Feelin' the Love

They say love makes the world go 'round. Well, we food bloggers are doing our part to keep the world spinning. Today I'm accepting some tags and awards from lovely bloggers and passing them on to more lovely bloggers.

Wendy of A Wee Bit of Cooking (an old blogger friend) and Sarah of Homemade (a new blogger friend) have tagged me for the 6 Word Memoir Meme. Like the title implies, you sum up your life in 6 words, then tag 6 more bloggers to do the same. Here's mine:

Thirteen years.
Seven homes.
One husband.

Here are 6 more people I'd like to hear from:

1. Ivy of Kopiaste
2. The Zen Chef of Chefs Gone Wild
3. Emily of Superspark
   
4. Linda of Make Life Sweeter
   
5. Peter of Kalofagas
6. Susan of Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy

One of dearest food bloggers I know, Deeba of Passionate About Baking, has flattered me with a nomination for a Blog of Distinction. Here's how it works: You nominate 5 blogs that make you laugh, cry, think, or sigh. Thank you, Deeba, for making me laugh with your cartoons, think with your quotes, and sigh with your creations that are always baked with love. You brighten my day.

1. Marie of Proud Italian Cook makes me sigh. When I read her posts about her family and see her recipes for Italian dishes like her amazing sausage bread, I am instantly transported back home to Rhode Island. Thanks, Marie, for making 3,000 miles not seem so far.
   
2. Anne-Marie of Ambrosia and Nectar has a knack for teaching, not preaching about cuisine. I also admire the way she takes a humble ingredient like a prune and transforms it into something extraordinary.
   
3. Emiline of Sugarplum makes me laugh. I like the way she embraces life in all its quirky wonderfulness and that she doesn't take herself too seriously. Plus, have you seen this girl's brownies? Dang.
   
4. Susan of Farmgirl Fare takes photos of her farm animals that make me go "Aaawwww." (And I'm not even an animal lover. ) Look at this photo, then tell me you didn't do the same thing. Susan, thanks for making me sigh and laugh.
5. I "met" Dhanggit of Dhanggit's Kitchen when she submitted her festive Tropical Santa Cookies to my Eat Christmas Cookies event last December, and we've been regular visitors ever since. Dhanggit's innovative recipes and lovely photographs are a pleasure to see. So I was truly saddened to learn in this post that her beloved father recently passed away. My heart is with Dhanggit and her family. That's why her blog made me cry.
   

Amy from FamiliaBencomo has nominated me for the Arte y Pico Award. Here's how it works: You select 5 blogs that you feel excel in creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language. Thank you, Amy, for your generosity; I am humbled that you consider me your "culinary muse."

Here are my 5 nominations:

1. Suganya of Tasty Palettes inspires me with her exceptional recipes and artfully composed photographs. What's even more impressive is that Suganya recently celebrated her blog's first anniversary, so it can only get better and better.
2. Helen of Tartlette. Extraordinary desserts. Extraordinary photography. Extraordinary blog. Thank you, Helen, for your endless creativity and flair.
3. Jess's blog, Cakespy, has a touch of whimsy that I find enchanting. From her fantastic artwork to her humorous posts, Jess just seems like she's always having a good time. How could you not like that?
   
4. Anh of Food Lover's Journey inspires me with her elegant culinary creations and evocative photography. I admire Anh: In addition to blogging, she has just completed the first round of her PhD program! Not too shabby.
   
5. T.W.'s passions for food history and baking come together in his spectacular historical cakes. T.W. bakes cakes from vintage cookbooks and children's books then writes engagingly about their origins. I'm thinking maybe he should change his blog's name from "Culinary Types" to "Let Them Eat Cake." Hey, it's historical.

A while back I nominated Deeba of Passionate About Baking for an Excellence Award, and she simultaneously nominated me for a Nice Matters Award. Pretty cool, huh? I am especially touched since Deeba is one of the sweetest bloggers I know. Here are more 5 more exceptionally nice bloggers:

1. Shn of Mishmash!
2. Anali of Anali's First Amendment
   
3. Elle of Feeding My Enthusiasms
   
4. Bal of KaRaFaKiDeN TaTLaR and Be Foodie! (her English language blog)
   
5. OK, this one is actually for you, dear readers. Thank you for taking the time to read my posts and for leaving thoughtful comments. You're the reason I love blogging.

Tomorrow is the first day of my Beautiful Bones event. Hope to see you there!

