The Whirlwind

Wow.

Hi.

We're coming to the end of the year here. 

And it's been a gangbusters coupla weeks, DNY wise.

Saturday Morning Buttermilk Pancakes with Homemade Blueberry Marmalade

Something about the simplicity of pancakes is fascinating and comforting to me. They aren't terribly difficult to make, they're quite common and in this case not very fancy. Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it's the fact that you need to invest some time in them, maybe it's the fact that you can trick yourself into thinking you're baking, maybe it's the carbo-load, but something about making pancakes is special. No matter what the rest of the day holds, no matter how difficult the week behind you was, a quiet Saturday morning becomes remarkable when you have a good friend, a good cup of coffee and a little time to spend together over breakfast.

Ground Beef and Zucchini in Tomato Sauce over Bulgar Rice, Yogurt and Roasted Cauliflower Salad, Salad with Hot Sauce and Oregano from Istanbul 

This was my temporary cure for the post partum performance depression that Messiah has left me with.  In a whirlwind lunch with Tim Marquette, during which we had to cram 3 days worth of talking into 15 minutes, I found myself staring at this beauty, which lasted me for the rest of the day due to its sheer volume. I dream of being able to cook this well. Spicy but balanced, full and bold but not overwhelming, simple but interesting.

Radioactive-looking Buffalo Cheese Fries

 Blue Burger

When Liz lived in Pittsburgh, we made Silky's in Bloomfield our second home. Liz and I lived together for a much too short period of time. I love her because she makes me laugh harder than is physically possible. She's my ray of sunshine.

Now, she lives in Delaware now and I miss her every day. Luckily she stopped in Pittsburgh on her way home, and we were able to grab dinner at our old place. It's still good. And the waitress was really interested when she heard us reading excerpts from "What Your Birthday Reveals About Your Sex  Life"

Shrimp Grits from NOLA

Every time I go to Nola (which, admittedly, is a lot) my order usually comes down to a choice between Shrimp Grits and whatever else it is that I end up ordering. The last day of work before Christmas, I went to lunch with Jess and Aidan, and finally didn't hold myself back. The sauce is very spicy and flavorful, the shrimp tender, the grits creamy. I kind of want some right now. 

Carrot Cupcakes and Cream Cheese Icing

Another baking frenzy, while playing a game of "Drink the Eggnog" with my friend Gordon (it's a pretty great game). This time, I made cupcakes for my two bosses who both happen to love carrot cake and happen to have birthdays 4 days apart. The cakes were much less sweet than other carrot cakes I've made, but the richness of the icing balanced their spice. They aren't much to look at, but they were a big hit!

Not Pictured:
Family brunch at my house, Buffalo Chicken Dip at Mario's Eastside with Liz and her friends, the crazy soup making spree I went on the other night with Michael Painter resulting in Avgolemono and Spicy Red Lentil soup

As they say, Sharing is Caring. 

Smorgasbord 2: Electric Boogaloo

Another quick rundown of the very delicious things that have been occupying my time.

Whimsically chronicled, Because that's how I roll.


Bites and Bites and Bites and Brews:
K and I celebrated our reunion after Dewey by doing laundry and consuming an entire Bites and Brews pizza. Glutenous Maximus.

Piccolo Forno:

Kenny took me to lunch at Piccolo Forno one sunny beautiful afternoon, since we tried going to Alchemy and Ale, and it was inexplicably closed. The last time I tried to go to Piccolo Forno it was with KP on Valentimes. It was worth the wait!

Best Lasagna I've ever had. The Frutti di Mare wasn't terrible either.

Super Lemon Baby Cakes:

When K wants to express her feelings to someone, she captures them in a recipe that she has spent hours and hours perfecting (MORE ON THIS LATER). In this case, a special someone who loves lemon and Marvel Comics got himself his very own superhero shaped lemon pound cakes. I was lucky enough to be there for most of the experimentation. Thor, anyone?

Soup's On:

 AJ, who professed not to know how to cook, turned out to be kind of a liar on that front. Spicy broth, udon noodles, lime juice, chicken, veggies. Beautifully simple. Now a go-to comfort meal for me.

Holy Mole:
Thrill always challenges me to try new things. Like Chicken Mole burritos and jalapeno mashed potatoes. He's a genius.

JMac and Cheese:

One of my favorite restaurants downtown is Six Penn, for two reasons:

1. I can go on a Wednesday after rehearsal, order "the usual" and end up with a Maker's Mark Manhattan.

2. Sage Aioli and Tater Tots.

I've tried desperately to recreate the sage aioli to no avail.

One night before rehearsal, I got to enjoy a lovely dinner with JMac. Tater tots, smoked wings, Buffalo Mac and Cheese (Not Pictured, because as previously stated, I am a goob)

Pie Time:
When I hit another one of my crazy stress-baking phases, I said goodbye to my last 4 pints of hand picked blueberries and made a lactard friendly blueberry pie for the Family Dinner Emmys viewing party. It's no sink pie, but it got good critical reviews.

Oktoberfest:

 There's a Sharp Edge downtown that I haven't publicly embarrassed myself in (yet). Two of my favorite foods: Buffalo Wings and Soft Pretzels with three of my favorite coworkers: Jess, Shaira, and Aidan.

 Taco Time:
Sometimes, my life is really lovely in unexpected ways. On a day when the bosses were all out at a golf outing (that the assistants were not invited to. seriously? I have my own golf clubs! Cut me a break!) I had to find some new way to keep myself busy. So I spent the morning listening to Elliott Smith and taking out my pent up agression on a giant block of ice in the freezer. I spent the afternoon enjoying a potluck taco party with my coworkers, and playing putt putt in the supply room with a putter I nicked from my team directors office.

The Spotted South Side Fawn:

I was lucky enough to be able to host my friend Katie for a while before she moved to Texas.  Katie is one of those people that you meet and instantly feel at home with. She's bright and funny and can drink like a fish. We are kindred spirits. I'm so happy we had a little time together.

Unfortunately since we both have bonkers schedules, we only got to spend limited time together. One night she took me to the Bicycle Bar on South Side, with our friends Katie and Kelly, whom we also barely get to see. $1 PBR Pounders, Pierogies, Seitan Wings with three different sauces, and Pepper Jack Cheese Sticks (why had I not thought of this before!)

After which we embarked on a very short nature walk viewing South Side's native Flora and Fauna. Promptly followed by a torrential downpour in true Pittsburgh fashion. 

Childish Indulgences: Whole Foods Edition:

O came to visit for Labor Day and I can't find any other pictures of what we ate besides this. Which is fine because Cheese danishes and Vanilla Milk Juice boxes are pretty much the only thing I ever want to eat ever.

Butternut Bac 'n' Cheese:
This is homemade mac and cheese with roasted butternut squash and bacon, with string beans in mustard dill sauce. That feeling you're feeling right now? It's Jealousy.

Compromise:

I wanted Steak, K wanted hot sandwiches. Hence open faced steak sandwiches with an Asian medley of vegetables. I sang "I'm dreaming of a hot sandwich" to it.

 Family Dinner:
It has been far too long. Gnocchi and Vodka sauce with the family, followed by a rousing game of catch phrase, in which one might say "Don't you run into me.... because that's what you are"

CPK Therapy:
How does BBQ Chicken Bacon Pizza and Greek Pizza with Avocado make you feel? Pretty damn good? Yeah, me too.