Archive for January, 2008
« Previous EntriesFive items: Easy as (spinach) pie
Thursday, January 31st, 2008Why do people say “easy as pie”? In my experience, pie is not easy to make. In fact, I can think of few things more finicky than pastry.
Unless, perhaps, the expression refers to Greek spinach pie, or spanakopita? (It seems improbable, but maybe?) When you use frozen fillo dough and frozen spinach, spanakopita is a snap […]
Oloroso sherry
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008Before perusing Moro: The Cookbook, I thought of sherry as a very proper tipple served in stuffy British homes — something you’d drink at the vicar’s house for example. (Not that I’ve ever personally known a vicar.) It also seemed quite old fashioned and literary, the type of thing Dickens would drink, or, obviously, Edgar […]
More from MORO
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008According to Moro, tarta de Santiago, or almond tart with Oloroso sherry, is from Galicia and is traditionally served in Santiago, Spain on St. James’s Day. I have to admit, I made this tart because it calls for membrillo, or quince paste, which you melt into a thick glaze and spread on the bottom of the pastry shell […]
Tagines
Monday, January 28th, 2008What is a tagine? According to the Penguin Companion to Food, it is a stew “fundamental to cookery in Morocco,” as well as its cooking vessel, which is “earthenware, with a distinctive pointed cover.” Some tagine vessels are used for cooking, while others are used only for serving.
How to be cool (and cultured)
Friday, January 25th, 2008Welcome to a new blog feature, Q&A, which is, well, exactly as advertised. Today we are thrilled to feature Nancy MacDonell, fashion journalist and author. Nancy’s first book, The Classic Ten: The True Story of the Little Black Dress and Nine Other Fashion Favorites, offered readers a witty and urbane glimpse into the history of ten iconic […]
There will be chocolate
Thursday, January 24th, 2008Welcome to part tres of Moro: the dinner party, starring a luscious chocolate and apricot tart (photo above). I do not love making desserts, but this was the most satisfying and successful recipe of all that I attempted from the book. The chocolate contrasted beautifully with the slightly tart, fruity apricots.
Paella party
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
Part dos of Moro: the dinner party involved paella de cerdo con chorizo y espinaca (rice with pork, chorizo and spinach). The book’s authors, Sam & Sam Clark, describe this recipe as “very Spanish in taste… complex and comforting.” It includes its fair share of special ingredients (sigh), including chorizo, calasparra (paella) rice, sweet smoked Spanish paprika, and noras peppers.
Una semana de Espana
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008This week at Cooking the Books, we take a look at Moro: The Cookbook by Sam and Sam Clark. Moro means moor in Spanish, and it is also the name of the Clarks’ popular Spanish-North African restaurant in Islington.
The cookbook, which I purchased last June, is filled with intriguing recipes for Spanish/North African/Eastern Mediterranean food, […]
Digestif glasses
Friday, January 18th, 2008I have a new shopping obsession: Washington Consignment, which is close (dangerously close) to our apartment. I bought these crystal digestif glasses there last week for $20. Aren’t they charming? Perfect for an after dinner sip of eau-de-vie. The shop gets new items all the time so you never know what adorable things you’ll find — a […]
Winter mix
Thursday, January 17th, 2008The California girl in me can’t help but marvel at the snow today. The picture above was taken from my office/dining room window. Isn’t it pretty?
No cooking updates today as we had dinner at Mourayo last night, an fresh-faced gem of a Greek restaurant in Dupont Circle with reasonable prices and carefully prepared food. I’ve eaten here several times, […]