Quality Over Cost

Since painting and moving are my new hobbies, I’ve had little time to cook or go out to eat these days. (But, on the bright side, painting is coming along quite nicely!).

Because I have little food content to share with you, I was interested in picking your economical brains. Last night, I was thinking how my cheap self would rarely ever purchase items like cereal, chips and wine if they weren’t on sale (because there are plenty of their counterparts that are), but I’d always pay full price for these things:

-LUNA Bars

-Beer (specifically, microbrews/craft beer)

-Avocados (because I love them and they’re hardly ever on sale)

-Bread (I eat too much of it to not buy the good stuff!)

-Cheese 

Although I'm economical at heart, there are just some foods/drinks I love that are worth buying despite the price tag. In certain cases, quality is more important than cost.

Now, it’s your turn: What foods/beverages would you always pay full price for?

Easy Mediterranean Salad

This Mediterranean salad makes a perfectly light, simple and fairly economical side dish for any gathering. This vibrant dish is chocked full of tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, crumbled feta, red onions and red peppers - and dressed simply with olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper and fresh oregano. Z made this dish for a family party we attended on Saturday, and it was a huge hit - especially with me. I had about five three servings of it!

What simple side dishes do love making for get togethers?

Indian-Style Chickpeas and Potatoes

Due to our temporary move, cooking in has basically been a nonexistent activity. We’ve been having lots of meals out, or quick, on-the-run dishes (frozen veggie burgers anyone?) for the last few weeks. So, when Z and I found ourselves with a free night and his parents’ open kitchen, we decided to make a real, long overdue homemade meal.

The weather outside was wet and dreary, so we went for some warm, comforting cuisine: Indian food. His parents have a lot of great Middle Eastern spices, so we decided to prepare this dish differently than we do most (thanks to some cooking techniques I saw on "Aarti Party") – we flavored the olive oil with the spices, and built the dish from there.

The end result was an intensely flavorful, spicy dish with a ton of varying textures – the meaty, slightly al dente potatoes with the soft chickpeas and juicy tomatoes, blended with the exotic spices, made the wait for a home cooked meal well worth it.

Indian-Style Chickpeas and Potatoes

Yields: 4 servings

-2 tbsp. olive oil

-Cumin seeds

-Curry powder

-Turmeric 

-Chili powder

-Dried ginger

-Salt and black pepper

-1 small yellow onion, diced

-1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

-1 (heaping) tbsp. minced jarred jalapenos

-2 medium potatoes, rinsed and peeled

-2 medium tomatoes, chopped

-1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice

Directions:

1.) Place potatoes in a large pot, and cover with about 1 inch of water. Season the water with salt, and bring water to a boil. Boil potatoes for about 20-25 minutes, or until tender in the middle (test with a fork or knife).

2.) While potatoes are boiling, heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Once warm, season the oil with the cumin seeds, curry powder, turmeric and chili powder. Let cook for 10 seconds, then pour in onions. Add ginger, salt and pepper, and cook until onions are mostly translucent (about 6 to 7 minutes).

3.) Add chickpeas and jalapenos, then stir. Taste for seasoning, and add more as needed. At the same time, remove cooked potatoes from water and let cool slightly before chopping into 1-inch thick pieces. Add potatoes to chickpea and onion mixture. Stir well.

4.) Add tomatoes, stir mixture and taste again for seasonings. Add lemon juice, stir again, and let simmer for about 3 minutes. 

5.) Serve in a bowl with some warm whole wheat naan. 

Warm, comforting, satisfying and spicy. Just about everything a home cooked meal should be. 

What cold weather dishes are you looking forward to making? 

Big Breakfasts and Swan Chocolates

During my weekend in New Hampshire, I consumed a lot of delicious food. Too much, actually – but that’s besides the point. In my family, when we’re all together, having a big breakfast is basically a requirement – and we normally have it at home, to save some money (and to prevent my one year old niece from making a scene in public).

This past weekend, my mother made a beautiful vegetable quiche (as well as a cheese quiche), some breakfast potatoes and bacon (for the omnivores).

She also had a spread of baked goods to go along with our breakfasts, including Thomas bagels, English muffins and blueberry muffins.

To make things healthy, she also served some fresh cut strawberries.

The meal was satisfying and delicious, and it was so nice to wake up Sunday morning to the smells of breakfast cooking downstairs.

On Monday, after having leftovers of this meal, I decided to stop in at one of my favorite bakeries in my hometown: Swan Chocolates. Swan Chocolates sells handmade Belgium chocolates, creamy gelato and monstrous baked goods (their eclairs must weigh at least 10 lbs. each). I ordered a medium iced caramel latte ($3.50) and a chocolate chip cookie ($3.50) - that just happened to be dipped in dark chocolate.

