Mexican Soup

With summer squash, masa dumplings, avocado and cilantro salsa.
From Deborah Madison's "Vegetable Soups" cookbook.

Big hit!

Simple dinner for one

While O's away, Emily will cook herself shrimp. Any why not? I have to say, this is one of my favorites - garlicky shrimp with butter and good green olive oil, tomatoes, and a splash of white wine. Toss it over some rustichella d'abruzzo pappardelle egg pasta...

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Ten minute din din!

Risotto, start to finish!

Thank you Dina and Melissa for the amazing cookbook, The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse.
The risotto recipe is SO simple and absolutely amazing! I always do vegetarian (broth) with mushroom and either peas or asparagus. Oli says it's as good as the staple upper east side restaurant where he used to order it regularly! What a compliment (to me, not the unnamed fancy restaurant)!!
I make it about once a month and it makes two HEARTY meals for two. YUM.
Anyway, felt like sharing. Wish you could all be here to actually share it with me...
Someday we'll do that!

Emily's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ok, I have been told that these are the best cookies by several people. They are definitely Oli's favorites and they might be Conrad's too!

Here's the recipe:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened (not microwaved)
1 c packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons real vanilla extract
1 1/4 c organic whole wheat flour
1/2 t baking soda
1 t salt
3.5 -4 c quaker oats (the regular ones, not the 'quick' ones)
1 c (++) ghiradelli 60% chocolate chips

Preheat the oven 325.
Cream butter & brown sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and stir into the batter until blended. Add the oats and chips! Use parchment paper to cook. One heaping spoonful of dough = medium cookie which will take about 12-13 minutes to cook, depending on your oven. They freeze very well!
Yum.

*the ones pictured include m&ms too

EWG "shopper's guide to pesticides"

"As acknowledged by the U.S. and international government agencies, different pesticides have been linked with a variety of toxic effects, including:

• Nervous system effects
• Carcinogenic effects
• Hormone system effects
• Skin, eye and lung irritation

Pesticides are unique among the chemicals we release into the environment; they have inherent toxicity because they are designed to kill living organisms, i.e.“ insects, plants, and fungi that are considered "pests." Because they are toxic by design, many pesticides pose health risks to people, risks that have been acknowledged by independent research scientists and physicians across the world."

This is an excerpt on pesticides from the Environmental Working Group's site. They also have a handy app you can download to your iphone here.

Last week at city market in Burlington, the organic grape tomatoes where TWICE as expensive as the "conventional" ones. I was tempted to get the cheaper ones; I am on a major budget... but my conscious got the best of me - and I caved for the organic version (which are super tasty)! But sometimes (usually at checkout) I think, 'am I sucker for buying this organic produce - I mean does it REALLY matter'? Well, the answer is a resounding YES!

Oli's Favorites

YUM!