ketch-up

MONDAY: Black bean + sweet potato tacos
TUESDAY: Shrimp and Spinach quiche, fruit salad, bread
WEDNESDAY: MSF spaghetti, side salad
THURSDAY: baked tofu, green beans, new potatoes
FRIDAY: byod bc YJDKIY is working

Boston eats and walking feets coming soon!

This can only mean one thing!

and that she's a spoiled little canine component for getting to ride in the front seat. so that's two things.

Peppery

After getting two completely rotten-before-ripened Valencia peppers,  my single pepper plant finally got it's ducks in a row and gave me a (tiny) perfect orange and tasty bell.

Sub-flop

YJDKIY tried using the oh so tasty pineapple-soy-brown sugar marinade on TJ's tofu chunks instead of chicken tenderloins.

While the tofu texture was oh so terrific, it did not make a good substitute for this marinade for some reason. Or maybe it was just a victim of my no measure rule and didn't have enough sugar. Or maybe it's something about grilling that brings it out.

On the side, some broccoli sauted in EVOO and

the largest clove of garlic EVER!

All mixed together on top of brown rice, it wasn't bad, but wasn't a winner winner chicken tofu dinner (that's a funny link, click it).

Boo Hoo

CNN never fails to capture the best of!

Alt Fish & Chips

For a healthier, quicker and Southwesternier version of fish and chips, YJDKIY dredged some thawed tilapia fillets in cornmeal+cajunish seasoning and baked at 400 for 25 minutes, finishing the last 5 on broil, of course.

What made the recipe was the black bean + corn salsa/salad topping consisting of one package (microwaved) white and yellow sweet corn, one can of black beans, half a red onion and half a green pepper finely diced. Mix all these together and let sit.

Meanwhile, in my measure, mix & pour, I combined garlic EVOO, chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, agave, and lime juice, to add to the corn-bean mix (resisted *every* YJDKIY urge to put garlic and cilantro in this because I knew it would not be the flavor I wanted and would be too much like my regular salsa recipe).

Once that is all stirred up, microwave for another 90 seconds or so until onions are just barely cooked (and therefor more palatable!). Serve with TJ's blue corn chips!

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And in case you're a curious kitty, here is what the original iPhone-o-photo of this meal looked like pre-Picniking!

Honestly, I'm not sure which is more appetizing. :P

Timely

With this Labor Day came some much needed heat relief in the form of highs in the 70s-low 80s. Just in time for these cinnamon schoolbook cookies from Trader Joes. They're like a slightly sweet cracker snack...and a serving is 15! YUM!

(can you tell what that Y was?)

Abbreviated

MONDAY: Grilled fish, corn+black bean salad
TUESDAY: Salad, snackncheese
WEDNESDAY: Pineapple Chicken Tender recipe on tofu, garlicky broccoli
THURSDAY: Veggie wraps

GROCERIES FOR THE WEEK
bananas
apples/asian pears
red pepper
green pepper
red onion
cherry tomatoes
lettuce
broccoli
avocado
red cabbage
Rev oats
fish
wraps
Silk
Oikos (3)
frozen corn
hummus

Super Simple Summer Supper

TJ's extra firm (so much firmier than Nasoya!) sliced and slapped on a Pam'd pan. Baked at 400 for 15 minutes, flipped, broiled and generally well cooked. Ribboned yellow squash, zucchini and carrots, sauted with garlic in Garlic Gusto! I think I almost like plain tofu better this way than pan-seared stovetop, despite the sticky mess is makes of the cookie sheet, its so much less labor intensive and the thinner slices get chewy quicker. I used the cheese slicer again for the ribbons!

From the halls of Montezuma

Or the aisles of foreign grocery stores rather!

Courtesy of Trader Joes: Bite-sized EVERYTHING crackers. It's like a bagel in a cracker...except, once again, I could do without the caraway seeds.

Courtesy of Wegmans: Pino's Press Garlic Gusto Artisan Oil

Third Day

There aren't many things YJDKIY will eat three days in a row! This exception is one of my favorite leftovers and my very favorite burger alternative. Yesterday's had avocado making it the yummiest ever!

Fantastic Food's Nature's Burger
Brown rice, dehydrated vegetables (yellow peas, green peas, onions, potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, celery,carrots, red bell peppers), barley, organic bulgar wheat, whole oats, sesame seeds, textured soy flour,wheat gluten, wheat flakes, soy sauce powder (wheat, soybeans, salt), yeast, expeller pressed canolaoil, yeast extract, sea salt, spices. Contains wheat, soy.

