Started a new job (which I LOVE), made Murgh Makhani with cauliflower instead of chicken, went garden shopping at Gethsemane Garden Center with my pal Whitney, got sweet potato vines at Adam and Sons (with the goal of our window boxes looking like this), made margarita jello shots in limes(classy), walked around a ton, made 75 mini pizzas, planted lavender and herbs in my back yard, went to my first spinning class (WHEW). I also discovered Lady Saw!  This summer is going to be great!

Spring always inspires me to clean up a little, and this year I found a delicious solution to a major problem. I tend to hoard bits of ingredients past the point of functionality. So, I made a marinade out of all the leftover things in my cabinets. I also got rid of doubles- who needs 2 bottles of cumin? Not this household!

Originally, I wanted this to be a hot sauce, but that didn’t work out, so I ended up making a marinade instead. I waited until I used the marinade in a recipe because I wouldn’t want to remember how to make something gross. But, earlier this week I used the marinade in a recipe and it was so good!

Pantry Marinade:

Ingredients:
1 shallot, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cups dry chile de arbol
1/3 cup white raisins
3 Tablespoons cumin
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
2 Tablespoons black peppercorns
1/2 tsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup black strap molasses
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup salt
2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup chile con carne mix (aka taco seasoning)
1/4 c coffee extract
5 cups water

Method:
1. Saute shallot in olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic.
2. Add everything else.
3. Puree with an immersion blender
4. Simmer for 3 hours
5. Strain, cool, and store ( I froze mine into single use portions)

So, as I mentioned above, I used the marinade this week. I bought a 4 pound bone in pork shoulder from Butcher and Larder, marinated it for about an hour in this pantry sauce and then braised the whole thing in gluten free beer (Estrella Daura) for about 3 hours. After it was done, I served it as pulled pork. I made a slaw from red cabbage, orange pepper, lime juice and mayo. I put everything on a corn tortilla, topped it with some avocado and called it a night.

We had a midnight “snack” (shrimp cocktail & steak) at St. Elmo’s, which is a super old-school steakhouse in downtown Indianapolis.

This weekend GB and I went to check out the recently refurbished Logan Theatre. It looks great, you can buy tickets online, and the ticket price is only $7! Last night we had the chance to watch a midnight showing of Battle Royale.

image courtesy of http://beyondthemarquee.com/

I also had the chance to grab a birthday present (some Boat Street Pickles) for a pal at this store called Half Italian which recently opened. The store is pretty new, and combines a market with some prepared foods, sandwiches, and cool looking beer/wine. I can’t wait to go back!

I also decided I want these shelves.

image courtesy of http://www.dwr.com/

1st ramen attempt

Do you know about this magazine, The Lucky Peach? It’s pretty great.  The second issue, which came out last fall, was dedicated to Ramen.  I’ve wanted to make some for awhile, but I had this problem with the broth/stock.  And with the gluten thing. What to do?  Basically, for about 5 months I just thought about it.  But then, a friend of mine told me I could make a salty & unctuous (in a good way) stock with leftover meat trimmings and  tons of aromatics.  So, that’s what I did this week.  I made a stock of sorts using bacon, ham, speck, leeks, green onions, shallots, garlic, and some shichimi togarashi.  Then I found brown rice vermicelli at my old favorite, Joongboo Market.  I also grabbed some green onions, radishes, purple cabbage.  Tonight, I was feeling a little under the weather and thought that ramen sounded like a great idea.

First I sliced the vegetables on my trusty mandoline.  Then, I boiled some stock and added the noodles to the stock.  While the noodles were cooking I cooked the egg.  I think ramen would be great with a poached egg, but I felt like a fried one sunnyside up, because I was being lazy.  When everything was cooked, I put it together in a bowl and added a bunch of sambal oelek.

yum & spicy

Then I ate it and watched the nightly news.

all done

I can’t wait to try making it again.

2. I’m liveblogging Sofia Vergara’s episode of SNL.

2a. So far, she’s made a funny Fran Drescher and I’ve learned she has a line of reasonably priced sheets for sale at Kmart. One time, in 2005 I bought a pair of sheets at the Kmart at Ashland and Milwaukee in Chicago and the sheets are still kicking! 

2b. Also, Kanye/his management team licensed his song “Runaway” for a new Budweiser song. Hmmmmm. 

drawer before

3. In other news, I cleaned out the credenza drawers. 

drawer after

3a. Now they are clean, but sort of empty.  THEY WILL BE FILLED. 

