Ginger Gin & Tonics and Blood Orange Margaritas

I spent Christmas morning eating bacon, eggs, & cream cheese butter braid, watching Julie & Julia (a gift from Jerad), drinking bloody marys, and watching it snow. Big, fluffy flakes floating around. Not a bad way to spend a holiday.

For the love of cooking; Or, why schools need home economics classes

Today was the last day of school for the semester. And, I ended on a high note.

My College English class finished with a unit on food. We watched Food, Inc. (if you haven't seen it yet, go rent it NOW) and wrote response essays, arguing one of the questions the film presents. Before the movie, I asked students to briefly research one of the topics mentioned in the film (things like Monsanto, processed food, E. Coli, etc.) and present their findings to the class. They had a bit of difficulty understanding what processed foods were, so the next day I brought in a bunch of food packages. We discussed whether or not they considered each item "healthy," then we looked at the ingredients in each. We also talked about foods they typically eat, what they're made of, and how good they are (or are not) for you.

Ginger Oatmeal Rum Raisin Cookies

We had our HuLuBu (Humanities Lunch Bunch) holiday party today. Everyone brought food and an ornament for our gift exchange. I tried to find the gaudiest, tackiest ornament I could. Of course, I had quite a selection to choose from at Target. At first, I was going to get this huge lime green ball with hot pink glitter. I finally chose an owl made from nuts. (Ironically, someone else chose that same one to give away!) But, since there were so many tacky ornaments to choose from, I ended up buying one for each person...specifically chosen to match their personality.

Cookie Dough Brownies

When I was teaching in Highland, the teachers on my team would get together once a month or so to socialize outside of school. We'd take turns hosting, and everyone would bring something to eat. Susie, the other English teacher on my team, was notorious for her sweet teeth. The huge bag of chocolate chips (we're talking bulk-sized) that she kept in her freezer to snack on was often a topic of conversation. Surprisingly, she remains one of the thinnest people I know!

Susie would almost always make cookie dough brownies--brownies topped with gooey cookie dough & a layer of melted chocolate--and everyone loved them. Here's her recipe:

Cookie Dough Brownies

1 pan of brownies, baked & cooled

• Use your favorite brownie recipe (or boxed brownies).
• Use a 9x13 pan, or if you want thicker brownies use an 8x8 pan.

For the cookie dough:
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 tablespoons milk
2 cups all-purpose flour

• With a stand mixer (paddle attachment), cream the butter & sugars together until well-blended.
• Add the extract & milk, blend until incorporated.
• Slowly add in the flour & stir until combined. Spread on top of the cooled brownies.

For the chocolate topping:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (or vegetable shortening)

• Melt the chocolate with the butter in a double-boiler (or in the microwave).
• Pour over the cookie dough. Let cool to set before serving.

Tuesdays with Dorie: Cafe Volcano Cookies

MacDuff of Lonely Sidecar chose this week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe: Cafe Volcano Cookies.

Basically, these are espresso nut meringues. They are super easy to make...heat sugar, egg whites, espresso powder, & toasted nuts in a saucepan. Scoop by the teaspoon onto a silicone-lined cookie sheet. Bake. Done.

Dorie's recipe calls for almonds & walnuts, but I just used all walnut chips.

Here's what they look like:

Dorie calls them "higgely piggely shaped."

Menu for Hope 6

Menu for Hope starts today! Be sure to browse the list of items up for raffle...including special meals, getaways, signed cookbooks, chocolates & homemade foods, kitchen tools, wine, artwork, and MORE!

Here's the skinny from Pim, the campaign's creator:

What is Menu for Hope?

Menu for Hope is an annual fundraising campaign hosted by me and a revolving group of food bloggers around the world. Five years ago, the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia inspired me to find a way to help, and the very first Menu for Hope was born. The campaign has since become a yearly affair.

Each December, food bloggers from all over the world join the campaign by offering a delectable array of food-related items for the Menu for Hope raffle. Anyone – and that means you too - can participate. For every $10 donated, you earn one virtual ticket to bid on an item of your choice. At the end of the two-week campaign, the tickets are drawn and the results announced on Chez Pim on Monday, January 18.

Who is the beneficiary of this year's campaign?


Menu for Hope (for three years and counting) supports the good work of the UN World Food Programme. WFP is the world’s largest food aid agency, working with over 1,000 other organizations in over 75 countries. In addition to providing food, the World Food Program helps hungry people to become self-reliant so that they escape hunger for good.

