Two Longtime Friends Cook Modern Comfort Food Guest Blog

Watercolor by Joanne -Applesauce Cake with Bourbon Raisins baked by Colleen

Joanne writes from Florida:

So …. one day last month I was on the phone catching up with my friend Colleen who lives in Nova Scotia.  As we were talking about her new cookbook purchase, Ina Garten’sModern Comfort Food“, my doorbell rang and a package was delivered.  I opened it while talking and it was a copy of the same book!  What are the odds?  My dear friend Ruth had sent it as a surprise.  Colleen and I decided we would each pick some recipes to try out and share our results.  Here are the photos of our month-long project.  Fun and nice way to keep in touch.  Overall we both agree that Ina Garten’s recipes are easy to prepare and almost always turn out looking exactly like her descriptions and photos. 

We’re looking forward to trying out another cookbook author soon.”

Colleen cooked:
Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Spaghetti Squash with Arrabbiata Sauce
Seared Salmon with Spicy Red Pepper Aioli
Applesauce Cake with Bourbon Raisins

Applesauce Cake with Bourbon Raisins
Joanne cooked:
Brussels Sprouts Pizza Carbonara

Brussels Sprouts Pizza Carbonara
Fresh Zucchini with Lemon and Mint
Roasted Sausages, Peppers and Onions
Joanne has been featured with Tea Bag Art and recently the zucchini as cucumber confused produce sign

What’s Your Comfort Food?

Last Thursday on our virtual knitting Zoom, my friend Joanne showed this lovely watercolor painting titled Comfort Food.

I had to smile cause I knew Ina Garten’s Modern Comfort Food cookbook was to arrive at Joanne’s house in Florida the very next day. I’d ordered it as a gift.

Here’s Joanne’s Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup painting, Thanks for sending, Joanne.

And here’s the cover of the new cookbook

Can’t wait to cook some of these recipes

And the back cover. Black and White Cookies.

What is your go to comfort food in the Pandemic?

Reports from Joanne in St. Augustine Florida – Guest Blog

Here is what is happening with my friend Joanne in St. Augustine.

A guest blog report in gallery form.   It was actually Joanne’s  idea to post photos from friends in different locations showing what they have been doing as they shelter in place and are isolated from friends and family.  Since she has been updating me daily I’m a bit overwhelmed cause she has been doing A LOT.   Her to do list and the documentation of it is lengthy.  Here are some of the photos that tell the story of her activities in St. Augustine Florida (where my sister and I visited just last month) Thanks for sharing Joanne.  I am posting your crossword still life first.

It tells a story all by itself. She titles them Isolation Day Activities.  Here’s the gallery with her photos.  One thing I can tell you for sure is that is a lot brighter where she is than Pittsburgh PA.

These photos were taken throughout the week, not just one day. Phew!

Then she and Dan visited through a sliding glass door window

My Go-To Comfort Food

My go-to comfort food IMG_6793multiple cheese baked macaroni, even though it’s Springtime.

Park Bruges on Bryant Street.

Mothers Day eve. With Steve.

(grilled cheese is number two go-to but not in the same sitting)

Fried Bologna Sandwich First Attempt 

Fried Bologna Sandwich? It’s a Pittsburgh thing.

I didn’t grow up here so I’ve only heard about them. Today I looked the the fridge and found the deli bologna I bought for Steve to make his Akron Sandwich special. I think it might be sliced a bit thin but then I actually looked up a Recipe  one said 3 thin better than one thick. Hmmmmm

Got out the trusty cast iron skillet and put iibutter in the hot pan. Didn’t take long for it to sizzle and fry up. Put on a slice of bread with mustard.  Delicious.  I would add it to the comfort food list for sure! I know  I’ve heard Pittsburghers refer to  bologna  as Jumbo. 

It’s Game Day in the Burgh! 

 


I’ve Been Making Jamie Oliver’s Recipe- Baked Orecchiette 8 Years Now!

LOriginally posted four years ago- May 2011- a REBLOG although you might not want to fire up your oven in the summer heat right now. Guess I have a taste for it tonight.

I’ve Been Making Jamie Oliver’s Recipe – Baked Orecchiette – 4 Years Now!

Some blog readers say they just look at my picture of the day and don’t bother reading what I write. They are “visual”.

The saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is debatable some days.   The number varies.  On Thursday, a freshly pressed blogger suggested using photos you find on blogs to inspire writing and mentioned my blog as a resource which was flattering.  I love the idea of my photos being a writing prompt.

The New York City sidewalk image of the pizza box and the pair of shoes was a recent example that triggered some one-sentence short story writing!

Today’s post is experimenting with a new feature- distraction free writing- initiated by smart people at wordpress.com I’m checking it out even if everyone stopping by is just looking at the photo of the day!

