Roasted Wild-Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash

Hi Fall,

So glad you are here!

I missed the beautiful foliage and bountiful produce. J took me on this spontaneous trip to (guess where) to visit the bridge that the headless horseman crossed right before Halloween!

It started out with two stressed people...

But quickly became better with the beautiful foliage in Sleepy Hollow (yep, you are right!)

And significantly elevated by a short visit to the oldest winery in the US!

We got home with starvation, and had another play to catch (Indecent at the Yale Rep -- a must-see!). So We stuffed a squash in the oven, and oh my goodness the fall dinner was so good! 

Salmon Gravlax

I've been a pescetarian since February. I have been surprised by the limited seafood options we have here in New Haven (and in some parts of New York City). I found out that not all grocery stores carry tuna or scallops, simply because they have been so expensive and not enough people buy them. 

Luckily there is salmon -- there is always salmon. The problem is you can only roast/grill it in so many ways before you are tired of it. I was literally having salmon for every single dinner for a week straight, and finally enough was enough. 

Then I bought a 2lb bag of shrimp and some cod, and the story repeated itself -- I got tired of both very quickly. 

I was ready for salmon again. But not so quick. The re-entry should be special. It almost felt like a reunion -- salmon deserves a comeback with an air of grandeur. So I got some sockeye, and made this as an appetizer: Salmon Gravlax. But I went the rustic route, and made the slice big and grandeur in the literal sense. 

Eggless Avocado Coconut Muffins -- Jump Start Your Day

I am back!

Many things have happened, but my love for cooking remains constant -- or maybe even more?

I'm coming back with another baked goods with two of my favorite ingredients -- avocado and coconut! Full of good fat, these muffins would be a power house to fuel up your day :)

Can you guess what's in the muffins?

I'm lucky to have such supportive friends as M, S, C and N -- and I wanted to thank S for hosting me last week, and here's my thank you muffins :)

Chicken Liver Pate with Wine and Cilantro -- aka Chicken Liver Mousse or "Terrine de Foie de Volaille"

I never really liked winter. Having lived in the north part of this country for over a decade, I see winter as this long season (usually six months) consisting of cold winds and short days (and horrible snow storms sometimes). ..Until I went to southern France, where you could have an outdoor Christmas market in December, drinking mulled wine and sampling foie gras. What fun! How delicious! Oh, I miss it terribly...

Well, mulled wine isn't that hard to make. In fact, we've been making it every winter now. Homemade foie gras though, is tough. I mean, unless you live in the center of a metropolitan city or live in the middle of nowhere on a farm, where can you lay your hands on some goose liver here in the states?

No worries, I've found a cure, namely the chicken liver pate -- "terrine de foie de volaille" if you will. It is just like foie gras, but a bit less fatty. Perhaps a little healthier as well? (Oh, did I mention it's Paleo compatible?)

1-Minute Homemade Cheater Cappuccino in a Mason Jar

My relationship with coffee is a complicated one. I LOVE it and resent it at the same time.

What would you do for a neighbor with food poisoning?

Would you knock on the door and check on him/her? Even more, would you bring over a pot of freshly cooked chicken noodle soup for dinner? Would you care enough to stuff their fridge with Chobani, fruit and OJ for the next morning?

I did all of the above, and suggested him to sue the hell out of the certain food chain (starts with a C) that put him in the miserable state.

In return,  he gave me a box of match sticks that I needed for lighting the lavender scented candles that I just got for insomnia, and even a bottle of my favorite beer.

Now, replace "neighbor" with "ex-boyfriend" (actually he is both). And in case you are wondering, yes, he is the reason for my insomnia, and the reason I like beer to start with. I will probably saving the beer and the match stick box for as long as I can. Pathetic, I know. But this is what I do to move on...

Crunchy Cheese Straws with a Kick-- farewell to cohabitation

This would be the last concoction from the old loft -- the place where cohabitation existed, where there were once upon a time, 2 life to balance. It is coming to an end. I am still a bit sad about how it has concluded, but life goes on. Technically this should be the last post under the current blog name, but I am too preoccupied at the moment to open a new blog, so consider the rest of this blog a not-so-organic continuation, if you will.

I decided to make something a bit different, a savory snack that I have never attempted before.