Travel, Wine, and Dine

Shrimp and Goat Cheese Ravioli

September 2, 2010 in Uncategorized by traveleatlove | 8 comments

I have been spending quite a bit of time in the kitchen lately. I think since I have so many weekends away coming up, I am just enjoying hanging around the house and cooking up a storm. Earlier this week, I had the bright idea to make homemade ravioli, perhaps a lofty goal for a weeknight after a day of work, a run, and some blogging, but it turned out okay.

I looked at a bunch of random online recipes and got the gist of the ingredients involved. Since we only had wheat flour in the house (I will remedy that soon!) I was stuck making wheat pasta.

I used three cups of flour, two large eggs and enough water to turn it into dough. It was a messy mess.

I used my fanciest of rolling pins, an empty wine bottle, to roll out the dough. I do have a pasta maker, but I didn’t set it up for this venture. Probably a bad idea. . .

I let the dough sit for awhile while I mixed up a quick, simple filling of goat cheese, shrimp, and garlic powder.

I added scoops of filling along the dough, placed the other layer of dough on top, and used a glass to cut the ravioli out. Finally, I used a fork to seal the ravioli, making sure the filling didn’t fall out.

Totally rustic, right? My dough was a little too thick, and I will most definitely use the pasta maker next time and probably more water. It kept ripping when I tried to get it thinner

I planned on making a homemade heirloom tomato sauce for the ravioli, but by the time I was done rolling out the pasta dough and all, I decided to use another of the samples that Lucini sent me, Spicy Tuscan Tomato Sauce. It ended up being the perfect choice. Once the ravioli were cut open, the goat cheese and spicy sauce sort of combined to make a nice, creamy sauce.

As we get closer to the holiday weekend, I will be taking a break from my kitchen adventures. I am exhausted!

I am going to a wedding in the Berkshires for our friends’ wedding this weekend, and I can not wait to break out of the office Friday at 2. It has been quite the week!

What are you up to for this unofficial last weekend of summer?

Technorati Tags: cooking, pasta, ravioli, recipe

Tags: cooking, pasta, ravioli, recipe

Peach and Tomato Couscous

September 1, 2010 in Uncategorized by traveleatlove | 13 comments

Ever since our delicious dinner at Zazu in Santa Rosa, CA, I have been obsessed with Israeli couscous and mixing in new and different ingredients to make it the base of a variety of meals. The recent onslaught of fresh summer peaches and heirloom tomatoes got me thinking a couple of nights ago, and I couldn’t wait for the farmers market so I could pick up some great local ingredients. I find my best recipe development happens when I can’t sleep at night! And speaking of recipes, please buzz my Foodbuzz Alaska Seafood recipe so I can win a trip to Foodbuzz Festival! Pretty please, and thank you in advance! I promise not to be too obnoxious about it, but I would appreciate the buzzes!

http://www.foodbuzz.com/recipes/2593860-foodbuzz-alaska-seafood-dinner

Ok, back to the regularly scheduled post. This recipe was simply delightful, each ingredient shining on its own but also tying in with the others. It was also very quick and a healthy choice for a quick weeknight meal. We are eating the leftovers cold for lunch, and I think it will be just as delicious. I love leftovers!

The ingredients were really just eyeballed amounts, what I had and felt like mixing in, a box of Trader Joe’s Israeli couscous, a spicy green pepper. . .

Two juicy white peaches

Six or so heirloom tomatoes and about half of a red onion

Premium Select olive oil, sent to me as a sample from Lucini Italia

I started out by lightly browning the couscous in olive oil with a pinch of chili pepper and cumin, then slowly added water and stirred it until it was close to done.

In the meantime, I was chopping onions, peppers, peaches, and tomatoes. Once the couscous was ready, I added the veggies, stirred thoroughly, and let the whole thing simmer on low for a few minutes. I did not want the peaches and tomatoes to fall apart or get mushy, just to be warmed, so it wasn’t long.

After I plated the couscous, I added crumbled Narragansett Creamery feta for a bit of saltiness. I love feta and couscous together, perfection!

We loved this dish! It was so quick to make and bursting with summer flavors. I am glad that after a tiring run I mustered up the energy to cook. It certainly isn’t always that way!

Remember back when it was the big blog trend to do those “Ask me anything” posts? I never did it then, but since I couldn’t think of a random question for you all, do you have any questions for me?!

Technorati Tags: Food, Israeli Couscous, peaches, produce, recipe, tomatoes, Vegetarian

Tags: Food, Israeli Couscous, peaches, produce, recipe, tomatoes, Vegetarian

I baked!

