Martha Meets Lucy

Nancy Silverton's Chopped Salad

 We have a lot of cookbooks. New cookbooks, old cookbooks, foreign cookbooks, classic cookbooks. And they live everywhere.

On the bed.

On the floor.

On the counter near the door.

 

(The fun starts at 2:20. And I can stop with the youtube videos anytime. I just don't want to)

Like that. But with cookbooks. No sex. And no Matt Damon.

So how is it that despite owning literally HUNDREDS of cookbooks, I aways seem to cook out of the same 3-4?

My current obsession: The Mozza Cookbook (duh)

The one(s) with all the answers: The Joy of Cooking (and ProChef for very specific questions. I have this edition)

For special occasions: Sunday Suppers at Lucques

I think know that Mozza and I need to take a break but its just so hard. I love that book so much. Everytime I open it I find more things I want to make and share with you. Like the perfect pizza crust. And salted butterscotch bundino*.

I know I had more pictures but it took me an hour to find 1. So that's all you get.

Remember the garbanzo beans you made for the best hummus ever? The ones I implored you to make a full pound of? Well I hope you listened because despite being one of the most humble ingredients in this salad, they are the star. Sure, there's salami and cheese, but I dug, scooped, and picked out all the beans for myself.

And I think you will too. But a bite with everything? Pretty much salad heaven. Or at least as close as you can get without baking some cheese.

Broccoli with Brown Butter and Mizithra Cheese

So, I don't know if I've mentioned this (I think I have) but I love to dance...ballroom. I do a lesson or a class pretty much everyday. I basically live at the studio.

Put me in a club and I have no moves. I dance like Kevin James in Hitch.

 

Don't make me bust out the Q-tip. Or my personal favorite, the shopping cart.

Whenever I watch a period movie I get so jealous of the dancing. I NEED choreographed steps. I need a dance partner.

 

Oh wait, I have one. And we're going to be in a show in July. Its being choreographed by Jonathan Roberts. If you've watched Dancing with the Stars, you know who he is.

 

That's him. We'll pretend I'm the girl in silver.

Because Jonathan Roberts* clearly hates my poor instructor's back he put lifts into my dance. Which would be awesome if I was the girl in silver. But I'm not. So I'm considering this the kick in the ass I've needed to get in shape**. If performing infront of a large audience isn't enough incentive, I'm in a wedding in May. It is time***.

 

Luckily, I had this brocolli for lunch BEFORE I got the choreography. And you need to make it. BROWN BUTTER. And CHEESE. And BROCCOLI.  Sure, for the next couple months I will be all about the roasted or steamed vegetables**** but you need this.

*I keep referring to him by his full name because I like to make everything awkward.

    Jonathan Roberts: "Hi Deanna."

    Me: "Hi Jonathan Roberts."

This is why I'm not allowed near celebrities.

** Because the 1/2 marathon I'm supposed to do in a month didn't work.

***I just said that outloud in my Mufasa voice. Which would have been awesome if I were at home and not in a coffee shop.

***I might finally demonstrate some knowledge of nutrition on here. But there will still be dessert, high calorie dips, and lot of cheese. Heads up, we're making gumbo soon for Fat Tuesday.