Eat Your Veg

Yay for the CSA. I know what we’re doing with everything in the box except for the kale. Any suggestions?

Beef and Cabbage Hand Pies

Beef and cabbage and probably a beer.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

The holiday wouldn’t be complete without a little Beef and Cabbage. . . though, not Corned Beef because I just can’t bring myself to eat it. And interestingly enough, it’s not really an Irish tradition.  So, I rolled up my sleeves and spent the afternoon making hand pies instead.

This is actually a German recipe called Bierocks.  However, just about every culture seems to want to claim beef and cabbage! Since it’s St. Patrick’s Day, we won’t tell anyone and just go with it!

I’ve had the recipe since I was a teenager, but it’s been years since I’ve made it. These were a staple in the early years of our marriage: being one of the few foods I walked down the aisle knowing how to make. There’s a bit of nostalgia involved — which is probably why IZ was so willing to pass on tradition this year! Clearly, I’m not that Irish—and trust me, if you read the foot notes this will seem the least of my transgressions.

These tasty pies are a time commitment, but well worth the effort. The recipe makes 24 pies and you can easily freeze the left-overs for later! Make sure you have some yummy mustard for dipping, and yes, they are amazing with a “pint”.

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Domesticate Me

Together in the kitchen.

Domesticate Me

One of the ways I stayed sane living in a hotel this summer was to imagine us back in our renovated home. I kept a Pinterest board of all our design ideas because it kept me focused on the outcome, not the destruction! When the process became overwhelming, I would go pin something inspirational. Click, click, breathe, breathe.

Early in the process I found myself imagining cooking in our new kitchen. Um, yeah, you heard correctly. Me cooking. (no it’s not the 8th sign of the apocalypse, yes it’s a bit delusional) So I started a board of recipe ideas that looked both accessible to the uninitiated cook and appetizing. I labeled the board, “Domesticate Me.” And, well. . . the idea snowballed.

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Day Three: Leftovers

Day Three: Oops. I was supposed to make pizza tonight. But I lost track of time, absorbed in a new project; so IZ was compelled to whip up left-overs. And by whipped-up, I mean ridiculously good pesto encrusted, roasted chicken with parmesan rice. Yum!