Thanksgiving Candles and a Couple of Memes

My friend Michelle from Scribbit explained that things can get pretty quiet during an Alaskan winter with "all that snow and darkness and hibernation." So she created the Winter Bazaar where people can submit ideas for crafts, games, decorations, etc. based on a monthly theme. For November, it's Thanksgiving or autumn.

I'm not an especially craftsy person, but I thought these jack-be-little pumpkins candles were just too cute and easy not to submit. I didn't even have to go to a craft store to make them, just the supermarket.

Here's how to do it:
1. Buy some jack-be-little pumpkins or other small, decorative gourds.
2. Place a votive candle on the top of the gourd and trace it.
3. Using a small pairing or carving knife, cut the top of the gourd and remove the seeds.
4. Place the votive candle snugly in the cut-out. (If you make the circle too big, then fill the inside with some aluminum foil to prop up the candle.) You could also make a larger cut-out and place fresh cranberries around the candle, but that's a bit too craftsy for me.

You Make Me Smile Award

I received an email from Chris of Melecotte saying that she named me as a blogger who makes her smile. As you can imagine, that made me smile, and so does Chris. We've been visiting each other's sites for months now, and I think our shared New England heritage has helped cement our friendship. Chris writes honest, funny posts, leaves sincere, thoughtful comments, and is an all-around sweet blogger.

Now for bloggers who make me smile:

Aria of Passionate Nonchalance. Maybe it's because we are both native Rhode Islanders living in Southern California--I don't know--but Aria's blog appealed to me immediately. I love the way she finds humor in the mundane and always seems to be having fun. Plus, she knows what I mean when I say I'm making "the gravy."

Gattina of Kitchen Unplugged makes me smile for many reasons, not the least of which is her endless creativity. Gattina's site is definitely "eye-candy;" but she's more than just a pretty blog. She's a talented cook who creates unique recipes and styles her food in ways that never fail to inspire me.

Kate of Kate in the Kitchen manages to see humor in everyday situations and writes about them in a way that makes you feel like she's talking just to you. With Kate, it's more than just the food; it's the experience that she relishes and shares. Plus, she carves her Halloween pumpkins with power tools--a drill Bit, to be precise. Look. Now, doesn't that just make you smile?

Sig of Live to Eat cracks me up. It's that simple. I love her candor, which I find both amusing and endearing. Sig just embraces life, which makes me smile.

Sara of Ms. Adventures in Italy because she is remarkably observant, and her photos are at turns, amusing, poignant, and clever. Sarah's unique take on life always make me smile.

Shn of Mishmash because she writes lovingly of her family and her food. Shn's sweet nature comes across in her posts as well as her comments (which I always appreciate).

Frank Caliendo impersonating John Madden (pro football analyst and announcer). Check out this 3 minute You Tube video "Mad TV John Madden Popcorn Popper" if you want to chuckle. I like pro football, and I love John Madden. He says things so sincerely and unpretentiously that he's hysterical even when he doesn't intend to be. And Frank Caliendo is a dead-ringer for John. He doesn't just make me smile, he makes me laugh. Out loud.

Gattina of Kitchen Unplugged has tagged me for The "Four" Meme:

Four places I have lived:
Providence, RI
Chapel Hill, NC
Los Angeles, CA
San Diego, CA

Four jobs I have had:
sandwich maker-I think I can still smell pickles on my hands, and it's been 20 years.
actor-Modesty prevents me from stating the number of Oscars and Emmy's I have received.
teacher-5 years and my hair turned permanently grey. Thank goodness for Clairol.
library assistant-My boss was like Mr. Bookman from that Seinfeld episode. The job lasted one semester.

Four favorite places I had holidays:
London, England
Seattle, WA
San Fransisco, CA
Miami, FL

Four favorite foods:
pizza-any pizza
my mom's gingerbread-absolutely the very best
gnocchi-homemade and heavy
my dad's pizzelle-they're so good, he actually Fed-exes them to me

Four places I'd rather be:
setting up my Dad's Christmas village with him (while a football game plays in the background)
making Christmas cookies with my mom (my favorite Christmas pastime)
working out with my husband (I have to burn off those cookies and pizza)
in a fabulous salon getting the perfect haircut and make-up (let me know if this place exists)

If you'd like to do this meme, then consider yourself tagged!

I've Been Tagged. Twice.

Memes have been flying everywhere lately, and I've recently been hit by two of them.

The lovely Shn of Mishmash would like me to share 7 random things about myself:

1. I’ve never eaten a Twinkie or a Devil Dog. Can I still call myself American?

2. I’ve been a vegetarian for almost 20 years. Not because of political or religious reasons. Because of bad chicken.

3. My first job was working at a sandwich shop. My manager almost fired for making the sandwiches “too big.” He obviously was not Italian.

