The Joy of Cooking?

Where's the joy in this?

I realize that some people need convenience foods like this in their life... hell, I've used these bagged throw-it-all-in-a-skillet meals in a pinch. But to equate them with one of the most famous cookbooks, one that can be found in many home and professional kitchens? Does this seem wrong to anyone else?

And since we all need some convenience in our lives (albeit less sacrilicious), what's your favorite frozen food? Of late, I've been a fan of Trader Joe's Garden Vegetable Lasagne and Cedarlane Beans, Rice and Cheese-style Burrito.

End of Summer Days

I know, I know, summer doesn't end until mid-September, but Labor day means classes and cool weather are right around the corner. It kind of feels like the beginning of the end to me. You better believe I'll be packing in all the summery food I can this weekend.

Have any good summery fruit or veggie recipes that I should make sure I try out?

Ricotta-Stuffed Squash Blossoms

I have been travelling and/or busy on farmers market days this summer, so I have sadly not been able to partake of all the available goodies very often. I did manage a visit last week, though, and I couldn't have been happier to see squash blossoms welcoming me.

I've been fairly obsessed with squash blossoms since I spent a summer in Italy. There was this fancy pizza restaurant/inn in the next town over, and they made a killer fritti misti plate, with all types of fried goodies. The best things on the plate, though, were the sage leaves and the squash blossoms - so delicate and crisp, it was like eating delicious air. Squash blossoms can be a little hard to find in the states, though, and at one point, I was almost resigned to ordered a whole box of them from a local farm (although how my family could have eaten that box before it went bad was beyond me). One summer, I convinced my father to plate extra zucchini plants so I could steal flowers whenever I wanted.
But now, I can count on seeing squash blossoms at least a couple of times a summer at the Hmong booth at the weekly market. Hell, they might have them every week, but I tend to go later in the day, so they might be sold out. And every time I see them there, I practically jump up and down with joy.



Stuffed Squash Blossoms
12 squash blossoms
1 cup ricotta
1/2 cup crumbled feta, or about 4 ounces
1/4 finely chopped parsley, or about 2 large handfuls of leaves
zest of 1/2 lemon
salt and pepper
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup flour
1/2 grated parmesan cheese
olive oil

Blossom cleaning tips: Before using the squash blossoms, gently open them up (which means you may need to rip a small tear down one side)and pry out the stamen using your fingers or a small knife. Then submerge the flowers in cool water while you prepare the filling so any dirt will rinse off.

Mix together ricotta, feta, parsley, and lemon zest until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Gently place a spoonful of filling in each blossom, closing the flower around the filling and lightly pressing closed. Fill all the blossoms before beginning to fry.

Add olive oil to a large pan, about enough to cover the bottom, and heat over medium heat. Once oil is heated through, dunk the blossoms in egg, and then in the flour mixture. Shake off any excess flour before adding to the pan. Flip flowers over after they have browned. These cook quickly, so pay close attention! Serve immediately.

Mango Rum Fizz

I was hanging out with friends this weekend and, after spending some time outside in the sun, it was time for a nice, cool drink. We had some mango juice open, and I spotted a bottle of mango rum nearby, so I got to mixing. I was surprised at how smoothly this went down, and it was so easy to mix up, I know I'll be making it again.

Mango Rum Fizz
about 2 ounces mango rum
about 4 ounces mango juice or nectar
pomegranate seltzer

Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour in rum and juice, then top with seltzer and stir gently.

Cheap Eats: La Papusa Guanaca

Who doesn't love melted cheese? La Papusa Guanaca is a small restaurant on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain that focuses on the food of El Salvador, including the delicious, hot and melty papusa. The little crispy corn pancakes ($1.25), about the size of your palm, are stuffed with cheese, cheese and pork, or cheese and beans, and then fried on a griddle. They're really hot, though, when they come out, so save yourself from a burn and wait a minute before eating.

