I might tie these two posts together since November 1 falls on a Monday.

1. Great weekend: the ocean, 31 miles, mahi mahi tacos, and a Gator win!
2. Getting organized and down-sizing.
3. Love seeing old friends: they are rare!
4. Love talking about what God is doing in my life.
5. Love hearing about what God is doing in others’ lives.
6. Thankful for my pastors and their wives.
7. Much to do – hopefully celebrating by the end of the week. Press on!

Link Love:
1. I want to make this now that the weather is getting cooler.

2. She seriously is a great food writer – and I love her books, though I have different one – am asking for some of her’s for Christmas

3. Do you watch Glee? Here are some good reasons NOT to. I’ve only watched 5 minutes of one, and it was one of my un-edifying, make-me-cringe – 5 minutes of my life.

Now for November:
1. Living healthy! That is def on my menu!
2. Ice Skating – not to make a fool out of myself or break anything is always a good goal.
3. Meta – our big youth wknd at PBC – Troy Temple, one of my fave people from SBTS is speaking!
4. Tedd Tripp in town in Apex for a conference. Looking forward to that – live blog coming.
5. Hiking Grandfather Mountain and some girl time with a friend.
6. My third half marathon in Charlotte on Thanksgiving Day
7. Parents are in town for that week, be good to get some things done.
8. BABIES! They are coming from different place. I love new babies!
9. A new life class at church – am excited about something new.
10. Writing Writing and more Writing.

15 Apr 2010

California Waldorf Salad: from Moosewood

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Well, here was my first recipe from the 100$ for 1.50 cookbook. I like it ok- just wouldn’t serve it for dinner (which is what I’m doing).

3 large apples, chopped (I used 1 large golden delicious and 2 medium pink ladies, skin on)
juice of 2 lemons, divided
2 tangerines (I would use mandarin oranges next time – no seeding)
2 stalks celery (I used 2 instead of 1)
1/4 cup dried currants
1/2 cup cashews (I didn’t toast them)

Dressing: (sweeter than I thought, would use less honey next time)
1 cup plain ff yogurt
1 small avocado (maybe the world’s perfect food)
zest of half lemon
3 T honey (I used orange blossom)

Toss apple mixture with juice of one of the lemons.
Mix dressing and other lemon juice in a blender till smooth.
Mix together gently.
Serve over mixed greens.

I would serve this for a brunch in the summer. Pretty and light and sweet. Would be good paired with muffins.
7 Apr 2010

Goodwill Find: The Moosewood Cookbook

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So, a few months ago on my google reader came a list of cookbooks that were great to have. One on the list was the Moosewood Cookbook from a restaurant in Ithica, NY. This cookbook was published in 1977 (the year I was born) and I do believe is currently out of print. They do have many other cookbooks if you want to get one.
Some of the reasons this cookbook is worth so much is because of its hand-written recipes and pencil drawings. There are plenty of great vegetarian, whole food recipes. I am looking forward to trying many of them.
I was out shopping at my local Goodwill here in Raleigh the other night and came across this. It was AMAZING. I couldn’t believe it. I picked it up and horded it so no one else would come steal it from me.
Now the question: what will I cook from it?
Sweet Potato Pancakes, Brazilian Black Bean Soup, Polenta Pizza, Minestrone, Salads, and some of their sauces
Second question, will I keep it or try to sell it?
Depends on if the recipes are any good…
What are your thoughts on valuable cookbooks – keep or sell?