I don’t normally pay $7 for a little coffee and a cookie, but Swan Chocolates is worth every penny. Anybody can dip a cookie in chocolate, but the homemade, high quality chocolate they use makes a world of difference.

What restaurant or bakery/cafe do you love to visit when you go back home? 

Family Dinner at The Homestead

On Friday evening, my family and I took my brother out for his 29th birthday. We decided to try a new (to us) restaurant in Merrimack, N.H. (where my parents live/where I grew up)  – The Homestead - that my parents had been to once before and enjoyed.

The Homestead took over the spot that used to be Silo’s Steakhouse, a former restaurant staple in Merrimack. The owners totally renovated the place, making the former red, barn-like structure into a bright, inviting space.

Upon walking inside, I was immediately impressed with the homey, cottage-like décor. Complete with dim lighting, the restaurant had a lower level dining room as well as an upstairs lounge area, which is where we chose to sit. The wood plank ceilings and cozy atmosphere made me immediately comfortable and ready for a warm, satisfying meal.

My brother spotted Shipyard Pumpkinhead on tap, so we both ordered a pint while we ate the complimentary crackers and dip, as well as the warm rolls (slices of sweet bread were also in the basket).

The menu at The Homestead is chocked full of classic dishes, ranging from Chicken Cordon Bleu ($17.99) to Baked Stuffed Haddock ($19.99) to Home-style Meatloaf ($15.99). Despite the meat-focused menu, The Homestead is also conscious of vegetarian diets, with dishes like Goat Cheese and Sun-dried Tomato Flatbread ($9.99) as well as Vegetarian Ravioli ($15.99), which is what I ordered for dinner.

The ravioli came piled high with asparagus, portabella mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, artichoke hearts, and tomatoes, sautéed with garlic, fresh herbs, and white wine. The ravioli itself was filled with grilled vegetables. This dish could have easily been simple and bland, but it was the complete opposite. The amount of vegetables in the dish was outstanding, and the white wine sauce was addictive – I literally lapped up the remains with a spoon. This dish was also really hearty, and washed down with a glass of pinot grigio - it was just about perfect.

My pasta dish also came with one side, so I ordered more asparagus.

Our meal at The Homestead was a great one, and my brother really enjoyed having his birthday dinner there. I’d like to also note that our waitress was very friendly, attentive and accommodating. I’d love to go back there for some drinks and appetizers on their outdoor patio before it gets too cold!

What are some culinary highlights from your long weekend?

Late Night Dinner at Stone Hearth Pizza Co.

On Wednesday evening, me and Z’s cousin (who also happened to be his roommate at the time) helped Z pack and move his belongings, as the new tenants were scheduled to move in the next day. As we packed, taped, and brought boxes down to the basement, Z got a call from our tenants at the new house – saying our toilet was overflowing. Good times.

Once 9 o’clock rolled around, we were all tired, stressed and starving. Z had a Groupon for Stone Hearth Pizza Co. in Porter Square, so I went and got us some food while the boys cleaned up after the bathroom fiasco.

I had yet to try Stone Hearth’s food, but have always heard rave reviews about it. Craft brews, local sources, and delicious pizza? All those things always sound good to me.

We decided to get a few things and split them between the three of us. We opted for the Spinach and Avocado salad ($6.95), Veggie Medley Stromboli ($7.25), and a create-your-own pizza topped with caramelized onions and spinach ($15.05).

The prices may seem a little high for what we ordered, but the attention to quality, fresh ingredients is always worth the few extras dollars for me. I particularly loved the veggie Stromboli, which was chocked full of broccoli, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, ricotta and mushrooms, to name a few.

This weekend, I am looking forward to a weekend away in New Hampshire to see my family and some of my best friends from grade school. What do you have planned for holiday weekend? 

The Move: Part II

Well, The Move Part II (out of III) is well underway. I helped Z move a bunch of his stuff last night, as he needs to be out of his current house today to let the new tenants move in. Since our house is still at least two weeks away from being done – much later than we initially thought – we’ll be moving into his parents’ home in Cambridge, as they have been gracious enough to take us in temporarily. 

Despite the high stress level of being “homeless” and having to move several times in a few months, Z and I have been making the most of the situation – and even took some time these last few days to reminisce about all of the good times we had in his current house. That’s really where Z and I’s relationship blossomed and where new (and life-long) friendships were made. Although we’ll only live a street away from this house, it is kind of bittersweet to be moving out of it. 

The group!

Z and our friend Josh, in the basement.

Z, Z's cousin/roommate, and me on Halloween 2011.

My birthday cake (made by Z) at my surprise party!

I am confident that the next chapter of our lives will produce more good memories and new friends – but, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s so fulfilling to know that the memories and friends from the old house will still be there as we move forward.

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