cooking up a "storm."

Yes, I did just make that joke. Another busy weekend quickly coming to a close... but Douglas and I have both been given Monday and Tuesday off due to the anticipated effects of Hurricane Sandy, so I am not feeling as anxious as I usually would around this time on a Sunday night. This weekend was spent cooking, cleaning, and running errands as per usual, but with the two extra school-free days in our future, I think the cooking extravaganza will continue, providing we do not lose power. I do not find much time to cook for myself during the week, so I always attempt to cram in as much kitchen experimentation as I can for Saturdays and Sundays. This weekend my culinary accomplishments included a delicious chicken curry, my first attempt at Indian cuisine. I think Doug would agree with me when I say that it came out wonderfully! Definitely something worth making again, and worth sharing :)

We ate this over a bed of basmati rice and I tried a bottle of Three Philosophers on the side. An interesting beer, slightly sweet... I am still unsure how I feel about it taste-wise, but I definitely felt its effects shortly after. Too much for this lightweight. We took a nice long nap immediately following our meal.

The curry recipe is one of Epicurious's "blue ribbon" entries, which means it comes with way more than just my recommendation. I altered the recipe slightly by using boneless chicken thighs rather than a whole chicken and I also added peas in the last stages of cooking for some extra nutrition. I think this dish could be served as a vegetarian entree as well; I would love to experiment by adding some cauliflower and carrots in the future. Let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

1/4 C unsalted butter
2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 T finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
3 T curry powder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne
3 1/2 to 4 lb boneless chicken thighs, cut into large chunks
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 C of fresh or frozen peas
1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 C cashews
3/4 C plain whole-milk yogurt

Directions:

1. Heat butter in a wide, heavy pot over moderately low heat until foam subsides, then cook onions, garlic, and ginger, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add curry powder, salt, cumin, and cayenne and cook, stirring, 2 minutes.
3. Add chicken and cook, stirring to coat, 3 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes, including juice, peas, and cilantro and bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, about 40 minutes.
5. Just before serving,
 pulse cashews in a food processor or electric coffee/spice grinder until very finely ground, then add to curry along with yogurt and simmer gently, uncovered, stirring, until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.

monster mash.

How cool are my parents? You really have to love the enthusiasm. Doug and I are both blessed to have fun-loving, outgoing parents. My mother, in particular, was quite the ham. I sure do miss her :)

Halloween is approaching... that means cozy nights spent under blankets with hot cups of cider. That means rooms full of glowing candles and Hocus Pocus on constant replay. That means piecing together costumes and eating more Reese's peanut butter cups in one sitting than would be healthy for a small nation to consume in an entire year. Oops.

I love this time of year, don't you?

(Thanks for the picture, Aunt Laura!)

humble pie.

With the help of the Google staff, who were able to recover my site statistics after they shockingly disappeared this weekend past, I discovered that my blog reached over 20,000 all-time visits this week. Let me tell you: that was some big news for little ol' me. I am completely humbled by the dedication, encouragement, and support I have received by friends and family (and strangers all across the blogosphere). This project brings me such overwhelming joy on a personal level; to know that there are others out there interested in what I have to say, participating in my crazy little life, and offering me their love as I go along... well... I am speechless. Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking interest in my little dream.

I am on a constant quest to make this site better for those who like to visit. I would love to receive feedback on different posts that you would like to see more (or less) of, general formatting advice, and so on. I am also looking to explore potential advertisements to host on the site but have absolutely no idea where to start or what ads would be appropriate for such a blog as this. Just a glimmer of a dream to fund my "blossoming" writing career. If anyone ever has any suggestions, please feel free (yes, really) to leave comments or to shoot me an email at americaningenue{at}gmail.com.

Also: I love you. Goodnight.

wheatless chicken meatballs with sage and spaghetti squash

After posting a recipe a week for Doug and my meatless September, I decided that I really enjoy sharing my meals with you! This month, we are no longer vegetarians, but I have been doing what I can to prepare gluten-free (and low-carb, in general) dinners for the two of us. My new go-to dish is spaghetti squash, a hearty meal without the refined carbohydrates. By using the dried cheese instead of breadcrumbs, you can skip the gluten while still giving some "hold" to your meatballs. I prefer the strong flavor of pecorino-romano, but you could use a parmigiano-reggiano as well. I like to make a big batch and eat it throughout the week - a real lifesaver for those late nights tutoring, studying, and hitting the gym. The recipe below serves about four people. Enjoy!

