broken*saucer

Instant Pot Hoppin' John Black-Eyed Peas In 2019, one of my goals is to make 50 new recipes from cookbooks or websites. I tried for 26 in 2018 - one every two weeks - and by December 31, 2018, I made 64 new recipes. It turns out I really enjoyed this project. I learned a lot about cooking and I learned to trust my instincts. I'm still working on tasting things as I go and salting things that need salting, but given that I often have to whip up dinner in 30 minutes or less, I think I'm doing pretty good. I've found a lot of great recipes and I'm looking forward to finding even more favorites this year. It seemed appropriate that I should start off the year right and make black-eyed peas for good luck. I did a little research and ended up mostly following this recipe for Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas  from Simply Happy Foodie. I made a couple of adjustments, I didn't have any bacon or a ham hock but this Food52 recipe for Vegan Hoppin' John assured me t...

Cancer Horoscope for the week of December 5, 2018 Rob Brezsney's Free Will Astrology I've called on author Robert Heinlein to provide your horoscope. According to my astrological analysis, his insights are exactly what you need to focus on right now. "Do not confuse 'duty' with what other people expect of you," he wrote. "They are utterly different. Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to fulfill obligations you have assumed voluntarily. Paying that debt can entail anything from years of patient work to instant willingness to die. Difficult it may be, but the reward is self-respect. But there is no reward at all for doing what other people expect of you, and to do so is not merely difficult, but impossible."

I am moss. “Life [exists] only because of a myriad of synchronicities that bring us to this particular place at this particular moment. In return for such a gift, the only sane response is to glitter in reply.” - Robin Wall Kimmerer via Brain Pickings Rob Brezsney's Free Will Astrology CANCER (June 21-July 22): Does moss really "eat" rocks, as Cancerian author Elizabeth Gilbert attests in her novel *The Signature of All Things*? Marine chemist Martin Johnson says yes. Moss really does break down and release elements in solid stone. Gilbert adds, "Given enough time, a colony of moss can turn a cliff into gravel, and turn that gravel into topsoil." Furthermore, this hardy plant can grow virtually everywhere: in the tropics and frozen wastes, on tree bark and roofing slate, on sloth fur and snail shells. I propose that we make moss your personal symbol of power for now, Cancerian. Be as indomitable, resourceful, and resilient as moss.

Sometimes I just wing it and it works out. Sometimes it tastes really good and I manage to write it down. Your welcome. Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, sliced 1 tsp sugar 1-2 tbsp water 1 tbsp caper vinegar 1 package cherry tomatoes, halved 4 tbsp capers 1 tbsp tomato paste 1/2 lb pasta Instructions: Heat your pan. When the pan is hot, add the olive oil, then saute the onions slowly. Add sugar, and when they start to caramelize, add water and vinegar. Add cherry tomatoes and capers and stir in tomato paste. Continue to simmer about 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, cook your favorite pasta.  When your pasta is done, add the pasta into the sauce. Dish it up and enjoy. 

I make this every year with the plums from my tree. I have made two so far this year and I will make at least two more. Note to anyone who doesn't have a springform pan, this does not work in a standard tart pan, it isn't deep enough and doesn't bake properly, at least, not when I'm the baker. When I make this cake, I remember why this is the only cake I ever want to make. This recipe is slightly edited from  Food52 by Kenzi Wilbur . I don't like too much sugar in my cake so I lowered it from 1 cup. But if your plums are super tart, you might want to macerate them in a tablespoon of sugar while you're tossing the rest of the ingredients together. Kenzi notes that the flour doesn't have to be sifted. I may try that next time. But don't over-mix it. It likes to be barely folded. Ingredients:  Butter for pan 1 cup fresh, full-fat ricotta 1/3 cup olive oil 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest 2 large eggs 1-1...

I am grapes ripening in the fog. Rob Brezsney's Free Will Astrology CANCER (June 21 - July 22): To casual observers, you may seem to be an amorphous hodgepodge, or a simmering mess of semi-interesting confusion, or an amiable dabbler headed in too many directions at once. But in my opinion, casual observers would be wrong in that assessment. What's closer to the symbolic truth about you is an image described by poet Carolyn Forché : grapes that are ripening in the fog. Here's another image that resonates with your current state: sea turtle eggs gestating beneath the sand on a misty ocean beach. One further metaphor for you: the bright yellow flowers of the evening primrose plant, which only bloom at night.