4. I have an abnormal fear of the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz. To this day, I cannot watch it because of her. Seriously.

5. I love the NFL. I’m still not sure what a“corner” does, but I do know that Tom Brady of the Patriots is one fine quarterback.

6. Fathers do know best. My father first met my husband, Jeff, when Jeff and I were in the 9th grade together. My dad wanted me to go to my freshman semi-formal dance with Jeff, which I thought was weird. (I mean, who would go with a boy that their Dad hooked them up with?) Jeff and I just celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. OK, Dad, you were right.

7. Jeff and I have moved seven times in 12 years. We’re in San Diego now. What’s not to love about it? It was ranked #2 best weather in the world after The Canary Islands. Not too shabby. Plus, I don’t think The Canary Islands have an NFL team.

The delightful Kate of Kate in the Kitchen has tagged me for another meme.

What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was in graduate school at Brown University.

Five snacks you enjoy:
Frozen bananas with peanut butter
Popcorn with Splenda and cinnamon
Hummus and carrots
Granny Smith apples and roasted almonds
Protein shakes

Five songs you know all the lyrics to:
None. I’m hopeless.

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
Spend a week in the Canary Islands, just to see what number 1 is like.
Buy a set of Wusthof knives.
Buy a winery for my Dad. It might even convince him to retire.
Invent a computer that would never crash, or lose my files, or be mean to me.
Design high heels that don’t hurt. Plus, I’d make many more millions that way.

Five bad habits:
Snapping my gum. Yup, I’m one of those annoying gum snappers.
Taking waaay too many pictures to end up with just a couple for my posts.
Changing my -er's to -a's and my -a's to -er's at the end of words, like food blogga, get the idear?
Feeling weird about imposing on people by tagging them for memes (which I’m trying to overcome today).
Sometimes rooting for both teams in football. I just like a good game.

Five things you like doing:
Working out with my husband. One of these days I’m going to bench press as much as he does. OK, I’ll never bench press as much as he does, but a girl’s gotta have goals.
Going home to Rhode Island in the fall. The foliage, the weather, the apple-picking -- it doesn't get better than that.
Eating the crust off of pizza (including Jeff's pieces). Everybody knows that’s the best part. This might actually be a bad habit, depending on who you ask.
Going to the San Diego Zoo; it’s amazing.
Reading The New Yorker

Five things you would never wear again:
Shoulder pads - I just do more lateral raises....
Blue eyeliner
A pink sweat suit that said LEE in big letters across the front of the sweatshirt. In 7th grade I wore it one time and was told, "you look like you fell into a pool of Pepto-Bismal." I never wore it again.
A t-shirt that said, “You Toucha This Shirt, I Breaka You Face.” Yes, I had one, as did every other Italian adolescent in RI in the ‘80s. (Wait, I’m mistaken; Jeff just said that he didn’t have one.)
Leopard print anything. Only Adrianna from The Soprano's could pull it off.

Five favorite toys:
Atari (I was the undisputed Pac-Man champion until an untimely left thumb injury ended my career)
Jigsaw puzzles, the bigger the better
Lite-Brite (I thought I was Andy Warhol)
Slinky - kept me occupied for hours
Scrabble

I’m always hesitant about tagging others, but if you’ve got the time and interest, then feel free to play along. Since I’m supposed to tag five people for each, here are 10. You can select one or both memes to which you’d like to respond, then tag five more bloggers. I tag the following people:

Jeanne of Cook Sister!
Abby of Confabulation in the Kitchen
T. W. of Culinary Types
Karen of Family Style Food
Tanna of My Kitchen in Half Cups
Nicole of Pinch My Salt
Deborah of Play With Food
Valentina from Sweet Temptations
Bazu of Where’s the Revolution?
Meeta of What’s for Lunch Honey?


Oh, and coming soon to a Food Blogga near you... Lobsta!
Guess how many pounds!

Heuvos Rancheros son Muy Deliciosos

Since I live in Southern California, I really should speak Spanish. It’s not like I don’t know any Spanish. I know a few essential phrases, such as Buenas dias. ¿Cómo esta? Muchas gracias. And ¿Puedo tener huevos rancheros, por favor?

It’s not much, but it’s gotten me by so far, especially the last one. Knowing how to ask for huevos rancheros is muy importante since it’s one of my favorite dishes for brunch. So, when Rosa of Rosa’s Yummy Yums tagged me for a brunch meme I knew exactly what to make.