Dairy free, Kosher, Natural/Organic, Vegan

1/4 c. has 170 calories and 8 g protein 

Wag More

The Canine Component loves outdoor dining in Fall and Winter! She's very inconspicuous about it!

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: September 1, 2010

RALEIGH
Pet owners across North Carolina don't have to worry about doggy bags anymore. They now can take their furry friends to join them at some of the state's outdoor restaurants.
A new public health rule that took effect Wednesday gives food service establishments the option to permit dogs and cats in outdoor dining areas. Those pets must be restrained, can't come into contact with food or food preparers and can't come inside.
A state panel last month signed off on the rule designed to make clear the presence of cats and dogs won't lower a restaurant's health inspection grade.
The previous rule only allowed patrol dogs and service animals, but it wasn't always interpreted that way.
The updated rule got approved after many restaurants and bars began advertising "pet-friendly" patios.

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The comment section amuses YJDKIY.  A few choice snippets:

Would you like fleas with that?

I'll take well-behaved dogs any day over uncontrolled toddlers. Isn't it so appetizing to see a parent change a diaper right on his or her chair!  

That is insane, you mean someone can bring a dog to a place where people eat but I can't smoke a cigarette.

Personally I would never eat at a place that allowed cats. They are filthy creatures.  

What kind of complex do people have that they have to take their danged pets with them out to eat. I want to take my 18 foot long Anaconda out to eat -a dog 

Local Eating Local

One of the goats works to clear vegetation from a field near the Dixie Classic fairgrounds Friday, August 27, 2010.

Winston-Salem Journal Photo by Lauren Carroll

Kudzu no match for goat crew

By Laura Graff | Journal Reporter 

Against Sweet Pea, Rosebud and Mercury Moo-Moo, the kudzu didn't stand a chance.
...
The city is, for the first time, experimenting with goatscaping -- using animals to landscape.

(it's a good read)

Sign of the times v.2

YJDKIY was in a fall food way last night. Not to mention the Farmer's Market had some butternuts!

Ready for fall squashes!

As usual, I had to make some recipe modifications. I didn't have a sweet yellow onion and I refused to use butter over EVOO.

First time making risotto from scratch! It's kind of labor intensive, but I think it turned out just fine following the instructions on the box. I do see how more onion and butter would have been more standard risotto flavor.

Sauted green onion in EVOO and add rice until coated and starting to turn clear. Then add warm vegetable stock, 1 cup at a time as absorbed. After about 5 minutes of that, add finely chopped butternut and continue adding stock. I got bored and added the remaining 3 cups after about 15 minutes. Continue simmering, covered, for about 20 minutes until rice is desired texture. The box called for cream, but I used plain Oikos instead (perfect!), and added some parmesan and grated romano.

It was extra tasty and extra fally served with balsamic-garlic green beans made by the other cooker!

EFSA

Who cares about the Emmy Award. The EFSA, circa 1991, was created to denote outstanding fashion. And here you have it (and some not so it!).

Kelly Osbourne (Tony Ward Couture): She really looks like a completely different person. Glad to know being rail thin and bobbleheaded and blonde is what she was going for. The dress is great though. A

Lauren Graham (Yigal Azrouel): What the heck was she thinking? She's a pretty lady and this all over the place not flatering dress (and hair and accessories) was the best she could do?  D-

Kiernan Shipka: OMG she is so cute. She totally worked that look and pose. I'm so glad Sally's parents let her go. A!

Zooey Deschanel's sister, Emily (Max Azria Atelier): Well, at least her bangs resemble the horrid fringe on the dress. She does get points for the color, but that only makes for C.

