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With all this rain lately, I'm trying not to jinx myself by thinking about *cringe* last summer (I remember in June & July there were only 7 dry days... total! I can't remember specifics about August, but I know I didn't get a tan...). I'm trying to focus instead on the positive... comfort food!
When its cold and rainy outside, all I want to do is curl up inside with a blanket, a bowl of warm comfort food, and a good book (or a movie). In thinking about my favorite comfort foods, I came across these lasagna photos from a few months back. I made a big dish of lasagna bolognese...
I started with a rich bolognese sauce, sweet with carrots and onions. I layered the sauce with a mixture of ricotta, egg, and mozzarella cheese, no-boil lasagna noodles (we didn't have a pan big enough in our townhouse to boil lasagna noodles), and freshly grated parmesan cheese. I served the lasagna with a house favorite -- no-knead rolls. Delicious!
My mom introduced me to this Cooking Light recipe last month: it's a delicious beef stew, and instead of adding the potatoes to the stew, the stew is served over creamy and slightly smokey mashed potatoes (I added in a bit of Maldon smoked sea salt). The grassfed stew beef is from Willow Hill Farm (my mom said it's the leanest beef she's ever seen) and you can find the recipe for the stew here.
Let's face it, I'm predictable. As soon as the thermometer drops below 40, I break out the potatoes. There are so many heart-(and soul)- warming dishes that are based off of (or include) potatoes -- creamy chowders, shepherd's pie, New England boiled dinner, and my favorite -- colcannon!
Colcannon is a delicious Irish concoction of mashed potatoes, boiled cabbage or kale, butter, salt & pepper. It can also include leeks, ham or bacon, but mine's always got ham.
I usually make it pretty standard, the way I learned from Tyler Florence -- boiled mashed potatoes, mixed with cream or half&half, butter, boiled cabbage and bits of ham. It usually looks like this.
Just the other day, I thought I might branch out and use some other ingredients I had on hand. I boiled some local purple potatoes (from River Berry Farm) along with some green lacinato kale, then fork-mashed them with half&half, butter, salt & pepper. Then I threw in some shredded imported Spanish Serrano ham. This ham has got a completely different texture than boiled ham -- it's sliced thin and is very waxy to the touch. The result -- a delicious mix of healthfood (kale) and satisfaction (salty ham!!).
I challenge you to make your own version of colcannon -- try different greens or different ways of preparing the ham... Hey, you could even make it with a different kind of meat. Check out a few different recipes here, here, and here.
After a long day, and driving home in the rain, I'm always in the mood for an easy and flavorful hot dish. This time, I sautéed together diced chorizo, ham (the Spaniards have rubbed off on me a bit here) and onions, added iron-rich swiss chard, habas (broad beans), chicken stock, and couscous. The result? A satisfying one pot meal that warms you from the inside, out.
With all the rain we're getting hit with, I've been more in the mood for winter-type comfort food. So, I've been breaking out the casserole dishes, serving up mac & cheese, chili and hot soups. Pictured here is one of my favorite comfort foods - my take on Ireland's colcannon. It's got creamy mashed potatoes, boiled green cabbage bits, and ham. Serve it up with a pat of butter, and you're on your way to feeling warm.
Yesterday, I visited a friend's house and enjoyed Cocido madrileño with her and her family. Cocido madrileño is a traditional meal in Madrid, which consists of 3 parts.
1. A soup made with a delicious broth and fideos -- noodles.
2. Carne y garbanzos -- we had brisket, ham and chorizo for meat, garbanzos, and carrots. (meat choices, of course, vary)
3. Verduras (vegetables) -- we had cabbage.
Some people like to eat all three parts mixed together, but we had the soup first, then the carne and verduras together. For a Spanish Wiki, click here and click here for another pic.
As always, there is plenty of bread. And to round out the meal, try a Viña Albali crianza or a gran reserva (both riojas).
Delicious. =)
Last night for dinner, my host mom made fabada, which is a traditional bean soup. Our's had white beans, chorizo, and ham. She also made us huevos al plato, which is a delicious (and beatifully-arranged!) dish made of peas, ham, chorizo, eggs, and tomato sauce. I should have taken a picture, but I forgot... Sorry! :(
It's cold out... which usually means that I'm cold. Here's a soup that helps to bring back the warmth!
Chicken Sausage & Vegetable Soup
I begin by sauteeing some onion and garlic in olive oil. When the onion is transparent, I add sliced carrots, diced celery, and chicken sausage bits (I quarter each link, then slice before adding to the pot). I saute until the veggies and sausage begin to caramelize. I add a handful of frozen green beans and stir everything together. I then add salt, pepper, and a few herbs (maybe oregano and thyme, or parsley) before adding chicken stock. I simmer the soup for at least 15 minutes (to let the flavors marry!). A few minutes before serving, I add a bit of orzo pasta. When the orzo is al-dente, serve away!
Soup tips!
- For a richer broth, I often add a chunk of parmesan cheese (after I add the stock) to the pot. Or, if you have the real deal, you can add the parmesan rind. Just make sure you fish it out of the pot before serving!
- For a flavor booster, add fresh chopped parsley to the pot right before serving.
- For soups with Italian or Spanish flavors, drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil over each bowl of soup.
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