I ate heuvos rancheros for the first time 10 years ago in Chapel Hill, NC. Since then, I’ve eaten heuvos rancheros all over the country, from San Diego, CA to Miami, FL, and I can say two things for certain about them:

1. I’ve never had heuvos rancheros prepared the same way twice.
2. I’ve never had a dish of heuvos rancheros I haven’t liked.

Heuvos rancheros refers to a dish containing eggs and tortillas. It is one of those gloriously laid back dishes that seems to turn out well no matter how much (or little) effort goes into making it and no matter which ingredients are used. As with any regional dish, I’m sure there are many recipes for “the right way” to make them. If so, I don’t have it. I’m always altering the ingredients based on what is available seasonally and what I’m in the mood to eat.

One of the best I’ve ever had was in a diner in Albuquerque, NM, where they served the eggs fried, topped with black beans, and two sauces: a red and a green mole. Despite my efforts to replicate these moles, I never have quite achieved it. That’s ok. I’ll be happy to keep trying.

Regarding the eggs, I’ve had them fried, scrambled, and sunny side up, so it just depends on what you like. Though they’re usually served on soft corn tortillas, I’ve also made them on crispy corn tortilla chips and on whole wheat tortillas as well.

As for toppings? It’s up to you. Black beans are typical, but I like pinto as well as other veggies including peppers, potatoes, corn, and chayote squash. And for the cheese? From sharp cheddar to Jack to Cotija, they’re all good. Sour cream and guacamole are typical, but I like them without. And I’ve had all types of savory sauces: from fiery to sweet moles and various salsas.


For this post, I made one of my favorite (and easiest) versions with a salsa verde (green salsa) since the farmers’ market has just starting selling this season’s fresh crop of tomatillos. If you’re not familiar with tomatillos, pronounced (toh-MAH-tee-YOS), they look like a green tomato, but they’re actually a member of the gooseberry family. They are small, green spherical fruit that are encased in a papery husk and are often used in Mexican and Southwestern cooking. They have a slightly tart flavor, not unlike a Granny Smith apple, and sometimes taste lemony. When buying tomatillos, look for bright green fruits (not yellow or brown, which means they’re old), and make sure the papery husk is smooth and tight on the fruit, not shriveled or blackened. Tomatillos can be eaten raw or cooked.

For this sauce I roast the tomatillos, which mellows their tartness and pair them savory onions, fiery jalapenos, and tangy lime for a sauce with a little kick. The entire dish is pretty low-calorie yet filling, but you can add/substitute ingredients to your liking.

Tell me, do you enjoy heuvos rancheros and make them at home? If so, what’s your favorite way to prepare them? I’m always looking for new ideas.





Heuvos Rancheros with Salsa Verde
Makes 4 servings.
Print recipe only here.

½ cup white onion
1 small jalapeno with seeds
8-10 small tomatillos, husks removed, and quartered
1 tsp canola oil
The juice of ½ lime
1-2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt, to taste
1 (15-oz) can black beans, rinsed

8 eggs
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Optional garnishes:
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Sour cream or Mexican crema
Additional fresh cilantro
Diced avocado

To make the salsa, preheat broiler. Place tomatillos, onions, and whole jalapeno in an oven proof dish; add 1 tsp canola oil, and toss to coat. Place under broiler for about 10 minutes, or until brown spots begin to appear on the vegetables. Remove from broiler; let cool for a few minutes. Place in a blender; add lime juice, cilantro, and salt. Blend until coarsely mixed.

Meanwhile, heat black beans on stovetop or in microwave.

Beat eggs in a small bowl; scramble on stovetop for 2-3 minutes, or until at desired doneness. Alternatively, you can pan fry the eggs in a little canola oil. It’s a matter of preference.

To heat tortillas, simply place a tortilla directly over the flame of a stovetop burner. Using a pair of tongs, turn it several times to prevent it from burning, until it’s warmed through but still soft to the touch. Keep tortillas wrapped in foil to stay warm until ready to serve. Alternatively, place tortillas in a warm oven (about 250 degrees) for 8-10 minutes, or until warmed through but still soft to the touch.

For each serving, lay two warmed tortillas on plate, top with ¼ scrambled eggs, ¼ heated black beans, ¼ tomatillo salsa, and desired garnishes.

For more on tomatillos, check out this tasty post from Jeff of C for Cooking.

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More Thinking Bloggers

Many, many thanks to Michelle of Scribbit and T.W. of Culinary Types for generously nominating me as a Thinking Blogger. Michelle who lives and raises a family in Alaska posts everyday on an endless variety of interesting subjects. From tips about blackberries (the electronic type) to teaching children table manners to simply capturing the humor and beauty of everyday life, Scribbit is an exceptional blog. Once you get a taste of Michelle's writing, you'll keep coming back for more.

