tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-349595772012-01-13T17:40:34.618+14:00<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gourmetpeasant/396056353/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/396056353_e1f6fbad07.jpg" width="500" height="173" alt="Logo #2" /></a>Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.comBlogger1971100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-21617808534837109012012-01-10T08:12:00.000+14:002012-01-10T08:12:34.496+14:00

Every week I run off to swim class telling Ben that I probably won't want dinner. It's a late class and I don't make it home until 9:45pm which is dangerously close to my normal bed time. Still almost every week I come home to a food fragrant house that is too tempting to turn down. This last week it was double rice flowered fish with ginger and black caraway and sesame asparagus. Such a

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-46005215694796811032011-12-28T11:05:00.001+14:002011-12-29T08:04:13.401+14:00

I have a confession to make: I'm scared. I've been scared of just about everything for most of my life, but right now, I fear that my current unease at putting myself out there in the world, as in dancing when I feel like it, engaging in conversion with an acquaintance, pursuing writing, as in singing karaoke at a bar with friends, taking myself seriously in a career, or picking up a dusty

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-4191375081800471692011-12-01T12:56:00.010+14:002011-12-03T07:26:37.575+14:00

The title Stay at home mom does not convey in entirety the job that it is presumes to represent. Before I actually was one, SAHM (for this purpose lets just call it mom) sounded like a one note job such as working on a factory line or answering phones. I had no idea just how complex being the caretaker of a fragile young thing could be. On a regular day, being a mom requires one to be a bodyguard

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-19058042564009185702011-08-06T09:37:00.005+14:002011-08-07T02:57:11.474+14:00

On the nights that I handle Hannah's wake ups, Ben kindly lets me sleep in and brings me coffee in bed. Sometimes the coffee is just the way I like it, pipping hot with just the right amount of milk and sugar. Then, other times, he brings me coffee that is too strong, with not enough milk, and to my horror, luke warm. When he hands over the flawed cup, I find it impossible to conceal my dismay.

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-73023451368348701792011-07-24T08:57:00.009+14:002011-12-30T05:37:17.811+14:00

With temperatures in Brooklyn hitting record highs, Cindy, one of my chickens, gave me a look of both sorrow and disdain. "May as well toss me in the oven, I bet it would be cooler than this heat-locker of a coop... at least the kitchen is air conditioned!" Of course she didn't actually say that, but she just about implied it with those kvetching eyes of hers. I do love a good roasted

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-26980166634330055942011-07-21T08:18:00.004+14:002011-07-21T08:28:41.040+14:00

My Mother never told me that not every pancake, is a good looking pancake. So it only stands to reason that I was more than a little thrown when I made these tasty, yet incredibly homely pancakes for the first time It all began with a game of Something-Out-Of-Nothing - a game where I try and come up with a tasty meal out of what happens to be in the house. On this day in particular, all I had

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-50764465498896615452011-03-02T10:01:00.006+14:002011-03-04T11:25:22.793+14:00

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Some people would like you to believe that once you have children romance is dead and that spontaneity is out the window. Don’t believe them. While it is likely you will have to repress a few impulsive urges, that does not mean that you can

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-5391585371675526902010-12-21T04:45:00.006+14:002010-12-21T05:31:57.995+14:00

Browsing the the pages of a suddenly-and-out-of-nowhere-inactive-blog is what it must be like to walk the streets of a post apocalyptic city. There is something incredibly eerie and even sad about grazing in the sunken footsteps of something that was once so alive. So why haven't I made an entry to Gourmet Peasant in over a year? I thought it was about time I told you...Meet Hail Storm Hannah, my

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-68256041731453019482009-12-02T05:10:00.017+14:002009-12-04T16:33:08.005+14:00

Now, if you thought that I was going to go into a bloated diatribe about why Thanksgiving sucks, then your wrong. It is however, a common theme echoed across the blogshpere this time of year. I hate Turkey, my family sucks, everyone just sits around the TV watching football, its a holiday based around killing the Indians, these are but of few of the Internet yodeling justifying why the Holiday

