With the new year right around the corner, everyone seems intent on making their resolutions. Instead I would like to highlight a few things that will not change in 2009 for me:
- If you are a man and use emoticons, I will still mock you
- I will dream endlessly about a tropical getaway with Javier Bardem
- I will not get an animal and bore you with stories about said creature, speaking of it as if it were a human being
- My emails and this blog will continue to be riddled with typos
- The photos here will most likely suck for the time being
Now, the first three things…I think you can live with them. But the typing and the pictures? A lot of you seem to have a problem with this.
Look, I like being reminded of my shortcomings as much as the next girl. Hell, I remind myself on the regular about just how much work I have to do. Yet, my goals are more along the lines of “avoid psychological meat grinders” or “achieve inner peace” than “taking a typing class” or “reading a book about food photography”. I am sorry these personal failings of mine upset some of you but for now I think this is as good as it is gonna get. While I appreciate the emails and comments about my typing and photos, I just cannot promise it will get better.
The upside is though my photography skills are lacking, most of the food usually comes out pretty damn good. Below, behold another crappy picture! Feel free to tell me as such. But, BUT…this was really good. I served it with our Christmas Eve dinner and they are impossibly easy. After all, they are really just roasted potatoes with an extra kick. This managed to not scare the picky eaters at the table and still satisfy me. The mustard grains get nice and crunchy and the lemon adds a nice punch. It is a perfect side for pork or red meat and it packs a lot of flavor.
So, though I am not a resolutions kinda gal, let’s make a pact: I will continue to cook tasty things, you can all tolerate my sub par photography and sloppy editing, and we can live happily ever after.
Mustard Roasted Potatoes
from Gourmet
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1/2 cup whole grain Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
3 pounds 1- to 1 1/2-inch-diameter mixed unpeeled red-skinned potatoes, cubed
Position 1 rack in top third of oven and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Spray 2 large rimmed baking sheets with nonstick spray. Whisk mustard, olive oil, butter, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, lemon peel, and salt in large bowl to blend. Add potatoes; sprinkle generously with freshly ground black pepper and toss to coat. Divide potatoes between prepared baking sheets, leaving any excess mustard mixture behind in bowl. Spread potatoes in single layer. Roast potatoes 20 minutes. Reverse baking sheets and roast until potatoes are crusty outside and tender inside, turning occasionally, about 25 minutes longer.
Transfer potatoes to serving bowl.
I think all emoticon users should be mocked, including the girls.
I am really not big on the emoticons at all. Glad we can agree on this.
And speaking of pictures, I think whoever leaves the first comment today should get one of those apron and glasses pics sent to his email.
That is my great grandma’s apron. it will not be sullied.
1) Yay, mustard! The king of condiments.
2) Feel free to punch me in the face if I start rambling about my dog while we’re boozing it up in a few weeks.
3) “Avoid psychological meat grinders” = pure genius.
Can we throw a parade for mustard while you are here?
I knew you were good… but being able to cook in the future?
You already served these on New Year’s Eve? You truly are a culinary force to be reckoned with…
Oh, dear…Good catch. Xmas Eve! Already fixed it. Thanks.
it’s a deal. thank you for including the “sparing us the personified pet” parts, too.
People and their freaking animals. I will never be that person, promise.
If you are a man and use emoticons, I will still mock you
xDDDDDDDD
Was that supposed to be an emoticon?
As long as delicious recipes like these keep coming, you can misspell every third word. The yumminess more than makes up for any minor shortcomings in spelling. As for the pics? Well, their just fine as well. Can’t wait to try this one out.
Thanks for accepting my personal shortcomings, Kevin.
I’d take good food and (choose your adjective) photography over (choose your adjective) food and good photography. And I happen to think your typos, not unlike mustardy potatoes, are endearing.
Exactly…every email from me-or entry here-is like uncracking a code.
Is uncracking a word?
Roasted potatoes are my favourite no matter how they are served. And typos? Me no see no typos. Also, pictures of food are never crappy because the subject is just so delicious.
I like a person who is blind to my faults.
My usual New Year’s resolution is, “worry less.” By January 2nd, I’m a nervous wreck from the effort of NOT worrying.
A little stagnation never hurt anyone.
Screw resolutions-we are perfect the way we are.
The one time I went out with a man who used emoticons, (against my better judgment, obviously), I literally had to sneak out of the bar to get away from him.
Btw, My mom’s making your pork loin for her NYE party
Ooh, that is pressure. I hope mom likes it.
Lem-
you have it absolutely right - stay just who you are. People who don’t appreciate you don’t deserve you any way so kick them aside and keep on going.
I am who I am…doing the best I can here. Thanks, Tina.
I once got a text with a
in it from a guy after we broke up. It sped up the getting over it process infinitely.
It is NOT attractive. Occasionally, I can handle it, but some people just do not know when to stop.
Don’t worry I will join the “bad photo club” tomorrow when I show case my Christmas dinner non-sense. By the way I will be giving you a wicked shout out too!
Aw, yay! Did you get your prize, btw?
My food pictures suck. I think you’re are just fine! Screw the nay-sayers. Just keep cooking! I wouldn’t have thought about lemon and mustard on the same thing. You continue to make me re-think my pairings.
They ain’t great, but I think they could be worse. Thanks.
Me, I like a little emoticon here and there. As for typos, I get regular emails from my dad correcting mine. It makes me nutso. Who wants to be anal enough to spell check every quick little personal email or blog post? There are better things to do. Like roast potatoes.
