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October 15, 2005
Sephardic New Year
Thanks to Joelle and Brigitte, New Year this year was Sephardic and that means delicious and interesting. I wrote Brigitte after Rosh Hashanah with Joelle and friends and family:
Now I know something about the seder, the blessings, the multilingual word play, the calf cheeks, the head (cow or if not cow then fish), and the tfina [swiss chard and beef], which was, like everything else, totally delicious. Well, as far as I am concerned, from here on in its Sephardi style Rosh Hashanah. Forget the matzo balls and brisket!And, I should add the fresh fennel, sliced and dressed in olive oil and lemon juice, which was so fresh and refreshing.
If that was not enough to provoke Sephardic envy, then breaking the Yom Kippur fast at Brigitte's did the trick, especially the artichoke hearts, which were stewed in olive oil and lemon, and the spectacular Iranian crispy rice (basmati rice, spinach, tomatoes, cardamon, and more), which was turned out onto a platter to form a dome. The company was lovely too.
Posted by BKG at 04:39 PM | Comments (0)
Winter in the kitchen
While winter is not yet here, the weather has turned. A week of steady rain and cooler temperatures--and school well into its second month and approaching midterm--mark the onset of what winter is for me. The sign above all is the kitchen. A trip to Integral Yoga for sourdough supplies, chiefly rye flour, and staples of our at home diet. That means:
- Chili: little red beans, tvp (can't they come up with a better name?), tomatoes, cumin, corn, green peppers, onion, garlic, carrots, oregano, New Mexican and chipotle chili roasted in a cast iron pan and ground to a powder.
- Moroccan red lentil soup: a variation on a Food Network recipe and great favorite.
- Sprouts: chick peas, mung beans, white and red wheat berries (some went into the lentil soup, some into the bread, some will become hot breakfast cereal).
- Sourdough bread: I revived starter that was sitting at the back of the fridge all summer. It revived beautifully, nice and bubbly. Will report on this loaf once the starter is ready for me to make the dough.
- Smoothie: I've been starting the day with a smoothie made as follows. Whir in the blender 1 c spring water, 2 tbsp pure unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate, 1 tbsp organic flax oil, 1 tbsp ground flax, 1 tbsp whey powder, 1/4 c cranberries, 1 c blueberries.
Posted by BKG at 04:01 PM | Comments (0)