How can you help?

Browse the amazing array of delectable items offered by food and wine bloggers from all over the world. You may also browse the bid items by region:

Europe (hosted by David Lebovitz)
Asia Pacific (hosted by Ed of Tomatom)
USA: East Coast (hosted by Helen of Tartelette)
USA: West Coast (hosted by Shauna of Gluten Free Girl)
Canada (hosted by Tara of Seven Spoons)

or if you're a wine geek you might want to head directly to see Alder at Vinography for the wine related bit items.

Once you find an item or items you want, then go and make a donation to Menu for Hope 6 at First Giving. For every $10 you donate, you may select one raffle bid item. The more you donate, the more chances to get the item(s) you want.

Cacio e Pepe

I was recently accused of being a Francophile. Ok, I'll admit to being slightly obsessed with French culture. Sure, I long to travel to Paris, to eat cheeses & baguettes in an outdoor cafe while sipping champagne. Is that so wrong?

My accuser is Italian, so I can understand how he'd object to my "distinctly Francophilic leanings." Little does he know, I cook pasta more than anything at home. In fact, I've posted way more authentic Italian recipes than French ones...like carbonara, risotto, bolognese, ravioli, minestrone, and panzanella.

Last night, I tried a pasta recipe from Gourmet Today. I received a copy of this massive new cookbook at a luncheon with Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of the recently defunct Gourmet magazine. She came to St. Louis to promote the book, a visit that was originally postponed because of Gourmet's sudden demise.

Me with Ruth Reichl

Lunch was a multiple course meal prepared by St. Louis's best chefs, including Josh Galliano of Monarch, Gerard Craft of Niche, Kevin Nashan of Sidney Street Cafe, & Michael Roberts of Atlas. (Francophilic sidenote: I finally tried the cassoulet at Atlas. It's as good as people say it is!)

Before we ate, Ruth declared that Gourmet Today may be the "last cookbook of its kind." She explained that the twelve chefs in the magazine's testing kitchens would make a recipe five or six times before perfecting it. Even the simpliest recipes--which she says are the most difficult to perfect--were tested numerous times. She specificially mentioned the spaghetti with pecorino Romano & black pepper recipe with its list of only three ingredients.

According to the cookbook, cacio e pepe is a classic Roman dish that "is so sublimely simple that initially we wondered if you would even need a recipe to make it. As it turns out, perfecting it was challenging, but ultimately we found the ideal combination of spaghetti, melting pecorino Romano, and crushed black pepper."

Spaghetti with Pecorino Romano & Black Pepper

For this recipe, you need to grate the cheese with the ragged-edged holes of a box grater for ease of melting. Don't use the small teardrop-shaped holes or a rasp (Microplane), as your cheese will clump up in the bowl.
2 teaspoons black peppercorns
1/2 pound spaghetti
2 1/2 ounces grated Pecorino Romano (3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons)

• Toast peppercorns in a dry small skillet over moderately high heat, swirling skillet, until fragrant and peppercorns begin to jump, 2 to 3 minutes. Coarsely crush peppercorns with a mortar and pestle or wrap in a kitchen towel and press on peppercorns with bottom of a heavy skillet.
• Cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling, salted water until al dente.
• Meanwhile, fill a large glass or ceramic bowl with some hot water to warm bowl. Just before spaghetti is finished cooking, drain bowl but do not dry.
• Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta quickly in a colander (do not shake off excess water) and add to warm pasta bowl.
• Sprinkle 3/4 cup cheese and 3 tablespoons cooking water evenly over spaghetti and toss quickly. If pasta seems dry, toss with some additional cooking water.
• Divide pasta among 4 plates, then sprinkle with pepper and 2 tablespoons cheese. Serve immediately with additional cheese on the side.

Tree Trimming & Egg Nogging

My family used to cut down a fresh tree every year for Christmas. We'd pick one out at the tree farm near my grandparents' house the day after Thanksgiving. A couple weeks later, we'd traipse back out to the tree farm with a saw to cut it down.

The holidays weren't complete without the whole family fighting over the tree decorating. The first problem was that my mom insisted on a HUGE tree, one that was over 15 feet tall, since our living room had a towering cathedral ceiling. Of course, trees always look smaller out in the field. Inside, however, they barely fit.

