argentina desserts: August 2011

Roasted tomatoes with feta and chickpeas salad

This past week my grocery store had an amazing sale: 1 pint of grape tomatoes for 97 cents. That's pretty much unheard of.

And yes, of course, these tomatoes weren't nearly as good as the ones you'd find at a farmers' market, but I love tomatoes and bought 6 pints and was excited about all the possible ways of cooking/eating them.

In the end, I used some tomatoes in a corn/tomato/avocado salad,

This past week my grocery store had an amazing sale: 1 pint of grape tomatoes for 97 cents. That's pretty much unheard of.

And yes, of course, these tomatoes weren't nearly as good as the ones you'd find at a farmers' market, but I love tomatoes and bought 6 pints and was excited about all the possible ways of cooking/eating them.

In the end, I used some tomatoes in a corn/tomato/avocado salad,

Date, pistachio & scallion rice

This recipe is inspired by Amy of Word Kitchen. Earlier this month Amy tweeted that she was making Basmati rice with pistachios. I was intrigued and asked for directions.

Amy replied with the following:

lemme see: 1c basmati in 2 c water, fluff. Add 2T chop'd pistachios, 2T chop'd currants, thread of OO, some parsley, s & p...

I added this tweet to the list of my favorites and was looking for

This recipe is inspired by Amy of Word Kitchen. Earlier this month Amy tweeted that she was making Basmati rice with pistachios. I was intrigued and asked for directions.

Amy replied with the following:

lemme see: 1c basmati in 2 c water, fluff. Add 2T chop'd pistachios, 2T chop'd currants, thread of OO, some parsley, s & p...

I added this tweet to the list of my favorites and was looking for

Scenes from Denver's Farmers' Market

Where to eat in Denver: Watercourse

I'm back from Denver. Did you miss me? :) Hope so.

In the next week or so I'll share with you some of my favorite meals from Denver, Colorado. Let me just say this: the food was incredible and the service everywhere was genuine and attentive. It was as if the chefs, waitresses and the front of the house staff actually loved their jobs and were excited to have you in their restaurants!

After

I'm back from Denver. Did you miss me? :) Hope so.

In the next week or so I'll share with you some of my favorite meals from Denver, Colorado. Let me just say this: the food was incredible and the service everywhere was genuine and attentive. It was as if the chefs, waitresses and the front of the house staff actually loved their jobs and were excited to have you in their restaurants!

After

DC Food Tour of U Street

I'm back from a fun long weekend in Denver. The food scene there was amazing and the service was unbelievable. All the eating was balanced out by walking, sightseeing and two nights of salsa dancing. Other than a 6 hour delay in Kansas City on the way back to DC, it was a great time.

While I'm editing photos from Denver, I want to share with you yet another food filled afternoon I've had with DC

I'm back from a fun long weekend in Denver. The food scene there was amazing and the service was unbelievable. All the eating was balanced out by walking, sightseeing and two nights of salsa dancing. Other than a 6 hour delay in Kansas City on the way back to DC, it was a great time.

While I'm editing photos from Denver, I want to share with you yet another food filled afternoon I've had with DC

Grilled Halloumi & Watermelon Salad

As you are reading this, I'm having a fabulous time in Denver. Don't hate.

But while I'm out and about, I thought I'd share with you a salad I made several weeks ago on a total whim.

Here's what happened: I have been obsessing with watermelon. I love eating it as is, or pickled or in a salad with feta and basil.
Then someone mentioned grilling watermelon. I love grilled peaches, nectarines and

As you are reading this, I'm having a fabulous time in Denver. Don't hate.

But while I'm out and about, I thought I'd share with you a salad I made several weeks ago on a total whim.

Here's what happened: I have been obsessing with watermelon. I love eating it as is, or pickled or in a salad with feta and basil.
Then someone mentioned grilling watermelon. I love grilled peaches, nectarines and

Recipe for Domenica Marchetti's Soup

About 90% of the time I just make up my own recipes. I go to the store, find what ingredients look appealing, see what I have in my pantry and make things up as I go. Most of the time I'm quite successful.

Other times, I just want someone to hand me a recipe, go to the store to get all the necessary ingredients, follow the directions and make a dish as the recipe's author has intended it to be.

About 90% of the time I just make up my own recipes. I go to the store, find what ingredients look appealing, see what I have in my pantry and make things up as I go. Most of the time I'm quite successful.

Other times, I just want someone to hand me a recipe, go to the store to get all the necessary ingredients, follow the directions and make a dish as the recipe's author has intended it to be.

9th Annual Clyde's Farm Dinner: Slow Food DC

Last weekend I got a chance to do something incredibly cool and something I've been wanting to do for years.

I was invited to attend the 9th Annual Clyde's Farm Dinner at Willow Creek Farm: one of the Slow Food DC events.

I will be the first one to admit that my refrigerator and pantry are not full of organic and local produce and staples from farmers' market. The convenience of shopping at my

Last weekend I got a chance to do something incredibly cool and something I've been wanting to do for years.

I was invited to attend the 9th Annual Clyde's Farm Dinner at Willow Creek Farm: one of the Slow Food DC events.