What I enjoy most about T.W.'s blog Culinary Types is the passion with which he writes each and every post. You share in his excitement when he tries a new recipe and willingly join him as he travels the globe for culinary treasures. T.W. is part historian, part writer, part chef, and all quality.

Since I didn't know this was a meme the first time I was tagged, I thought I'd do 10 nominees. I have about 50 favorite food blogs, but I chose these 10 nominees because they represent 10 different types of blogs, and I haven't seen them nominated (though they probably have been).

1. Alanna of A Veggie Venture and Kitchen Parade. A couple of months ago, I had the pleasure to share dinner with Alanna (a.k.a. The Veggie Evangelist) while she was in L.A. She was what I expected--talented, enthusiastic, and generous. Indeed, Alanna is brimming with brilliant ideas and has acted as a mentor to many food bloggers. She's also a committed editor and contributor to BlogHer where she writes engagingly about the food blogging community. If you haven't checked out BlogHer yet, then do so right away!

2. Cookiecrumb from I'm Mad and I Eat. The first time I read a post from Cookiecrumb, I laughed out loud. Seriously. Since that day, I continue to be entertained by her posts. Cookiecrumb is more than a funny lady though; she's a truly thoughtful food blogger. Click here to read about her current commitment to eating only locally produced food.

3. Elise of Simply Recipes. I think of Elise as the benevolent big sister of the food blogging family. She’s an endless source of information, inspiration, and insight into all things culinary. I especially appreciate her commitment to teaching people how to cook through her step-by-step tutorials (with excellent visuals) and simply worded recipes. What else can I say? Elise’s site is a treasure.

4. Jeanne of Cook Sister! From the first time I saw Jeanne’s warm smile (from the picture on her site) and read one of her posts, I was drawn in. Jeanne is a rarity—she has been in the food blogging world for several years yet writes each and every post with utter freshness and enthusiasm. I especially appreciate her series of detailed restaurant reviews. Beware: after reading some of them, you might be tempted to fly to London for dinner! Also, Jeanne, Johanna (see #5 below), and Andrew of Spitoon are co-founders of the ever popular Waiter, There’s Something in My monthly blog event.

5. Johanna of The Passionate Cook. I enjoy reading all of Johanna's posts, but I especially treasure her culinary city snapshot series. Her descriptions are so well developed and written that you feel as if you have visited the city yourself. Johanna is a prolific blogger whose delicious writing and photography is endlessly appealing.

6. Karen of Family Style Food. I have Alanna of A Veggie Venture to thank for introducing me to Karen. Talk about a small world—Karen grew up in an Italian family in Rhode Island, so we clearly share a bond. In fact, I have learned that her father’s family owned Tedesco’s Meat Market in RI, where my mom and I shopped for years! Like the name implies, Karen shares delicious, lovingly home cooked meals (and engaging stories) on her blog. Like we say in RI, this is one wicked good blog!

7. Pille of Nami-Nami. Reading Pille’s blog is like taking a culinary journey to Estonia. Though I’ve never actually eaten Estonian food, I feel as if I have, thanks to Pille’s thoughtfully detailed and informative posts. She has an appealing style that is both laid-back and smart (just look at her photo to see what I mean), and she leaves sincere, thoughtful comments, which I always appreciate.

8. Rob from Hungry in Hogtown. Rob's blog is a gem. His posts are thoughtfully conceived, intelligently composed, and endlessly appealing. Rob's experimentation with molecular gastronomy is fascinating (just check out the passionate reader responses he gets) and his choice of culinary ingredients unique. Hungry in Hogtown is one of those blogs where you savor every word of every post.

9. Ronnie of Around the Table. From the first time I read Ronnie's blog, I was emotionally hooked. She writes poignantly about her family's history in The Holocaust and how her heritage has shaped the woman she is today. Her recipes are unique and her stories memorable. I thoroughly enjoy Ronnie’s focus on family and food and know you will to!

10. Terry B. of Blue Kitchen. Though I've never met Terry B., I feel like he is an old friend. That's because both his writing and commenting are personal and thoughtful. Terry's enthusiasm for cooking and curiosity about various culinary topics is contagious. I especially like the way, at the end of each post, Terry explains why he uses certain ingredients and brands; it's always informative and helpful. Just read a few of his posts to see what I mean. You’ll be glad you did!

For those of you who so wish, you can nominate five of your own thinking bloggers.