Groovin' in the kitchen, dancin' in Missoula.
Holy smokes! Hello! I still exist, and I’m happy that you do too. We had an action-packed, relaxing, invigorating, magical summer. Hence the silence on my part. Umm, apparently June 4th was the last time I visited here, but I swear it was only two […]
I’m going on a road trip this week, and I can’t tell you how excited I am! I’ll be performing “Views from Grandma’s Porch” with Bare Bait Dance, a fantastic modern dance company right here in Montana. I get to hang out with five of […]
Missoula loves to celebrate. Especially when it comes to beer.
So twice a year we have a Brew Fest to celebrate all the local and regional brews we have access to.
Unfortunately, I don’t like beer.
At all.
This wouldn’t be so bad if my husband weren’t a home brewer.
I like sangria. And wine soaked fruit when the sangria runs out.
Even still, I’d never miss a Brew Fest.
I like going for the people,
the food,
Alligator(!) bites, grit cakes, and beignets.
and the opportunity to bring the family.
And when the news crews show up,
you know you’re in for a good time.
Thanks Missoula! Can’t wait for the summer Brew Fest!
Step one: Roast a head of garlic and a red bell pepper. Comment repeatedly about how the roasted red pepper looks like a flower. Step two: Find a brie baker. This one was made by my very talented mother in law. If you don’t have […]
I can’t admit how much it saddens me that summer is almost over. Hold on, yes I can. And I’ve been telling everyone for the last week. So rather than focusing on how dark it’s getting in the mornings/evenings, and how much I hate being […]
Tasty, easy, fast, and cheap! Plus, people seem to really enjoy it. I get requests for this recipe at just about every summer function with my family.
It’s macque choux! (Pronounced mock shoe) My sister and I cooked at her house on the 4th of July, and other than heating up the kitchen a bit, it was no sweat.
I love your cutting board, Amanda!
I can almost make Macque Choux in my sleep–heat up olive oil, saute onions,
add red bell pepper,
and garlic,
and corn,
add more tasty things like tomatoes,
and green onions,
then season,
season,
season!
Am I dreaming about cayenne?
Totally.
I like to shovel it in my mouth before anyone notices. Then I pretend like it needs more salt or cayenne, and then I need to taste test it again.
Naturally.
Macque Choux
adapted from Eating Well. This recipe makes enough to feed an army. Feel free to modify as needed. But you might regret not making more…
sesame oil (or olive oil) for the pan
1 large onion, diced
2 red bell peppers, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 cans of fresh corn, some of the liquid reserved (if you have time to cut corn off the cob, you’re awesome)
1 tomato, diced
6 green onions, sliced thinly
1/2 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tsp freshly chopped)
1 1/4* tsp paprika
1* tsp salt
3/4* tsp cayenne
*Use less or more, depending on tastes
Heat sesame oil in a large pan. Add onion and saute until soft and opaque. Add red bell pepper and garlic, saute until the peppers are tender-crisp. Add the corn and some of the canning liquid to keep things moist (or water if you used corn from the cob), then saute the mixture for about 5-7 minutes more.
Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients. Taste often to make sure everything’s just the way you like it.
Serve with chips, over barbecued chicken, as a side dish, or garnish to your burger. Basically, just get it in your mouth!
More summer bbq recipes coming soon. Until then, I’ve got my mouth full.
Yep. Yep. Mmmhmm. Yeah. I’ve made cakes before. Delicious, moist, fluffy cakes. Sometimes with frosting, sometimes glaze, sometimes with just a dusting of powdered sugar. But I’ve never made a layer cake. And we all know that presentation isn’t my strong suit. I’ve always wanted […]
Hello! Oh my gosh, it’s been so long! You *look* fantastic! *I can’t really see you, but knowing you, I can assume. What have I been up to? Oh geez, where do I start? Well, we’ve been moving. And that’s seriously hectic. Have you ever […]
I really do mean to post with some kind of regularity, so I apologize for disappearing. I promise that soon I will post more often.
It’s just that, things have been happening. Exciting things. Like, big, awesome, things.
We’re moving!
Before you freak out, we’re staying in Missoula. I’m not sure we’d ever choose to leave this town. But we’re moving into a house. With a yard. And a garage. And wood floors. And the dryer won’t be in the kitchen!
See? Only the dryer is in there. The washer is in another part of the apartment. Ridiculous, no?
We are super excited, but it’s going to be a big change. We’ve lived in our apartment for over six years. Six years of good neighbors. Bad neighbors. People walking over head. Parties. Car alarms. Pregnancy. First steps. Bike rides. No kids our son’s age. Lots of kids our son’s age.
It will involve a change of schools. Leaving the Northside neighborhood we’ve grown to love so much. Trying to pack up six years worth of stuff and moving it across town.
But it will also involve exploring a new neighborhood. A yard with a fence! A garden!! A big trampoline!!! (Be still, my dancer’s heart!) Getting used to a new oven. Backyard bbqs. Mowing grass, for the first time ever.
All the amazing things that are involved with moving your things, your heart, your sense of home into a new space, and making that place your heart, your home.
It’s scary.
It’s exciting.
It’s stressful.
It makes me feel like a kid.
I can’t wait.
Be patient with me while I sort through our life and pack it into boxes. I can’t promise that I’ll post much during the next few weeks, but I can promise to take lots of pictures, and check in with you now and then. Because you know you’re coming with me, right? I promise, it’s going to be great. You’ll like it.
There’s a trampoline.
That’s not me. But that’s how I felt all weekend. You see, Farmer’s Market is back. And it was Brew Fest. I don’t drink beer (still. Shocking, I know), but I got to people watch, and dog watch, and kayak watch. I got to hear […]