August 31, 2010 in Uncategorized by traveleatlove | 21 comments

When it comes to the kitchen, I am definitely a throw caution to the wind kind of girl. A little of this, a bit of that, give me a curry, sauce, or soup to make, and I delight in the creative possibilities.

Enter baking. For someone who grew up baking all sorts of cookies with my mother at home and who has fond memories of grating potatoes for potato rolls with my nana, I have somehow become terrified of baking. Maybe the fear comes from the few times I decided to forego an important ingredient like baking powder. Maybe it’s the time that I dreamt up my own recipe for almond butter shortbread, the results something only I would eat. I am not sure exactly where my growing fear of flour came from, but this past weekend I decided to face it.

With almost 3/4 of a container of buttermilk left from my chilled avocado soup, it came to me that I should bake buttermilk biscuits. I perused the internet for recipes, knowing that successful biscuits would depend on following a recipe all the way through, and I finally settled on a recipe from Tyler Florence. Of course, I had to change it up a little, and I used whole wheat flour instead of all purpose and butter instead of shortening.

While I was definitely nervous and careful to read every step of the recipe, I had fun mixing everything together with my hands, dropping little blobs of dough on to a cookie sheet, and smelling the delicious, buttery aromas as they emanated from the oven.

The final result? A little drier and less flaky than any biscuits I have ever had, which I think might be the result of the whole wheat flour. They certainly looked and tasted more like scones, but they tasted good.

Especially topped with Trader Joe’s lemon curd or honey and Kerrygold.

I look forward to baking again and hopefully to getting to a point where I am confident enough to bake for friends and family. This September I am attending a baking class at King Arthur Flour, and I am really excited to see what a professional has to share with us!

Are you a baker? If so, what is your favorite thing to make?

Technorati Tags: baking, biscuits, Food

Tags: baking, biscuits, Food

Brunch at Sensing

August 31, 2010 in Uncategorized by traveleatlove | 9 comments

Brunch is one of the best meals of the week, and this past Sunday, after waking up late and lolling around the house, we decided to eat at Sensing at the Fairmont Battery Wharf. We had only eaten at Sensing once before, for lunch last 4th of July, and after a great lunch experience, I was looking forward to brunch by the bay.

For a city that has so much water, Boston severely lacks in waterfront dining options, don’t you think?

Sensing’s outdoor patio has a great view of the harbor, and we were gratefully seated in the shade so that we were able to enjoy the beautiful day without baking in the sun. The restaurant manager seated us and served us for most of the meal; the service was absolute perfection.

I started with an extra spicy Bloody Mary, just how I like them. See all that horseradish floating around? Yum!

While we were sipping our drinks, we also nibbled on flaky scones topped with apple butter.

I took this photo of the condiments because they looked so perfect. . . and they are usually a pretty big part of my meal!

And then my brunch arrived, the Coast Guard Omelet, with brie, asparagus, and lobster, oh my. With a stuffed tomato, home fries, carrots, and asparagus on the side, it was a completely indulgent breakfast but still with a lot of nutrition.

The lobster was perfectly cooked, not a chewy bit, and the brie was ooey-gooey and melty.

My husband had the lobster roll which we shared at our last meal at Sensing, and once again it was perfect. The brioche roll makes it extra delicious.

Stuffed, we left to wander down along the waterfront and through the St. Anthony Feast going on in the North End. Other than getting yelled at for taking a photo (of something I was going to buy!) by a child working in the chocolate dipped fruit booth, the feast was enjoyable but a little too crowded for a day that was in the high 80’s. I didn’t buy the chocolate covered apple after the boy yelled at me. Hmph to him.

As a blogger, have you ever gotten yelled at for taking a photo? I was yelled at once before in Lush of all places.

Technorati Tags: Boston, brunch, Dining out, Food, lobster

Tags: Boston, brunch, Dining out, Food, lobster

Dinner at Union Boston

August 30, 2010 in Uncategorized by traveleatlove | 16 comments

As I write this post, I am contentedly full from a delicious dinner at Union Bar and Grille in Boston’s South End. A day of wandering the North End in the heat and wishing I owned the dogs in the South End dog park, we found relief from this late summer heat in Union’s cool, comfortable dining room.

We have been to Union’s bar a few times, once to eat brunch, and a few other times for drinks, but never for dinner. They have a great wine list and are one of the restaurants in Boston that has ventured outside of the traditional wine regions of the world to offer Austrian Gruner Veltliner, a huge plus in my opinion. They also offer reasonably priced wine by the glass from places like Washington, New Zealand, and Argentina.