My dad would struggle with getting the tree home in our pea green station wagon (think Christmas Vacation). Once, the tree flew off the top of the car on the highway. My dad ended up laying in the wayback with the tree, holding on to it so it wouldn't fly out of the car. Then, he'd struggle with getting the tree inside. We always had to bring it in the back sliding glass door. We usually had to tie it up so it would stay straight. One year, he busted the ceiling fan with the ladder. Eventually, we'd begin decorating with multi-colored lights (the kind with the big bulbs), bubble lights, family ornaments, silver tinsel (strand by strand, as mom insisted), and candy canes.

Even though there was always drama, I miss that time so much. My dad hasn't put up a tree since my mom died almost 14 years ago.

Unfortunately, my ex-husband wasn't too keen on getting real trees. He (and his family) always put up a pre-lit, artificial tree. It made me sad. Luckily, Jerad's family always got a real tree...one they even cut down themselves! A couple years ago, I was supposed to go out to the tree farm with Jerad and his mom. It was a cold, rainy day--and I wasn't feeling well--so I told them I'd just meet at Jerad's parents' house to help decorate later that day. About an hour later, they showed up at my house with a gorgeous 12-foot Douglas Fir, lights, and ornaments.

I can't really explain how much that meant to me. It made me realize that I'd found my "home."


Today, after searching around two different fields, we cut down the biggest Christmas tree I've ever seen! Seriously, it takes up almost the entire room. It's crazy big! I'm still waiting for a squirrel to jump out.


Of course, every tree trimming party needs a cocktail. This is the one I made tonight, after we'd finished decorating and were enjoying the lights & strong fragrance of pine.

Homemade Egg Nog
from Kitchen Conservatory

Makes 1 gallon

12 eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups bourbon (or brandy)
4 cups heavy cream
nutmeg, to taste

• In a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks and sugar together with a pinch of salt until pale yellow and fluffy.
  
• Continue whipping and, very slowly, pour in the bourbon.
  
• In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites until they hold peaks.
  
• In a separate bowl, whip the cream until it holds peaks.
  
• Fold together the egg yolks, egg whites, and whipped cream. Garnish with lots of freshly-grated nutmeg.

Note: This will keep for a week in the refrigerator.

Jerad worshipping at the altar of The Tree.
He's a little like Clark Griswold.

Favorite Holiday Recipes

I'm really trying to like the holidays more each year. What helps is all the rich, fattening, & sugar-laden foods that are perfectly acceptable to gorge yourself on during the month of December.

Food traditions also help me to love the holiday season. For a few years, I made real Fettuccine Alfredo (heavy cream, butter, garlic, & Parmesan cheese) with crab on Christmas Eve. It's the ultimate in indulgence. Last year, we made Homemade Ravioli & Meat Sauce at Jerad's parents' house on Christmas Eve. We plan to make that our new family tradition.

My favorite Christmas morning brunch dish is Salmon-Stuffed Puff Pastry, a roll of puff pastry filled with smoked salmon & herbed scrambled eggs. It goes perfectly with a mimosa (or two). Espresso Walnut Cake makes a tasty breakfast treat as well. I also make a lot of gingerbread during the holidays. My two favorite recipes are Chocolate Gingerbread and Triple Ginger Bread.

Speaking of gingerbread, a couple years ago I was obsessed with gingerbread syrup (the kind of syrup they use in lattes). I got two huge bottles to make "Christmas in a glass" cocktails (champagne with a splash of spicy gingerbread syrup. I had so much of it, though, that I started coming up with different ways to use it, including a Gingerbread Vinaigrette which is delicious on a spinach & fruit salad with goat cheese.

What holiday food traditions do you have in your family?

What are your favorite holiday recipes?

Give the Gift of Grub

My favorite gift to give to friends, co-workers, & neighbors is homemade treats. Here are a few of my best "make to give" recipes:

Christmas Fudge - So, it uses marshmallow fluff. Who cares! It's easy to make and tastes good.

Pistachio Cranberry Biscotti - Very festive with green & red specks!

Spiced Pecans - No one can resist a pretty jar full of these sweet & spicy snacks.

I've also given jams & homemade bread, spice mixes, candied citrus peel, and cookie mix jars as holiday gifts.