Tina Fey (Oscar de la Renta): After several previous disastaculars, she finally got one right. It's creative, it fits, its flattering, and she looks pretty (and is posing!). Love the sleeves and bracelet. A

Lea Michele (Oscar de la Renta): I can't decide about this. She got raving EFSA points when she wore this color previously, so I do like it. But, again?  I like the necklace a lot,  but the hair and ruffles are a little much. Also does NOT look comfy. B

Claire Danes (Giorgio Armani Privé): I love this dress. For a second though, I thought this was Kelly Osbourne. And then I thought it was Heidi Klum. No points for originality and I'm kind of over this color of blonde on everyone. B+

Maura Tierney (vintage): LOVE this dress and her hair. It would be the perfect combination and look for her except for it's blending exactly with the red carpet. A bracelet would have been nice. A-

Sofia Vergara (Carolina Herrera): Another one I can't decide about. I think it's working for her, I like the cut, design, material, but don't just love the color. B

Anna Paquin (Alexander McQueen): Hmm, she pulls this off, oddly, well. Not much I can say about it though. SO tired of that hair color. B

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson (Prada): Um, what? He's fine, but is getting docked for letting her walk out the door like that. Nothing about it is acceptable. ESPECIALLY the shoes. F

Toni Collette (Valentino): YJDKIY is still disturbed from watching her current series, but this dress makes up for it a little. A-

January Jones (Atelier Versace): As per usual, fail. She has SUCH potential. Bedhead is not an acceptable red carpet look. The cut of the dress could have worked minus the texture, bodice and color. Makeup and jewelry would have been nice, too, Bets. D-

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Narciso Rodriguez): This is simple, clean, appropriate, and kind of boring. B-

Christina Hendricks (Zac Posen): This color is fantastic for her, the cut, particularly the neckline, not so much. The flippy things go with her hair though. C

Heidi Klum (Marchesa): Showoff. A

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick (Monique Lhuillier): When I saw just her, I was not fond of this dress. I still don't like her clutch at all. But, as a couple they look really polished and appropriate. A-

Elizabeth Moss (Donna Karan): Note to self, even if dress is nice, it should not match my pale skin tone. The hair and earrings are awful and she shouldn't try that pose. This 28 year old looks 58. D

Don Draper Jon Hamm (Giorgio Armani): Perfect, but I generally prefer him with less forehead and hair pouff. :P A

All in all, a good showing, that I didn't watch one second of! Glad to hear my two shows, Modern Family and Mad Men won!

Sign of the times

The baby basils have developed brown stems that resemble tree bark and I don't even have to bend over to pick.

 The plants have more brown than green or color.

The sweet potato vine is engulfing the steps on it's mission to take over the world.
Yep, it's the end of summer!

Sunday Morning

A great segment on farmer's markets, rooftop gardens, and the rising popularity of real food on CBS Sunday Morning made a nice backdrop for menu planning!

SUNDAY: Butternut squash risotto, garlicky green beans
MONDAY: Nature's Burger, sweet potato fries
TUESDAY: Cauliflower-Spinach Bake
WEDNESDAY: Broiled tofu, squash/succhini/carrot ribbons
THURSDAY: TJ's apple chicken sausage sauted with kale, brown rice
FRIDAY: bleh...on your own
SATURDAY: Grilled fish, corn + bean salad

Final Touches

Besides you know, painting along the counter top and trim, and the lighting fixture. So maybe it's really just decorating touches!

Etsy find: Victory Garden of Tomorrow postcard set for $6 (as seen on KERF in poster form) that just happens to match the green perfectly.

Yay for cheap IKEA bulk storage and awkward item hooks (and a side lunch trip to Rajbhog! I love that place so much, especially the chole and the guy that helps us pick out menu items. He is SO nice! AND another side trip to Trader Joe's...nomnomnom). Sorry for the crappy iPhone and lighting photo.

Oops

After I'd already taken pictures of this almost all local appetizer, I realized I've blogged this before! Alas, you're just going to have to live through a repeat of these tasty photos.

Splurge of the week at the Farmer's Market: homemade herb-garlic baguette. Although white, it was yummy and tasted like pizza without anything added to it!

But add to it I did....local tomatoes (except not from Correll Farms, I really miss them at the SFM!), local basil, not so local garlic.

Thanks CNN

For yet again covering NC's finest.

(PS: What's up with all the ghost stories around here?)

Local creepy crawlies

So, first on Friday morning, YJDKIY got an email containing this language:

Extra precautionary measures were taken through the use of specially trained
canine units. A limited number of contaminated areas were discovered to have
a light infestation.

Of what you ask? Oh, just these little guys that seem to be all over the news lately. 

Then, last night, while peacefully drifting off to sleep, I was dive bombed by some kind of flying buzzer bug who remains to be located. I might have slept with the sheet tucked over my head...tightly.

And then finally, upon waking, I was greeted with this at the front door. 

A common garden, or writing, spider, who almost met her end thanks to some Saturday morning door knockers, but was thankfully spared at the last minute.