Between the papusas and the other goodies on the menu, it's easy to make a meal for next to nothing. Try the tostada ($1.00), a tiny, perfectly crisp tortilla topped with black beans and a sprinkle of cheese; the empanadas ($1.25), little pockets jammed tight with fillings like shredded chicken; or the fried plantains ($3.50), incredibly sweet, crispy on the outside, and creamy on the inside.

La Papusa Guanaca is located at 378 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain. They are open daily 10am to 11pm and are cash only.

Originally posted on Bostonist.

Hilltop Ale House, Seattle

Another great meal from my recent Seattle trip was at the Hilltop Ale House in Queen Anne. It was, in fact, Liney's favorite meal of the trip, and it's high up on my list as well. Liney's friend Katie showed us around her neighborhood and thought we might appreciate trying one of her favorite restaurants.

First thing I did was make it apparent that I was from out of town. I ordered a Taunton Blackthorn Cider (delicious, by the way), but on the little list on the table, it was only listed as Taunton cider. When I tried to order, though, I only got a blank look. It took me a minute to realized that pronouncing the name like the similar town in Massachusetts was not going to get me a what I wanted, so I used my best TV Newscaster voice to order a second time, and that cleared it all up.

OK, on to the food. I ordered some curried cashews to snack on while we chatted and enjoyed our drinks. The cashews were delicious and satisfying, and the bowl was huge for only a couple of dollars. The curry was a bit strong on some bites, further proving that these were house-made. I think we (and by we, I mean mostly me) ate only about half the nuts before our meals arrived.

For my main meal, I had the blackened salmon sandwich. The seasoning on the fish was just spicy enough to set my lips tingling, but not so spicy that I couldn't really enjoy the taste. The bread, dijon mayo, and veggies were all good, but the salmon was truly the highlight of the dish. It was served with more potato chips than one person could eat.

Liney and Katie both enjoyed the baked goat cheese salad, with warm breaded goat cheese atop a huge pile of mixed lettuce, pecans, and red onions. It looked fantastic, and to see the two of them devouring them so intently, it must have tasted just as good.

Hilltop Ale House is just the kind of local, homey gastropub that makes a neighborhood feel like home. I'm really glad we got to try this less-touristy taste of Seattle.

Matt's in the Market, Seattle

From doing my diligent work on Chowhound before my Seattle trip, I learned that Matt's in the Market was a must-try. And since it was located directly across the street from our hostel, it seemed like an easy choice. Sadly, I didn't get a chance to go over until after Liney had already left for the airport, so I had to go it alone and sit at the bar area.

Not that that was a bad thing. The bartender was a hilarious guy, and he was just the right amount of attentive. When I was clearly into the book I was reading, he left me alone, but if I was paying attention to the restaurant around me, he was there to joke or offer suggestions.

Since it was my first (and only) rainy day in Seattle, I had to go with a cup of soup. The Carrot Chipotle Puree, served with a drizzle of olive oil, was smooth and creamy, and the chipotle added just enough spice to offset the sweetness of the carrot. It was so simple and delicious that it made me feel like I could throw this together at home with no effort... but I know if I tried, my kitchen would end up a massacre of carrot mess.

And for my meal, I was having a hard time deciding between the lamb burger and the special of the day, a pork sandwich. The bartender steered me towards the burger, saying it was their most popular sandwich. So I trusted his opinion, and man, am I glad I did. This is what a burger should be - juicy meat and toppings that accent the burger but taste delicious on their own. Every part was great on its own, but together, they packed a real punch. The bacon was perfectly cooked so that its crispiness would compliment the chew of the burger. The goat cheese was just sharp enough that it wasn't lost, but it certainly didn't overpower. The onions added a hint of sweetness, and the herb aioli countered with a savory bite.

If I do make it back to Seattle any time soon, I would definitely hit Matt's in the Market again. The view, overlooking the Pike Street market sign, is beautiful, and is a nice respite from the hussle and bustle below.