You could also make infused vodkas (bacon vodka, anyone? It's so good in a bloody mary!) or limoncello.

One idea on my gift list that I plan to try this year is Paula Deen's Pear Honey:

1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple with syrup
16 cups (about 6 pounds) peeled, cored, and chopped pears
10 cups sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice or 4 pieces ginger

Mix all ingredients and cook until pears are tender and mixture thickens, approximately 30 minutes. Place in sterilized jars and seal while still hot.

Quinoa Pilaf with Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, and Bacon

Ok, so, this is day 9 of NaBloPoMo. I've been pretty proud of myself for posting every day so far, without much fluffy filler. While I have a lot of recipes waiting in the wings to get posted, I am running out of witty banter. Instead of telling an enlightening story, let me catch you up on what's been going on around here.

First of all, I can't seem to figure out why the bold feature won't undo itself on the text in this post (or why some of the text is bigger than the rest). I've tried selecting all the text and pushing the "b" button & resizing the text, but it doesn't work. So, this post is in bold. With some bigger letters. Deal with it.

For those of you who've been asking, there are NO wedding plans yet. We've talked about a couple possibilities, and even though I want to do something simple, we are running into a few snags (mainly WHEN to get married). I thought I had the perfect plan: Spring break, Vegas ceremony early in the week, pig roast reception later in the week. But that's probably a little too soon for our budget and a Vegas wedding/outdoor reception in the summer doesn't seem like such a good idea. So, we're still working on it.

There is just over a week of school left before winter break. I still have a ton of papers to grade between now and then, but I've really been trying to not bring so much work home this year. All in all, I've had a fairly good year and am excited about some of the things going on in my classroom.

I STILL haven't done any holiday decorating or shopping. I doubt we'll get a tree this year, since Jerad isn't done refinishing the floors yet. I suggested we not buy gifts for each other, since he just bought a ring and we should start saving for the wedding, but I don't think he's going to stick to that. So, I'll be shopping for gifts at the last minute like I always do.

Today, I simply don't have a story to tell about quinoa or making this recipe...other than that the way I got Jerad to eat it for dinner was to remind him that there was BACON in it & that the quinoa was toasted IN BACON FAT.

Oh, and, I've made quinoa before. If you're not sure what quinoa is, or even how to pronounce it, read that post.

Quinoa Pilaf with Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, and Bacon

adapted from Serious Eats

According to Serious Eats: "Full of fiber and antioxidants, this is one-bowl meal you can feel virtuous about eating. The bacon contributes smoky flavor and a nice textural contrast, but you could leave it out if you wanted to make this a vegetarian dish. (In that case, skip the bacon step and instead sauté the onions in 1 tablespoon of olive oil.)"

2 to 4 slices of bacon, diced
1/4 large onion, cut in half and sliced thin
1 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 medium sweet potato, peeled & cut into 1/4-inch cubes
8 ounces baby spinach
2 tablespoons olive oil

My notes: First of all, when a recipe calls for 2-4 slices of bacon, I'm going to go with 4...because when it comes to bacon, more is always better. Right? Right. This, however, meant that I had too much bacon fat left in the pan. So, I drained some out until there was just a thin layer left in which to toast the quinoa.

• In a medium saucepan cook the bacon over medium heat until the bacon is crisp and the fat is rendered, about 10 minutes. Reserve the bacon bits.
• Saute the onions into the hot bacon fat, stirring occasionally, until the onions soften, about 5 minutes. Add the quinoa and toss until coated with the fat and the grains are slightly toasted, about 2 minutes more. Add the water and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, bring to a boil, stir once, cover, reduce to low and let cook undisturbed until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes.
• While the quinoa is cooking, toss the sweet potatoes with the olive oil and salt and cook in a medium skillet until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
• When the quinoa is cooked, stir in the spinach & cook until the spinach is wilted. Add the sweet potatoes and reserved bacon.
• Serve with a sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Tuesdays with Dorie: Sablés

Hey, lookie here! I finally made another Tuesdays with Dorie recipe (I had to take a break, because there were simply way too many sweets around here all the time)! This week's recipe was chosen by Barbara of Bungalow Barbara.

Sablés are delicate French shortbread cookies made with butter, sugar, egg yolks & flour. The dough, which is very crumbly, is shaped into logs & chilled before being cut & baked.

