The Kitchen Troll

I had my gallbladder removed last Friday, and bounced back from it surprisingly pretty quickly.  I didn’t cook at all last weekend, actually really not until Tuesday…but I’m not really counting that night.  The downside to the surgery is that I have to really watch what I eat now, but the upside is that I [...]

I picked up my first CSA share of the season today – I’m signed  up with Potomac Vegetable Farms – in the pouring rain.  Don’t care, I’m so freakin’ excited!  In additon to the above mentioned goodies, I also received Japanese turnips, a couple of varieties of salad greens, snow peas, dill, and a half [...]

I signed up for  a class at the new cooking school at Dulles Town Center – Cookology – which I attended last Thursday.  It was called something like ‘Mind of a Chef.’  I’ll admit I was somewhat skeptical about going to a cooking school in a mall.  Seriously….a mall??  After the all the great classes [...]

Yesterday was my birthday.  It rarely falls on a weekend – it often falls on spring break and we are out  of town.  It’s just tragic that I’ve had to spend some of my birthdays in places like Costa Rica, Mexico, and Hawaii.  All kidding aside (along with that spoiled brat comment), I was so [...]

I’m exhausted…what’s new with me these days??  Cook something new, or go with a tried-and-true recipe?  I opted for the latter as my brain just wasn’t functioning by the time 5pm rolled around.  I can’t remember where I found this recipe, it’s been several years.  I’ve tweaked it and altered it quite a bit, so [...]

I have, very inexcusably, not updated in a while.  Honestly, my day job has been just kicking my butt over the past several weeks.  I wanted to cook Easter dinner so badly yesterday, but my mother-in-law insisted on cooking.  I was really, really worried about the outcome of that meal, so I weasled my way [...]

I waited until I could get to Wegman’s today to get my scallops.  I haven’t had them in a while, and have really been in the mood for them.  I sometimes wish we lived in DC, or at least a lot closer, so we could take advantage of the fresh fish markets.  But, we don’t, [...]

The snow started on Friday morning and didn’t stop until yesterday around 4pm.  Final total for Loudoun County, VA – 33 inches on average.  That’s what we have at our house.  This is seriously the most snow I’ve ever seen, and I grew up in Ohio.  We lost a giant tree in our backyard and [...]

It was just sitting there, calling to me as I was getting some sliced London Port at the deli counter.  Very expensive, but really worth it kind of Gouda cheese.  Syd (yes, my daughter) consistently proclaims that she doesn’t like ‘cold’ cheese, but she gobbled this up.  It was all crumbly and had great flavor. [...]

Well, pretty much everything except liver…yuck.  I made beef short ribs for dinner tonight – braised in a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and balsamic vinegar, with a little garlic and rosemary.  I perched them on top of Gorgonzola polenta (one of my favorite cheeses to make sauces with and mix in things), and it was [...]