Since we had never eaten in the dining room, it was a nice surprise to be seated in the very comfortable black banquette lit by some great natural light. The decor is dark, cool, and sleek, very comfortable but really chic.

We were greeted by the restaurant’s manager, Justin, seated, and given a complimentary glass of bubbly to mark the end of Boston Restaurant Week. It was a very nice touch

Fresh, hot cornbread preceded our meals, and while I decided to save room for my three course dinner, my husband thought it was perfect, especially with some creamy, lightly salted butter.

For my wine, I decided on the Neapolitan flight which started with a glass of Graham Beck Brut Rosé. As you may know from other posts (wine tasting at Morton’s, Vino Voyage, and my friend’s graduation dinner). Graham Beck unfortunately recently passed away, but his delicious wine certainly lives on and gives us reason to celebrate.

My first course was a fresh, light, and summery soup, Chilled local peach and golden tomato gazpacho, that took advantage of the best local produce at the moment, tomatoes and peaches. I don’t know why I never thought to pair tomatoes and peaches before (but Chef Robin White does in an incredible salad) but it is a magical pairing, the sweetness of ripe peaches accentuating the sweetness and slight acidity of the tomatoes. It was the perfect starter for such a hot evening. The only thing that I personally would have left out was the drizzle of oil on top; it was a little distracting. Otherwise, I could and would eat bowl after bowl of this gazpacho.

My second wine was a Sauvignon Blanc from Groth Vineyards in the Napa Valley. It ended up being the perfect choice to pair with the spice of my entree

Oven roasted cape bluefish
with spicy watermelon pickle charred sweet onions,
grilled summer corn and basmati rice pilaf

The spicy watermelon was just luscious and unexpected, complementing the meaty bluefish well. I even enjoyed the sweet summer corn and rice, and I am not usually a fan of rice. Everyone finds it strange that I don’t like rice, but I really rarely enjoy it. Last night was one of those nights.

The Restaurant Week menu included a dessert course, and we were completely spoiled for dessert as we were brought out the house special, a maple bread pudding, in addition to the desserts we ordered:

Raspberry spiked chocolate brownies
with pistachio ice cream

Bread and butter pudding
with roasted peaches and vanilla bean ice cream

That’s a lot of dessert for two people! But we managed, with two glasses of Port, to put quite a dent in them, each delicious and decadent in their own way. Justin was completely correct when he said that the maple bread pudding was life changing, and I can see it being a big time autumn craving.

Union is a great neighborhood restaurant for just about any meal or casual snacks at the bar, which I find to be one of my favorite bar settings in Boston. They provided us with above and beyond hospitality, and we will definitely return. Thanks so much, Justin!

So, it’s Monday again and a pretty busy week leading up to our holiday weekend in the Berkshires. . . and a fall season for lots of travel and fun events. I can’t wait, but it’s also a little bit daunting. One day at a time I guess!

Even though we work until 2:00 on Friday, I am telling myself it is a short week. Ask me again on Thursday how I feel about that!

It was a quiet weekend on the blog traffic front, so in case you missed them, don’t forget to check out summer farmers market roundup, a wine tasting at home, and another cod recipe. Also, I am in the process of updating the Sites I love page. More to come!

Did you eat anything particularly delicious this weekend?

Technorati Tags: Boston, Dining out, dinner, Food, gazpacho, restaurant, Union, wine

Tags: Boston, Dining out, dinner, Food, gazpacho, restaurant, Union, wine

Another Saturday Night

August 29, 2010 in Uncategorized by traveleatlove | 13 comments

I definitely have some of my happiest moments in the kitchen. Whether alone or with my husband or a group of people, the kitchen is such a hub of goodness, fun, nourishment, and rest.

Last night was no exception. My husband was out with his family, so I first baked buttermilk biscuits using the leftover buttermilk from my chilled avocado soup. Yes, I baked. A small feat, but still, I never bake, so these simple biscuits will get their own post.

Once the biscuits were done, I got to work on dinner. Although we are facing an end of August heat wave, I am ready for fall cooking which, for me, involves lots of roasting. Last night I decided to roast onions, potatoes, and tomatoes together for a flavorful side to a cornmeal and chile crusted cod. Thanks to the generous portion of cod sent by Alaska Seafood for the Foodbuzz contest, I had a couple of filets left and decided to cook them with a little crunch and spice.