Dorie suggests brushing the logs with egg yolk & rolling them in decorating sugar before cutting, to create a colorful edge on each cookie. Instead, I cut the logs first (no egg wash) then gently pressed coarse sugar into the top of each cookie. I decorated some with peppermint-flavored red & white sprinkles and others with black & opal sugars.


Since I am still getting used to my new oven, which is actually registering hotter than it should, I slightly burned the first batch of cookies. The rest, luckily, turned out great!

Hot Buttered Rum

We got our first snow today. It wasn't a big snow, but there was a dusting of white on a few lawns when I left for work this morning. It seems that winter is finally here (after an unseasonably warm fall).

The warm weather has really put a damper on my holiday spirit; it just doesn't feel like Christmas to me. It threw off my whole seasonal clock when it was warm AND getting dark by 5:00. Plus, I haven't put up any decorations (we were supposed to get a tree this weekend, but then Jerad decided to refinish the wood floors), I haven't bought any presents, and I haven't done any holiday baking. I haven't even read my annual "anti-Christmas" book yet (though, I have this year's book picked out already...You Better Not Cry by Augusten Burroughs * ).

But, I'm ready to enjoy the winter. I'm ready for lazy days during holiday break, sipping a hot drink while a fire crackles in the fireplace. The December issue of Sauce Magazine featured several hot drink recipes I'd like to try, including real hot chocolate with a few tasty stir-in ideas & a bourbon-apple toddy.

However, my favorite warming winter drink is hot buttered rum. It's spicy, rich, potent...and quite soothing for a sore throat. Plus, only during the holidays is it acceptable to drink melted butter...mmmmm, butter.

Hot Buttered Rum

Makes 8 cups

1 stick unsalted butter (not margarine!), at room temperature
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
spiced rum
boiling water
cinnamon sticks, for garnish (optional)

• Mix the butter with the sugar & salt.
• Put 1 tablespoon of butter in a mug.
• Add a shot of spiced rum to the mug.
• Fill mug with boiling water, stir to combine.
• Serve with a cinnamon stick.

* Every year, I read an "anti-Christmas" book. You see, I hate Christmas (though, the past couple years have been pretty good thanks to Jerad and his family). Several years ago, I read David Sedaris's Holidays on Ice (a collection of his Christmas stories) and it made me feel better because it was so disturbingly funny (as are most of his stories). My favorite selection from that book is the holiday letter from a dysfunctional family. Afterwards, I decided to read one book like that each December. So far, I've also read An Idiot Girl's Christmas (so funny!) and The Stupidest Angel.

Creamy Tomato Soup

Speaking of comfort foods...the ultimate comforting meal for me--and I'd guess for most people--is usually tomato soup & grilled cheese, old school style. It reminds me of childhood winters, of coming inside for lunch all pink-cheeked after playing in the snow; of grade-school cafeteria lunches, of being excited about getting to buy a lunch instead of packing one or walking home for lunch; of dorm-room meals cooked in a microwave and electric sandwich maker. It reminds me of my mom.

I still crave the comfort of tomato soup and grilled cheese, but these days I forgo the canned soup & white bread with American cheese slices for a more "mature" version.

Creamy Tomato Soup

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium white onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
38 ounces crushed tomatoes
4 cups chicken (or vegetable) stock
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 cup heavy cream
salt & pepper
chopped flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion & garlic and cook until soft, about 4-5 minutes.
• Stir in the crushed tomatoes and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.
• Add the stock, curry powder, and paprika. Simmer for 7-10 minutes.
• Puree the soup in a blender in three batches (be careful when blending hot liquids, as they expand). Pour each batch of puree through a strainer into a saucepan.
• Stir in the cream. Taste and add salt & pepper as needed.
  
• Serve with a sprinkling of chopped parsley & a few cheesy croutons (recipe below).

For the croutons: Simply cut 1/2-inch thick slices of a baguette or a good loaf of bread. Toast the bread on both sides in a skillet with a bit of olive oil. Top each slice with a generous sprinkling of freshly grated cheddar & Parmesan cheeses. Broil the slices just until the cheese melts. Cut into cubes & add to your soup.

Comfort Foods

Today is National Comfort Food Day, and I'm ready to celebrate. "Comfort" foods are my favorite foods to eat; I never tired of warming soups, hearty pastas, and rich desserts (which probably explains why I've gone up a couple pants sizes in the past few years!).

