Mediterranean Couscous

Mediterranean Couscous 8 ounces of Mediterranean style vegetables, prepared Olive oil Salt and pepper 4 ounces of dry couscous Approximately 2 ounces of feta cheese Approximately 2 ounces of pitted, sliced black olives Place a selection of prepared Mediterranean vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini, red onion, and peppers in a baking tray and top with a little olive oil. You’ll need approximately 8 ounces of chopped vegetables. Preheat oven to 350F. Bake vegetables for approximately

5 Sep 2008, 9:17 pm | click here for more

From the Files: Warm Grain Salads for Fall

Grain salads are one of our favorite bridge dishes - spanning the shift from one season to another. They can easily be adapted with seasonal vegetables, and the range of textures and flavors is always appealing. Really - we like them not because they're practical and healthy (although they are) but because they're chewy, creamy, nutty, savory, spicy, and crisp. Here are a few favorite grain salads and a guide to some of our favorite grains. The key to a good grain salad is a mix of textures a

5 Sep 2008, 2:36 am | click here for more

Vegetarian Couscous Recipes

If you've never tried couscous before, think of it like little tiny pasta noodles. Like pasta and whole grains, it doesn't taste like much on it's possess, but will go...

5 Sep 2008, 12:07 pm | click here for more

It's What's for Dinner

Good Morning, Kittens! A few thoughts before we receive into the nittygritty ... -I upgraded my blog template (finally) and some of my formatting disappeared. I figured out how to receive my visitor tracking stuff added, but where did my flickr badge go? And, when I try to put it back, I receive an mistake. WTF? -If we're broken up, why is he still here? -Apparently, he was unresponsive to my trauma because (a) he didn't think it was serious [I wonder what about the incoherent babbling message and the state

4 Sep 2008, 9:38 am | click here for more

Ask the Frugal Momma: How Do You Organize Your Pantry & Cupboards?

Ask the Frugal Momma: How Do You Organize Your Pantry & Cupboards? I know you guys were most impressed with the way we organized our closet, but what you *REALLY* wanted to know is how do we organize our pantry. Remember when I revamped my laundry system and my yard sale system? That day I hit up the same college student for a great bookcase that she was getting rid of for only $20! I knew right away what I wanted to do with it and couldn't wait to bring it home and put it in our basement.

4 Sep 2008, 8:00 am | click here for more

A Gift To Be Simple

In my online bio, I often end with "...For a daily giggle, read her Curly Comedy blog!"But we every know I update my blog about as regularly as I brush my teeth. How do I solve this problem? When I do not find the time to post about my adventures in stand-up comedy, I encourage you to read the archives, one old post a day. Tadaaa! Okay, you don't like reruns. How about this? From a Question of the Day series on Cynical-C.com, I had originally asked the author Chris:WHAT IS THE MOST UNUSUAL GIF

4 Sep 2008, 3:46 am | click here for more

Latino Kids Eat Shit Because You're A Bad Parent. Or Because You're Poor. Either Way: You're Terrible.

Guys? Here's some unpleasant news. You're a greedy parent. Oh, are you not a parent? close up. Surveys suggest you eat tiny portions and avoid snacks, yet reward your child with salty yum-yum's: Mintel's exclusive consumer survey reveals that Hispanic adults are twice as likely as non-Hispanics to reward their kids's good behavior with salty snacks (41% versus 19%). Our parents rewarded us with, "What? You want a cookie for getting a good grade? Troll. You're supposed to receive good grades.

4 Sep 2008, 2:24 pm | click here for more

African Amalgamation

At the risk of mislabeling one of our favorite Cambridge cafes, we'll stick with the simple category of North African food. Though the Baraka Cafe chefs were differently influenced as they grew up (in Algiers and as the child of Tunisian parents, respectively), their fused style has a flair every its possess. Rose lemonade might be the coolest refreshment on Pearl road, but that will only wet your whistle for more. Baraka's varied menu is cheap, even for appetizers and tiny plates. Salads below $

4 Sep 2008, 11:05 am | click here for more

Box Lunch: Geese on the go

For your lunchtime pleasure, I'm presenting a series of my favorite bento boxes. Bento are Japanese home-prepared meals served in special boxes, usually eaten for lunch at work or school. The boxes can range from austere lacquered trays to multi-tiered Hello Kitty confections of neon pink plastic. The meals themselves are anything from rice and leftovers to elaborate themed affairs of Pikachu-shaped dumplings with sesame seed eyes and carved radish trees. These days, bento enthusiasts from all

3 Sep 2008, 8:00 am | click here for more

Confetti Salad

Ingredients: 1            cup couscous 1 1/2     cups boiling water 3/4        cup diced zucchini 3/4        cup diced red bell pepper 3/4        cup fresh corn kernels (from about 2 ears) 1/2        cup diced celery 1/4        cup chopped fresh parsley salt and pepper to taste 1            big red bell pepper, clip into 1-inch-tall rings Ranch Dressing 1/4        cup buttermilk 1/4        cup sour cream 1            tablespoon cider vinegar 3            tablespoons olive oil 2 

3 Sep 2008, 7:00 am | click here for more

Raise Your Hand If You Have A Wheat Or Gluten Allergy

I try to remember that good bread is like crack for me, and to keep it out of the home. But yesterday I bought a beautiful loaf from Giuseppi so I could smoosh tomatoes on it (look my recipe for pa amb tomaquet). I hadn’t eaten every day so I ate two tomatoes on four pieces of bread. Fifteen minutes later I felt as though someone had held a chloroformed rag over my face. I dragged myself up to bed and fell into a comatose-level nap for over an hour, waking in the worst, most hideous mood ever.

