Gourmandistan

Snappier Ginger Snaps

December 12, 2010 by Michelle

Nashville Seasons was one of Michelle’s earliest cookbooks (the very first was Betty Crocker’s New Boys and Girls Cook Book, and the second was the 1979 Marion Cunningham version of Fannie Farmer). Her mother gave Michelle a copy of the classic southern Junior League cookbook for Christmas in 1980, during Michelle’s senior year of college—Jean’s own edition having become worn from much use. The 1964 cookbook was published at the crossroads of culinary skill and convenience. While the authors still […]

Categories: Christmas, Cookies, Cooking, Family, Food, Old cookbooks, Recipes, Vegetarian

Couscous and Coincidence

December 5, 2010 by Michelle

Yotam Ottolenghi came into Gourmandistani consciousness from two different directions. Michelle, constant comber of media and things food-related, had seen his weekly “The New Vegetarian” pieces in The Guardian and mentioned them to Steve. Steve, adrift in a sea of RSS feeds, forgot the mention—yet somehow coincidentally stumbled across Ottolenghi’s website, mentioning his food to Michelle. Michelle, after graciously reminding Steve that she already knew of the Israeli/Italian/German chef and his stylish London restaurant and take-outs, agreed we should explore […]

Categories: Cooking, Food, Pasta, Recipes, Spinach, Vegetarian, Winter squash

Finding our own farçou

November 30, 2010 by Steve

In 2009, visiting market after market across the wildly beautiful Aveyron region of Southern France, we ate a wide variety of farçous. The chard-laced pancakes from our local town’s market stall were small and sort of thick, while vendors in other towns turned out thinner, wider and crispier versions. We enjoyed them all, and have often wished we could recreate the experience in Gourmandistan—especially in early Summer when buried in farm share chard. Then, this Fall, just as we began […]

Categories: Cooking, Food, France, Swiss chard, Vegetarian

Halve a tart, save an apple.

November 18, 2010 by Steve

Winter is slowly, inexorably grinding its way into Gourmandistan, and our supply of local crops is dwindling. We’ve been told there are only a couple of more weeks left for local apples. While we have them, we’re occasionally enjoying one of our favorite desserts, tarte Tatin—or, as we make it, half a tarte Tatin. This tart takes a fairly long time to make, because the apples need to slowly caramelize over low heat before going into the oven. Steve contributes […]

Categories: Apples, Cooking, Food, France, Fruit Desserts, Pies & Tarts, Recipes

France, meet farm share

November 12, 2010 by Michelle

On our recent trip to Gascony we once again enjoyed the sight of plump orange potiron squash at local markets. We’ve watched vendors slice wedges from these squat, pumpkin-esque gourds, but never bought even a piece—although we would often joke about what we’d do if we ended up with a whole one for ourselves. Now, thanks to our friends at Foxhollow Farm, we know (sort of). The drought-stricken year seems to have barely slowed Foxhollow’s production of squashes, and as […]

Categories: Cooking, Food, France, Recipes, Soups & Stews, Winter squash

Gourmandistan-to-go: Bacon, egg & cheese “biscuits”

November 10, 2010 by Steve

Michelle’s family was leaving Gourmandistan in 30 minutes or so, and we knew their plans for dinner didn’t include slowing down much before reaching their Western Kentucky home. We despaired at the thought of Mom, Dad and Sister dining on fast food. Then we thought, “Why not make our own?” We had several of Mrs. Gritton’s potato rolls in the freezer, a few nubs of home-cured bacon, a little mayo, some melty (local-ish!) cheese and our usual surfeit of eggs. […]

Categories: Breads & Crackers, Cooking, Cured meats, Eggs, Food • Tags: Locavore

Not-so-scary Halloween Winter Squash Panade

October 31, 2010 by Steve

Gourmandistan gets no trick-or-treaters on Halloween, since our land is remote, inaccessible and surrounded by old people. So we have no bowls of candy, and no pumpkin carved into a frightening jack-o’-lantern. What we did have this evening were a number of winter squashes, a good amount of chicken stock, and half a loaf of day-old no-knead bread. And that, plus onions, is pretty much all you need for a squash panade. Panades have an established place in Gourmandistan, usually […]

Categories: Cooking, Food, Halloween, Recipes, Winter squash

Popcorn balls

October 26, 2010 by Michelle

Starting in the 1930s, Michelle’s 96-year-old grandmother cooked many a farm meal, and legions of farmhands claim she cooked them well—homemade and from scratch. But with the advent of “modern” convenience foods, by the Sixties (the time Michelle was a kid), Mamo felt it was quite forward-looking to seek out shortcuts. Soup mix, pie crust mix, whatever—if it came in a box or a can, it had to be better than “from scratch.” But one thing Mamo always did make […]

Categories: Cooking, Desserts & Sweets, Family, Food, Nuts, Recipes, Sorghum, Vegetarian

Stock & eggs — the circle of life is complete.

October 17, 2010 by Steve

Faithful readers may recall that before Gourmandistan left for Gascony our nation’s population declined by 18—at least in spirit. The flesh of our flock remains in freezers, awaiting our final tribute to our former chickens. Steve is eager to try coq au vin, but he’ll have to wait for a visit from his friend Bill because Michelle has no interest in tenderizing tough yard birds. She thinks the best way to use them is simply making very delicious batches of […]

Categories: Basics, Chicken, Chicken keeping, Cooking, Food, Recipes

← Older posts

Newer posts →