So, in honor of this day, I've collected some of my best comfort and winter-weather recipes:

Soup:

Chestnut & Potato
Lamb Minestrone
Lentils & Sausage
Potato & Leek
Red Lentil & Pumpkin

Pasta:


Cincinnati Chili
Lasagna Bolognese
Pasta with Crab, Artichokes, Lemon & Sage
Sicilian-style Spaghetti
Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti with Bacon & Breadcrumbs
Ultimate Macaroni & Cheese with Peas & Bacon
Veal & Pork Ravioli with Meat Sauce

Other Favorites:


Chili Dog
Croissants
No-Knead Bread
Polenta Fries
Pizza
Quick Cassoulet
Smoked Mackerel Toasts

Breakfast:


Espresso Muffins
Huevos Rancheros
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Oatmeal

Sweets:


Black & White Banana Loaf
Carrot Cake
Chocolate & Banana Chip Cookies
Chocolate Sorbet
Flourless Chocolate Red Wine Cake with Rosemary Ganache
French Chocolate Brownies
Rice Pudding
Tall & Creamy Cheesecake

Momofuku Pork Belly Buns

A couple weeks ago, my friend Stephanie (aka Iron Stef) helped me make David Chang's roasted pork belly & Chinese steamed buns. The recipe comes from his new cookbook Momofuku, named after his acclaimed New York noodle bar (which was named after the guy who invented instant ramen).

Chang's book received attention when it was released in October not only because of the recipes and gorgeous color photos but also because of his narrative voice. In the introduction to each section, Chang "relays with candor the tale of his unwitting rise to superstardom, which, though wracked with mishaps, happened at light speed." And he curses. A lot.

On Oct. 27, the day Momofuku was published, Ian Froeb made some interesting observations in his Twitter updates (Ian is the food critic for The Riverfront Times & editor of their "Gut Check" blog):

# of paragraphs in Momofuku cookbook before first f-bomb? 7.5

# of paragraphs in Momofuku cookbook before questionable use of phrase "golden shower"? 3.5

in other words, having read only the intro, ready to declare Momofuku cookbook of the year. certainly the most entertaining.

The book does make for a good read. In fact, I read it cover-to-cover like a novel. Even the recipes themselves are entertaining reading. For example, in his steamed buns recipe he writes: "Cover the armada of little dough balls with a draping of plastic wrap and allow them to rest and rise for 30 minutes." Good stuff.

Warning: This cookbook is written for serious cooks. Chang even admits that some recipes aren't meant for home cooks. Other recipes, like his infamous pork belly buns, are fairly easy; they just require many time-consuming steps. But in the case of the pork belly buns, the time is totally worth it.

Pork Belly

One 3-pound slab skinless pork belly
1⁄4 cup kosher salt
1 ⁄4 cup sugar

• Nestle the belly into a roasting pan or other oven-safe vessel that holds it snugly. Mix together the salt and sugar in a small bowl and rub the mix all over the meat; discard any excess salt-and-sugar mixture. Cover the container with plastic wrap and put it into the fridge for at least 6 hours, but no longer than 24.
• Heat the oven to 450ºF.
• Discard any liquid that accumulated in the container. Put the belly in the oven, fat side up, and cook for 1 hour, basting it with the rendered fat at the halfway point, until it’s an appetizing golden brown.
• Turn the oven temperature down to 250ºF and cook for another 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, until the belly is tender—it shouldn’t be falling apart, but it should have a down pillow–like yield to a firm finger poke. Remove the pan from the oven and transfer the belly to a plate. Decant the fat and the meat juices from the pan and reserve (see the headnote). Allow the belly to cool slightly.
• When it’s cool enough to handle, wrap the belly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and put it in the fridge until it’s thoroughly chilled and firm. (You can skip this step if you’re pressed for time, but the only way to get neat, nice-looking slices is to chill the belly thoroughly before slicing it.)
• Cut the pork belly into 1⁄2-inch-thick slices that are about 2 inches long. Warm them for serving in a pan over medium heat, just for a minute or two, until they are jiggly soft and heated through. Use at once.

Steamed Buns

Makes about 50 buns

Okay, fifty buns is a lot of buns. But the buns keep in the freezer for months and
months without losing any quality, and if you cut the recipe down any more than this,
there’s barely enough stuff in the bowl of the mixer for the dough hook to pick up. So
clear out a couple of hours and some space in the freezer and get to work.

