Lesson Learned

Last night I attemped to make this:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_78783,00.html

I saw smiley Giada make it on tv and thought, hmm this could be really good. Then I saw that one of my favorite food bloggers made it: http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/03/roasted-acorn-squash-and-gorgonzola-pizza/ and it looks positively perfect in her pictures. So I finally made the trek out to Whole Foods yesterday to purchase an acorn squash. I figured my wonderful Queens produce market would not carry them as they're not really in season (well, they're available year round but peak is from October to December).

I knew from the start that this would be a risk. 1. I'm not the biggest fan of blue cheeses and this calls for gorg, 2. Acorn squash isn't at its peak right now, and 3. Did I mention acorn squash is not at its peak?

So I go to Whole Foods. Whole Foods on a Sunday is what I call amateur day. Tourists and gourment food novices crowd around the Indian food bar looking perplexed and people can't seem to grasp that, yes, the check out line goes all the way back to sushi.

Anyway, I buy my squash, some crumbled gorg, whole milk mozzarella, arugula and pizza dough. I go home and do exactly as the recipe calls for and here are my conclusions:

1. Melted gorg and mozzarella on pizza dough is one of the more perfect things I've put in my mouth.
2. Roasted not-in-season acorn squash is stringy, flavorless and disappointing
3. Melted gorg and mozzarella on pizza dough topped with arugula is a pefectly good meal in itself
4. I've got to chill on the 'ole bread and cheese

Southwestern Succotash

I know its been a while! Sorry to the three or four people who read this. I get lazy about writing but I know its a really good thing for me to do, so I'll be better about the 'ole blogging.

Also, I haven't really been home the last few weeks. I haven't cooked much lately for a number of reasons: my brother was in town (we went to Corner Bistro), have gone to some birthday parties, went to a really snazzy restaurant called Dallas BBQ, and ate at the very notorious Wo Hop with Christian on Sunday...for lunch. Xu, I know I know,  its supposedly better when its 4:00am and you've just had lots of Rioja, but I actually liked it.

Oh! and last night I went to Katz's Deli for the first time in the 11 years I have lived in the city. It was great. Meaty. Real meaty. I also lost the "ticket" they give you when you walk in. Apparently you have to pay $50 when you lose your ticket but we didn't have to. Can someone please explain the relevance of this ticket? It makes absolutely no sense to me.  

But tonight I bought groceries and cooked! I made a dish that my mom used to make all the time when I was little and that my sister has recently resurrected. I decided to make this Southwestern Succotash because its cheap, filling, and tasty. I've changed it up a little from my mom's recipe and from Sarah's recipe. Sarah uses too much garlic powder and doesn't like spicy. I can't comprehend not liking spicy. Spicy takes food to a whole new painful and exhilarating level.  But what I like best about Sarah's version is that she garnishes it with diced avocado and tomato and douses it with even more lime juice. The Martinez girls like their citrus. Just look at our enamel!

MARSHA'S SOUTHWESTERN SUCCOTASH

(adapted from Mama Martinez's recipe)

1 lb lean ground beef

1/2 yellow onion diced

1 zucchini diced

1 can sweet corn, drained

2 serrano chiles diced

the juice of half a lime

salt and pepper 

2tbsp olive oil

garnish:

half an avocado, diced

half a tomato, diced

In a medium skillet cook the ground beef just until all the pink is gone. Drain the excess oil and set aside. In a large sauce pan heat olive oil over medium heat and add the onions and serrano chiles.  Cook for about a minute or so or until the onions begin to get tender. Add the zucchini and cover pot with a lid and let cook for about 2 minutes or until zucchini is just tender. Add corn and cooked ground beef and cook until corn is hot.  Add salt and pepper to your liking and douse it all with the lime juice.

I'm not adding a picture of this dish because it is way better to eat than to look at. :)