A Gift & A Plan

My parents made a wonderful contribution to the Knitchen for my birthday last week, a Nespresso Pixie.  It has been a wonderful treat for weekend mornings.

As long as I can kick the cold I am fighting I have grand plans for all new recipes in the Knitchen this week.

Sunday: Heather’s Quinoa from 101 Cookbooks

Monday: Salmon Bulgogi from Bon Appetit

Tuesday: A crew is coming over to see Erin who is in town.  Take out pizza.

Wednesday: Despite amazing heat yesterday, it looks like it is going to be raining by Wednesday.  The plan is to make a new chilli for a cold, rainy night.  Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

Thursday: Bess and Charlie are coming over for dinner and I am going to try two new pizzas: Smoked Mozarella Pizza with Radicchio and Onion Jam and  Onion Pizza with Ricotta and Chard

Solstice Party: The Menu

Inspired by an amazing dinner at Locanda, recipes from Mario Batali’s cookbooks, and a conversation with our friend Taylor Black, we decided to go on with an Italian menu.

I saw a reference to the Ikea Tekla Dish Cloth on a design blog and these classic red striped dish towels felt Italian became our napkins.  The red stripe was repeated on the menu and seating cards.

Yes, seating cards.  With 27 people seated for dinner in three separate rooms, we wanted everyone to have a chance to mingle.  After each course we changed seats.  Robin and Erin puzzled over the seating and Joe chimed in best he could.

Solstizio d’Inverno 2011

Antipasti
Insalata Caprese Invernale (Winter Caprese Salad)
Olive con Pomodoro (Warmed Olives in Tomato Sauce)
Pizza Bianca con Cavolfiore (Pizza Bianca with Cauliflower)

Insalata

Aden/Meredith
Rucola, Mirtillo Rosso, e Pecorino (Arugula, Cranberries and Pecorino)

Main
Tre Polpette sulla Pasta al Forno (Three Meatballs and Baked Pasta)
o
Melanzane della Nonna (Grandmother’s Eggplant)

Dolce
Crostata di Mele (Apple Pie)
o
Rustica Torta di Pere (Rustic Pear Torte)
o
Amaretto e Cioccolato (Chocalate Mouse)

The Plan: Parent Visit Day 1

My parents are coming in this afternoon to visit for Thanksgiving break.  I learned to love cooking and food watching my mom and eating out at great restaurants with my parents.  Needless to say, I want to make some great treats for them.

The plan for Sunday night:

• Pomodori al Forno to snack on while I cook
• Pan-seared padron peppers with sea salt and goat cheese
• Bone-in Rib-Eye on the grill (Salmon for Robin)
• Tortiera di Potate from Molto Italiano
• Salad

The Plan: Super Natural Week

A good friend of ours has lured Robin into a cookbook club.  At each meeting all the participants cook a dish from the same, new cookbook.  The first one up is Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Every Day.  Since I am the one who cooks, I figured I better buy it and find a recipe for Robin.  Three out of four dishes this week are from this all vegetarian cookbook.  The fourth?  The never cooked pizza from last week.  A long day and desire for a special treat led us to Pomello  on Church last Thursday.

BTW, you can buy Super Natural on Amazon OR you can come visit Knavis Knitchen and go get a signed copy at our awesome, local Omnivore Books.

The Plan:

• Monday: Kale Salad with Toasted Coconut & Sesame Oil.  Grilled Salmon
• Tuesday: Last week’s Potato and Arugula Pizza
• Wednesday: Miso-Curry Delicata Squash with Tofu, Kale, Cilantro, Pepitas
• Thursday: Weeknight Curry: Tofu, Coconut Milk, Season Vegetables

The Plan

The key to the knavis knitchen is the plan.  Each Sunday (or Monday) I make a plan and then go shopping.  Once the food is in the kitchen you have to eat in.  

This week’s plan:

• Monday: Red wine risotto with radicchio and asiago (from Mario Batali’s Molto Italiano—thanks Taylor and Maggie!)
• Tuesday: Late dinner after school event—Mushroom, black bean, and cheese quesadillas
• Wednesday: Black bean, tomato quinoa salad over fried polenta
• Thursday: School event.
• Friday: Grilled fish and leftovers.  But the fish that afternoon.

Off to shop!