Sometimes I just taste something and I suddenly become obsessed. That's the case with this Sauteed Kale and Quinoa Skillet. I am pretty sure I could eat this nearly every single day. I'm definitely going to try it with roasted sweet potatoes and chickpeas. And I may try it with couscous too. I served this recipe alongside this Za'atar Spiced Roasted Chicken and potatoes, a recipe that is also highly addictive. Sauteed Kale and Quinoa Skillet  serves 4-6 Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa 2-1/2 cups veggie broth (I used Better Than Boullion)  1 Tbsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 bunch kale - 6-8 leaves ½ tsp red pepper flakes (more or less to your liking) Pinch of sea salt 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese, grated 2 Tbsp panko breadcrumbs Instructions: To make quinoa - rinse and soak for about 5 minutes in warm water. Bring 2-1/2 cups veggie broth to a boil in a medium saucepan and add drained quinoa to boiling broth. Cover and reduce heat...

za'atar spiced roasted chicken I'm getting really into super-spiced chicken. I would love to branch out into more alternative/vegetarian proteins with super spices but in the meantime, here is some delicious za'atar roasted chicken. Stay tuned for an attempt at za'atar spiced tofu. Serve this alongside  Sauteed Kale and Quinoa Skillet  or roasted veggies or both. Ingredients: 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into tenders for more marination 1/8 cup olive oil 1/8 cup lemon juice 1/8 cup za'atar 2 cloves garlic minced 1 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Instructions: Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Place chicken breasts in a large glass baking dish or resealable plastic bag. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, za'atar, garlic, salt, and pepper then pour marinade over the chicken. Move chicken breasts around to ensure they are evenly coated in the marinade. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to overnight. Place ch...

Joy is a form of resistance. Rob Brezsney's Free Will Astrology Love rules: "Everything I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything exists, only because I love." - Leo Tolstoy CANCER (June 21 - July 22): "Paradise is scattered over the whole earth," wrote the scientific poet Novalis, "and that is why it has become so unrecognizable." Luckily for you, Cancerian, quite a few fragments of paradise are gathering in your vicinity. It'll be like a big happy reunion of tiny miracles all coalescing to create a substantial dose of sublimity. Will you be ready to deal with this much radiance? Will you be receptive to so much relaxing freedom? I hope and pray you won't make a cowardly retreat into the trendy cynicism that so many people mistake for intelligence. (Because in that case, paradise might remain invisible.) Here's my judicious advice: Be insistent on pleasure! Be voracious for joy! Be focused on the quest for beauti...

miso for one When I'm feeling meh, or when I need something warm and satisfying, I make myself a cup of miso and I feel a little better. Sometimes, I make enough to have every day for a week, packaging the ingredients into small containers and storing them in the fridge. A grab and go warming snack. miso for one Ingredients:  1 tbsp red miso paste 1/4 tsp dashi 1/2 tsp minced ginger fresh or jarred toppings: 1 green onion, sliced 1/2 tsp sesame seeds or trader joe's everything but the bagel seasoning seaweed snack hard boiled egg Directions:  Add first three ingredients into a bowl. Pour hot water over and stir until miso and dashi are disolved into a lovely broth.  Add toppings and drink/eat.  Feel better. 

one pan mexican quinoa  You want to eat this. It makes a great dinner. It makes great leftovers. It makes a great freezer meal. It's ready in half an hour. I want to eat this all the time. one pan mexican quinoa  time: 30 minutes.  yield: 4-6 depending on how many additional toppings you add.  Ingredients:  1 tbsp olive oil 1 yellow onion, diced      3-4 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup quinoa, rinsed 1 cup vegetable broth or 1/2 tsp better than boullion with 1 cup water 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed 1 (14.5 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes 1 cup frozen corn kernels 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin  1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp kosher salt pinch red pepper flakes juice of 1 lime optional:  1/2 cup shredded mexican cheese blend toppings and sides:  2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped avocado sour cream roasted veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, peppers c...

gremolata - put it on everything. After making a recipe for roasted salmon & asparagus with pistachio gremolata by Molly Gilbert, (out of Sheet Pan Suppers), I decided that maybe I need to add gremolata to nearly everything I can. Specifically, our regular weekly meal of mac and cheese and broccoli. I often make sauteed/steamed broccoli as a side because my 3-year-old daughter loves it. I like a little lemon on top but I have often overpowered the broccoli with my generous squeeze and received complaints from my fellow diners. I'm pretty certain that this gremolata discovery solves this problem. It's pretty amazing generously sprinkled over the entire lot of mac and cheese and broccoli. gremolata Ingredients: 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, washed and dried and stems removed 1 clove garlic 1 organic lemon, washed and dried Instructions: Chop the parsley with a chef's knife until it is nearly finely chopped. Using a microplane, grate the garlic clove ove...

