Great Books & Pulitzer Prizes

I just finished rereading Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, after not having picked it up in about 20 years, and realized that my understanding of many classic works has changed. A lot has happened in my life since college, when I was "forced" to read many of the classics, and I've found that my experiences have influenced the way I perceive these works. I find that I get so much more out of them now... so I'm giving them a second chance!

How many book on this list have you read? How about the Pulitzer Prize winners?

Kohlrabi Sauteed in Olive Oil, Butter & Garlic

I got this freaky vegetable in my pick-up last weekend. Apparently it's a German turnip, and you can eat the leaves as well as the root.

I did a little experimenting and came up with a pretty good recipe which uses the whole plant. The bulb almost tastes like an undercooked savory potato, and the greens taste kinda like spinach. I prefer the taste of the well-cooked kohlrabi root... it had a milder flavor than the pieces that were still "al dente".

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Sauteed Kohlrabi
3 kohlrabi
3 large garlic cloves (or more!)
olive oil
butter
salt & pepper

Bring pot of water to a boil. Cut the greens off the bulbs, trim the stems off & cut leaves into 1.5" slices. Peel the roots and slice into matchsticks. Mince garlic. In a pan, saute garlic in olive oil & butter for one minute. Add kohlrabi matchsticks and saute for 10 minutes, or until tender. While matchsticks are sauteing, boil greens for 5 minutes and drain. Add greens to matchsticks and cook for one minute. Add salt & pepper.

Garlic and butter... yum!

Grilled Eggplant Stacks with Tomato and Feta

And the last post for Sunday. I grilled the rest of the large eggplant and made a couple of stacks to eat for lunch next week. I didn't make the basil oil, and instead just added plain olive oil and chopped purple basil.

Recipe: Grilled Eggplant Stacks with Tomato & Feta

Mic's Sangria

I have to record this sangria recipe that I made up or else I'll forget it.

Mic's Red Wine Sangria
1 bottle Shiraz
1/4 C sugar (or to taste)
1 sm bag frozen berries
2 oranges (1 juiced & 1 sliced)

Club soda

Mix ingredients in pitcher. Add splash of club soda when serving.

Pesto, Greens Soup & Sauteed Okra

Sunday was a day for cooking. All that fresh basil was put into a pesto and frozen for later use.

Some of the veggies from my Johnson's Backyard pickup were a little ambiguous. I made a super good greens soup out of what I think was young bok choy and flat leaf kale. Also sauteed the fresh okra in indian spices. Then I roasted all of the bell peppers to have with olive oil & sea salt. It's gonna be an awesome lunch on Monday!

Recipes from epicurious and allrecipes:
Basil Pesto (added extra garlic)
Mixed Greens Soup (added garlic and some fresh ginger, skipped the Tabasco & cabbage)
Easy Indian Style Okra

Spicy Glazed Eggplant with Chinese BBQ pork

I had all this eggplant from Johnson's Backyard, so I decided to make Spicy Glazed Eggplant. Jimi went down the street to First Chinese BBQ to pick up some of their awesome pork, and there you have it.

Johnson's Backyard Garden

After sitting for a couple of months on the waiting list, I finally became a member of the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Johnson's Backyard Garden. They're a local Austin farm which grows organic vegetables & herbs. I just picked up my first batch of produce from them this afternoon. Can't wait to grill that fresh eggplant.

And here's another random Karma pic. Why does she always look worried?

Italian Feast

Jesse and Suz came over Sunday night for a 4 course Italian feast, just like my great aunt Elia used to make. First Suz made some killer Mojitos, and then we proceeded to the parade of gluttony. Pappardelle in a cream tomato sauce, followed by chicken thighs braised in red wine and sherry with spinach, pine nuts & currents. Then a platter of Italian cheese and prosciutto with kiwi, blood orange and melon. And to finish off the meal, a lemon tart from Central Market.


The Spinosi brand pasta was excellent, thin and elastic but not doughy... the best I've ever had in the States. I got it at Central Market. It was pricey, but worth it.



Recipes from Epicurious.com:
Pappardelle with Mushrooms and Tomato Cream Sauce
Red Wine Braised Rabbit (we used chicken thighs)

Crab Boil

It was a beautiful day on Saturday... finally cool enough to sit outside for an extended period of time. So we went down to the Chinese market to buy some live crab. Nothing like sitting out in the garden with freshly steamed Dungeness and a Kirin.


Once again, it was a sleepy dog day for Karma.