I will be the first one to admit that my refrigerator and pantry are not full of organic and local produce and staples from farmers' market. The convenience of shopping at my

Kodak Gallery Photo Book

The first ever digital camera I had was a Kodak. This was almost 10 years ago. Here's the story: my mom asked me if I wanted a camera. I said no. Then when I came to visit my parents in Seattle for New Years and opened my New Year present, amongst towels I found a Kodak digital camera. I lost my sh*t. Seriously! In fact, my reaction, a full-on meltdown, was recorded by my dad. Trust me, it's not

The first ever digital camera I had was a Kodak. This was almost 10 years ago. Here's the story: my mom asked me if I wanted a camera. I said no. Then when I came to visit my parents in Seattle for New Years and opened my New Year present, amongst towels I found a Kodak digital camera. I lost my sh*t. Seriously! In fact, my reaction, a full-on meltdown, was recorded by my dad. Trust me, it's not

Cooking with PastaPrima: Grilled Chicken Ravioli with Vegetables & Blue Cheese

A few weeks ago I received a package from PastaPrima with several varieties of ravioli and was asked to come up with a fun recipe that would not be your typical ravioli with sauce dish.

I was up for the challenge! Who knows, maybe I'll even win the grand prize of $1,000 worth of must-have kitchen tools?

One can dream, right?

About PastaPrima:

"Pasta Prima is both American owned and family

A few weeks ago I received a package from PastaPrima with several varieties of ravioli and was asked to come up with a fun recipe that would not be your typical ravioli with sauce dish.

I was up for the challenge! Who knows, maybe I'll even win the grand prize of $1,000 worth of must-have kitchen tools?

One can dream, right?

About PastaPrima:

"Pasta Prima is both American owned and family

Recipe for spicy turkey meatballs

Meatballs weren't a typical item on a menu in my house in Russia. Instead, we ate kotleti: sort of similar to burger patties, they were made from beef, garlic, onion, salt & pepper with an addition of an egg and some bread.

These kotleti were formed into patties and cooked on a pan till the outside was crispy. Instead of eating them on a bun, we had them with mashed potatoes, rice, pasta or

Meatballs weren't a typical item on a menu in my house in Russia. Instead, we ate kotleti: sort of similar to burger patties, they were made from beef, garlic, onion, salt & pepper with an addition of an egg and some bread.

These kotleti were formed into patties and cooked on a pan till the outside was crispy. Instead of eating them on a bun, we had them with mashed potatoes, rice, pasta or

Dry Tart Cherry, Nuts & Chocolate Chip Cookies

In the past I've mentioned how completely impressionable I am. If I see something on TV, on someone's blog or in a restaurant, those things/ideas get stuck in my head and constantly bug me to make them.

This is especially true if those things/ideas remind me of something awesome from my past.

Case in point: last month Anna, my twin, told me she was making Sour Cherry and Pecan Cookies with

In the past I've mentioned how completely impressionable I am. If I see something on TV, on someone's blog or in a restaurant, those things/ideas get stuck in my head and constantly bug me to make them.

This is especially true if those things/ideas remind me of something awesome from my past.

Case in point: last month Anna, my twin, told me she was making Sour Cherry and Pecan Cookies with

Easiest recipe for pickled watermelon

Apparently today is Watermelon Day. I'm more than happy to celebrate. Watermelon is one of the things that screams summer to me.

I remember growing up in Moscow (not the Idaho one) and eating watermelon in the hot summer months both in the City and whenever my family took Summer vacations by the Black Sea. Oh, those were the times.

Our watermelons back then had seeds. Of course as a child it

Apparently today is Watermelon Day. I'm more than happy to celebrate. Watermelon is one of the things that screams summer to me.

I remember growing up in Moscow (not the Idaho one) and eating watermelon in the hot summer months both in the City and whenever my family took Summer vacations by the Black Sea. Oh, those were the times.

Our watermelons back then had seeds. Of course as a child it

Squash Blossom Festival at Oyamel in DC

Last night I had a great pleasure of dining at Oyamel, one of Jose Andres' many restaurants in Washington DC. This was not my first time at Oyamel, but the first time to experience the menu specifically prepared for the Squash Blossom Festival.

Big thank you to Heather Freeman PR for the dinner invitation!

From the restaurant:
Join us this August for the annual celebration of the this most

Last night I had a great pleasure of dining at Oyamel, one of Jose Andres' many restaurants in Washington DC. This was not my first time at Oyamel, but the first time to experience the menu specifically prepared for the Squash Blossom Festival.

Big thank you to Heather Freeman PR for the dinner invitation!

From the restaurant:
Join us this August for the annual celebration of the this most

Simple Onion Jam Recipe

A few weeks ago my friend Danielle asked if I'd like some onions she got from a CSA and did not want. I said sure.

So the next day Danielle brought 6 HUGE white onions to work. I had no clue what to do with them, but I was happy to try and figure it out.

Of course the first thing that came to mind was French Onion Soup. You might find it hard to believe, but although I love the soup, I've never

A few weeks ago my friend Danielle asked if I'd like some onions she got from a CSA and did not want. I said sure.

So the next day Danielle brought 6 HUGE white onions to work. I had no clue what to do with them, but I was happy to try and figure it out.

Of course the first thing that came to mind was French Onion Soup. You might find it hard to believe, but although I love the soup, I've never