Occasional emoticoning is permissible. But men who do on the regular? No thanks. As far as email, my friends are patient. They are sometimes really bad and I fully admit this.
Screw everyone that’s got something lame to say about the pictures. They should go fall off their high horses.
I hope they don’t bump their heads.
I’m also guilty of occasionally overdoing it on the emoticons. (It’s something I’m working on.) I do draw the line, however, when a guy uses *more* emoticons than I do.
And those potatoes look delicious, so to echo nearly every other comment, there’s clearly nothing wrong with the photography.
I say you gotta stand for something or you will fall for anything.
I put guys that use emoticons in the same company as men that drink sweet cocktails. Your other foibles? Well those are just charming idiosynchrasies.
Men and fruity drinks are a definite no-no…unless they are being ironic. And yes, it is charm god dammit.
HEY! I regale people with stories about my dog !!! But I’m sure my stories are not boring ; )
Welcome TGL. No no, not boring at all.
Emoticons, are these things for real? They are only good for parody and mockery. Ahh, good times…
Thanks for the recipe I’ll try it out this weekend for my veggie loving wife.
Sadly, they are for real. Used sparingly, as I said, it can be ok…but most people cannot restrain themselves.
I’m still learning to take pictures in focus, so I think you’re pretty damn alright just the way you are.
Have a fantastic New Year’s celebration and look forward to all your fabulous concoctions in 2009.
Thanks, and you too.
I have been doing oven-roasted potatoes for a long time now. But Dijon and grated lemon peel are nice additions. I will certainly try this one.
Don’t worry about the typos. It’s about communicating, not about perfection. And there are no grades in Blogging, thank God.
I keep thinking I will take a photography course to learn how to use my camera, since I have stopped stealing pictures, but somehow I never get around to it.
The dijon is just a nice change of pace. Yes, and thank God there are no grades in blogging.
I like to think of blogs like yours as being somewhat akin to a cocktail party in someone’s home. Guests are obliged to drink the concoctions offered and to do so graciously. To complain about the lack of a copy editor who fixes mistakes authors are unable to see is like complaining to your host about a lack of white zinfandel.
I do do my best to catch typos in the blog, but sometimes they slip through. It happens. The emails? I fully admit I am horrible with proofreading.
Do moneyshot emoticons count?
Also, next time you need a roommate, you should advertise exclusively for a photographer. Your blog could reach unmatched heights!
Isn’t that weird? That’s like saying “you can live here for free if you cook and clean and bathe me”. Ew.
Likewise, GJ, all my emoticons have to do with graphic sexuality.
You forgot the balls ( 8==D )
Charming. Phil, I can always count on you.
it really is nice to know that some things will stay the same. rock on and on and on… for reals.
happy new year!
And happy new year to you, too. Thanks for all the inspiration.
You have other aprons besides grandma’s.
Uncracked a code? Can one un-decipher something?
A friend of mine once lamented that some steaks were left in the freezer. His wife asked, “can’t we just unthaw them?” He replied, “they are unthawed, that’s the problem.”
I stand corrected. I think if I start emailing pictures of myself to strangers my poor mother will have a freaking heart attack. She already tolerates a lot.
I never notice typos- maybe because I make so many of them myself.
Keep the delicious food coming
I am happy to be in such good company.
Weird. And here I thought the Internet was MADE for typos. I mean, didn’t the LOLCATS make that official? I iz confuzed now.
(Eff ‘em, your writing is superb.)
Thanks, Marissa. LOLCATS made it law.
Those potatoes sound ridiculously good.
And I don’t really mind your shortcomings. No one’s fucking perfect.
Thank you, my friend. I am far from it.
A) Chef made roasted potatoes - minus the mustard - on Christmas Eve. He’s also made a version of these to serve with lamb and they are AMAZING.
B) Go ahead and mock me for loving my animals (I can’t bring myself to say “my cats” just yet. Also, they are not MY cats but OUR cats OH MY GOD I WILL SHUT UP NOW.). It’s okay. I understand. Once I was just like you. JUST LIKE YOU. Halp.
C) Ditto for emoticons. In that I WAS ONCE LIKE YOU. But you know what? Too many miscommunications due to the impossibility of conveying tone via email EXCEPT WHEN USING EMOTICONS….and well, yes. I have become someone I once loathed.
D) I love you most because none of this matters and we are still bosom buddies.
Now, off to misspeel things and snuggle MAH KITTEHS!
It doesn’t matter if you are awesome and you are, my love. Now go hug your cats, you freaking weirdo.
Typos are merely “poetic license”. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself on my blog. ANYbody can use the regular spellings. Where’s the fun in that?
And I always get hungry when I see your food photos so I’d say they’re doing what they’re supposed to do.
We are creative. I like that.
i started making a list of “non-resolutions” last year and plan to continue the tradition this year.
im not one for big grand plans of resolutions and frankly, would rather list things i plan on NOT doing. there.
xo
I like how you think, dear.
People who actively harp on the quality of the art/text on other peoples’ blogs are either ostentatious show-offs; nit-wits with too much time on their hands; insecure know-it-alls or some combination of the above. Screw ‘em. Post really awful, blurry, poorly composed shots just to piss ‘em off. Write all your posts in pig latin and then let them truly have something to whine about.
Ood-gay ought-thay.
Ah, Roast Potato’s, my mother’s milk. Per a cook’s illustrated trick, I cover the potato’s with foil for the first10 or 15 minutes. It lets the potato’s steam a bit, which I find makes them fluffier inside and out.
I usually toss them with olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, and herbs de provence.
That is a good tip. I really like herbs de provence. Nice touch.