A Bit of Backlog and Buns Take Two
May 20, 2008
I just realized that it has been quite some time since I had an actual food post. I guess I have been busy, though perhaps that is a silly excuse. I have definitely been making plenty of tasty meals and treats, but not taking too many pictures. What follows are photos I did manage to take of some of my favorite meals from the past week.
I recently purchased Skinny Bitch in the Kitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. I love the writing style of these two women…they make me laugh, a lot! Flipping through the pages, I came across a simple and appealing recipe (which also happened to be delicious!):
Steamed Veggies and Tofu with Brown Rice
Over this past weekend, I made a dinner consisting of produce in my fridge that was creeping up on expiration. I don’t have a name for this meal, but here is what it consisted of: whole grain couscous with red chard, marinated portobellos, a dollop of basil pesto, and slivered almonds. Yes, I know that sounds like a weird combination, but it was really good! It was also quick to prepare (minus the marinating) and filling. I don’t usually enjoy eating the same meal two nights in a row, but this meal was an exception (so was the previous meal pictured above…maybe I am becoming more tolerant of leftovers?!).
And now some dessert! It reached about 95 degrees in Portland on Saturday…too hot for me! I was outside for awhile and then retreated indoors to make a cooling treat: Banana-Berry Sorbet. I put a cup of frozen raspberries and two chopped frozen bananas into my food processor and blended them until smooth. I then added enough Strawberry-Banana VitaSoy to make a nice consistency. I transferred this mixture to a freezer-safe container and let it firm up for about an hour. All I can say is, this really cooled me off and made me happy! I liked that it wasn’t super sweet, but refreshing instead! Plus, it was incredibly simple to make.
Oh! I almost forgot! The buns! My boyfriend made his second batch of Celine’s awesome buns. These turned out beautifully. They were a might bit monstrous (meaning really BIG), but that is because Tim has some unexplainable relationship with yeast. He talks to it, and that helps create the craziest dough I have ever seen (in about 30 minutes or less!!! It’s true!). The buns are an integral component of a birthday meal I am making for my good friend. I am planning on taking pictures of the food tomorrow night, so there may be a future post with all the goodness. I’ll say goodnight with a picture of some fine buns:
May 21, 2008 at 5:38 am
I’ve been wanting to read “Skinny Bitch” but I know my parents would think it was some kind of anorexic ploy. So I’ll just have to wait till there aren’t 100 people waiting for it at the Library, haha.
Oh my gosh your buns look so good! I’ve always feared making them, you’ve inspired me!
May 21, 2008 at 6:18 am
Your nameless dish sounds fantastic! What a great way to use up veggies in need of rescuing!
That sorbet! Oh my yummy goodness!
Those buns looks so good. Can I borrow your boyfriend and rub his cooking skill off on Brett?! He’ll make dough, as that’s his thing, but not often enough!
May 21, 2008 at 6:23 am
Okay, that Banana-Berry Sorbet looks so ridiculously refreshing, it’s killing me, haha - YUM!! And that vegetable dish, sans title?? Divine.
Wow, your boyfriend is quite a bread-baker!! The buns look fabulous!!
May 21, 2008 at 6:36 am
Your Steamed Veggies and Tofu with Brown Rice sounds like a simple meal, but it looks AMAZING– and so colorful!
I could go for some of that ice cream right about now.
May 21, 2008 at 8:58 am
Your sorbet looks like it should be in a magazine! I can’t believe it was 95 in Portland though, it’s still 38 here at night, ack! I printed out Celine’s bun recipe, they look so good and I have to get over my reliance on cheap white buns from the store sooner or later!
May 21, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Om my God! 95 degrees in Portland? That’s completely insane! At least the weather provided you with a good excuse for eating that delicious-looking home-made sorbet though!
May 21, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Yes, those buns are foxxxy! As is the sorbet - wow! I’m glad you mentioned using strawberry-banana vitasoy. I bet I could throw some of that and other stuff in my ice cream maker for a yummy treat!
I like your two dinners; they look like something I would make. It seems like my quick dinners are always a whole grain like brown rice, tofu, and some veggies.
May 21, 2008 at 5:46 pm
i think i can taste the sorbet now.
its already ridiculously hot here in austin.
i could really use some of that right about now!
May 22, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward if I compliment you on your buns?
They do look great though!
May 22, 2008 at 8:10 pm
that looks yummy. i’m not even a mushroom person, but it’s enticing…..
May 24, 2008 at 7:18 pm
ha, what fine buns indeed! I love that your boyfriend talks to yeast, that makes so much sense I’m gonna have to try that. And also your couscous and pesto and kale concoction sounds SO perfect, not strange at all, but inspired.
May 25, 2008 at 3:22 am
The buns look perfect! Can your boyfriend talk to my yeast too, please?
May 25, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I need to bust open skinny bitch again. I loved their meatloaf recipe.
Sorbet would be perfect right about now. It’s gotta be in the 90’s here…