3 Sep 2008, 6:51 am | click here for more

The Pantry

Before (note how Koko had to appear in the shot).   During (this looks good so lets cover the shelves).   After (okay so now it doesn’t look like we have much in our pantry).   and yet there is still more work to be done. I am going to label the shelves and I need to sort out some containers for some of the stuff in there but by and big its more or less how I want it.  While our kitchen is adequate, I would adore a new one like Trace, but that can wait a few years. In the meantime we have to w

3 Sep 2008, 5:50 pm | click here for more

Good News/Bad News Apiary

Apiary opened just a month ago in the NYU Zone of 3rd Ave close East 11th (yes, right by the Village Pourhouse) to an impressive amount of buzz. And while the Chowhounders, eGulleters, and bloggers have yet to file on the place, our trusty Yelp and Menupages users have had ample time to visit the space, try ex-Flay protege Neil Manacle's "seasonal New American" fare, and report back. To the good news and the bad news: 1) The Great News: Almost every the Yelp reviews so far are raves. Here's one:

3 Sep 2008, 4:02 pm | click here for more

Those Palin Kids' Names

By Debbie Schlussel I know I'm likely to offend a lot of readers (depending on your or your kids' first names) with this post, but I'm writing it anyway. Unlike a lot of liberals--and contrary the constant accusations against me by liberals--I don't apply a double standard to conservatives and my side of the aisle. In the past, I've mocked the absurd names with which vapid celebs afflict their kids for life. For instance, Penn Jillette named his first kid, Moxie Crimefighter. Jason Lee's fir

3 Sep 2008, 3:11 pm | click here for more

Mildreds - vegetarian in Soho, London

A cozy spot in London's Soho neighborhood, Mildred's serves exclusively vegetarian food for the area's bohemian and tourist denizens. Mildred's prides itself on the quality of the vegetarian menu, everything's organic and very fresh indeed. While the menu changes frequently, there're always many gluten-free and vegan friendly options available. For example, the soups and stews or de-tox salads on the current menu. Hearty dishes are available, with an orange and chickpea tagine served with fen

3 Sep 2008, 1:02 am | click here for more

Moroccan Chicken Stew

Prep: 30 minutesCook: 6-1/2 hours (low) or 3-1/2 hours (high)Ingredients * 4 carrots, peeled and sliced * 2 big onions, halved and thinly sliced * 3 lb. meaty chicken pieces (breast halves, thighs, and drumsticks), skinned * 1/2 cup raisins * 1/2 cup dried apricots, coarsely chopped * 1 14-oz. can chicken broth * 1/4 cup tomato glue * 2 Tbsp. every-purpose flour * 2 Tbsp. lemon juice * 2 cloves garlic, minced * 1-1/2 tsp. ground cumin * 1-1/2 tsp. ground ging

3 Sep 2008, 10:55 pm | click here for more

If you like the beach, Essaouira is THE PLACE!

The ride was supposed to take two hours, max. Well, the road to Essaouira that day was the route of some big Moroccan Bicycle Race and traffic was backed up for miles! Race officials were keeping vehicles from passing the bicyclists. How absurd! And when the bus finally got to be just behind the leading racers, the driver refused to pass them. Thus the two hour steer turned into five hours of hell, with sweaty Moroccans leaning on the people in the aisle seats, the people trapped in the window

3 Sep 2008, 10:54 pm | click here for more

on the go

Tuesdays and Thursdays are my long days, so here is a quick post… BREAKFAST Blueberry oatmeal.  I finished up the blueberries (a cup) and cooked them into 1/2 cup oats with 1/2 cup rice milk, 2 tbsp flaxseed meal, 1 tbsp slivered almonds, and some cinnamon.  I had a cup of tea and some pineapple on the side.  Very sweet breakfast.  SNACK I packed a banana and some carrots to take to school with me today and ate them on the bus ride home for some pre-run fuel.  RUN I ran 6 miles today in the e

2 Sep 2008, 11:52 pm | click here for more

EATS & DRINKS: AN AFRICAN INTRODUCTION

Patisserie des Ambassades 161 W. 22nd road, 212-255-5106 There are scant offerings for African food south of 96th road in Manhattan, but in the past year the cuisine has finally shown local signs of life. Marcus Samuelson’s Merkato 55 in the Meatpacking District provides pan-African offerings of the glitzy variety; but from the receive-go, the restaurant served as a more effective showcase for downtown chic than authentic African fare. For a more authentic experience, it’s worth a visit t

2 Sep 2008, 11:12 pm | click here for more

EATS & DRINKS: AN AFRICAN INTRODUCTION

Patisserie des Ambassades 161 W. 22nd road, 212-255-5106 There are scant offerings for African food south of 96th road in Manhattan, but in the past year the cuisine has finally shown local signs of life. Marcus Samuelson’s Merkato 55 in the Meatpacking District provides pan-African offerings of the glitzy variety; but from the receive-go, the restaurant served as a more effective showcase for downtown chic than authentic African fare. For a more authentic experience, it’s worth a visit t

2 Sep 2008, 11:12 pm | click here for more

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