I LOVE Meyer Lemons

I don't know anyone who doesn't love Meyer Lemons or Lemons in general.  Meyer Lemons have a more orange hue to them and a much sweeter taste than regular lemons.  To use the peel of these lemons in recipes you have to put them in the refrigerator for a bit to get firmer and then zest right away.  Use a microplane if you have one.  These work so well.  I have made many risotto's over the years (I think I even experimented in college at UCSB)  and most turn out good, but not as good as at a restaurant.  I finally found the perfect recipe and realized I just needed to change my stirring habits.  Instead of a stirring it is more of a vigorous circular movement with the spoon and your hand.  They need to work in unison.  Also, don't stir as much as the recipe tells you and keep the heat up pretty high the whole time.  This recipe is a modification of the Asparagus and Lemon Risotto Recipe from Alice Waters-The Art of Simple Cooking.  If you don't already know I love Alice Waters as much as Meyer Lemons so I use or modify her recipes often.   I decided to omit the asparagus (because I didn't have any around) and just go crazy with the Lemons 

Meyer Lemon Risotto

Remove the zest from 2 Meyer Lemons and then squeeze the juice

Melt 2 tablespoons butter

Add 1 small finely chopped onion and cook for 10 minutes or until soft

Add 1.5 cups of risotto rice and cook and stir for about 4 minutes

In another pot bring 5 cups of chicken broth to boil

Stir lemon zest into sauteed rice

Pour 1/2 cup of vermouth

Cook, stirring fairly often until wine is absorbed.  Add 1 cup of chicken broth and cook at vigorous simmer stirring occasionally.  When rice starts to thicken pour in another 1/2 cup of broth and add a pinch of salt.  Keep adding broth 1/2 cup at a time making sure the rice does not dry out.  When rice is just about done (20-30 minutes) stir in lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of butter, 1/3 cup of parmesean cheese and stir vigorously to develop the creamy starch.  Taste for salt and lemon juice adding more if needed.  Turn off the heat and let sit for 2 minutes.  Add more broth if rice becomes too thick. 

I have pictures above.  I also made duck breast for the first time as well from Alice Waters Chez Panisse Menu Cookbook from 1982 (got this at a used bookstore in Berke

ley-1st edition! Yes, I know I am a dork).  Again, I modified the recipe.  I took the skin off the duck breast and cooked it in duck fat (oil works too) until it was crispy.  Then I drained it on a paper-towel, then diced it.  Then I salted and peppered the duck and brushed a little duck fat on it.  In a separate pan I sauteed this for about 5 minutes per side on high until golden brown.  Then I let it sit and added red wine to the pan and heated it all on low.  Lastly you serve the breast with the wine reduction and the crispy skin.  Not bad for a Tuesday night.  Bon! Appetit

Time to Plan for Fall

This is the current state of my garden.  There are only a few cherry tomatoes left to harvest and the Lebanese Zucchini are still going strong.  One baby cucumber has started to grow and the crook neck squash seem to be blooming.  A few onions are left and several strawberries seem to come up each week.  No more beans, but potential for chocolate and jalapeno peppers are just around the corner.  All this in about 400 square feet of space.  It shows that any urban dweller has the potential to grow their own food.  Above are some pictures of the current garden.  

Here's what I am planning on growing for the fall once everything above is spent.

1) More onions

2) Pumpkins of course (Cinderella Pumpkin is my favorite right now)

3)Beets

4) Carrots

5)Lettuce-I don't have much luck with these because of the deer and squirrels who seem to love lettuce and spinach.   I guess I could share with them. 

Kevin and the Pot

Here is a close up of the ceramic bowl in the pictures of our bedroom.  This is one I made last semester at UC Berkeley.  I started taking ceramics classes a few months back and really enjoy it.  It feels sort of great to make things that can be used everyday, but are also a form of art.  It is also a very meditative activity and incredibly relaxing.  

Weekend Updates-Pablo likes the new bed

I honestly don't think there is any way I can write an entry every day especially not over the weekend so I will just do Sunday night recaps. This weekend was filled with lots of house chores, gardening and of course soccer.  

Let's start with the house chores.  When I used to live in an apartment (5 in 5 years in San Francisco) I dreamed and longed for a home I could own and make my own.  I yearned for the ability to paint and decorate and garden.  Now I realize how much work all of that is, I find myself occasionally thinking I wish we just rented.  Then Jesse and I could spend the weekend drinking coffee, perusing the farmers market, taking Pablo to the dog park and then having a wonderful meal at the many wonderful restaurants in SF.  Now the weekend is still filled with coffee (to make sure we are wide awake when we choose area rugs) followed by frantic running around the East Bay looking for the perfect (bed, curtain, dishwasher, lightbulb, drain pipe etc)  It doesn't help that Jesse and I are probably the least handy people.  We have great ideas, but we definitely fall short on follow through.  Just today for example, Jesse fixed a broken drain pipe with duct tape.  That is how much we value our home.  

Although in my heart of hearts I do know that all of those things are just superficial and nothing beats working in my garden all day harvesting tomatoes and hanging out on our deck watching the Sunset over Marin.  

That said......I we just bought a new mattress (the one before was from High School) and it is amazing how well you sleep when you don't wake up in the middle of the bed because of the terrible sag in the springs.  The bedroom set is new too and is from Room and Board.    Check out the pictures of the set up.  The little model is of course Pablo.  He reminds me of Vanna.  

Halloween is coming....so is Easter

Ok, so I just hate how all the Big Box stores sell all of their Holiday fare waaaaaaay before we need any of it.  That said.  I have a Pug.   If you don't know what a Pug is he is a dog.  Specifically I have one named Pablo.  They are smallish in size, loving and sweet, but also tend to shed all year long and hate to be more than 5 feet away from you.  Very similar to small children.  Anyways, as one of those ex-San Francisco habitat dwellers I tend to treat my dog like a child and dress them up for Halloween.  Here is the picture from last year.  My favorite caption for this is "The Devil Wears Pablo"....you can laugh later.   This year, much to Pablo's excitement he will be a Pumpkin.   He looks a bit depressed, but don't let that fool you.  

Jen's First Blog

It's my first blog so far.  So excited!  OMG  It's so very.  This blog was inspired by many different blogs that are inspiring.  To start 1) My friend Kevin who used to publish a blog that was inspired by Russ and Kevin's days as a professional bmx biker.  Too much detail.  And 2) Domestic Reflections which is the blog of my best friend's sister-in-law's friend....too much detail.  If you click on both of these you will realize that these 2 blogs are like oil and vinegar, which leads to one of my hobbies cooking.  I'll elaborate on this later.  Anyways, I hope to fill this blog with inspirations for your kitchen, home and alter ego.