the arugula files

Kale, Rice, and Cheddar Pie

It's no secret that I love kale. I'm particularly fond of lacinato kale, or by another name, dinosaur kale, as its scaly leaves bring to mind.  But, if the weather is any indicator, I better send this winter vegetable a dear kale letter and say hello to asparagus and rhubarb.  Goodbye, kale.  I'll see you again in the fall.  But, before I bid you well, let's have another go around.  Shall we?

Grammy Sullivan's Irish Soda Bread

Here's a guest post from my friend Kaitlyn who offered to make Irish Soda Bread, drop it off at my house, and write it up for the arugula files.  Yes, that's called the luck of the Irish.  Take it away, Kaitlyn!

St. Patrick’s Day is this Saturday, and you know what that means.

Pull out your “Kiss me I’m Irish” pin! Throw on something green! To hell with that Italian last name! Go and celebrate your highly questionable Irish heritage by downing Guinness and gnoshing on Corned Beef and Cabbage!

Avocado Toast (Plus, An Awesome Sunday Morning with Mindy Kaling and Josie)

Is it rude to say that I love daylight savings time? Like, hey guys, I'm not really sorry about that lost hour everyone is complaining about.  Isn't it worth it for the sun in the morning?  Do you hear the birds, people? Do you see the cherry blossom blooms out your window?  Spring is just around the corner.  Get up and face the day, as my mother used to say.

What a nice morning.  Josie and I ate our breakfast.  I had olive bread toast, with smashed avocados, crumbled pistachios, a pinch of sea salt, and a drizzle of olive oil.  (The dish is inspired by Cork, a tiny restaurant on 14th street, where these little toasts and a glass of Muscadet can fill you up with happiness until it's brimming out of our pores).  Josie had milk, of course. Then she took a nap and I finished Mindy Kaling's book, which made me giggle out loud.  So much so that Marcus inquired about what I was reading.

No Mix Banana Bread at 5:15 am, Plus Pillow Talk

A few days ago my little Josie woke up at 5:00 am ready to embrace the day, which basically meant that I had to face the day.  So we had a little milk, chatted for awhile, and then, exausted by her robust schedule, she fell asleep in her swing at 6:30 am.  That left me without much to do until I noticed three bananas aging rapidly in my fruit bowl.  I did a quick search on my iPad for a recipe, and wasn't suprised to find that Elise, from Simply Recipes, has banana bread covered.  The most important thing about this recipe?  No mixer required.  One bowl.  Very little mess. Voila! I'm a domestic goddess who feeds her little one, makes banana bread in the morning for husband's co-worker, and then goes to work.  ZZZZZamaZZZZing.  I'm falling asleep thinking about how awesome I am.

Pillow talk after the jump.

Collecting Catherineholm

I have a new obsession.  Catherineholm. The enamel dishware was designed by Scandinavian designer, Grete Prytz Kittelsen in the 1970s, according to this article.

I heart this dishware.  I am not alone.

It's expensive on ebay and etsy, where it's very easy to get in an ugly bidding war.  Plus, buying vintage on the internets just isn't the same as hunting for it in a thrift or antique store.

Burnt Eggplant Dip, A Twist on Baba Ganoush from Yotam Ottolenghi of Plenty

My second cooking date with Yotam didn't go as well as the first.  I made his take on baba ganoush, which is similar to this recipe, but calls for the addition of pomegranate molasses and is a little heavy handed with the tahini.  I have to admit, I was quite taken with decorating my dip with pomegranate seeds.  So pretty. Like this lady's ruby slippers.  But, it turns out, that I didn't much like the sweetness of the pomegranate molasses, an ingredient I bought specifically for this dish (Thank you H Mart).  You might like it though. Do you love pomegranate?  Then this one might be worth a try.  I think I'll stick with Christopher Kimball for my baba ganoush.  That said, I'm still interested in pursuing Yotam in the kitchen and am looking forward to a third date!  Plus, now I have to think about ways to use my pomegranate molasses.  Do you have any ideas?

Wok Seared Lamb Lettuce Wraps, Or Over Rice (Plus, I Love Border Springs Farm)

Arugula Files is participating in the DC American Lamb Pro-Am. Thirteen local food bloggers received a boneless leg of lamb from Border Springs Farm and were challenged to prepare a great lamb dish for their readers. I'm happy to promote and recommend such a great, sustainable product.  As they say, "American Lamb is 10,000 miles fresher."  The best dishes will be presented at the American Pro-Lamb event on March 4.   Vote for my dish!

This is a recreation of a dish I once had at P.F. Changs that I quite enjoyed.  Yes, P.F. Changs, the chain restaurant.  The one with the absurdly big horse statue in the front.  Say no more.  

The dish is a simple stir fry, but the toasted sesame seeds and crispy iceberg lettuce make it special. Iceberg lettuce.  Wow, do I love thee. Iceberg lettuce has a bad (w)rap, largely attributable to its miscast role in the American salad, which is the last place it should be. People have called it the white bread of the produce aisle or likened it to red delicious apples.  Both apt comparisons.  But let's not be snobby about it.  I think iceberg lettuce deserves recognition as a topping in a stir fry or a wrap; that's where it earns an encore. Here, it's the perfect contrast to this deliciously greasy lamb.  The lamb.  Oh, let me tell you about lamb because its source makes me so happy.

Yotam's Taleggio Stuffed Portobellos

I have a mad crush on Yotam Ottolenghi.  His book, Plenty, is so gorgeous that it's hard not to fall under his spell, smitten by caper mayonnaise and cardamom rice.  I've had his book for a year now, but all we've done is lay around in bed together.  What can I say, I'm a cookbook slut.  This weekend, I finally committed: page 56, stuffed portobello with melting taleggio.  Yes, it was a low commitment cooking date.