homemade popcorn.

Although it is not rocket science to make popcorn at home, I hope this post helps you eliminate some chemicals in your life and save you some moula.  

Its amazing how many of us still buy those microwavable bags of popcorn that are lined with perfluorooctanoic (PFOA) and covered with fake butter flavoring containing another chemical called diacetyl.  Eating healthily and cheaply is simple.  Eat real food, make your own, and eat in season.

Making your own popcorn is also more fun and creative.  Play with different toppings like olive oil and rosemary, brown sugar and cinnamon, curry powder, nuts and caramel...  The options are endless!

homemade popcorn:
1)  On medium high heat, warm some olive oil, grape seed oil, or peanut oil in a LARGE pot (remember those tiny kernels expand!)

2)  Add good quality popcorn kernels (1/2 cup for two people with left overs)

3)  And keeping the cover on, let the kernels pop!  They can burn easily so I like to shake the pot somewhat frequently.  When the popping slows remove from heat and keep the cover on to continue the popping process without burning the corn.

4)  Add melted butter, sea salt, Tony's Creole Seasoning, or your favorite topping!

enjoy.

life.

so enjoy.

make your own vanilla extract.

Fill 4oz mason jars with...

• 3 Madagascar vanilla beans per jar (sliced down the middle, but not sliced all the way through).
• Fill bean filled jars with vodka.

Store closed jars in cold dark place for 8 weeks, shaking once per week.

write a letter.

Write a letter to a friend.  Write a card to say hi.  In a world of email, text, IM, facebook, linkedin, gchat, gmail...well you get the picture...it means the world to get a personal letter from someone you care about.  Just a reminder :)

lamb, pumpkin, and goat cheese ravioli.

This ravioli fed three, over six feet, very hungry men.  That is a true recipe test.  I cheated and used uncooked wonton paper (the dough used for dumplings) for the pasta and stuffed with the filling.  It takes some time but it relatively easy when you put a little assembly line together in your kitchen!

Filling:

• Saute one onion
• Add 1/2 lb of ground lamb and brown.  Season with salt, pepper, a touch of cayenne, and some cinnamon. 
• Pull off stove and add puree of 1/2 roasted pumpkin.
• Mix with 1 c or more of crumbled high quality goat cheese.

 Filling the Ravioli:

• Cut the large wonton papers into fours to make squares the size of desired ravioli.
• Crack one egg in a bowl and mix.  The egg wash binds the ravioli together.
• Lay multiple wonton papers down in an assembly line fashion.  Scoop less than a spoonful of filling on the ravioli squares, use your finger to border the filling with egg wash and top each with another wonton square so that the top ravioli square lies evenly on the bottom square.
• Make sure the air is out of the center and use a fork to make a decorative edge around the ravioli.
• Then boil until ravioli floats to the top.
• Take ravioli out individually and layer some oil.  They stick together very easily so dont lie on top of each other!

Add to your favorite sauce and you are done!  I paired the ravioli with a sage brown butter sauce and a simple mixed green salad.  Baked apples for dessert completed the delicious and filling meal.

pumpkin orechiette with sage brown butter sauce.

This meal was rustic, seasonal, and really really good.  Oh...and easy.

We are up to our ears in winter squash so trying to get creative with recipes.  This one is sticking around.

Roast a pumpkin at 425 degrees with evoo and salt and pepper till tender.  Scoop out half and set aside.

Meanwhile cook one box of orecchiette pasta (the kind that looks like little ears).

When pasta is almost done start sauce.  Saute 4 tbsp of butter until it gets a slight brown tint.  When you see this brown take it off the stove and add 8 fresh sage leaves.  Also add the juice of 1/2-1 lemon.

Drain the pasta but leave some of the water and add the sauce, the little bit of pasta water, and the pasta together.  Add the 1/2 of roasted pumpkin and 1/2- 1 cup of Parmesan.  Season with salt to taste.

Perfectly Elegant.

curry chili.

This was an accident that turned into a delicious dish.  Love when that happens :)

Didn't have cumin so used garam masala.  Here are the steps:

1) Saute 2 onions and 2 green peppers with 1 lb of meat.  Skip meat if desired.
2) Pour out fat and add:

• 2 jars of organic tomato sauce (make your own or look for jars with the least ingredients)
• Some diced jalepenos
• 2 tablespoons of garam masala (for slight curry flavor) or cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon of cayene
• 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
• 2 tablespoons of chili
• Some salt
• One cup of water
• Mexican style tomatoes (1 can or make your own with stewed tomatoes and some cooked green chilies)

3) Bring to a boil and add cooked kidney beans and black beans and simmer for 1-2 hours.  If you didn't add meat add Bulgar wheat at this step for a hearty meat alternative.

Enjoy with your favorite toppings and sides.