Ingredients: 

1 lb of ground chicken breast

1/2 C dried, extra-fine pecorino-romano

1 large egg

1/2 large yellow onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

2 large sprigs of fresh sage, chopped

Salt and Pepper

Olive oil

 Directions for Squash:

1. Preheat oven to 375 while you cut and clean squash (I still have yet to master the act of cutting a large squash in half... Doug has had to step in and I have the scars to prove it!)

2. Lightly coat the halves with olive oil and season with salt and pepper

3. Bake with open faces down in a oven-safe pan (I used a glass lasagna pan) until golden brown, about 30 - 45 minutes.

4. Once cooled, use a fork to loosen up the "meat" of the squash, which will come out like strands of spaghetti

5. Toss with your favorite red sauce - Doug and I prefer puttanesca, but a simple marinara or vodka sauce will work, too.

Directions for Meatballs:

1. Lightly coat a large sauté pan with olive oil and cook onions over medium heat until clear

2. Remove from heat and add chopped garlic, stirring together while pan is still hot

3. While pan cools, mix together ground chicken, cheese, egg, and sage - season with pepper (I suggest holding off on the salt, since pecorino-romano is quite salty on its own)

4. Add the cooled onion and garlic mixture

5. Use your hands to shape the mixture into balls and place in a lightly oiled pan over medium-high heat

6. Brown the meatballs on all sides

7. Add the red sauce to the pan and simmer until meatballs are cooked throughout

road trip!

Few things compare to a trip filled with delicious (usually forbidden) road snacks, sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs tunes, and the people you love (both alongside you in the car and waiting for you at your final destination). This weekend, Douglas and I hopped into my trusty, little red Civic to celebrate the marriage of my two lovely friends, Steve and Jennifer. We also got a quick visit in with my dear friend, Carolina, as she was kind enough to let us crash on her couch during our stay. The trip was short and we had to squeeze it tightly into our weekend, filled with the usual hustle-and-bustle of chores, errands, and homework in addition to Doug's rapidly-approaching midterms and my upcoming observation by the superintendent, but it was a fun little getaway for the two of us. I was so happy to celebrate the love and commitment of two wonderful people and to get out into the fresh air for a little while. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the fall foliage was as enchanting as ever. I love the drive up to New England - mountains, trees, rivers, farms - so many beautiful sights! Congratulations, Steve and Jen, and thank you for letting us share in your special day. We wish you a lifetime of love, health, and happiness.

Scoping out the wares at a roadside farmers' market. The Zakim bridge and a glimpse of Boston. Two happy wedding-goers. Enthralled by the honey-bee art exhibit at the Museum of Science. The Charles River, mid-autumn. A handsome man across the table. Shameless self-photography. Willamette Valley pinot noir after an adventurous evening - we miss you, Pacific Northwest! Coming home to the Hudson River. (Thank you, Douglas, for being my tag-team photographer whenever I need you.)

ahhh, italia.

I am not sure if it is because my cousin Robert and his beautiful bride, Maria, just returned from a trip there, because one of my favorite bloggers, Naomi, is planning a vacation there with her family, or if it is simply because I am foregoing gluten-products and therefore craving all things bread-related (the pizza, the bruschetta, the bucatini - somebody stop me!) but BOY do I miss Italy right now. I had the amazing privilege to study abroad in Rome my junior year at college, when Italy became my home away from home for four months, and I have had one opportunity to go back during my backpacking trip in the autumn of 2008, but it has been four years since I stepped foot on Italian soil - e sono nostalgia di casa! I miss the people, the art, the architecture, the language, and yes, most certainly, the food.

For anyone who has never been to Italy, it is everything you would expect it to be. The food is unbelievable (seriously, I think everything tastes better there), the sights are breathtaking, and the atmosphere is just as romantic and historic and beautiful as you would hope. I have a few wonderful memories frozen in my mind that I will never be able to forget (and would not want to). A herd of sheep interrupting a photo shoot in a Roman park. An enthusiastic cabdriver singing to Shaggy songs with a birthday girl and her friends (he knew every word, and not just to Mr. Bombastic!). An Iranian suitor trying to steal my heart with a delicious, home-cooked dinner. Watching countless episodes of Arrested Development with my friend in Florence. A crazy, passionate neighbor threatening to set a bomb off in our apartment...

