Weekend Evaluation: This Guy's Got Like...a Plan

It seemed like a pretty relaxed weekend for cooking, even though I made sausage.  

That usually becomes a big production, but it seemed to go pretty well. It's all about working in steps; I try to find time before work or after dinner to season or grind/emulsify the meat mixture; not having to do everything all at once is the key to making it not seem like so much work.

Overall, the whole thing ran pretty efficiently; dinners weren't outstanding but okay.  How's that for a compelling read....6 out of 10....boring. 

Weekend Evaluation: Getting a Little Bright In Here

I retested the recipes for Gretchen's birthday, and they worked out a bit better from a construction standpoint.  I'll be doing more prep next weekend.  We went out to dinner on Sunday night, so I didn't do a lot of cooking last weekend.  I expect this coming weekend, I'll be working on a lot.

Airing of Grievences: The Myth of High Greenmarket Prices

This dude is an idiot – why would you pay $7 for some radishes? 

'I'd shop at the farmer's market, but everything is too expensive!' is the classic excuse that people use to justify going to the supermarket.

Just like anything else you need to look at your options.  I understand that the green market has some stands that rip you off (more often at Union Square and Grand Army), but there are plenty of farms that offer better than supermarket prices; and that’s supposed to be the one advantage of a supermarket.  

Here are some examples (after the break):

Weekend Evaluation: I knew it would be bad, I did not know it would be this bad

We're having people over for Gretchen's birthday in a couple weeks.  For her birthday the challenge is to frame a dish, or flavors, she likes in a new way. Last year's dinner was tarte flambee and a brown butter spaetzle dish, which was more or less a take on the farmer cheese/noodle thing she's all about. This year is still kind of coming together, but I'm starting to get ready.  

So the next few weekends will be a combination of testing and prep work.  

Weekend Evaluation: 50% More Ingredients

It was another slow weekend from a cooking standpoint.  We ate at a friend's house on Saturday, where I was pretty interested to see the recent chicken pot pie recipe from Cook's Illustrated being made.  I have to say the crumble top was really good - a smart recipe, that was well executed.

Gretchen brought cake to dinner, so she was in the kitchen a bit too. The Hazelnut cake she made has been really successful both times she's made it.  My cooking this week - a little less successful.  I've been falling into a trap of too many things on the plate; and my rut of having everything stacked lately has been another rut, that's caused bad results.

Weekend Evaluation: Waiting for the Other Hoof to Drop

It was a quiet week cooking wise.  We had a project on our hands around the house - painting the bathroom- so I didn't want to be worrying about cooking at the same time.  Plus we went out to dinner on Sunday since it was nice out, part of our attempt to get out while we can.

Weekend Evaluation: 0 for 3

Everything from Buffalo were losers this weekend - the Bills, the Sabres, my wings.  

We haven't even gotten to Knick season and I'm sick of losing; maybe I can thank the Mets for that. At least the New York City doesn't really have a signature food I can screw up - maybe a knish? pizza?  I've definitely screwed up pizza before...