October, 2008 -

by BS

Aw, Shucks! You’re Making it Too Easy, RayRay!

It’s been awhile since we made fun of Rachel Ray here on Endless Simmer, and that just doesn’t feel right. I’ve been holding off on this clip, because well, it kind of feels like a cheap shot. But hey, sometimes you gotta take the gifts god gives you. The video below, of Rachel learning how to shuck corn, or something, should please the 11-year-old boy in all of you. For those of you who can’t stand the sound of RayRay’s voice, it’s pretty funny even with the volume off.

in Celebs / TV / Veggie 2 comments

by gansie

Purple Cauliflower Majesty

Okay, don’t freak out. But I’m starting to fall in the Liza camp.

It’s so simple and healthy to whip up something containing only veggies and a grain (or an egg), especially in the summer/fall when I can hit up the farmers’ market every weekend. Meat is, well, kind of a pain in the ass and is one more thing to deal with (and one more thing to buy.) Plus, I feel like I am more creative when I find ways to insert a vegetable as the star of the show. Yea, 80P bitches about this latest endeavor, but he’s secretly getting into it as well.

I’m not as hard core as Liza, but unknowingly, I probably eat meat only 2 times a week and it’s mostly when I go out or eat with friends. Seeing a bloody cut of steak absolutely turns me on still. Don’t worry.

Oh, and I blame Michael Pollan. Omnivore’s Dilemma seriously fucked me up. I have a hard time eating meat that was processed in those hell hole slaughter factories. Shit, I’m so brainwashed I don’t even want to buy produce at the Giant up the street. Which brings me to something I’ve been fretting over recently…what will I do when the farmers’ market closes for the winter? I can’t even remember how I survived last frost.

But, I’ll end the meat bashing for this week; we don’t want to turn our bacon contingency away. But there will surely be more on the Pollan phenom, as I’m still figuring out how to process all of this information.

Purple recipe post jump

in Cheese / Personal / Recipe / Veggie 9 comments

by gansie

Mommy and Mini Me Frittata

I’m not having kids anytime soon, much to the dismay, of well, no one actually. But I recently browsed the kiddie cookbook shelves, as my coworker just had a baby and no gift of diaper bags or nipple cream would do. I had to buy her a “mommy and me” cookbook, as she also has an 11 year old daughter. When I was over her house recently (and we made this awesome, but cheating, Indian curry veggie dish) I checked out that same book I got her. She said she’d been using it lately, pointing out a mini frittata recipe.

When my coworker baked this with her daughter, she whipped up the egg mixture, poured it in the muffin tin and then her and her daughter dropped in the filling of their choice (they used diced turkey, which I’m torn over — deli meat and egg?!?!)

I made my fritattas for an apple picking adventure out in Virginia. More on that later (I’m looking at you, El!) but for now, here’s my adult version.

in Breakfast / Cheese / Eggs / Recipe / Veggie 8 comments

by Liza

Liza Enters Vegetarian Land

I’ve never been totally gaga over meat (partly because I have not a clue how to cook a slab of beef) but I definitely never avoided it, nor have I ever considered being vegetarian. Chicken or some form of meat usually creeps into a lot of my meals.

Little did I know that some random early 1990s PBS documentary called “Diet for a New America” would lead me to a lifestyle change. Watching this doc completely opened my eyes to how our INSANELY high demand for meat is literally destroying our environment.

After watching it, I decided I had to do something, and came up with a plan:

in Personal / Trends / Veggie 5 comments

by 80 Proof

Artsy Photo of the Day

Did you know Columbus discovered the gourd?

in Photos 7 comments

by BS

Feed Us Back: Comments of the Week

– All you egg-haters had your chance, but it looks like gansie’s yolk porn money shots are going to continue here on ES, as 75 percent of you, so far, have said yes to yolk.

Actually, the egg vote inspired quite a bit of conversation on topics from arugula (Maidelitala: Is Kale an elitist vegetable like arugula?) to pizza (Mariah Carey: “So, I was at dinner with friends last month and the menu had tons of pizzas on it with the option of egg on top. When I contemplated adding the egg out loud, my thought was met with tons of “gags” and grimaces. I rarely see the ‘add egg’ option, so I’m wondering if this is an East Coast delicacy more than a West….”

I still can’t believe Mariah Carey actually comments on ES, but it’s good to see she has time to address the important issues. Anyway: fried egg pizza. Nasty/Tasty? Chime in with your thoughts.

– In other contest news, JoeHoya is out to an early lead in the Pine Nut Cooking Contest. Vote Now. And in case you missed it, Alex Vanderlay has a quick-fix bonus recipe:

Very simple,
-Mix 2/3 freshly toasted pine nuts with 1/3 grated Parmesan in a mortar and pestle.
-Shape into flattened cracker shapes and bake at 165 Celsius for twenty minutes.
-Serve with wine and cheese.

Brilliant!

– And, if only to continue our Liza-baiting, I wanted to make sure everyone caught 80p’s joke from last week’s Feed Us Back:

in Contests / Eggs 3 comments

by BS

Who Cooked it Better? Pine Nut Contest

You’ve read the recipes. You’ve salivated all week. You’ve wished I would never mention goddamn pine nuts ever again. Now it’s your turn. Which of our four very inventive pine nut recipes is the very best of all?

Will the winner be:

Lisa’s Bacon-Wrapped Date ‘Cannolis’ with Pine Nuts,

Natalie’s Herb Grilled Salmon with Seared Heirloom Tomatoes and Toasted Pine Nuts,

Matt’s Pan Seared Scallops, Red Onion Confit, toasted pine nuts and sage oil, or

JoeHoya’s Pine Nut Butter and Gelee?

[poll=”25″]

in Contests 7 comments