4. Last weekend, like most people in the wold I went to see the movie The Hunger Games with my pal Natalie.  After, we grabbed a negroni at The Barrelhouse Flat and listened to some vintage Destiny’s Child on the way home.  SAY MY NAME. Any thoughts on THG?  I liked it. And the soundtrack is good.  

4a. I also got to catch up with my favorite family, the Starks, from Winterfell. Below is a partial map of Westeros/Essos.  I’d highly suggest finding out about this if you are not already aware of it. 

via www.gameofthrones.net

5. GB, my cousin Rick, and I went to a delicious brunch at Big Jones up in Andersonville.  GB and I have been going there since it opened and that place keeps getting better.  Any brunch that begins with a charcuterie plate is good in my book. 

That’s it for now. 

But really, let’s talk about some hi-lights from the past few weeks.

Past:

Florist & photographer booked! For that big deal day in November.

A reading for Green Lantern Press & Make Magazine.

A delicious meal at Au Chaval (they have gluten-free buns for their burgers! shhhhh)

A nice write up of the restaurant where I work.

Wedding Shoes

Still reading a Song of Ice and Fire

Figured out the secret to even better homemade granola is soaking the dried fruit in liquid before baking.

Discovered that the movie “No Strings Attached” isn’t worth finishing despite Ludacris’ cameo as a wise yet inappropriate bartender.

Remembered how amazing this cookbook is.

Up Next:

Going to see this play.

Catering this event

Painting & finishing the office. Deciding between the colors at the top of the post. Leading towards the paint on the reader’s far left (stage right). Medium grey will make the space cozy. Now we need to learn how to install a pendant light and put some shelves up. Also contemplating a cork wall behind the desk.

A field trip to Hyde Park to see an old pal.

It was at Target. It was destiny. I bought a few more online. 

Stuff is bananas at the moment.  More details laaaaaaater. 

Do you recognize this man?

courtesy of the HBO.com website

I took the first step in making a worthwhile homemade breakfast bar by making worthwhile homemade granola. I based it on this recipe. However, I used coconut fat instead of oil. I also added vanilla beans, flaxseed, dried coconut flakes, and only used raisins as fruit.

I also caught a cold this week. A Jamaican Toddy (which I may or may not have invented) made it better.

Jamaican Toddy Recipe

Ingredients:
1 lime, squeezed
1 oz dark rum/light rum/spiced rum
Freshly grated nutmeg to taste
1 oz honey
A few allspice berries
Hot water

Method:
1. Combine first 4 ingredients
2. Top with hot water
3. Enjoy
4. Go to bed early.

Some other thing’s I’ve been enjoying this non-winter (it’s been unseasonably warm) have been: Revenge, this amazing lip balm by Nuxe that my pal Whitney got me for Christmas, soaking my own beans (way more tasty), wedding planning, contemplating if jcrew is jumping the shark yet not finding an adequate sale section to fill the void, this blush from tarte (it’s plum scented), and this new poster that GB and I made. Also, don’t forget, it’s an election year. And, although the Susan G. Komen foundation reversed their decision regarding Planned Parenthood, PP could still use your support.

I’ve been working a lot, and my fledgling business got its fist write up in the press!

Via Daily Candy Chicago!

It’s also an enjoyable genre of music.

What more could you want than music and a sandwich?

Let’s go over the Jibarito’s finer points. Instead of using bread, you use fried plaintains, which is actually harder than you might think to make. I prefer my jibaritos with steak (some people like it with chicken, lechon, or ((gasp)) veggie patties), and it’s best you marinate it in homemade mojo for a day before you cook the meat. A Jibarito is really one of the only appropriate uses for American cheese. You’ll also want to include a seasoned mayonnaise, some sliced tomatoes, and crisp lettuce. It doesn’t sound like much, but believe me, the sum is greater than its parts.

I’ve long been a fan of the Jibarito as it’s gluten free and a great way to consume American cheese without being judged too harshly by your peers. Some of my favorite places to consume these sandwiches include Cafe Central, D’Noche, and Borinquen Restaurant. Jibaritos were one of those things that I left to the professionals, until I decided to try it myself.

I had some friends from work over for a belated holiday party. I set the table.

Got the extra chairs out.

And made 6 Jibaritos using this recipe! One of them was vegetarian.