http://www.mikensophie.com/blog Mike and Sophie together are here, there, and everywhere... Thu, 15 Apr 2010 06:18:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en As a member of the educated and disproportionately privileged professional class, as well as being the product of immigrant upbringing, it is with some embarrassment that I admit to stereotyping those in poverty as not hard working enough, lacking self-control, or results and participants of substance abuse.  Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara ... http://www.mikensophie.com/blog/2010/04/14/nickel-dimed-by-barbara-ehrenreich-should-be-required-reading-for-all/ Hubby and I tend to celebrate Valentine's day early to skip the crowds, and have a quiet evening at home when Feb 14 rolls around.  This year he requested rack of lamb, which is a favorite of mine as well.  I am particularly proud of this recipe which features a ... http://www.mikensophie.com/blog/2010/02/15/valentines-day-at-home/ I just commented on a BlogHer Thread "What green practices are you most proud of?".  Thought I'd share my comments here: I started doing most of these things because I don't like waste.  Yet the side benefit is that they've turned out to be great for the environment! - Reusable shopping bags:  ... http://www.mikensophie.com/blog/2009/08/12/started-off-as-thrifty-ended-up-being-green/ Here is another recipe I put together last night.  we have some fairly bitter dandelion greens from our CSA box, and I wanted a "white bean" soup to provide richness and balance the flavor.  In my mind, bacon was definitely part of the equation as well.   Here's what I came ... http://www.mikensophie.com/blog/2009/04/16/californian-springtime-soup-for-cold-weather/ One of the things I like most about subscription to our CSA box is that occasionally we'll get veggies that I've never tasted or even seen before.  it was through these means that Sunchokes, agretti (a relative of the tumbleweed family!), and nettles were introduced into our lives--despite their wild-west heritage, ... http://www.mikensophie.com/blog/2009/03/20/an-otherworldly-parsnips-recipe/ Home grown veggies get major press today as it was disclosed that the White House will have its own veggie garden for the first time since WW2!  This shines a strong and positive spotlight on fresh, locally grown veggies as a way to combat obesity and make investments in one's ... http://www.mikensophie.com/blog/2009/03/20/obama-family-to-eat-home-grown-veggies/ We had a bunch of leftover pumpkin (yes, still) from our Two Small Farms subscription last season, and I'd been brainstorming in my head about what to do with it.  I invented this recipe which uses pumpkin in many forms:  Pumpkin gnocchi.  Reading my copy of Silver Spoon, I was ... http://www.mikensophie.com/blog/2009/03/19/what-to-do-with-pumpkin/ -1/8 can TJ's cuban mojito sauce -1 package TJ's steamed fava beans -1 small onion, sliced -1 piece salmon -chopped cilantro, fresh or frozen night before: cover salmon with mojito sauce, wrap and refrigerate.  using a non-stick pan, pan fry salmon over medium heat, skin side down (if no skin, use a bit of olive oil).  ... http://www.mikensophie.com/blog/2009/03/17/lovely-salmon-wfava-beans/ One of mike's favorite things is french macaroons.  Today it was meyer lemon macaroons with lemon white chocolate filling, and chocolate macaroons with coffee ganache filling.  I loosely followed the recipe in Martha Stewart's magazine, and it was completely simple to do.  That small bag of almond flour has been ... http://www.mikensophie.com/blog/2009/03/15/macaroons/ I noticed recently that they started selling meyer lemons at trader joes which historically have been hard to find.  I've bought a few batches of them and have been slicing them into my water with cucumber for a refreshing treat at work.   Today I tried something a bit more adventurous and ... http://www.mikensophie.com/blog/2009/03/14/lemon-tartgotta-try-that-one-again/