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.

Heart Warming Chicken "Noodle" Soup with Spaghetti Squash -- for ONE, on a rainy day

As if things can't get worse, I got a cold, with a bloody nose. The rain outside did not help lightening my mood, either. Sigh. I had to do something to cheer myself up. My lunch did the trick -- it was so comforting that it may have cured my cold!

Avocado Muffins -- only for my best friends

I am blessed with the best friends one can ask for -- fun, smart, and most importantly: they will be there for you at times of need. This is no Oscar or Nobel, but I just want to jog down that C,  D, G, M, N, P, S, S etc really got me through the toughest times ( I hope the toughest is over). Especially M & S, who took me out for an all time favorite: oysters (!) + bubbly sangria @ pacifico last night.

I don't think I can ever thank them enough for being good companions, and treating me to the best in town on top of that. Pardon me for not disclosing everything here, but just trust me that they are awesome.

The only way to thank them ( that I could think of) was to make these: avocado muffins. I started wanting make a brownie, and changed my mind half way through, and the resulted recipe was inspired by M&S's favorite food. Here's the whole spiel.

Roast Chicken for ONE -- after a hard breakup

I cried. Hard. For a while. After a 4.5-year-relationship has finally come to an end.

It felt like a whirlwind of emotions, intense and overwhelming. And my nose started bleeding, even more violently than my heart.

Consolation from friends and family has helped me to stand on my feet again. It is becoming clear that taking care of myself is the first priority right now, starting with -- nourishment.

(Addictive) Cured Arctic Char (Gravlax) -- how to cure fish (fast and cheap) at home

Do you like sashimi? Do you have trouble laying your hands on some sushi grade fish (which is quite common in small cities) like I do? Well, I have a solution for you. Actually I have several: from marinated sardine, to drunken crabs. Today, however, it is all about curing fish.

Rye Berry Salad with Grilled (Wine Marinated) Chicken Breast, White Eggplant & Purple Dandelions -- eating with your eye

I have been a lazy bone, especially when it comes to blogging.

It is not that I am tired of cooking -- I still cook everyday, and have managed not to repeat a single dinner for several months (with the exception of ratatouille and fish en pappillot). I'm also not tired of blogging -- it's still in the back of my head. In fact, there are so many pictures of food stored in my phone my local storage is running short.

The problem is: the day is getting shorter and shorter nowadays, and by the time I finish cooking, there simply isn't enough natural light to make the dish look as appetizing as it really is. I would usually spend a good 10 minutes moving the plate from one spot to another, holding down my urge to just devour the dish because it smells so good. Finally I'd be too hungry, and ended up settling on some photo snaps, and finish dinner in 5 minutes, hoping that lightroom will save the world when it comes to under/over/uneven exposure. (Don't judge the fact that it took me less time eating that fiddling with the lighting situation.)

Guess what? It is weekend today, which means that I got to visit the farmer's market and finish cooking before sunset!

Greek Yogurt Blueberry Muffins -- maximizing goodies from the farmer's market

If you are like me, you will find it hard to resist getting that fresh pint of blueberries from the farmer's market, together with the peaches, nectarines, apples, pears, and strawberries. It is just impossible to go through those fast enough as a two-people household! Still, come the following week, despite the fact you've checked your fridge and warned yourself not to go crazy, you'll grab another pint...This happens every single time. After blueberry pancakes, berry-banana smoothies, berry-topped yogurt, here comes the final bomb: blueberry muffins.

Vegan Wheat Berry and Grilled Vegetables Salad -- holding on to summer

It is labor day. Some may argue that it signifies the start of the fall season. I am not ready to let go of summer yet. Call it wishful thinking if you will, but I can feel the summer air around me, especially after a 90-minute hot yoga full of sweats. Yes, summer is still around.

How else does summer seep through? Take a look at our dinner tonight and you will find out.

Grilled corn, eggplant, and summer squash, with warm wheat berries and crispy italian bread cubes, in a light lemon-olive dressing. What could be a louder shout for summer?

Eat Your Oysters (and Your Greens, too)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE oysters. D, though not a big oyster fan himself, was kind enough to be a good sport and accompany me to the largest oyster festival in New England two weeks ago. 

Here's a snapshot of the shucking contest. You can feel the passion here, can't you?

No-Bake Dried Fruit Coffee Bar -- a perfect post-workout snack

D has started working out again: bought a new bike, and has been going on 25-mile rides on weekdays and 50-mile ride on weekends for the past couple month. Believe it or not, one can easily burn over 1500 calories per ride!

To help with a speedy recovery, I made this yummy treat after reading this article about caffeine and cycling.

Toasted Sesame Hummus -- no tahini on-hand

Last weekend we had some friends over for boardgames, and I had the sudden craving for hummus -- the creamy, smooth, nutritious spread that is perfect on a piece of pita bread that you share with someone. But our pantry was not stocked with tahini. I mean, really, who can use a jar of tahini fast enough, ever? If you read my beer-nut butter recipe, then you probably won't be shocked that I am even too lazy to buy tahini, and this is what I settled with.

I have seen some really tasty food as the product of desperation. This hummus once again strengthened the case. 

the Simplest Homemade Peanut Butter -- the Beer-Nut Butter

Laziness often lead to the creations of something great. Why else do we appreciate the the remote control or a dish washer so much? Today, I may have just stumbled upon another great thing to have in your life (assuming you are not allergic to it): beer-nut butter!

Roasted Beet Pie with Blue Cheese & Caramelized Onions -- simple pie, big flavors

This is another savory pie for the 9th square pie contest. Again, the main ingredients are from the summer farmer's market behind Woosley Hall, courtesy to the Yale dining service. The bundle of beet roots with beet greens were $2.00/bundle. It was just impossible resist those beautiful beets, and as a result, we found ourselves eating beet salad, beet burgers, even beet cakes. And now, it's time for a glorious beet pie.

Pota-toma-to Pie -- a savory pie to celebrate summer (my first pie contest)

9th Square is a fun neighborhood -- bar crawls, soccer village, and now a pie contest! Here is the deal: for $15 dollars, you get to enter the block party with tables piled with pies, where you get unlimited pies, ice creams, live music, and a cash bar. Everything goes to charity, and if you bring a pie to share, you get to get in for free. Sounds like fun huh? I mean, can you think of a better way to start of the weekend than all-you-can-eat pies?