But first, the veggies. I love roasted red onion, and because of the roasting time, thought that I would toss in the chunks of onions and potatoes together. While I chopped them into chunks, I preheated the oven to 420, then tossed the veggies in olive oil and popped them in the oven.

In the meantime I chopped and set aside some heirloom tomatoes to be added to the mix later. I wanted them roasted but not disintegrated!

Next, I mixed an egg with some fire roasted green chile peppers from Trader Joe’s and coated cod filets with the mix.

Before I popped the fish into the oven, I sprinkled cornmeal over the top for a little bit of crunch. At the same time, I added the tomatoes to the dish of roasted veggies and doused them in some nicely aged balsamic vinegar before I put them back in the oven for some more roasting.

Adding the balsamic toward the end provided some great flavor to the vegetables but did not burn because I didn’t add it at the beginning.

My husband arrived home just in time for dinner, and we had a nice, cozy meal on our deck, each with a glass of Pares Balta Ros de Pacs wine.

Barefoot, in the kitchen, music playing, open windows, food on my hands, yes, one of my favorite ways to be. Now how do I make this my job?

Do you have a hobby you would like to turn into a job?

And I can’t forget to wish a Special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best mom in the world today! Happy Birthday mom, love you!

Technorati Tags: cod, cooking, Food, recipe, vegetables

Tags: cod, cooking, Food, recipe, vegetables

Wine Tasting at Home

August 28, 2010 in Uncategorized by traveleatlove | 14 comments

I love Friday nights at home. Our newest tradition is to cook something at home, open a bottle of wine, and sit outside on our deck listening to music and catching up until we are ready for bed. It is so refreshing and restful and one of my absolute favorite times of the week.

Last night we decided to relive our wine country travels by doing a little wine tasting outside. Thanks to the sampler kits we bought at Amista Vineyards, all we had to do was grab a few glasses, the tasting notes, and to head for the setting sun.

Amista sells these great little at home wine tasting kits, and as we learned, the hard way, you re able to take TWO of them on board the plane with you. Three tasting kits gets you extra special attention from airport security. Apparently the contents of three will not fit in the plastic quart bag.

(Our deck desperately needs to be redone. If anyone in Boston has a good deck sander/painter recommendation, let me know!)

This particular tasting kit included:

2007 Chardonnay	2008 Rose of Syrah	2006 Zinfandel	2004 Syrah	2005 Cabernet Sauvignon	Ilusion
Morningsong Vineyards	Morningsong Vineyards	Saini Farms-Gene’s Block	Morningsong Vineyards	Francesa’s Terrace	Dry Creek Valley Red Dessert Blend

The kit also includes tasting notes and food pairings, multiple menus and courses for each wine. It is an excellent, informative guide and something I plan on using if I ever have time to plan a wine dinner at home.

We tasted through the lineup, each bottle being just enough for a taste for both of us. With the exception of the Chardonnay, which I think wasn’t sealed properly, the wines were all the exceptional quality I remember from the Amista tasting room. When I removed the seal of the Chardonnay bottle, it was sticky, smelled like old wine, and had a caramel-colored residue in the cap. It happens.

My favorite was of course the 2004 Syrah. I have tasted Syrah from many places, and those from the Dry Creek Valley and in particular, Amista and Michel-Schlumberger tend to be the best for my palate.

Dinner was supposed to be some fish and roasted veggies, but after another tiring week, we opted for a bacon and jalapeno pizza from the shop around the corner. It was a perfect red wine pizza.

And since I haven’t mentioned any new product favorites lately, I just had to include a photo of my Trader Joe’s lemon curd. Disclaimer, I do not work for Trader Joe’s though I would love to, I just find so many delicious deals there! This lemon curd is like a lemony pudding, and while I just had a couple spoons out of the jar last night, I can’t wait to eat it with shortbread.

And I am still obsessed with Trader Joe’s Super Red Drink Powder. Just wanted to throw that in there.

Do you have any special traditions or rituals that you look forward to each week or month?

Have a great Saturday!

Farmers Markets Week

August 27, 2010 in Uncategorized by traveleatlove | 16 comments

As summer grudgingly comes to an end, we celebrate all of the great things that Massachusetts Farmers Markets brought to us this year. I for one feel as though each week is made better x 100 by my many visits to the Copley Square market, and if you have been reading my blog for the past few months, you know that I can’t help myself but post weekly photos of the market and all of the local produce I enjoy.

It all started back in the spring, the market sparse with things like fiddleheads, the colors and life of the market a welcome relief from a cold winter and a gray, rainy spring.

