Cabin Fever

I discovered a new side of myself last week.  While home for a full week after a 13 hour ER visit on Monday, I realized that sometimes I lose faith.  

Cooking only aggravated me, stretching and running were totally out of the question, TV left me annoyed, my book was anti climatic, and I couldn't pray if my life depended on it.  Literally crying for no reason, my temper was short and patience took a vacation.  

It wasn't until Saturday morning that I started to feel slightly hopeful again... and then Sunday, a miracle happened.  Joe and I had a fabulous day of church, cooking brunch together (Sunday potatoes and over-easy eggs with a side of fresh grapes and clementines) and watching movies curled up on the couch.  It lit a fire between the two of us that was gone for the week that I was ill, and I am very thankful.  

I'm posting this because I wasn't feeling the Christmas spirit and then out of no where it hit me like a freight train.  Thank God!  While this has nothing to do with the media and only a little to do with comfort food, it has everything to do with recognizing that this is not the end of the world.  Sickness comes and goes and fear is natural, but useless.  

The week is over and Christmas is in a few days. I'm finally excited and looking forward to the 2009.

Culinary Careers

I think there is something in the water or perhaps it's the weather, either way, culinary careers are the hot topics.  

First I listened to Leonard Lopate interview Tom Colicchio and the head master of the French Culinary Institute.  They spoke of many different offerings of a culinary degree and even mentioned where I work, The Food Network.  Go onto WNYC.org to hear the interview - it's fairly interesting especially when they consider the current recession to be Natural Selection for the truly amazing restaurants of New York (only the best will survive).

Second, I just found this article about a personal friend of mine, Kyle Shadix.  He is a dietician, chef and public speaker - he also encouraged me to really start this blog.  A wonderful man and in this article he discusses how careers in nutrition are the smart way to go.  Regardless of our economy, people care about what they eat and how they consume.  Read  Dietician: Recipe for a Healthy Career for more information. 

Happy reading!

So what if I don't have cable?

It is true, I may not be able to catch Top Chef, the Food Network, Discovery or National Geographic.  I may have missed Britney Spears's documentary or the second season of Mad Men. However, I am surrounded by culture and culinary updates right on Public Broadcast, PBS & NYC TV.

Yesterday, Saturday, poor Joe was ill, so we stayed in all day.  I went for my run (completed my first 5 miles, by the way), came home and cleaned up, and then began to cook.  Nothing over the top, but Italian aromas filled the apartment - roasted red pepper, tomato sauce, saute of mushrooms and kale... and then eventually some chicken soup.

Getting restless with reruns of Friends and Will and Grace, I took myself back in the kitchen for some putzing around.  Upon returning to the couch with my beloved glass of Carrascal/Mendoza (45% Malbec, 35% Merlot & 20% Cab Sauv.) we turned to NYC TVs (channel 25 around here) travel hour and then culinary hour!  What a treat!

First we travelled to Western African villages with a photographer, who's name is escaping me but images have been delightfully burned in my mind.  Next were several villages/tribes nestled between Tibet and China - Joe and I loved the elephants and are considering one for our backyard, just think of a really large dog.

And then, my favorite shows: Lidia's Italy & Brindiamo!  Lidia made this beautiful monk fish and artichoke brodetto (which Joe and I are going to replicate tonight for date night) and served it with saute of onions and fennel (my new flavor - fennel).  On Brindiamo! the host (I forget her name but she is fabulous and 100% Italian) travelled to Luzo's Ristorante for some Pizza.  Enough said.  Mid way through the show, Joe was feeling better and I was craving some grandma's pie from Graziella's, our neighborhood pizza place. 

Once the pizza arrived we were back on PBS for a classic Woody Allen film.

I fell asleep with my head on Joe's lap full of good food, inspiring images, and excitement for the snow that was coming down outside.

Happy Weekends!!!

Since when do we answer to them?

I just read the first few lines of this article and it drove me a little insane.  So, since when does the FDA answer to big business?  Since now, apparently.

Read FDA may approve stevia-based sweeteners, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

I guess my confusion stems from the very basic question: what is wrong with sugar in the raw?

Finding your comfort...

...after a long holiday weekend.

Ahhh, Thanksgiving.  Family, friends, more family, more friends, drinks, food, traffic, phone calls, text messages, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Going home is a wonderful thing, but it comes with a price.  

When I was in college it was easy and care free.  Hangovers were expected and easily dealt with; going from one house to the next was fine because, hey, you can always sleep when you are dead! 

Now?  Not so much.

Responsibilities abound and expectations are high.  Needless to say, I'm exhausted and think I need more time off, however, this is not an option.  Tonight, I needed comfort - and that is what I made:  Putanesca Sauce with Porccini Ravioli.

Putanesca Sauce

5 anchovies, 1/2 red onion, 2 cloves garlic, 6 sm. portabella mushrooms, small hand full of kalmata olives, 1 can whole tomatoes, red pepper, parsley.  Sautee everything in olive oil except the can of tomatoes... after 10 minutes, add the can.  Include 1/2 a can of water and let condense.

Serve over pasta or... whatever.  It's delicious and brings me back to the reality I was absent from for 4 days.

Welcome home!