a big batch of: cauliflower bisque

Yesterday instead of doing any sort of 'Sunday food prep for the week' I went to see Life of Pi by myself because I wanted to see it in 3D before it was out of theaters. I felt a little bit nerdy, but also a little bit worldly (don't ask, I just did). It wound up being a good choice because it's a brilliant movie, but this morning I was sad that there wasn't anything to eat So, because it was FREEZING cold outside, I figured it would be a good day to try out this cauliflower bisque recipe that my mom sent me from the PBS Food website. Ever since I told her about the cauliflower pizza crust recipe that is all over Pinterest, we've both been on a real cauliflower kick. Who knew that the roasted version tastes so different from the raw version? Anyway- this soup is really easy to make and tastes a little bit sweeter and more interesting than baked potato soup. It would be fun to add back in some diced roasted veggies if you're feeling healthy or maybe some shredded cheddar cheese, bacon and chives if you're not.

One thing I'd do differently the next time is to use homemade chicken or vegetable stock. I think that making your own stock is essentially announcing "I have reached a whole new level of domesticity in my life." I'm not sure I'm there yet, but the few times I have made my own stock the results have been significantly better than the boxed or canned version. Plus, since there are so few ingredients to this bisque that the stock really plays an important role in the overall flavor.

Regardless, I enjoyed this soup with some toasted Pumpernickel bread and it felt like just the thing to brace myself against this icy 50 degree South Florida day.

What new recipes have you tried lately?

PS: here is the link to the recipe in case you missed it above: Cauliflower Bisque

comfort food

I’m not sure why this anniversary of September 11^th feels more poignant to me than the last 10. Maybe it’s because my daughters are more “children” and less babies. Maybe it’s the stories I’ve noticed everyone sharing on Facebook. Maybe it’s because there is enough distance between then and now that we feel okay about saying “I remember what I was doing when the second tower fell.” Those of us who didn’t experience the horror of losing a friend or loved one can still admit the terrible heartbreak that we endured on that day. Maybe it’s because we as a nation have finally started to heal.

I was in Gainesville, enjoying a leisurely fifth fall at the University of Florida. I was living with two girls: Lauren and Krysten whom I’d met towards the end of my senior year. We didn’t have the same circle of friends, but they were great roommates who’d become good friends. I don’t remember the details of the day after American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon , but I remember the emotions: first confusion, panic and terror followed by deep sorrow and anxiety about the future. The agony of watching people on TV searching for their loved ones and news of the fate of the first responders were unbearable. I had this crazy feeling like, maybe if I kept watching television something would change. It would all be this big mistake.

At the end of the day the three of us sat on our scratchy apartment issued-furniture watching the news and eating jambalaya that Lauren had made from scratch. We could have gotten pizza or eaten cereal or done something on our own, but Lauren insisted on making a home-cooked meal. At the time (and some might argue still today) I wasn’t much of a cook, and I remember being in awe of Lauren’s considerable skills. I’m sure I never properly thanked her, but Lauren’s jambalaya taught me a lesson I’ll never forget: the simple power of a home-cooked meal.

When I look back on the last eleven years, I realize that some of my most treasured gifts were those of food. Strange but true. My kids have outgrown so many of their precious baby gifts, but I still dream about the chocolate chip banana muffins that my best friend made us the weekend after my first daughter was born. And the meals that my mommy & me pals made us after my second daughter arrived were simply too good to be true. My family was tight-knit, church-going and traditional, but we were not a foodie family. We liked to eat food- but we were not connoisseurs of Sunday supper the way I suspect Lauren’s family was. She’s from Louisiana, so I think that gives her an edge.

I doubt I’ll ever be able to re-create Lauren’s jambalaya, but her recipe is listed below if you’d like to try. Instead I’ve tried to pay her kindness forward by making food for people when they’re going through a hardship or welcoming a new baby. It’s not fancy, but I hope people understand the sentiment attached. Sometimes families (including families that are made up of friends) just need a home-cooked meal more than they need a night out at a restaurant. For me it's something that's made a tangible difference in my life- a true comfort food. 

Thank you, Lauren!

I hope- that whatever your September 11^th 2001 experience was- that you are spending this

September 11^th in peace.

God Bless America.