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
11⁄2 cups water, at room temperature
41⁄4 cups bread flour
6 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Rounded 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 ⁄3 cup rendered pork fat or vegetable shortening, at room temperature

• Combine the yeast and water in the bowl of a stand mixer outfitted with the dough hook. Add the flour, sugar, milk powder, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and fat and mix on the lowest speed possible, just above a stir, for 8 to 10 minutes. The dough should gather together into a neat, not-too-tacky ball on the hook. When it does, lightly oil a medium mixing bowl, put the dough in it, and cover the bowl with a dry kitchen towel. Put it in a turned-off oven with a pilot light or other warmish place and let rise until the dough doubles in bulk, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Punch the dough down and turn it out onto a clean work surface. Using a bench scraper or a knife, divide the dough in half, then divide each half into 5 equal pieces. Gently roll the pieces into logs, then cut each log into 5 pieces, making 50 pieces total. They should be about the size of a Ping-Pong ball and weigh about 25 grams, or a smidge under an ounce. Roll each piece into a ball. Cover the armada of little dough balls with a draping of plastic wrap and allow them to rest and rise for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut out fifty 4-inch squares of parchment paper. Coat a chopstick with whatever fat you’re working with.
• Flatten one ball with the palm of your hand, then use a rolling pin to roll it out into a 4-inch-long oval. Lay the greased chopstick across the middle of the oval and fold the oval over onto itself to form the bun shape. Withdraw the chopstick, leaving the bun folded, and put the bun on a square of parchment paper. Stick it back under the plastic wrap (or a dry kitchen towel) and form the rest of the buns. Let the buns rest for 30 to 45 minutes: they will rise a little.
• Set up a steamer on the stove. Working in batches so you don’t crowd the steamer, steam the buns on the parchment squares for 10 minutes. Remove the parchment. You can use the buns immediately (reheat them for a minute or so in the steamer if necessary) or allow to cool completely, then seal in plastic freezer bags and freeze for up to a few months. Reheat frozen buns in a stovetop steamer for 2 to 3 minutes, until puffy, soft, and warmed all the way through.

Quick Salt Pickles

Makes about 2 cups
(halve or double the recipe as needed)

2 meaty Kirby cucumbers, cut into 1⁄8-inch-thick disks.
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt

• Combine the cucumbers with the sugar and salt in a small mixing bowl and toss to coat with the sugar and salt. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Taste: if the pickles are too sweet or too salty, put them into a colander, rinse off the seasoning, and dry in a kitchen towel. Taste again and add more sugar or salt as needed.
• Serve after 5 to 10 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.

TO ASSEMBLE THE BUNS: Slather each bun with hoisin sauce. Then place a slice of pork belly, a couple pickles, & a sprinkling of sliced scallions inside the buns. Eat & be amazed that you made such a tasty dish. The next morning, take some buns from the freezer, steam them for just a couple minutes to reheat, then stuff each with scallion scrambled eggs & leftover pork belly that you've reheated in a skillet. Dress with hoisin sauce (or hot sauce if you're feeling frisky) for a breakfast of champions.

Thanks to Steph for taking the photos!

Grandma Tuffy's Sauteed Spinach

I've eaten this spinach dish two times in the past four days. It's THAT good.

Jerad's mom makes this recipe every year for Thanksgiving. It comes from her great-grandmother on her mother's side, Tuffy Lilian Iztwig (whose parents were German immigrants).

The first time I spent Thanksgiving at Jerad's parents' house, his mom became too ill to finish cooking dinner. So, his sister asked me to make the spinach; there was no written recipe, and I'd never eaten--or even seen--the dish before. I was informed that it had "spinach and bouillon" in it. That sounded easy enough.

I dissolved a couple bouillon cubes in about a cup of hot water, then I cooked the frozen spinach in it.

I was later informed that my spinach wasn't right; it tasted nothing like it should.

Sheesh.

Last Saturday, I actually got to watch Gwen make the spinach. Wow, was it good! I ate the leftovers for breakfast with a poached egg on top. WOW, so good! I also made the spinach Tuesday night with our dinner of seared sirloin and cauliflower gratin. Our friend Ashby said the spinach was his favorite part.

