In the Kitchen with Anya

Excited to try this this week!

https://apple.news/AYsqQRfAKQLmibYYDRCTWzg

Sushi Bake Is the Lockdown Trend I’ll Never Stop Making — Bon Appétit Good for dinner at home now, great for (eventual) potlucks in the future.

Pound cakes!

https://www.postandcourier.com/blog/raskin_around/pound-cake-has-heavenly-status-in-black-households-but-roots-of-affection-remain-obscured/article_3367afee-59a8-11eb-a743-a7f2442a6ef2.html?fbclid=IwAR1loRVfegYsQDoIM6CtfDsEqM_trRiuTq94Z49ZilJMTbmDR0s_C_mJnQI

Pound cake has heavenly status in Black households, but roots of affection remain obscured No matter who I asked, no one seems to know why pound cake is so omnipresent in the Black community. But there are theories.

Testing chocolate strawberry cookies altering
an old thumbprint cookie recipe

From Saveur - and an amazing hunting weekend menu. I would also love to try venison pate, but the odds of me getting a fresh liver is unlikely!

Meanwhile has anyone tried making Kvass?
I might try it this week. I am hoping for tips.

http://www.saveur.com/beet-kvass-gimlet-cocktail-recipe

Beet Kvass Gimlet Kvass is a fermented drink traditionally made from rye, but in this version, beets are substituted and lend their beautiful red color to the finished cocktail.

My household of allergies has really gotten me down! Really basic eat to live food around here, and it makes me sad until today! I am feeding the super allergen meal to my oldest love. Mussels Marina with angel hair pasta and a beautiful homemade bole loaf. So excited, it could only get better if I could eat it....

Getting ready to be finished off in the oven.
A good steak is mostly about the butcher. Start with room temp steaks. Then salt those puppies down (save the pepper for later it burns). Get your pan smoking hot. Sear each side 3-5 mins. Then put into preheated 500 degree stove. Cook 5-7 mins, flip cook 5-7 more minutes. Take steaks out. Let them rest for 10 mins. Grab a knife and fork!!!

The birthday dinner party returns! Tonight my mother in law celebrates with a powerhouse Porterhouse !

Taught my mini to make veggie sushi rolls, she is now super excited to eat those veggies I have been pleading for her to eat all summer! If only I were smarter...

Amused by my accidental patriotic breakfast. Happy Independence Day! I am leaving the kitchen to grill on the beach. What are you cooking?

Finished sauce, chorus of little people chanting, "why spinach!" Serious joy!

Five extra dinner guests?!?! Homemade Spaghetti Sauce to the rescue. Thank goddess I went a little crazy at the farmers market and brought home way too much in the way of nightshades. Dinner for 10 in 1hr.

Final cupcake, I finally admitted defeat on the icing and made a ganache of sorts. I think they were good. O Sophia Johansson thoughts?

Sunday is my buddy Sophia's birthday, I am practicing "free" cake in mini form. Gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan, organic, non-gmo certified, locally sourced ingredients, and because I am using all new equipment kosher! Believe me even if it doesn't taste like cake it's part of her gift. It's a good birthday and she is inspiration itself!

Gumbo beginnings.

Can't say that the photos are great, they mostly prove the food was edible!

Taking a short nap before I finish my uncles birthday dinner. Pictures to follow.

I have a houseful of southerners and am making soup and salad for dinner. A risk! What's the riskiest dinner you have served a guest?

Happy Mardi Gras! Getting an early start on the bread pudding for tonight. Last minute fat, eggs, and bread.

Tonight I am cooking lazily for a crowd. I am going with white bean chicken chili. You have any favs that fit? Feel like sharing recipes?

Sunday afternoons are for leftover ribs!

Just finished rubbing down four racks of Ribs with my " I am still not sure why its not famous rub." Mardi Gras feast preparations have begun!

The things I have seen happen due to drunkeness in the bean boggles my mind.... http://www.wbur.org/2013/01/04/boston-drunkest-city?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=FBWBUR36

And The Drunkest City In America Goes To…Boston! Boston has been ranked No. 1 in The Daily Beast's list of the "25 Drunkest Cities" of 2012.

Happy New Year!

http://www.winespectator.com/blogs/show/id/47433?icid=em_com.
I feel like I had this very same discussion last night in a restaurant.

Wine Spectator Free Access | Wine Spectator Wine Spectator

Finally, A decent photo of the crazy abundance!

Prepping the 32lbs of produce I am supposed to eat over the next week. Do you eat enough veggies? I usually don't but its all here!

I used the size of my last kitchen as my reason to exit coking for myself on a daily basis. Truthfully I have cooked professionally for hundreds in a space the same size (once smaller). I am thinking through a commitment to eat at home, more often, like every meal, every day. I am still thinking, but looking at pictures of that kitchen make me want to cook. What would make it easier for you to cook daily?.

Taco Salad, it's what's for dinner! What are you having?

Just when I feel fine about my allergies I am confronted with this!!! Oh the sadness. What is your favorite new ice cream flavor?

Tonight I am making dinner for my Texas girls, Laila, Camille, and Olivia. They hate EVERYTHING! The only dish we could agree on is Chicken Fried Rice. So be it! What do you serve overly picky smalls?

Chicken Fried Rice
Prep Time:10 minInactive Prep Time: -- Cook Time:15 minLevel:EasyServes:6 to 8 servings.


Ingredients
3 large eggs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil, for frying
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into thin strips
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
4 cups cold, cooked rice
3 cups diced, cooked carrots & peas
6 green (spring) onions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish, optional
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions


Beat eggs with a whisk in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Heat very little oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat and make an omelette using half the beaten eggs. Turn out onto a plate to cool (do not fold omelette). Repeat process with remaining beaten eggs. Place 1 omelette on top of the other, fold and coarsely chop. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, toss chicken strips with the sesame oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over high heat in large frying pan or wok and stir-fry the prepared chicken strips until lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes or until onion has softened. Add 1 tablespoon more vegetable oil and when hot, stir in the cooked rice and green onions, carrots and peas, tossing and mixing thoroughly until very hot. Sprinkle with soy sauce and mix evenly. Remove from heat and stir in chopped cooked egg. If desired, garnish with additional sliced green onions.

Doing something interesting with your pasta tonight?
Photo- M. Tom

Salad Fixin's @ Community Gardens at Larz Anderson Park

This morning my mother called me to get instructions for how to put together a strawberry shortcake. This is a staple summer dish in my house and I do tend to put it together a number of was depending on how hot it is. Someone suggested that she use strawberry pie filling. My immediate assumption is that it would be gross. I have a bias against cans. I think I will take a step back and actually give it a try. We will see people, we will see.....