wait, have I already forgotten what I've cooked today?

my early evening Manhattan is already taking effect and the day is a bit of a blur. what did I cook today; what did I cook?

today's standout: lemon-cardamom-infused rice pudding, made w/arborio rice, golden raisins (a.k.a. "sultanas"), whipped creme fraiche and enough fresh lemon zest to choke a goat. NO complaints about this one at all, not even from the goat (p.s. to the person who was unable to accept delivery of rice pudding tonight -- I don't offer twice, but sometimes begging works).

also good: strawberries in candied ginger syrup (so ginger-y it almost burns yr throat; yummy); those same strawberries in slices w/some lemon added atop little lemon-y cheesecakes (it was a lemon-y day).

oh! roasted salmon with sweet & spicy pecan crust, atop bowtie pasta w/beurre noisette (one of my absolute favorite things) & chives; delish if I do say so myself.

other things seem less important in comparison.

today's Manhattan: a Perfect Manhattan made with 2 measures Sazerac Rye (thank you to both Kyle and Wiggy's), 1/2 measure ea. Cinzano and white vermouth, a few dashes Agnostura bitters, a dash of bitter lemon bitters (sounds redundant, doesn't it?), and an all-important maraschino cherry. very, very good Manhattan.

more yummy stuff I've cooked lately

if I do say so myself, and I DO.

North African Carrot Soup with Raz El Hanout (which reminds me that I need to get to work on those preserved lemons soon)

fabulously yummy Sour Cream Fudge mini cupcakes w/Frangelico Ganache

Strawberry Cheesecake galettes glazed w/vanilla sugar

Maroon Carrots glazed w/Moroccan spices & pomegranate molasses

Lemon/orange-infused cheesecakes which I plan to top w/fruit glazed w/ginger syrup (thanks for this idea, DLY), but WHICH FRUIT? kumquats? plums? I dunno; I'm tired of berries at the moment.

my food production rate is down due to more recipe development, but I must be forgetting things.

things I plan to make soon:

Brown Sugar/Kahlua Ice Cream

Teriyaki Roasted Chicken (sounds dull, but I make my own teriyaki w/nigori sake and light tamari)

Japanese Sweet Rice Pudding (made w/Sho-Chiku-Bai rice, milk, maple syrup, currants, salt, cinnamon)

and more. suggestions welcomed always.

things I've cooked recently

from March 12, 2009

hey -- I can still cook! some of the food I've made in the past few days:

French Onion Soup (the real thing, of course -- it was pretty amazing, but a good deal of credit goes to my partner in crime, Kyle, who finished the soup to perfection)

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup w/roasted yellow & bell peppers, caramelized onions, smoked paprika (yum!!!) creeam, basil and chives (maybe mint and chives next time?)

Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes glazed with cachaca simple syrup, half of them frosted with buttercream (colored [but NOT flavored] chartreuse to match the host's upholstery), the other half frosted with El Rey chocolate ganache

Pasta Salad (Garofalo Gemilli) with frizzled proscuitto strips, fried capers (I longed for caper berries here), roasted sweet organic peppers, strips of lemon zest, white truffle oil, a bit of lemon juice, shredded parmagiano reggiano (would have preferred shavings of grana padano, but still wonderful), a chiffonade of fresh basil and some fresh chive slivers (plus lots of telicherry pepper)

Roasted brussels sprouts with olive oil, s&p, glazed lightly with a sherry/dijon/maple concoction

Wilted organic spinach w/Asian flavors -- sesame oil, fried garlic (the yummy Thai stuff), pickled ginger, black & white sesame seeds, etc.

more to come. I hope you say "yes" when I invite you over for dinner.