Grandma Tuffy's Sauteed Spinach

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
2 beef bouillon cubes, crushed
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
14 ounces frozen baby spinach, slightly thawed

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan.
• Add the bouillon cubes & mix to dissolve.
• Stir in the flour to create a thin roux.
• Add the spinach, stir & cook until the sauce coats the spinach and it's all warmed through.

Menu for Hope

I am thinking of offering a prize for this year's Menu for Hope campaign (see below for more info) & I need ideas! In the past, prizes were anything from home-baked cookies to signed cookbooks to dinner at local restaurants to trips to wine country.

According to the campaign's creator: "The prize you offer need not be of high monetary value, but it should appeal to your readership. A small rule of thumb we'd like to suggest is that each prize offered should have the potential to raise at least $200. That means, don't offer a prize unless you are pretty sure you could get at least twenty of your readers to donate $10 for a raffle ticket toward that prize."

I've thought of offering a private cooking lesson or a catered dinner, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with going to stranger's house for that (unless, of course, one of my friends were to win!).

ANY SUGGESTIONS? WHAT KIND OF PRIZES WOULD YOU LIKE TO BID ON?

I am hoping one of my favorite local chefs/restaurants/businesses (you know who you are!) would be interested in donating something that I could offer through my blog (I'll handle all the hosting details & contact the winner with information on how to claim their prize). I'm thinking....dinner for two at one of St. Louis's best restaurants? A private cooking class at one of the city's best cooking schools?

PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DONATING SOMETHING! I'd really like to see St. Louis get involved in this worthwhile endeavor.

* * *

From Chez Pim:

What is Menu for Hope? Menu for Hope is an annual fundraising campaign hosted by me and a revolving group of food bloggers around the world. Five years ago, the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia inspired me to find a way to help, and the very first Menu for Hope was born. The campaign has since become a yearly affair. For the past three years, Menu for Hope raised nearly a quarter of million dollars in support of the good work of the UN World Food Programme, helping to feed hungry people worldwide.

Each December, food bloggers from all over the world join the campaign by offering a delectable array of food-related prizes for the Menu for Hope raffle. Anyone – and that means you too - can buy raffle tickets to bid on these prizes. For every $10 donated, you earn one virtual raffle ticket to bid on a prize of their choice. At the end of the two-week campaign, the raffle tickets are drawn and the results announced on Chez Pim.

When will this year's campaign take place?
December 14 through Christmas.

Who is the beneficiary of this year's campaign?
Once again we've chosen to work with the UN World Food Programme. WFP is the world’s largest food aid agency, working with over 1,000 other organizations in over 75 countries. In addition to providing food, the World Food Program helps hungry people to become self-reliant so that they escape hunger for good.

This year, we are supporting a new initiative at the WFP called Purchase for Progress (P4P). P4P enables smallholder and low-income farmers to supply food to WFP’s global operation. P4P helps farmers improves farming practices and puts more cash directly into their pockets in return for their crops. This will also help buoy local economy by creating jobs and income locally. We food bloggers understand the importance of buying locally and supporting our local farms, P4P helps do the same for farmers in low income countries around the world. More on P4P at http://www.wfp.org/purchase-progress.

NaBloPoMo

So, I’ve decided to participate in National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) , an event that challenges bloggers to post every day for a month.

I’m attempting this for a few reasons. First, I get a couple of weeks off this month for winter break, so I’ll have more time to do some cooking and writing...and there are so many things I've been wanting to cook!

Secondly, December is a great food month. I plan to post several of my favorite holiday and winter recipes as well as some ideas for food gifts.

Finally, I kind of hate this month. Christmas is usually a stressful and emotional time for me. (Though, the longer I am with Jerad, the more I like it.) Nonetheless, daily posting will help to distract me from my normal bah-hum-bug-ness. Hopefully, anyway.

So, here we go...

Since the weather has finally gotten cold (I actually had to scrape ice off of my car windows this morning), Jerad had a good duck hunt today (he says the best in two years). Instead of just cutting out the breast meat, he also harvested (harvested? that seems like the wrong word) the livers and cut off the legs (we are going to try making confit sometime soon).

Tonight, Jerad sauteed the livers--that were soaked in milk then seasoned simply with salt & pepper--in a little olive oil. He served them with baguette slices and rendered duck fat (that we schmeared on the bread like butter). I was skeptical, thinking the wild duck livers would be too gamey, too--well--livery. But, there were delicious!