Eating like a grown-up

by Claudia

I maybe forgot that I agreed to post while Michelle is away. (Even though she's been updating lots...perhaps she thought that Oklahomans don't know about the internet.) Also, starting a new job and celebrating my birthday in the same week means I have been eating mostly potato chip and alcohol-based dinners. Having to do this blog shamed me into finally cooking a real meal last night... thanks Michelle!


(The most important thing of note in this photo: my new Peugeot salt and pepper mills! So shiny, you can see me in them. )

First up: Arugula Salad with Caramelized Onions, Goat Cheese, and Candied Walnuts. I don't care much for walnuts, so I used pecans. Solid salad. This could probably stand on its own as a meal, but, uh, I'm a hungry gal.

So then I also made a gnocchi recipe from Sunday Suppers at Lucques, one of my current favourite cookbooks. But, being the lazy and cheap home cook that I am, I made a million substitutions. Instead of chanterelles, I used creminis. Instead of making the ricotta gnocchi, I used the pre-made stuff. And instead of fresh breadcrumbs, I used an old bag of panko crumbs that have been sitting around my cupboard for far too long. Still, this was delicious. I think perhaps the 7 tablespoons of butter had something to do with it.


Finally, I made cookies that required the following for the mise en place:


Eating like a grown-up, sort of.