the arugula files

Slow Cooked Arctic Char with Sorrel Butter

Last Saturday I took a sustainable seafood cooking class at CulinAerie on 14th Street in DC.  Local chef Barton Seaver (formerly of Hook and Tacklebox) was the instructor.  The class started with a discussion of which fish we should be eating and which we should leave behind to procreate in the ocean.  (You know, so we can eat their grandchildren.  I'm terrible.  No, seriously, so we can save them for our grandchildren.)  Turns out, there are lots of sustainable fish.  Can't live without salmon?  Switch to arctic char, which tastes similar, but with a milder flavor.  Here's a link to the list of sustainable seafood.  The saddest sight on this list, at least for me, is scallops.  They get mixed reviews in terms of sustainability. 

Amy's Roasted Vegetable Pizza - No Cheese, But Still Tastes Wicked Good.

I have a secret: most nights I don't feel like cooking.  I come home, flop on the couch, and try to work up the motivation to do something besides read food blogs, magazines, or watch 24.  As a side note: I'm not sure why Keifer Sutherland is always whispering on that show; it's really weird.  He's all TELL ME WHERE THE WMD IS OR YOU WILL BE SORRY.  Only he's not yelling; he's up in your face, but barely audible.  He clearly got an A in the whispering with intensity class at acting school.

Okay, so I have no idea why Keifer, the anti-terrorist/torturer/whisperer, is so quiet. Things I'm sure of?  Amy's roasted vegetable pizza tastes wicked good despite not having cheese.  PIZZA WITHOUT CHEESE? Sounds blasphemous doesn't it.  Apparently Amy doesn't think so.  This pizza is covered in a sweet onion sauce that is packed with flavor. So much that you don't miss the cheese.

Amy's pizzas (she has cheese pizzas as well) are available at Whole Foods.  At $7 bucks a pop, they are expensive for frozen pizza.  I usually wait until they go on sale and then buy a few.  The nights I feel tired, I pop one in the oven and in twenty minutes I'm eating a frozen dinner that's not so bad for me and watching things blow up on 24.

Amy didn't pay me for this blog post.  I didn't get any free pizza either.  I just wanted to share what I do when I'm tired and cooking just isn't an option, especially on the nights 24 is on and I can't hear what Keifer Sutherland is saying all the way from the kitchen.

An Inexpensive Dutch Oven

A few months ago I decided I needed a dutch oven.  You know, because I'm always braising meat around here at arugulafiles.  Yes, it's true: I clearly didn't need a dutch oven, but I sure wanted one. Plus I was thinking about that no-knead bread that everyone is baking in their dutch ovens. So off I went in search of my very own dutch oven. 

I was quite taken by all the lovely Staub and Le Creuset versions, but not so much in love with the price tags (around $200 bucks).  Why are these dutch ovens so expensive? Are they really much better than their less expensive counterparts?  I turned to the internets and found that, of course, there are many opinions out there.  I found this post from Not Martha particularly helpful.

I ended up buying the Ikea Senior Dutch Oven.  It was $50 bucks, and so far it's been great. Well, I've only made one thing since I bought it - Emeril's short ribs; they were quite tasty and fatty.

There's more to come, though.  No-knead bread is on my list of things to make.  I would also like to make some pulled pork.  I'm in search of a delicious and easy recipe...

Michelle Obama Rocks the White House

Just in case we need another reason to love the first family: they are planting a garden on the White House lawn.  Guess what's included on the list of to be planted vegetables: arugula!  Oh man, I dig this family. Please, please, please adopt me.

Since I live less than ten blocks from the White House, I would like to volunteer to work in the garden. I'll even weed.  Michelle, have your people call my people, and I'll be over with my garden hose and boots.

Let's Make a Deal: Spinach and Artichoke Dip to Die For. Literally.

There is a scene in my life movie when the food devil appears and temps me with a deal I can’t refuse: my soul for all the spinach and artichoke dip I can eat for THE REST OF MY LIFE without consequences for my hips or health.  I rip the contract out of his little red hands and sign my John Hancock on the dotted line.  I love, love, love spinach and artichoke dip.  It’s my favorite treat.  If there’s spinach and artichoke dip at a party I have to physically restrain myself from hovering over it like a cat over a fish tank.  How embarrassing. 

Oat and Honey Vodka

This treat is from my sister, Noel.  She made it for an Iron Chef type gathering; the secret ingredient was honey.  I have to be honest: I didn't try it, but Noel said it was so delicious that it was my blogging duty to run to the top of the self publishing mountain and tell everyone about it.  Okay, maybe she didn't say that.  I made that part up.  My point is: I'm thinking of you.  You need more tasty vodka based drinks in your life.  I know I do.  At some point, when every woman I know isn't pregnant, I'll make it to share with some friends.   Meanwhile, you should make it and let me know how it goes.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Penzeys

 
One of my favorite places to shop is Penzeys Spices.  There's a store in Rockville, in a strip mall not far from the Metro (though, it's not close either).  The shop has every spice you can imagine, including their own special mixes, like my favorite: Penzeys sandwich sprinkle, which I use for my baked sweet potato fries.

Founding Farmers

I finally made it to Founding Farmers, the new restaurant built around sustainable concepts.  The restaurant is gorgeous, with long wooden tables and lots of windows.  

I ordered the arctic char with cracked pepper and lemon; it was tasty, but not spectacular.  It came with a side of whipped, creamy potatoes and parsnips.  Everyone knows how I feel about parsnips, so I won't get into that one.  The potatoes were good, but what's not to love about cream and butter? My friend Bridget ordered the roasted chicken with corn on the cob bathed in deliciousness, and my friend Anne ordered the thanksgiving turkey sandwich with french fries.  The corn left Bridget with a big, buttery smile, and she seemed quite happy with the chicken as well.  According to Anne, the turkey sandwich needed more seasoning, "write that one in your blog, Mary."  Overall our meals were consistently good.  I would count this as a go-to place if you are in the area after work, but not a planned destination.