last stretch of tomato and eggplant

10-31-2012 Wed. chilly, cloudy. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with braised Kau-fu and chive flowers
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple
DINNER --- tomato and egg drop soup | stir-fried eggplant with Thai chili | pan-fried potato with parsley | wine 

 

 

• tomato and eggplant are off season now

braised kau-fu

10-30-2012 Tue. cool,  the remains of the storm.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- scallion pancake | homemade Syrian bread | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- braised Kau-fu with wood-ear, squash and shiitake mushroom | sauteed asparagus | rice | avocado and tomato salad | wine 

 

• the storm has passed, sky is still grey

Syrian bread and Shanghai dumpling soup

10-29-2012 Mon. storm Sandy


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- homemade Syrian bread | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea  
DINNER --- shrimp dumpling soup | stir-fried chive flowers and smoked tofu | rice | wine 


 

• luckily the power stays on

cloud atlas before the storm

10-28-2012 Sun. mild, rainy.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancake | bread | pear | concord grapes  AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER ---  Shanghai salsa ( smoked tofu, cilantro and roasted peanuts ) | simmered fish with sweet and sour sauce | sauteed mustard greens with pickled red chili | rice | wine 

 

• all waiting for the storm arriving

fall is leaving

10-27-2012 Sat. mild, clouds.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread | scallion pancake | concord grapes | apple  AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- avocado spread and homemade pita bread | simmered whole rock fish in ginger and scallion sauce | sauteed red stem chard | rice | wine 

 

• this maybe the last day with pretty leaves this fall

eat and drink like an Italian

10-26-2012 Fri. warm, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- rice with green beans 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple
DINNER --- ( at Oreste's )  homemade  bread rolls |Penne all'arrabbiata (spicy fresh sauce with parsley, garlic and hot peppers) ||  Pinot Grigio || Crespelle agli spinaci, prosciutto e formaggio caprino (crepes Italian style with spinach, veg prosciutto and goat cheese) | Patate al forno (baked potatoes with rosmary, sage, juniper berries) || Bardolino |  spicy rum mixed drink 

•  pasta is excellent.

building stories

10-25-2012 Thu. warm, clouds. 


BREAKFAST --- tea
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple  
DINNER --- sauteed green beans with fermented black bean sauce | simmered silken tofu | stir-fried bean sprouts and green chili | rice | fennel salad | wine

 

• building stories , more on building, less on stories

steamed dumplings

10-24-2012 Wed. warm, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- paella 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple | tea
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | fennel and radish salad | wine 

 

• good shells and good fillings

yam noodles in Thai spicy broth

10-23-2012 Tue. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- baked rice with lamb
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed short ribs with crashed roasted rice | tong-hao leave porridge | Thai-style spicy yam noddles with seafood and okra | rice | fennel and lettuce salad | wine 

 

• pretty tasty leftovers, plus stimulating Thai spices 

taro roots and tong-hao leaves

10-22-2012 Mon. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at C.B.) rice noodles and stir-fried green beans, shrimp, chicken 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | apple
DINNER --- porridge of tong-hao leaves with crushed peanuts | steamed short ribs with crushed roasted rice | sauteed creamy taro root |  rice | fennel and cherry tomato salad | wine 

 

• hearty and homey

steamed short ribs coated with crushed rice

10-21-2012 Sun. mild, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancakes | apple 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- apple and gouda cheese | shishito tempura | pan-fried silken tofu with yam noodles and okra in dashi broth | pan-fried Brussels sprouts | steamed butternut squash with short ribs in spicy toasted crushed rice | seafood paella ( Bomba rice, rosemary, shrimp, squid, smoked mussels and fresh lima beans ) 

 

steamed short ribs with  toasted crushed rice and spices:

•  1 lb   pork short ribs, cut in small sections, marinate with 1 tb soy, 3 tb rice wine for 1h.
•  1/2 cup  Chinese rice, spread on a baking sheet, toast in oven 350 degree, till lightly golden. cool to room temperature, mix the rice with a little salt and Chinese five spices and crush to fine broken rice mixture using food processor or hand tool. 
• coat ribs with the crushed rice mixture evenly
• cut a bunch of  carrots or winter squash in thin slices and put a layer in a Chinese bamboo steamer, then layer the ribs on top of carrots
• cover and steam at least 1 to 1.5 h, till the meat becomes very tender. serve hot.
 

 

Pines of Rome

10-20-2012 Sat. mild, clouds and sun.



