Dark Days Challenge Week 4: Lamb and Vegetable Stew

Now that I go to the Union Square Greenmarket on Saturdays, I have a much wider selection than I'm used to. I even saw venison this week - I didn't think it was legal to sell that! (Jesse loves venison, but I didn't buy it...to give him incentive to join me on next week's trip to the Greenmarket so that he can get it and I can have company). What I did end up getting was lamb from 3-Corner Field Farm in Shushan, NY (200 miles away, near Saratoga...

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Dark Days Challenge Week 3: The Thanksgiving Experiment

After finding turkey breast at the Greenmarket, I thought what better to pair it with than stuffing. Considering that I want to make Thanksgiving dinner next year, I might as well start practicing now! To make the stuffing, I combined toasted whole wheat bread cubes with sauteed onion, garlic, apple, parsnip, and a few handfuls of torn-up kale, and enough chicken stock to moisten everything. I added the kale to compensate for the lack of celery,...

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Brownies with Coconut Topping

I was very intrigued by these "brown-ka-roons" that I found on the Student Stomach blog, since I love chocolate and coconut, and this dessert combines them in one yummy-looking bar. But when I made them last week, they disappointingly came out 1/3 brownie and 2/3 ka-roon. I decided they would be perfect if only there was more brownie than ka-roon, so I made them a second time for my dinner party last night, this time switching up the recipe to make...

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Dark Days Challenge Week 2: Fresh Clam Chowder, Sort Of

I saw Ina Garten prepare clam chowder on Barefoot Contessa a few weeks ago, and it suddenly ocurred to me that clam chowder is something I could easily make out of all local ingredients, even in the "dark days" of January. Growing up, I had always been scared of clam chowder, probably because of my parent's fear of bottom feeders, as well as its murky appearance. But now that I love to eat meaty dayboat clams from the Greenmarket, I figured I should...

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Dark Days Challenge Week 2: Flounder, Clams, and Roasted Beets over Jerusalem Artichoke Puree

I've really stockpiled on root vegetables this week - I think because I started to worry that the Greenmarkets will run out of vegetables, since my McCarren Park Greenmarket in Brooklyn has dwindled down to just one vegetable vendor. Then I made a stop at the mecca of all Greenmarkets, Union Square on a Saturday, and saw it was still full of farmers, action, and crowds. So I don't have anything to worry about - at least not yet.I feel like I've been...

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Diner: More Than Meets the Eye

I had always thought that Diner, at 85 Broadway near the Williamsburg Bridge, was just that, a diner, albeit with some grandiose tendencies. After all, it is set in a restored 1927 diner car. I've stopped in there occasionally for late night drinks and snacks and scoffed at the menu - Risotto, I have often wondered, why would you ever want to order risotto or other fancy stuff at a diner?The guys who own Diner also run the fabulous shop/restaurant...

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Lentil, Sausage, Kale, and Rice Stew

Usually I'm not bothered by dishes that take their time to cook (see risotto, chili, dishes involving dried beans, etc), but today I kept looking at this pot, tasting the crunchy lentils, and thinking Why isn't this done yet? Finally, Jesse distracted me by taking our dog fora walk, whilethe stew lightly bubbled away. When we returned, it was done, finally, kind of like how a watched pot never boils. I was afraid it would be bland, but it's not...

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Dark Days Challenge Week 1: Steak, Roasted Potatoes, and Kale

I was supposed to make falafel this weekend, but due to changes in plans I ended up letting the dried chickpeas soak so long that they got all foamy with a bad smell. After doing some research, I determined this was definitely not good, so I threw them out. Chickpeas really only need to soak 12 hours, but you can keep them soaking up to 36 hours. I think the key is to rinse them out and put them in fresh water every 12 hours to prevent bad smell.To...

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A Brilliant Idea for Green Heat

According to this article, a Swedish company is going to suck all the heat generated by bodies in a main subway station and use it to heat a nearby office building. Who woulda thunk it? Can we get this going with New York's MTA?http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080109/ap_on_fe_st/sweden_body_h...

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New Years Resolutions

2008 is going to be the year that I take hold of my life. Here are some resolutions/hopes/ideas:- Get involved in Transportation Alternatives- Start going to Brooklyn Green Drinks instead of just thinking about it- Go to Green Edge events- Find local sources for grains and beans- Participate in the Dark Days Local Challenge - Starting in April, form a Once-a-Month Local Foods Potluck (comment if you want to join this!) - Support restaurants on the Eat Well Guide, and similarly minded joints- Plant a mini garden on my (likewise mini) deck with rosemary,...

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Dark Days Challenge Week 1: Kale and Bran Meatloaf and Colcannon

This is my first post as part of the Dark Days Challenge, a challenge to cook at least one meal per week comprised of 90% local ingredients throughout the winter until March. To read about what fellow bloggers are cooking up locally in their area, check out Urban Hennery every other Sunday.It's wintertime. Even though the weather can't make up its mind, waffling between last week's bitter cold and today's balmy air, the vegetables have succumbed...

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