The search for the ultimate macaroni and cheese never ends. That’s a good thing, too, because it’s fun to try out and taste more dishes made of pasta and cheese. Tonight’s version was based on the creamy baked mac-and-cheese by Deb of Smitten Kitchen. The main draw was the avoidance of both pre-cooked pasta and […]
Tag Archives: comfort
Student memories: Hummus topped with ground chicken & pine nuts
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Back in school, my friends Ananda, Carolyn and I used to frequent a small Middle Eastern eatery in a half-empty strip mall in Pomona. Their hummus was divine: it came with either a swirl of paprika-infused olive oil or grilled meat, and a basket of warm pita bread. Sadly, according to Ananda, this dive no […]
Variations on hot chocolate
Wednesday, 21 March 2007
Hot chocolate is great for dessert, or as comfort on a cold evening. One of my favorite chocolate drink experiences was at Ladurée in Paris: Just barely sweet and thick, slowly and happily relished. My opinion of hot chocolate mixes here in the United States has ranged from kinda interested to very disappointed. It can […]
Baked macaroni and cheese
Sunday, 21 January 2007
I have this fond memory of the cheesy, creamy goodness of the baked macaroni and cheese from the Netscape cafeteria. That memory cropped up recently, along with the thought, “Hm, it’s been a while since I’ve made or eaten mac-n-cheese.” This recipe is influenced, of course, by others: The one from The Joy of Cooking […]
Chicken rice soup for a cold
Friday, 19 January 2007
Or, rather, for the cold which has been haranguing me for nearly two weeks. This soup is quite simple: Throw rice into a pot of chicken stock, then simmer until done. The small amount of rice expands into a remarkably generous serving! Depending on your taste, you can additional spices or veggies. The basic recipe […]
Comfort Noodles
Wednesday, 17 January 2007
Comfort Noodles is the name we gave this soup: To comfort you on cold days and nights, to comfort you when having a cold. This recipe was inspired by phở gà, Vietnamese chicken noodle soup, and ramen. Oddly, I haven’t made this yet using ramen noodles. Spaghetti works easily since I almost always have it […]
Chicken sausages roasted with vegetables
Saturday, 23 December 2006
This is a comforting one-dish meal, perfect during cold weather. Use unsmoked, uncooked chicken apple sausages for the best effect: the apple juice adds a subtle sweetness to the surrounding veggies.
Blancmange: Cornstarch Puddings
Monday, 28 August 2006
Cornstarch is the thickener here instead of eggs. The amount of cornstarch determines the firmness of the blancmange: 2 tablespoons yields a very soft pudding, whereas 3 tablespoons yields a rather firm one. There are quite few variations you can play with this pudding: For a richer pudding, use evaporated milk or half-and-half instead of […]