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | apple | Italian bread | gouda | brie
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- pomegranate | taro root
AFTER-CONCERT-DINNER --- bead with olive oil and vinegar | qabili palau ( Afghan baked rice with lamb shank) | fennel and cherry tomato salad | wine 

 
 

• concert throws off meal schedule. all turned well though.

gyoza

10-19-2012 Fri. warm, rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH ---- pasta with green sauce and broiled chicken 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---tea
DINNER --- pan-fried gyoza | cabbage soup 

• running out of time, running out of food stock in fridge. 

chicken and pasta?!

10-18-2012 Thu. mild, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at G.J. Deli)  pastrami sandwich | curly fries 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- pasta with green sauce and broccoli | broiled chicken wings | wine 



 

• chicken and pasta, sound bad

inside-out dumplings, Afghan style

10-17-2012. Wed. mild, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
 LUNCH --- rice and Brussels sprouts 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- aushak ( Afghan chive dumplings with lamb and yogurt sauce ) | baked sweet potato fries | wine 

• a bit too much yogurt this time 

Spanish chorizo and potato stew

10-16-2012 Tue. cool, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed napa cabbage and shrimp 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- stir-fried red pepper, smoked tofu and celery | pan-fried Brussels sprouts | stew of Spanish chorizo and potatoes | wine 

 

• stew is intensely flavored and colored by Spanish pimenton in chorizo.

change of season and scene

10-15-2012 Mon. mild, clouds and rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed Brussels sprouts 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- scrambled eggs with tomato and thyme | sauteed napa cabbage, mushroom  and shrimp | sauteed green beans with fermented black bean sauce | rice | wine 

 

• kitchen is quieter, so is at dinner table

French Chocolate House on Madison ave

10-14-2012 Sun. mild, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST ---apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at M.M.'s)  grapes | pasta with lobster | cheesecake | tea 
LATE-DINNER --- Japanese style soup noodles with napa cabbage , smoked tofu and pickled vegetable 



 

• beautiful chocolates, some comfort for unpredictable fragile life

Osso Buco

10-13-2012 Sat. mild, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | apple | grapes 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  tea 
DINNER --- homemade pita bread | avocado dipping sauce | garlic bread | Osso buco | sauteed asparagus | pan-fried potato | wine 

• osso buco is all about bone marrow

tofu and shrimp

10-12-2012 Fri. mild, clouds. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed vegetable buns 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- sauteed shrimp with silken tofu | stir-fried chive flowers with smoked tofu | rice | fennel salad | wine 

 

•   tapioca dressing makes shrimp tender and bouncy

Provencal garlic soup

10-11-2012 Thu. chilly, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- Provencal fresh herb garlic soup with poached egg and toasted bread | sauteed spinach | steamed eggplant with spicy garlic sauce | rice | fennel salad | wine

 

• such a delicious soup!

Bok choy in fall

10-10-2012 Tue. chilly,sun and clouds


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with beef and Brussels sprouts 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with fillings of bok choy and minced chicken  | bok choy and yam noodle soup | fennel salad | wine 

 

• bright and crisp, bok choy in fall

Gigantes

10-09-2012 Tue. chilly, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with beef and Brussels sprouts 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple 
DINNER --- Gigantes and pork stew |  stir-fried bean sprouts with fried tofu | rice | wine 

• D.D. and the historical route of  Gigantes

Syrian bread and Chinese chestnut stew

10-08-2012 Mon. chilly, drizzle.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancake | apple | grapes 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- homemade Syrian bread | soy and wine braised pork and chestnut stew  | steamed short rib in crushed rice and spices | sauteed Chinese green gourd | rice | fennel salad | wine 

 

• fall in fall

homemade pizza

10-07-2012 Sun. chilly, rain. 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | English muffin | scallion pancake | concord grapes | strawberries 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- tabouleh |  tempura anchovy | tempura shisito | homemade pizza: pepperoni, mushroom, anchovy | wine 

 

 

•   bake the pizza to have a warm kitchen and warm family dinner

Oktoberfest

10-06-2012 Sat. warm to chilly. clouds.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- ( in the garden ) coffee | Norwegian pancake |  prosciutto | apple 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- ( at Susann's, Oktoberfest) Weisswurst |  Bratwurst | Kartoffelsalat | potato salad | fish ball skewers | bread | cherry cobbler | beer  

 

•   breakfast and dinner party in the garden

grilled eel rice bowl

10-05-2012 Fri. warm, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---( at N.D. cafe) beer | tabouleh | pita bread | hummus
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple 
DINNER --- grilled eel rice bowl with simmered butternut squash, fresh lima beans, pickled pearl onion, and fried tofu | wine 

 

• everything in one rice bowl

steak with mushroom sauce

10-04-2012 Thu. warm, rainy clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- potato with sour cream chicken 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- pear
DINNER --- garlic bread | steamed and fried Brussels sprouts | pan-fried steak with red wine mushroom sauce | rice | fennel salad | wine 

 

• dinner is getting heartier