And rhubarb, perfect for making an easy, warm rhubarb compote for yogurt and ice cream . . .

Colorful root vegetables like Easter egg radishes and beets popped up, making some incredible, crunchy salad additions. I discovered my love for raw radishes topped with tiny slivers of Kerrygold butter.

The greens and herbs were plentiful throughout the summer, my favorite being dinosaur kale and of course, basil for intensely flavored pesto.

Fresh, local varieties of squash started appearing, bright yellows and greens painting Copley Square with color and providing the perfect tools for kitchen adventures like zucchini pancakes and pattypan squash with a Greek twist.

And then finally there were the heirloom tomatoes. I wait all summer for these beauties, inspiration for new recipes like heirloom tomato panzanella, cod with tomatoes, and the base for a fabulous multi-course tomato dinner.

The farmers of Massachusetts should be commended for all of the hard work they do. Each year I have lived in Boston, I see more and more people buying food from local farmers, and I hope that will continue. As we see with mass produced food situations, such as the current egg crisis, it is best to know exactly where your food comes from, even down to the person who picks it and brings it to market. We are pretty lucky here in Boston to have such great markets just about every day of the week!

One of the greatest parts of blogging is that it is a living, growing, diary. In the dark, depths of winter, I will be able to look back to see all of the beautiful local foods I ate this summer. . . and to to look forward to making them even more a part of my diet next summer!

But summer isn’t over yet, and the markets go on for a few more months so be sure to check them out for the gorgeousness of fall, pumpkins, apples, honey, cider, and more!

And maybe someday soon we will have our year round public market in Boston!

