My Little Brown Book

Little Brown Dictionary

"When he appeared before my eyes and started to talk to me, the only option I had was to politely smile. I dug out of my bag my slightly worn brown dictionary, that I bought at used book store at University District in Seattle, and had my “conversation”: I would point the word, then I asked the person to show me his word(s). Yes, it was sloooow moving dialogue. Then my friend came to the rescue and translated what the person wanted to know about me. We were laughing, we had a good time."


This excerpt is from my post on Fear of Writing. 
The picture above is that very same little brown dictionary. 




See you,
Marina

Porcini Mushrooms and Barley Soup

When I did a rotation in my pantry last week I also found a jar of barley that hasn't been used in a few months. To pay my respect to this grain (I always feel guilty when I abandon some of my grains for more than two months) I made a very simple but aromatic and full of flavor soup. 

With just a handful of dried porcini mushrooms,   half a cup of barley and an onion my dinner was ready in less then an hour.

First, you need to pre-soak dried porcini for about 15-20 minutes. I usually wash any dried mushroom first from any debris, and after that I place mushrooms in a bawl and cover it with about 1 liter (1 qt) of cold water. Then I prepare all other ingredients: chop the onion, wash the barley. 

Next, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in the cast iron dutch oven or a stainless still pot. 
Add the onion and stir, sprinkle with a little salt and stir again. 
Fish the mushroom from the bawl and reserve the soaking water (It should have a reach amber color). Chop the mushrooms and add to the onions. Stir a few times and add water from the mushrooms. 
To make sure there are no debris, I run soaking water through coffee filter placed inside the strainer. 
Bring it to the boil, reduce the heat to a medium and cook until barley is done (about 30-35 minutes). 
Season with salt, dried dill (optional) and serve with toasted bread (I made rosemary-garlic  crostini from homemade rye bread). Can you smell it?!

I thought I made enough soup for us to have for dinner and for the next day's lunch. Silly me, thinking I would have some leftover! I could only hear crunch-slurp-crunch-slurp... until all soup was gone. We loved it, and to our surprise, the Teenager even made a comment, that we should have this soup more often! 

I am making a list of grains in my pantry to print and stick it to my refrigerator. This way I may cook with grains not just whet I do  the next rotation in the pantry, I think... :)

How often do you use your grains? 

What grains do live in your pantry? 

See you,
Marina

Pasta and Meatballs

I really enjoy making pasta with my new toy - Kitchen Aid pasta attachment. I also enjoy eating pasta, which had never happened before. 

Pasta and meatballs

For our Saturday lunch I made a simple meal: pasta and meatballs for my men, and vegetarian version for myself. I used a vegetable stock as a light sauce base. 

Pasta in light spicy sauce

I purchased a semolina flour and will be experimenting with it soon, I've read it's a bit tricky to work with, but the result worth the effort. Stay tuned to see how it turns out. 

Dessert: mango and raspberries. 

Happy Saturday, my friends!

See you,
Marina

Sweet Morning

Last nigh I had a company: two of my friends came over for a chat. And some tea. And some sweets that I was going to make myself to impress them. 
In the morning I was all busy bee: I had butter warming up on the counter, flour and eggs ready to be mixed, baking pans oiled. I was all exited to treat my friends with home made cookies (doesn't happened that often in this house. Baking is not my thing.) 
Then the phone rang. I looked at the number and picked it up, thinking that may be one of the friends calling from work to check on directions or parking. 
- Hello?
- Hi, my name is L., I am calling from this organisation. You've applied for this position, can you come for an interview?
- Awwmmm, would you, please, give me some more details? I've applied to probably hundreds of jobs.


Then L. gave me some details and asked again if I am still interested and can come to the interview at 13.30. What? Today? 13:30? No, I can't come today, I have plans! Tomorrow would be good. Then L. apologetically tells me that they want to "squeeze" all interviews in today. Well, I was able to negotiate 11:30 instead, so I may still have time after to bake some cookies for my friends (I had my priorities, see?).


I dropped everything I was doing in the kitchen, run upstairs to get myself ready: quick shower, makeup, dress? maybe not, pants would be more appropriate. Thirty minutes later I was in the car with my Interview folder (I keep in it a copy of resume, references, questions, paper, all that stuff) and my Kindle (you need to have some entertainment while you are waiting). 


The interview went well, but it was long, not 30 minutes I was told it would take, but the whole 90 minutes! (They must like me! :) )


I looked at the watch and realized that I may not be able to make any cookies before my friends come. I will have to make another trip to school to pick up the Teenager in about one hour.  After a deep sigh I just drove to the local store and bought oatmeal cookies and some bite size pastry. And at home I would just make them some iced or hot tea. 

Knock on the door came just a few moments after I came home with the Teenager. Another sigh, relieved this time, that I made it. My friends were on the porch, smiling.


We had a great time, laughing and giggling deep into the night. When they left, the Husband asked: "Do you want this butter on the counter?" Oops! I forgot all about my ingredients being ready for my baking show off. "No, I guess I am not baking today".


Today I woke up still processing all yesterday happenings. It was a hectic but a good day. I felt sweet about it and needed a "sweet" treat for myself. I had a cup of coffee (not sweet), a rare treat as I don't drink coffee everyday anymore. I just have coffee when I really want it, about 2-3 times a month. I had an oatmeal cookie and a sweet pastry. I also brought from my garden a bouquet of sweet peas that are in full bloom now. 

Sweet morning! And happy Friday to you!

See you,
Marina

Buckwheat

Buckwheat with roasted vegetables

Today I did a kitchen inventory and rotated my pantry, task I perform every 3-4 months. And each time I find some dry ingredient that I forget to use for some time. To my delight I bumped into a jar of buckwheat. 
I need to tell you, that I don't actually have a real pantry, a room with shelves from top to bottom, where dry goods stored on one side, preserved food on the other, and all my "technical support" in the middle. That's a dream pantry. 
In reality I have a couple tight places where I keep my dry goods in mason jars in two rows, hence sometimes I forget what is in the second row that I don't see. My preserved food and "technical support" Kitchen Aid stand mixer, juicer and food processor occupy a bookshelf in the kitchen/dining area.

Back to buckwheat. I simply cooked one cup of buckwheat groats in two cups of water, and served it with roasted vegetables, bound together with sauteed shallots and tomato sauce. 


A few interesting facts:
1. First cultivation of buckwheat was around 6000 BC.
2. Too much fertilizer, nitrogen especially, reduces yield of buckwheat. 
3. Buckwheat has no gluten. 
4. Buckwheat is not related to wheat grain; it comes from the same family as sorrel and rhubarb.

What is you favorite food made with buckwheat? 

See you,
Marina