I recently found a tidbit of time to go to a Grocery store and to the Ithaca farmer’s market. At the grocery store, I bought some Murray’s organic bone-in chicken breasts and some couscous. At the farmer’s market, I got some apples and squash as well as some purple potatoes. I haven’t yet made the squash or potatoes, but I have made:
Morrocan spiced chicken breast with raisin and pumpkin-seed couscous. The chicken was juicier than a lot of chicken breast I’ve ever had. I rubbed it with cumin, allspice, thyme, and cinnamon. After searing it, I finished it in the oven. Along with the couscous, it was delicious:
I also made cookies for Halloween to continue the spirit in the dorm. Here are some of the delicious sugar cookies, both jack-o-lanterns and beer bottles (college style):
I did not have a pastry bag, so you’ll forgive their inherent flaws…at least they cannot get eaten by squirrels.
This morning, after waking up at six and showering, I found the time to make an apple pie. I used the rest of my lard from The Piggery in my crust, and the filling had sliced granny smith and a Japanese variety of apple. I was curious about Jeffrey Steingarten’s assertion that using spices in apple pie detracts from the apples’ flavor, so I only added some lightly spiced cider reduction that I made the other day, along with some flour and sugar. The pie baked up beautifully, with a crust that is more delicately flaky and crisp than anything. Here it is, presented on my cluttered dorm room desk:
I hope I can keep up the cooking; my new strategy involves cooking very early in the morning–the time other students use to sleep–this seems to justify my alternate use of time when I am not studying! I’ve also devised the best method for enjoying breakfast: eating with a bamboo spork in a warm hat. It makes me feel comforted for at least a small part of my day:
Bon appetite! I have to go study…
The dishes you have prepared look awesome! Amazing what you can do in a dorm kitchen!