A Pinch of Salt, A Dash of Sass.September 2014 - A Pinch of Salt, A Dash of Sass.

Organizing My Spices!

on September 22, 2014 by Michelle in Chit-Chat, How-to, Spices & Seasonings, Tips & Tricks, Uncategorized

It’s the last days of Summer, and that makes it time for me to do some spring cleaning. Fall cleaning. Fall cleaning! You see, with autumn come cooler weather and holidays. With both of those come lots and lots of cooking. Yes, even more than we already do! Heating up the house with the oven or by boiling big pots of soup are no longer an issue, and we crave things that are warm and comforting. This also means that inevitably, I will find deals on all kinds of dry spices and BUY ALL THE THINGS and then realize I have 5 pumpkin pie spices and 3 poultry seasonings and multiple jars of rubbed sage, and a distinct lack of whatever I DO need for that fall-time butternut squash turkey thing with chestnuts and root veggies.

Unacceptable!

Enter handy kitchen gadgetry and nifty fun things to help me get my herbs and spices and seasonings together so there’s at least less of a chance I will buy 6 jars of cinnamon sticks on sale. ON SALE, I SAID. Ready? Let’s organize!

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Visiting the Asian Market

on September 21, 2014 by Michelle in Chit-Chat, Food Tourist, Tips & Tricks, Uncategorized

I found myself in the Asian district the other day, which worked out great for me because it meant I got to pop into the really big Asian supermarket. I wish I could say I were an expert on Asian cuisines and that I venture into the market to find specific amazing international ingredients for gourmet dishes, but the fact is, I’m a looky-loo. I know the Asian markets are a great source for inexpensive meats and nonstandard cuts, so I was there for a 2 pound hunk of pork belly with the skin on — but I always get derailed by the odd, the interesting, and the bargains. I AM ALL ABOUT THE BARGAINS.

I ended up leaving the market with my rib-bone-in pork belly, a beef flank steak, a few neat plates for food pictures, some coconut milk and coconut cream, and some veggies. If you have an Asian market in your area, don’t be nervous to wander in — they probably have the freshest fish in town, amazing produce, and the lowest prices on meat and things you probably need in your pantry like soy sauce, teriyaki, noodles, tea, and other surprises. I can find soy for half price, and I got my coconut milk for $1 less a can than at the regular store.

And, stuff like this:

Vietnamese spring rolls (right) with shrimp, mint, carrots, cabbage and cellophane noodles with dipping sauce — one of my favorite healthy snacks. And, YU CHOY (left), which as I tell my friends whenever I cook it,is “my favorite of ALL the Choys!” Yu choy is related to bok choy, Shanghai bok choy, en choy, all those Choys (which you can probably all find at your local Asian grocer). It’s kind of peppery and almost like mustard greens, and it has these yummy little yellow flowers that are edible.

For a great, illustrated, easy guide to Asian green veggies, check at Serious Eats.

There is also nowhere in the world you will find dried shrimp and crab chips on the same shelf as chocolate filled panda cookies, but the Asian grocer:

Or Santa in September — is he just early, or left over from last year? What’s up with this label?

You just never know what you’ll find when you wander into any ethnic grocer, but the Asian market is always an adventure. I hope you will go explore!

If you have gone already, what’s the craziest or neatest thing you’ve seen? Are you like me, taking crazy pictures of things you find?

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Salsapalooza 2014 — A Salsa Contest!

on September 18, 2014 by Michelle in Chit-Chat, Entertaining, From the Farm, Side dishes, Veggies

Two posts in a row? Yes, yes, a thousand times YES! This one dates back a few weeks though, so …

Way back when I had some time to really get down to cooking, a friend of ours announced a salsa contest! About 40 folks got together, about 25 salsas, ranging in heat level from 1 to 10, sharing their favorite homemade salsas, conversation, and an absolutely beautiful day by the lake.

I, meanwhile, because I am an overachiever and a little cray-cray, got all Martha Stewart up in hurr and had to make and enter five salsas.

Don’t judge.

For the record, here’s what I entered — I can get the recipes together if anyone would like them!

1). Sunburst, made with ripe golden tomatoes, yellow sweet peppers, lemon drop hot peppers, garlic, cilantro, etc.

2) What John named “Green-go Sauce”, a salsa verde with some avocado added.

3) “Hot Mess,” a fire roasted salsa. The tomatoes, onions, garlic, and jalapeños were all charred and roasted under the broiler in the oven before assembling.

4) “Gratuitous Violet,” a fresh pico-style salsa made with Cherokee Purple heirloom tomatoes, sweet red peppers, spicy red Anaheim chiles, white onions, garlic and cilantro.

and 5) “Lightning Sauce,” a cooked taco sauce-style entry made from heirloom tomatoes, a lightning pepper, garlic, onions, blended until smooth.

To my surprise, in the mild-to-medium category, I won first AND second place! Bragging rights to be held over until Salsapalooza II, but I got a ton of complements on all five entries. I’ve never really won anything for my cookin’, so I am super way proud today. I am letting myself feel a little bit like a rock star!

The voting was everyone at the picnic, so everyone brought salsa, tasted salsa, and then voted for your top two choices in each category. My purple pico and lightning sauce were 6-8 heat so were in the spicy category, and the other three were in mild. The green avocado sauce and the fire-roasted salsa swept the mild to medium category, a 3 and a 5 respectively.

I voted for salsas that weren’t my own, because I genuinely appreciated their creativity and flavors. To come home from a friendly competition with other foodies and salsa lovers and to have the win is really an honor.

I’m actually thinking of really entering some competitive cooking stuff. I need more hours in the day so I can fit in all the fun!!

What’s your favorite salsa or dip?

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Easy Meal: Pasta Carbonara!

on September 17, 2014 by Michelle in Dinner, Entertaining, Food Porn, From the Farm, How-to, Lunch, Meat, Pasta, Pork, Recipes, Tips & Tricks ⋅ 2 Comments

Okay so, I know I haven’t been around much and I have to sincerely apologize — between house guests, yard work, a clown, caretaker and character of a bulldog, and lots and lots of the kind of work that actually pays me, I’ve been kind of swamped! I felt it only right that one of the first nights I was back to cooking for “just us,” I should share this inexpensive and simple dinner idea with you: pasta carbonara.

Pasta carbonara is quite literally, pasta with bacon and eggs. I know it initially kind of SOUNDS a little odd, but let me tell you — it’s super easy, it’s fast, it’s a crowd pleaser, and it’s very, very affordable to make. Let’s eat!

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