My wanderlust has been a little overwhelming lately. Ever since I stepped foot out of the country for the first time my senior year of high school, I have been infected with the travel bug. If I sit tight too long, I get antsy, anxious, like I am being trapped against my will. Does anyone else out there feel like that? I just need to get out of New Jersey! Part of me feels guilty for it, that I should be happy exactly where I am at all times, but my restless soul just simply will not allow it. I want adventure! I want to see, hear, feel, smell, and TASTE new and wonderful things all the time. Unfortunately for me, traveling takes a bit of money and time, two things that I find myself continually short on... so I am in need of a few suggestions. Does anyone know of any great short trips that one in my adventure-deprived, financially-lacking predicament might be able to venture off on for a long weekend? Please disclose!

For now, I will dream of my Italy and the delicious homemade pomodoro sauce the mother of my wonderful friend, Carmelo, would send him from Sicily (that he would beneficently share with us). Honestly, the best food I have ever tasted was a simple spaghetti dish with this sauce. Amazing.

Mi manchi, Italia!

Venezia. Perugia. Il Pantheon. La Cappella Sistina. La campagna.

glimpses.

A beautiful autumn bouquet.  

A new chicken timer for the kitchen (since I melted the last one).

Being serious.

Being not-so-serious.

Pretty little memory jars I made from our trip to the northwest. 

A frowning farmer who finally made it up on my wall (I cannot resist anything farm-related... one day).

saturdays in october.

What a great autumn day! Today was filled with football, my first bikram yoga class (that's a story for another day), family dinner, and sugar cookies. We started the day off watching my brother play his last home game of the year. The team did not win, but it was still fun to joke around with my sisters, watch my brother finally wave to us (probably just to get us to stop) after screaming his name a hundred times, and soak up a little sunshine and oxygen. The air had a gentle, refreshing chill and a sweet, wet-leaves smell that had me singing to myself all day long. I love spending time with the ones I love. I especially love taking care of them. I do not know if it is some feminine "maternal" instinct, a quality that comes from being the oldest of five, or if it is just simply part of my unique individual personality, but I live to care for others, particularly when it means I get to be in the kitchen. This morning it was making eggs and hot coffee for my Douglas. This evening, I got to prepare spaghetti squash with chicken meatballs for my family (sissy Samantha was home from school for the weekend). Tonight, I am baking cookies and my apartment feels toasty and festive with the sweet aroma floating through the air. I probably did not need to taste the dough so many times, but everybody knows that's the best part (even when you are trying to be gluten free... uh oh). It was a wonderful Saturday and I already hear Sunday's stern voice telling me it is time to buckle down and get some work done, but it is so hard to concentrate when there are so many wonderful things to do, for myself and for others. I know tomorrow will be full of all I "should" have done today, but for now I will bask in the glory that is kinfolk and homemade pastries!

 

Rooting for #74. Goofing around with my sissies (smooch attacks included). Squinting in the warm sunlight with handsome men. Baking cookies. Success. Diet... maybe not so much. Oh, well, there is always tomorrow :) Goodnight.

stretching it?

I am not sure if I should be expressing excitement or fear, but I just signed myself up for a one-week "hot yoga" promotion. I have been interested in trying this style of yoga, and there are a lot of bikram yoga studios near where I live, but classes are rather expensive. Just recently, one of the studios near my apartment advertised a special: seven consecutive days of lessons for the price of one.  I am now diving head-first into the bikram experience!  For those of you unfamiliar with hot yoga, it is a system of yoga that is performed under very hot conditions, typically around 105 degrees fahrenheit. I guess the premise is that you will sweat (and sweat and sweat!), increasing circulation and benefitting your lymphatic system. I am thinking this could be a good opportunity to cleanse and really kick off this commitment to fitness I have recently made (or, err, remade for the millionth time). My only fear is that I am going to burn myself out or injure myself... but its yoga, right? And besides, I am Jenna Leigh, champion of life, conquerer of fears! No sweat (pun intended). Well, I guess we will see.

Has anyone out there taken a hot yoga class before? Advice? I would love to hear your thoughts.

halloween classics.

Some Wilson family Halloween shots, as promised.  There are some pretty classic ones of my parents that I have still yet to track down, but keep a look out for a real treat coming soon... The fall always reminds me of family. Halloween 2008 was the last time I saw my mother "healthy" and in good spirits; it is a bittersweet memory but I will always cherish it. We are a silly bunch, but my family is the best. What is your favorite costume memory?