avocado egg salad  Sometimes you get a craving. Inspired by Pinch of Yum again. Her recipe and video are here: The Best Avocado Egg Salad .   Here's my version. avocado egg salad Ingredients:  1 small avocado  2 hard-boiled eggs 1-2 tablespoons of dill (or herbs of your choice)  juice of 1/2 a lemon a pinch of salt Instructions: Hard boil the eggs. Cover the eggs with water in a saucepan. Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.  Bring to a boil, remove from heat, cover and rest for 8.5 minutes (this time may vary depending on your stove, but this is the time I use to get the yolks done but still creamy). Plunge the eggs into an ice bath for a few minutes and remove the shells. Cut the eggs into small pieces.  Mash the avocado in a bowl with a fork until mostly smooth. Mix in lemon juice, salt, and dill. You could also add fresh parsley or trader joe's everything but the bagel seasoning , or penzey's mural of flavor , or trad...

vegan broccoli cashew soup This is not broccoli cheese soup. It's actually vegan broccoli cashew soup. But it tastes surprisingly cheesy and I'm not vegan and I love cheese. This is inspired by Pinch of Yum's Detox Broccoli Cheese Soup . She's awesome and has a video so go ahead and hit up her site if you haven't already followed her down the yellow brick road into delicious utopia. vegan broccoli cashew soup  Ingredients: 1/4 cup olive oil + more for serving pinch of red pepper flakes 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 an onion, chopped 1-2 stalks celery, chopped 5 large carrots, chopped 1/2 lb of potato, chopped - either 1 large potato, peeled and chopped or 5ish new potatoes  2-3 cups broccoli florets, in large pieces for easy removal 2-3 cups vegetable broth - I use vegetable better than boullion   2 cups cashew milk*  1/4 cup nutritional yeast  1  teaspoons sea salt 1-2 teaspoons dijon mustard pe...

mystery photo  laura gwinn  “Mystery is not about traveling to new places but about looking with new eyes.” - Marcel Proust

pasta all'amatriciana I had no idea what to make for dinner but as I was driving home, I was listening to the Spilled Milk Podcast, episode 316: Pasta Widths , and I was convinced to make the Bucatini all'Amatriciana recipe that Matthew Amster-Burton was talking about. I figured I had most of the ingredients in the pantry. Turns out I did. This was one of those dishes that came together super fast and that my 3-year-old daughter and husband both said was super delicious. We'll be adding this to the regular rotation of pasta. pasta all'amatriciana Ingredients: 1 tablespoon (15ml) extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 yellow onion, diced 4 ounces diced pancetta - I use Citterio Pancetta Cubetti from Trader Joe's  Pinch red pepper flakes 1/4 cup (60ml) dry white wine 1 (28-ounce; 425g) can whole peeled tomatoes, preferably San Marzano - I use Cento Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 pound (450g) dried pasta - I use fusilli  1/4 cup grated Pecorino R...

curry cauliflower soup with roasted chickpeas This recipe is inspired by inspired by Pinch of Yum's Golden Soup . While I made it for myself for lunch, somehow it ended up being dinner one night. My husband said, "please don't make this again." We found it a bit bland and not really satisfying enough for dinner. Still, I was somehow dedicated to the vegan, cauliflower and turmeric combination. So, I edited the recipe and made it for myself again. I think this makes a delicious lunch. And it's perfect for the start of a detoxifying January. curry cauliflower soup with roasted chickpeas for the roasted chickpeas: Ingredients: 1 can  chickpeas , drained and rinsed 1-2 tablespoons  extra virgin olive oil a generous sprinkling of  cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric,  and  salt Directions: Preheat the oven to 400F. Spread the drained  chickpeas  on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle chickpeas with a dusting of  cumin ,...

We can't hide anymore. Let's see how long this video lasts on my page.  If it isn't here when you get here, search for Victoria Beckham - Hide and Seek. Post five. Nablopomo.

I don't know what to do next. I just don't.  And suddenly, I hate this woman. I hate this woman for all that she represents. The conformity. The apathy. The empty. She is part of the problem. She is the victim and the aggressor.  Please, wake up. Please. That is our only hope.  Post four. Day three. Nablopomo.

Baking helps me quell the anxiety. Just breathe. Everything will be alright. Post three. Day two. Nablopomo.