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-50423375188319536792009-11-23T17:51:00.001+14:002009-11-23T17:55:59.762+14:00

Having roommates is never easy. Even if you get along like like fried eggs and ham, there are bound to be some habits that grate on one another's nerves, for example, dirty dishes left in the sink, bogarting the remote, and singing along with every song played on the stereo. But, what if your list of annoying roommate habits included molting, pecking, and smelling like a chicken?Buzz and Auntie

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-26227196775357013622009-11-09T14:36:00.006+14:002009-11-14T14:49:49.682+14:00

Think about the three worst things that could happen to a foodie and sure enough, stomach ailments would be on that list – that's at least the conclusion I've come to after six days of unspeakable torture at the hands of the stomach flu. I hardly have to get into details to convey the pains, discomforts, and embarrassments everyone goes threw when they come down with a stomach virus, and if you

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-87204252585906840372009-09-04T06:13:00.005+14:002009-09-04T06:58:58.551+14:00

Not Many trips to our local kitchen supply store, A Cooks Companion, don't result in the purchase of some fun new kitchen gadget or appliance. Mashers, strainers, mortar and pestles, knife sharpeners, you name it, we've snatched it up from this foodie haven where the Le Creusets are as colorful as they are bountiful and the staff is always prepared to answer questions and help you in your latest

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-33180271774553703702009-08-31T09:51:00.004+14:002009-08-31T16:29:40.581+14:00

There are few things I like better than a visit to the Red Hook playing fields for some tasty Soccer Tacos. Whenever I find myself ridding past that one block radius packed with bustling food vendors, I find it nearly impossible not to stop for an impromptu brunch of Salvadoran Papusas (fried masa pancakes stuffed with cheese, beans, and or meat), Mexican Sopes, or Guatemalan style tamales. Today

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-5467181333596680072009-07-25T05:23:00.002+14:002009-07-28T05:05:56.297+14:00

Question: How do you discipline a chicken?This may seem like an out-of-the-blue question considering my lengthy absence. Working in the wine shop and bartending, moving in with Ben and adopting two new chickens has this Brooklyn Peasant tackling problems never before contemplated: How do you juggle two jobs, marry two kitchens, and more importantly, how do you protect your beloved egg laying

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-48662410281658152382009-07-21T11:09:00.002+14:002009-07-21T11:23:27.167+14:00

I admit it. I am a coffee fanatic, a coffee geek, and a coffee snob. I love coffee so much that I am excited about my morning cup when I go to sleep the night before. French roast, American roast, French press, drip, espresso, cappuccino, with whole milk, skim, or half and half any which way is fine with me as long as I get it strong and hot. The first thing I do upon rising is to participate in

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-49115628224014272692009-01-17T05:24:00.002+14:002009-01-19T09:23:08.023+14:00

I'm telling you man, it's like...in the future, everything's just gonna be done my humans.I sure as hell better have a Robot that makes me my coffee before you find me making coffee for my Robot. It's evolution baby...

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-874621440374935152009-01-16T08:10:00.006+14:002009-01-16T10:43:06.119+14:00

It was like one of those scenes in a movie where all the actions of one or of many all add up to an unavoidable brush with fate; sometimes a chance meeting with a future love, or an unlucky encounter with tragic outcome. Only destiny decides whether it is the former or the latter. Lucky for these two,it was a glorious communion, the coming together of two magnificent parts that resulted in one

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-3739320973391484752009-01-07T05:40:00.004+14:002009-01-07T06:14:21.604+14:00

When I arrived at the Laundromat last week, I was surprised to find it packed full of people - not usually the case on a weekday morning. "Everyone wants to get their laundry done for the New Year" said the owner. Apparently having all your laundry done before the New Year is an established New Years tradition, one that I had never heard of before, "I never knew about it either till I had this

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-71503812239393544912009-01-03T20:09:00.006+14:002009-01-04T07:31:48.591+14:00

Midge Some say that I should give it up, my peculiar fascination with coffee Robots... Maxwell & Marcus I say, its hard thing to kick when, everywhere I go, I am tormented by gangs of cool looking robots.