This baked pasta recipe was in the newspaper more than four years ago and I have been making it ever since.  I haven’t looked at the recipe in a long time but decided to search my email and the year 2007 came up.   I also discovered the author of the recipe was Jamie Oliver. Four years ago I didn’t even know who Jamie Oliver was.  Since it is his recipe I will send you to Jamie Oliver’s Recipe

My mother always said to buy the best ingredients and do as little to them as possible.  The best ingredients you need are fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil and ParmigianoReggiano cheese (no green-can-shaker-cheese!).

You can make the sauce in about twenty minutes and use the best quality San Marzano tomatoes just as he suggests.  I’ve made it with fresh tomatoes, too.

This photograph was taken in my daughter-in-law’s (and son’s) kitchen.  My son says don’t call the pasta “little ears” (orecchiette) as it grosses him out. “Call it pasta. Just plain pasta.”   The four grandchildren call it pizza noodles!

And if there are any leftovers, it tastes even better the next day.

——————————————————————————————————————————

*July 29, 2015 P.S. I have made it with gluten-free brown rice pasta and it tastes delicious. Some shapes hold better than others but the same delicious taste!  Promise!

 


Comfort food.
Different choices
for different people
and occasions.
Chilly and rainy?
Bake and cook.
Eat!

Baked Pasta Using Orecchiette Shape Pasta- Fresh Mozzarella-Fresh Basil

Comfort Sought in a Food Item May be Unhealthy-

-but sometimes necessary. Started to make a long list of all the reasons leading to this desire and changed my mind.

You fill in the blank _______________________________________________

I’d been thinking about a grilled cheese sandwich for weeks.

grilled cheese sandwich

grilled cheese on a plate

Like a Squirrel Gathering Nuts for the Winter

yarn skeins

Wednesday’s mail was waiting when I got home late.   A box!

A box of yarn arrived from Web*sters in Ashland, Oregon.  Silk Blend.  70% Merino wool and 30% silk.  Manos del Uruguay.  I’ve plans to knit my way through the freezing season.  So soft and the colors like jewels.

Magenta, Aster, Dark Cherry.  I love the names of the colorways.

Spolier alert:  Knitty City Horizontal Cowls (link to their free pattern) for gifts.

I’ve made three already. Oh and an attempt for a circle scarf from a different yarn (the gray)

It can’t just post comfort food.

IMG_5306

I like this particular pattern cause the circular knitting goes around and around and around, getting me to a peaceful place, sucking out my anxiety, making me calm. Trying not to notice the sun setting earlier already.

My Go-To Comfort Food

Comfort food.

“Comfort foods may be consumed to positively pique emotions, to relieve negative psychological effects or to increase positive feelings.[4] The term was first used, according to Webster’s Dictionary, in 1977.” Wikipedia

 A topic I study and explore from time to time.  Take a poll.

In fact, i asked this question just last December.

I was with a friend on Saturday and we were talking about eating in response to stress.

 His choice? a pint of Ben and Jerry’s (i forget which flavor)  

It’s a new school year.

Grilled cheese on stove and plate below. 

“Comfort food is traditionally eaten food which often provides a nostalgic or sentimental feeling to the person eating it,[1] frequently with a high carbohydrate level and a simple preparation.[2] The nostalgic element most comfort food has, may be specific to either the individual or a specific culture.[3]” Wikipedia

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

 

 

grilled cheese sandwichYes, that is a slice of summer tomato on Laura’s Birthday grilled cheese dinner.  I asked her what she would like me to make for her birthday (they were in town for Celeste and Shawn’s wedding weekend)

This is Kryptonite to My Son

I really wanted to grate some fresh nutmeg again.

As I left Ohio for home, I stopped off at Kroger and saw this in the dairy case. Thought I’d give it a try when I got home to Pittsburgh.  My mother used to make homemade eggnog before anyone talked about salmonella and the risks of consuming raw egg.  Mark feels the same way about mayonnaise.   It just disgusts him.

Goes down easy for me. Comfort. Silky smooth.

I grated the wonderful little nutmeg that has the most intricate design inside.  Maybe the eggnog needs some more fat in it.

Lowfat eggnog?  One good thing about this particular brand is it did not have that fake-o rum flavor.

And now I’m settling down for the winter’s nap to rest for the last week of school before the break.

 

eggnog pouring into glass

The little hand painted glass is from that fun gift shop I blogged about , the shop in Lawrenceville  named  Divertido

 

freshly grated nutmegYes, the nutmeg kept just fine on the shelf in a bag.  I love looking at the interior design  of it.  And the smell of it when you are graing it is so inviting.  The eggnog  intoxicating without a drop of spirits.