Hungry Times Two

We're Moving! Again!

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:05:15 -0500

Tumblr couldn’t hold us. So we’re back to Blogger. Add us to your Google Reader, RSS feed, bookmarks, or any other digital whatchamacallit. And comment, dammit. I like to hear from people that actually read our hot mess of a blog.

Cheers!

Felix’s, New Orleans. On the half shell, y’all!

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:03:28 -0500

Felix’s, New Orleans.

On the half shell, y’all!

Slim Pickins of A Winter Garden

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 09:59:12 -0500

In one of our more exciting endeavors of 2012 — like moving from Maryland to Charlotte and adopting a loveable four-legged friend named Loretta — we started a little backyard veggie garden.

We’ve learned something crucial: gardens need planning, and sometimes those best-planted plans go astray.

Squirrels or some other annoying critter will gnaw away at those beet seedlings you were really excited about.You’ll easily drop $150 bucks or more on DIRT. Want to plant spinach in late fall for a winter harvest? Um no, you’ll have to wait until early spring for that to mature. Too busy or forgot to water a few days in a row? Nice job — you just killed the kale. And as Scott learned, spraying insecticidal soap on plants in full sun will annihilate your veggies to deep-fried sadness.

Right now we have carrots taking their sweet time to mature, some bitter arugula, cilantro, parsley, a sad little sage plant, rapini, four Brussels sprouts that have really bolted since planting in September, and some survivor kale that won’t die despite our worst efforts.

It’s been a test of patience and work ethic to tend to these little plots out back. But it’s also wonderful.

On Christmas Day, we had my mother over for a dinner of NC and NY-sourced oysters from Charlotte’s Clean Catch Market, a roasted beet and goat cheese salad, corn fritters with tomato butter, and collard greens.

The parsley and arugula for the salad came from our garden, as did the collards. It wasn’t a whole “mess” of greens (we only have four collards plants) but it was perfect for a small meal. I sauteed them with a little apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, salt and brown sugar, and they were so good!

Last night I sauteed rapini from our garden with roasted butternut squash, served over penne pasta. Delicious.

I don’t intend to sound sanctimonious when I say it’s a lesson in sustainability or that food from your garden tastes better, but dang if it doesn’t feel good to grow a little of your own vegetables.

If you’re considering taking a garden on in 2013, I say go for it. Just plan on rolling with it — the garden will master you, not the other way around.

My Aunt Betty’s Coconut Cake.

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:14:02 -0500

My Aunt Betty’s Coconut Cake.

Christmas Crack

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:13:22 -0500

Some holiday devil bought these cookies at TJ’s last week and planted them in our house to ruin me. I just know it.

Next up: Christmas Nog, or How I Learned to Love Soy Eggnog.

Bok Choy and cilantro from our garden. Can you say “Stir...

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 16:57:32 -0500

Bok Choy and cilantro from our garden.

Can you say “Stir fry for dinner”?

This happened. Bacon Maple Ale. Don’t attempt it.

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 16:59:33 -0500

This happened.

Bacon Maple Ale.

Don’t attempt it.

This is an empty bag.

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:13:13 -0500

Boo. Empty bags are good for my wallet, but not for business.

In an era where eating local is at the point of parody, one would hope the 7th Street Market here in Charlotte would have it goin’ on. But sadly, I didn’t see a lot of buzz around this urban provisions spot when we visited recently, and that empty bag stayed empty.

The producers section was so bare — brown butcher paper plastered over much of the refrigerated cases, bags shrouding produce baskets, and many “Discounted! On Sale!” labels affixed to non-perishable foods like honey, crackers, etc. By the looks of things, it’s easy to see why the market is recruiting a new executive director.

I hope the market can pull through: it’s a much-needed vendor for those of us who live in the more “urban” area of Charlotte. I don’t want to drive 20 minutes or more out of my way for local food stocked at Earth Fare or Whole Foods. The Kings Drive market just closed for the season, and the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market is waaaay out by the airport. I’ve visited the NoDa Produce Market but it’s also pretty sparse.

I suppose in order for these businesses to thrive, as a customer I should take the initiative and support them with my dollars. But can I really afford a $13 dollar jar of honey? Or is that the price to pay for encouraging independent businesses? I’m conflicted!

My contribution to the Thanksgiving feast; before roasting...

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:53:36 -0500

My contribution to the Thanksgiving feast; before roasting commences.

I need a bigger market bag to haul this huge tree of sprouts down to Georgia!

Care package from our Nashville friends E & T - Yazoo...

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 23:27:55 -0500

Care package from our Nashville friends E & T - Yazoo Brewing Co.

Hello butter! Making bechamel sauce for the first time, for a...

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:10:51 -0500

Hello butter!

Making bechamel sauce for the first time, for a Squash and broccoli rabe lasagna from the Dec. issue of Bon Appetit.

I just massaged some kale. It was glorious. Fall salads are...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:23:15 -0500

I just massaged some kale.

It was glorious.

Fall salads are hot.

Asheville Gets Brewing

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:19:24 -0500

Asheville Gets Brewing :

Oskar Blues brewery sponsoring a Brew School in Asheville. The brew force is strong in WNC!

Cranberry & blueberry scones, courtesy of Sir Adams.

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 10:44:30 -0500

Cranberry & blueberry scones, courtesy of Sir Adams.

Friday Shout Out: A Whole Lotta (Blog) Love

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:42:00 -0500

Friday Shout Out: A Whole Lotta (Blog) Love :

The three fantastic females behind We The Eaters dish up novel food posts like their Presidential Food Fight and souffle fixes from none other than Chef Warren Brown of DC’s CakeLove.

This week they graciously gave me this project to post — find out why peanuts don’t mean (Cracker)jack to former President Jimmy Carter when it comes to his favorite food.

Happy weekend to all; make and eat somethin’ wonderful!

zecoop: “The United States of Peppers” To celebrate my...

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 09:32:56 -0500

zecoop:

“The United States of Peppers”

To celebrate my wonderful 2012 pepper garden, that supplied an overabundance of delicious veggies this year, and allowed me to make over 26 gallons of salsa, I decided to commemorate it with a little artistic expression…

Containing:
Uba Tuba (stars)

(top to bottom)
Golden Marconi
Red Marconi
Giant Ghost chile
New Mexico Chile
Bulgarian Carrot peppers
Sheep Nose Pimento
Yellow Ghost chile
Hot Cherry pepper
Pumpkin Habenero
Black Hungarian peppers

Circled by Japanese peppers.

:)

Pasta with sausage, arugula and crispy bread crumbs. Recipe from...

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:13:00 -0500

Pasta with sausage, arugula and crispy bread crumbs. Recipe from the Nov. issue of Real Simple (most of Real Simple is Real Expensive or Real Dull, but I like their food section); arugula from our garden. :-)

Nothing starts the day like a little taste of Toe Jam....

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:31:43 -0500

Nothing starts the day like a little taste of Toe Jam.

Tangerine, Orange, Elderberry, from the Tomato Shack in Boone, NC.

Freshly clipped bok Choy and cilantro from our garden. Perfect...

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:32:36 -0500

Freshly clipped bok Choy and cilantro from our garden.
Perfect for an Asian soup to feed my pitiful sick gentleman friend.

The Beet Goes On. Roasted beet and feta salad with oregano and...

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:07:15 -0500

The Beet Goes On.
Roasted beet and feta salad with oregano and basil vinaigrette.
I think I am beet obsessed.