Beef noodle soup is so entrenched in the Chinese food culture, I feel like you can find a different version of it almost everywhere you go in the country. Though usually made with shank, brisket, or chuck, the last time I was at home visiting my parents, my mom introduced me to a version made with oxtail. Since oxtail has a lot of fat and connective tissue, the meat becomes very tender when stewed for a long time. It is so delicious.
Spring Vegetable Lasagna with Heirloom Tomato Béchamel
...more like "spring/summer vegetable lasagna", but that doesn't roll off the tongue as easily. Anyways, back in May I went to the Union Square Greenmarket and was thoroughly unimpressed. It was still early in the year, so I had high hopes for a few months down the road. I went back last weekend and it was AH-MAZING. Vegetables, fruit, bread, meat, seafood, everything! Overwhelming! I saw a box of beautiful squash blossoms and knew it was meant to be. My first experience with squash blossoms was stuffed and tempura fried at Stephanie Izard's Girl & The Goat, and I still remember how yummy they were.
This lasagna had been on my to-do list for a while, and now I had the perfect opportunity to make it again. I thought it would be great topped with the squash blossoms I just purchased, and thankfully it turned out even better than I imagined.
Olive Oil Pound Cake with Meyer Lemon Curd
Phillip's sister is staying with us for a while; it's always nice having guests as we usually go exploring a lot more than usual. We've been showing her around town and this past weekend we spent a day walking around Red Hook. I love the area since it's so industrial and kind of gritty. Makes for good photo ops, especially if you're looking to shoot your next indie rock album cover.
We also took a tour of the Widow Jane distillery/chocolate factory. We wanted to grab some lunch beforehand and our food took a little longer to come out than expected. Consequently, we shoveled the food into your mouths in six minutes flat and proceeded to run as fast as we could with full bellies to make it in time for the tour. What a trip.
Blackberry & Peach Glazed Donuts
I got caught in the rain the other day. Pouring rain. Cats and dogs rain. I was trying to run one block to the subway and thought I could make it...I was wrong. The whole time I was carrying a large paper bag of mixing bowls, mason jars, and sprinkles that I had just purchased (the sprinkles for these donuts, of course!) and praying to the paper bag gods that the bottom wouldn't give out underneath me. Luckily I made it, and in hindsight it was a very refreshing change of pace from my usual routine.