Monkey Monday: catching up. 17 November 2008 1:51 pm
Posted by Tracy in : Marion Nestle,baking,books,consumerism,economics,events,fast food,food snobbery,geekery,meta,news,nyc,politics,recipes,school , View CommentsSo I missed a few posts at the end of last week because it was Penny’s birthday and cake was more fun and distracting than writing here. (I did eventually finish entries for Thursday and Friday, so check those out when you get a chance. Also, I rewrote What is Tracy Food? just a little bit.) Quick summary of the rest of this entry: more baked goods, food news stories and commentary, a little school update, and my plans for additional food geeking this week. (more…)
(Late) Foto Friday: Happy birthday, Penny 14 November 2008 7:31 pm
Posted by Tracy in : baking,chocolate,dessert,friends,pictures,recipes,vegan,vegetarian , View CommentsI made cake! Clearly, this was way more important than a Thursday TracyFood post, and playing with the pictures and recipe too distracting to permit me to post on Friday, either. (I did move this to the appropriate date eventually, though.)
That’s deep chocolate vegan cake with chocolate coconut glaze, to be exact, from my beloved Moosewood Restaurant New Classics (where else?) (more…)
Adventures in drinking: Tracy versus Tongba 13 November 2008 12:49 pm
Posted by Tracy in : Kathmandu,Morning Glory,books,friends,nepal,pictures,travel , View CommentsWhen my friend Matthew heard that I was going to Nepal, he told me, “You’ve got to try millet beer.” During our trek, we were strongly advised to drink only what our kitchen crew had boiled for us, or bottled beverages — nothing locally brewed, no matter how fresh. But once we got back to Kathmandu…
Final score: Tracy 1, Tongba many. Here’s what I wrote in my journal entry on 2 November 2007, in Kathmandu, illustrated with photos by me and my brother Piett. (more…)
Last-minute half-assed post! 12 November 2008 11:53 pm
Posted by Tracy in : meta,pictures,random , View CommentsI like to say that my ass is so big that even when I only do a half-assed job, it turns out pretty good. Tonight’s post is an exception to that rule, or maybe I’m not even using half my ass. BUT. Here is an unflattering picture of me that’s a preview of tomorrow’s post:
Tongba: it’s not just a drink, it’s an adventure. Tune in tomorrow to read all about it, and the fantastic Hotel Utse restaurant meal it accompanied.
Good night!
Recipe: Chakchouka 11 November 2008 8:42 pm
Posted by Tracy in : cooking,eggs,recipes,restaurants,school,vegan,vegetarian , View CommentsI submitted this recipe as an assignment for my food writing class almost two months ago, with the intention of modifying it into a TracyFood post for World Egg Day, which was about a month ago. Oops. But on with the food:
I first learned about this North African dish of eggs poached in a savory vegetable stew from a menu at my favorite restaurant in the world — the LocoMotive of Eugene, Oregon. Owners Lee and Eitan Zucker changed their offerings weekly, to reflect what produce was in season, and when I picked up almost four pounds of sweet peppers for $6 at the Union Square Greenmarket one Monday in September, this dish was entirely appropriate. Lee and Eitan spelled it “shakshuka” — which is probably why it took a year or two for me to make the connection between their menu and a recipe in one of my favorite cookbooks, Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home.
My recipe is based on Moosewood’s, and my fond memories of The LocoMotive. It makes a light lunch or dinner for two, but you could serve it over couscous for a more substantial meal, or add side dishes to serve up to four. If you like things spicy, feel free to replace the spices with 1 1/2 teaspoons of ras el hanout (a North African blend of chilis, cumin, coriander, and caraway). Alternatively, just increase the cayenne, or replace it with a minced fresh hot pepper. For a vegan variation like the one Lee and Eitan offered, replace the eggs with one 12 or 16-ounce package of firm silken tofu, diced into 1/2 inch cubes. (more…)