As I mentioned above, this post is part of the Celebrating the Flavors of Massachusetts blogathon, hosted by In Our Grandmothers’ Kitchens. If you love local food, why not donate to Mass Farmers Markets?!

~~~~~~~~~~~

I had a dream the other night I was on a tour bus with Mick Jagger and Mark Bittman. This may have to do with my obsession with being in the cast of Spain on the Road again. . . not sure exactly what it means, but I woke up really happy!

Have you had any weird dreams lately?

Technorati Tags: Boston, Farmers Markets Week, Food, vegetables

Tags: Boston, Farmers Markets Week, Food, vegetables

Upstairs on the Square

August 26, 2010 in Uncategorized by traveleatlove | 15 comments

Five Boston food bloggers, a four course heirloom tomato dinner, and three wine pairings makes for a fabulous Wednesday night!

It didn’t start out as such. I made my way over to Harvard Square in the rain, received some disappointing news, and since it was the one year anniversary of Ted Kennedy’s death, decided to walk down by the river and through JFK Park in Cambridge for a little bit of thinking (ahem, crying) time.

Due to a hot summer and days of rain, everything was lush, green, and beautiful. The park was empty and peaceful, just what I needed for a little alone time after work.

I liked this quote from then President-elect Kennedy in 1961:

“The enduring qualities of Massachusetts–the common threads woven by the Pilgrim and the Puritan, the fisherman and the farmer, the Yankee and the immigrant–will not be and could not be forgotten in this nation’s executive mansion.” Yay Massachusetts!

After I was sufficiently rained on, I wandered back toward Harvard Square where I browsed boots, books, and clothes, and ended up at Cardullo’s ogling gourmet food products.

They have giant jars of Branston pickle, an Irish/English relish that is incredible on cheese sandwiches.

In addition to tons of coffee, chocolate, tea, cheese, crackers, biscuits, sauces, candy, juices, sodas, you name it, from around the world. Le sigh.

Soon enough it was time to head to dinner at Upstairs on the Square. Along the way I met two of my dining companions, Alicia and Michelle.

And once inside, we found Megan, looking like the queen of the castle on the high-backed purple chair.

Soon after we were joined by the lovely Daisy, and all decided on having the wine pairing with Upstairs on the Square’s “The Perfect August Repast; A Tomato Feast!”

We started with an amuse bouche, a shooter of summer gazpacho, served with a Ca’ del Solo Albarino from Bonny Doon Vineyard. Bonny Doon’s wines always impress me, and this Albarino was no different. Refreshing, bright, and citrusy, it went exceedingly well with both the gazpacho and our next course, the Classic Native Heirloom Tomato Salad with Fresh Market Raspberry Vinegar, Vermont Goat Cheese, and Thai Basil.

The Albarino had great citrus – but not acidic- flavors that paired very well with the slight acidity of the tomatoes. Creamy goat cheese and sweet raspberries brought it all together.

The next course was a Parsley & Lemon Crusted Hake with Lightly Crushed Yukon Golds & Lemongrass Tomato Water. Hearty and light at the same time with a delicious kiss of lemon flavor, this was my favorite savory course. With our hake, we sipped a Domaine Caillot Mersault from Burgundy. It had a delightful oaky flavor that really brought out the lemon flavor in the fish but also went well with the potatoes. I discovered that potatoes and wine with a hint of woodiness go well together!

The next course was a beef course, Wood-Grilled New York Strip Steak with a Tomato a la Provencale and Slow Roasted Garlic. While I am not a beef eater, I still loved this course for the fresh stuffed tomato seasoned with garlic and what I think were tarragon and fennel, paired with a spectacular 2006 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag’s Leap. The nose of the wine was pure Napa Valley, some nice dark fruits, a bit of dark chocolate, and that earthy, woody smell that just immediately transfers me across the country to the place I would to be most.

The final course, our dessert, was simply spectacular, delicious, unique, creative, magnifique! Sweet Tomato Sorbet Coupe with Olive Oil Ice Cream, Candied Pine Nuts and Lemon Thyme Shortbread. I can’t even put into words the layers of flavors and textures. The sorbet truly tasted like tomatoes, but in a sweet, light sort of way. The olive oil ice cream was creamy, rich, decadent, and the pine nuts were crunchy, sweet, and light. Top top it off, buttery, lemony shortbread with a savory hint of thyme.

We spent the evening eating, drinking, and catching up. It is so much fun to be with such a smart, funny group of women with the same interests AND people who not only understand the need to photograph every morsel, but join you in doing it! We were probably quite the sight, but we had a great time and I can’t wait to get together again.

Before I forget, the winner of the CSN Stores giveaway is. . . Kristy! Kristy, please email me with your contact info so I can get your gift card to you!

Tomorrow I am planning a special local food/farmers’ market blog post, but I DO need foodies to feature in the coming weeks, so let me know if you would like to be featured!

Random question of the day: What is the nicest thing someone has said to you recently?

A very old friend who I haven’t seen in over 12 years left a very kind comment on my Facebook page the other day and made my day, and I would love to hear what people are saying to make you happy!

Technorati Tags: bloggers, Boston, cambridge, Food, heirloom tomatoes, tomato dinner, Upstairs on the Square, wine

Tags: bloggers, Boston, cambridge, Food, heirloom tomatoes, tomato dinner, Upstairs on the Square, wine

“What’s in the House” Soup

August 25, 2010 in Uncategorized by traveleatlove | 14 comments

Despite yesterday’s chilly rain, I had a fantastic evening. After finishing 3 projects for work, I went for an all out run in the rain, splashing in puddles and completely soaking wet by the time I was done. I looked very much like I did in this photo. I can not wait to officially start training and fundraising for the 2011 Boston Marathon.

After a hot bubble bath, complete with Philosophy Pumpkin Spice Muffin bubble bath (adore Philosophy!), I put together a delicious soup using ingredients I had laying around the house.

1 summer squash

1 zucchini

3 heirloom tomatoes

6 potatoes

1 carton organic veggie broth

1/2 red onion

1 cup cubed tofu

3 cloves garlic

olive oil

dried herbs and spices to taste: basil, fennel, crushed red pepper, black pepper

I began by chopping everything in uniform sizes so that all of the ingredients would cook through.

I then sautéed the chopped onion and garlic in some olive oil just until soft, pouring in the veggie broth before they started to brown. I added the potatoes first, then about 3 minutes later the tomatoes and tofu, and 5 minutes after that, the zucchini. As I was stirring, I added tiny bits of the herbs and spices, tasting as I went along. Toward the end, I drizzled in a bit more olive oil, then lowered the pot of soup to simmer for about 15 minutes.

Once my husband arrived home, I ladled our bowls and grated parmesan cheese over the top.

Served with a small glass of spicy, jammy Nero d’avola, this meal was warming to the core. My Monday workout plus making a big Monday night meal, plus my run made me sore and sleepy. And the rain certainly made me want to go to bed!

I am soooo happy it is Wednesday! Dinner tonight at Upstairs on the Square with some of my favorite Boston bloggers which is totally making me smile. I still have to draw a winner for my CSN Stores giveaway, will definitely announce that by the end of the day tomorrow.

What’s your smile-maker today?

Technorati Tags: food and wine pairing, recipe, soup, tofu, vegetables, Vegetarian, wine