this week, meal by meal

i hate weeks where i don't have the time to sit and write. this has been one of those weeks. fortunately, i did find time to do some cooking so i'll just have to have the photos do the talking for now. jamie oliver's happy days with the naked chef has become one of my main go-to's for the weeknight meal. his pot-roasted chicken with sweet and sour sauce is perhaps the easiest one pot meal i've ever made. a great take on roast chicken where the end result is not just roast chicken, but a vibrant medley of vegetables, colors and flavor covered in a surprising sauce.

on saturday, trapped inside by clouds and rain, i relied on comfort. inspired by last week's episode of top chef (yes, i am still addicted), i followed in betty's footsteps, making my grilled cheese, all grown-up and a creamy roasted red pepper concoction. the grown-up part of the grilled cheese comes in the form of a roasted garlic puree that gives the sandwich a sweet but spicy bite. for the cheese part, i used gruyere and smoke gouda for an unexpected combination of flavors.

i almost considered not hosting sunday dinner this week, but it has turned into a bit of tradition for me. i look forward to ending the weekend with one last all-out cooking spree in the kitchen before heading back to the daily grind that mondays bring. tonight it was an ode to italy featuring my spaghetti and meatballs, an eggplant caponata and an olive tapenade dip. no recipes, just me playing in the kitchen.

tomorrow, i am back to the daily grind but it'll be a little bit different as i'll be in tokyo. i have never been and am excited to see this metropolis in action. for awhile now, it has been my dream to swallow the poison of a blowfish and live to write about it. it is rare to come upon a food that can really make you live dangerously, but blowfish provides just that "do you dare?" experience. i'll let you know if i get the balls to give it a try. sayonara for now.

 

Comments

[Lewis]

Man, one-pot meals rule. And all dat looks good. Have fun in Japan.

[Graham]

It sounds great.... too got wonderful recipes at TasteBook.....!