Sauteed Mushroom Gouda and Kale Potato Skins

The other night I was discussing reality television with a friend of mine.
We both agreed that reality TV was somehow interesting at first, but the fact that it's gotten so over-abused proves that its 15 minutes have largely passed.
Nowadays, every channel has a reality show about pretty much everything: drive a truck on ice -> get a show; have a bunch of kids -> get a show; have an embarrassing complaint/lump -> get a show; make your daughter a star -> get a show; be a complete idiot -> get a show.
It’s not even interesting anymore.
Even cooking shows are getting boring and old to watch.
There are too many of them: Top Chef, Master Chef, Chopped, Hell’s Kitchen, The Taste, The Kitchen, The Next Food Network Star, the list goes on forever.

Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

Sometimes I feel you guys should hang me by the feet from a tree and beat me with a stick like I was a piñata.
A lot of fun for you, a tad less for me.
But I won’t deny it, you would have the right to do so.
You see, I spend a lot of time on this blog telling you to use fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients yet, here I am presenting you a recipe with tomatoes - let me rephrase that - a recipe using only tomatoes, a lot of tomatoes.
Tomatoes are, by far, the most popular summer “vegetable” (although it's technically a fruit.)
The difference in taste, mealiness, and price is obvious when you compare a summer version with a winter one.
Of course you’ll see ripe tomatoes all year round in supermarkets, but there’s a very good chance that they come from South Florida (unless you live there, not local produce) or they’re picked green, halfway around the world, and ripened through artificial means.

Thank You

Hey, guys, whatup?
I have no recipe for you today. But let’s not allow that to keep us from each other.
Today it’s all about me thanking you.
Because I need to tell you that I’m feeling blessed (and just for the record, I’m totally uncomfortable saying it!) that you guys visit this place every day, every week, every month, every year.
I’m still amazed I can reach so many of you.
It’s not only my mom, my sis, aunt G, and cousin Dan anymore. There are hundreds, thousands, millions (OK, maybe not millions) of you.
I feel so very grateful for this, words cannot express.

Tomato and Eggplant Compote

There's a first time for everything. Our first steps, first kiss, first day of school, first love, first car, first job, first bungee jump, first trip abroad, first time stuck in an elevator for 30 minutes, first oyster, or first bout with food poisoning.
If we repeat an experience, it’s never the same as the first time. It couldn’t be, a repeatable first is by definition an oxymoron.
Then there are those firsts that we would gladly avoid repeating (put being stuck in an elevator and food poisoning on that list for me.)
Sometimes we learn a lesson from our firsts and sometimes we don’t.

Catalan-Style Garlic Shrimp

Cooking is all about making mistakes.
Sometimes you have to test recipes a few times before you get the desired result. Sometimes you just aren’t thinking straight. That was me, this past weekend.
I experienced two major cooking disasters: one involving avocado chocolate cookies, the other one a Chinese beef noodle soup.
I still haven’t recovered from those catastrophes, so I’ll avoid telling you about it.
But not everything has been a failure.
I have finally figured out the perfect way to make at home Catalan-style Garlic Shrimp, just like in Barcelona.

Easy Creamy Crock-Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

Winter is in full swing now and the colder temperatures have descended upon us.
There’s snow, ice, blizzards, and windchill.
Don’t you love it?
No, don’t answer, I already know what you’re going to say. You hate winter, you hate cold, and you can’t wait for spring to arrive.
Fair enough. Not everyone can be a snow-lover like myself.
Still, I think there are so many awesome things you could be doing when it’s freezing outside. Such as sled racing, snowball fighting, even snowman building. How cool is that? (pun intended).

Blueberry Avocado and Chia Breakfast Pudding

This week we’ve learned that weather forecasting is not an exact science. The predicted two to three feet of snow ended up being less than 10 inches of slush.
It’s not the first time (and it’s not going to be the last) that an anticipated snowstorm either does not happen or ends up being far less than advertised — the exact path of a storm is very hard to predict (though nowhere in the news was that point made!)
Perhaps the lesson is not to call something “the biggest snowstorm in the history” and hit the panic button, before it materializes.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand and appreciate the precautions for the worst case scenario.
The response of city officials was determined by the information they were being given by the National Weather Service. Which was that this was going to be a huge storm.
However, next time I suggest using caveats such as “it’s likely to”, “it seems like” or “there’s a chance that” when declaring a natural disaster, before it actually happens.

Cheese Mushroom and Spinach Cauliflower Crust Calzone

It’s time to celebrate, people!
What you ask?
A recipe.
Because there’s a recipe on TheIronYou — posted almost two years ago — that has been viewed, clicked, gawked, and commented on over 350k times to date (I know, right?)
A recipe that has been featured in numerous online magazines and blogs. A recipe that you guys are in love with — almost as much as I’m in love with it. A recipe that I make (almost) weekly, because it’s one of my fave recipes of all time. A recipe that is a total winner.
Which recipe you ask?
**drumroll please**
The cauliflower crust calzone, of course. What else?

Cottage Pie

Sometimes you make a dish so simple and unpromising, you’re wondering why you even attempted it.
Then you taste it and you hate yourself for ever doubting its capabilities.
This Cottage pie is one of those dishes.
A few basic ingredients: ground beef mixed with vegetables, topped with sliced potatoes. Simple.
Then you put it in the oven for about 40 minutes, and what comes out of it is a dish that just sings. A perfect balance of flavours, tasty, everything is perfect.
Just like a good song. A song that hits your nerve and you’re like ‘Oh my god, I love this song’.
You know, one of those songs you keep playing on your iPod, over and over, and never get tired of it.
Like ‘Step’ by Vampire Weekend. One of the best songs ever imo.
When you wrap together some of the most clever lyrics ever written (“Wisdom's a gift, but you'd trade it for youth, age is an honor - it's still not the truth”) with a great tune, you’ve got yourself a perfect song.
And just like a perfect song, this Cottage pie is a perfect blend and balance of flavors.

Raspberry-Grapefruit Smoothie

Another day another smoothie. I’m sorry guys, but I can’t help myself. I’m in the mood for smoothies so that’s what you’re getting.
I’ve made this raspberry-grapefruit smoothie several times and it’s delicious. Fresh, healthy, and well, grapefruit-y.
It’s so good, I had to share it with you.