Sunday Dinner: May 2008

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Sage and Mint Tea

Botanical images from Botanical.com

Steep an equal handful of fresh sage and fresh peppermint leaves in boiling water for 5-6 minutes . Add honey to taste.

I am in the process of weaning my two-year old son and this tea is traditionally used to help dry up a nursing mother's milk but is truly delicious and refreshing and will not harm anyone who does not fit the above description. That's why i share it here .
A sympathy cup , anyone ?
A cup of hot tea seems to help soothe my sadness...

What's For Dinner ?

This blog is my attempt to document a very important part of my life. Okay -The secret is out.
I love cooking and i love food.
In fact , i am obsessed with food lately. I TIVO the Food Network , I subscribe to practically every cooking magazine out there and i make mental shopping lists while loading the dishwasher.
I even dream about food.

Cooking has become the one thing i still do with impunity. i may not have time to read anymore ( much) but i do have time to cook.
One has to eat , after all .
So, i say why not do it with verve and style?
Don't get me wrong , i am all about easy and convenient. With a little extra effort ,though you can take Macaroni & Cheese to new heights by making it from scratch. Why not try ?

When i am not in the mood to cook , i know how to dial up some takeout . I just generally find the ritual of cooking pleasing . And stress relieving. Chopping vegetables to me is a form of meditation . One that yields up something yummy in the end. How far can Nirvana be with the smell of homemade soup on the stove ?

As a wife and a mother it has become more important than ever to provide my family with food that not only is healthy and delicious but looks good , too. Aesthetics are very important to me. Call me crazy, but life is too short to not experience everything in its fullest , most luscious form. Think Nigella Lawson , if you will.
There is a woman who enjoys life ! Of course , it helps that she herself is outrageously beautiful - but she hasn't let that stop her from enjoying food with a passion.She is not exactly thin. She , too has a family and loves cooking and making it fun for herself and her children. Damn the torpedoes when it comes to calories.I am sure she knows ways to work it off - for a mother exercise is a right of passage. So are cupcakes. Make a batch for the kids - eat one ( or two) it won't kill you !
That ol' chestnut 'Moderation is the key ' is true !
If i bake more than once a week then i make sure to cook more South Beach friendly-type foods to offset the indulgence. And i pop the baby in a stroller and go UPHILL more often. See ? It's a win- win !

I just want to share my love and joy of food with other like-minded folks who know that breaking bread with the ones you love is an important element to a happy life. Too much fast food , Hamburger Helper and processed food is bad for the soul ( and the waistline) With love and ingenuity we all can eat well and prosper.

Okay , enough agit-prop .You get the point.
It is here where i will drop a recipe and a picture or two to share my own approach to a suburban Epicurean lifestyle. Feel free to share your own tips and favorite recipes , too.

Bon Appetit !