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-27927395623971397392008-12-08T10:47:00.005+14:002008-12-08T12:29:30.240+14:00

To think,after two of my guests canceled, I was concerned that I would to have too much wine for Thanksgiving ...Thankfully my friends were courteous enough to suffer through the extra bottles of wine. Hope it wasn't too much work guys; thanks to your dedicated wine guzzling, not one bottle remained.

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-63226418112061268962008-12-07T08:45:00.005+14:002008-12-07T09:09:06.129+14:00

Thanksgiving at my place is full of all sorts of traditions, some not as conventional as others; for example this one in which I spank the turkey before seasoning it. Its hard to say how long this practice has been in effect or, how it got started in the first place, but it has become quit the Thanksgiving ritual and, I like to believe, it contributes to the overall tenderness of the

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-4363652115383988532008-11-26T08:51:00.016+14:002008-11-27T06:14:54.945+14:00

So what do you plan on doing?It is the customary question one might receive when discussing future travel plans and, a question to which my uncustomary response, “I’m going to eat,” has earned some curious looks and quit a few giggles. I assume this is because people think that my answer is in jest and, although I am not entirely earnest, I’m not exactly joking either.Ben and I were headed for

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-1613492670490964972008-10-16T04:29:00.003+14:002008-10-16T05:23:16.004+14:00

A few weeks ago I visited my mother and, as always, she sent me back to the city loaded down with specialty chocolates, Tahitian Vanilla, Vietnamese Cinnamon, and an array of pastry flour. Upon arrival, it was straight back to the grind and so I placed my bag of goodies on a shelf in the kitchen, and immediately forgot about them.The bag was rediscovered this past weekend during a clean up after

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-35545330689592740102008-10-01T04:27:00.000+14:002008-10-01T04:28:26.788+14:00

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-41891571858451312412008-09-24T04:21:00.005+14:002008-09-24T05:02:39.972+14:00

Sometimes getting lost is a pain in the the behind, and others it's merely a stroke of good luck. The other weekend, on our way upstate to visit my mother, Ben and I were so involved in conversation, that we not only missed our exit off the Thruway, we continued onward to miss a second exit. It turned out to be a fortunate mistake for, due to our extended tour of the NY State Thruway, we ended up

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-5314853998945676512008-09-22T04:12:00.006+14:002008-09-22T06:15:55.931+14:00

Growing up in NYC, I have become very much accustomed to change. Neighborhoods grow, hot spots come and go, and landmarks that once stood tall, crumble and fade into the infinitely transforming landscape. In fact the changing scenery is so constant, that much of the time it goes unnoticed until one day, you walk by an Emigrant Savings bank without giving a thought to the fact that it was once the

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-65118175567870991612008-08-30T04:45:00.002+14:002008-08-30T08:10:07.636+14:00

Being a bartender, I certainly get asked a lot of questions; some of them funny, some stupid, and some of them just out right offensive. Still, I can always count on LJ to ask an interesting and unusual question now and then. Do you ever have homicidal fantasies? was the one he asked a couple of weeks ago. Now LJ is not the most gregarious of men, opting rarely to participate in conversation with

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-41112374785156882712008-08-21T05:28:00.004+14:002008-08-21T06:27:15.218+14:00

So where exactly have I been? Let me see, it has taken me the last few weeks just to get through France, making pit-stops along the way in Bordeaux, Burgundy, The Rhone, Alsace, and the Loire. This past Saturday I spent zig-zagging across Italy and somewhere around Tuscany had a minor panic attack for there were so many miles, and countries, yet to cover. Sunday through Tuesday I spent half my

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-57043982535863525622008-07-31T03:57:00.003+14:002008-07-31T04:06:53.759+14:00

As the titian sun sank serenely into a blossom of blushing clouds, I peddled hastily in a race against time and temperature. I was on my way to a dinner party dedicated entirely to the egg and was fearful that my contribution, ice cream, was on its way to becoming soup.When Chicken Boy (Ben) initially uttered the words, ‘egg-fest,’ I had no idea what to expect and must admit that the first images

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-49930923962610378472008-07-12T05:26:00.005+14:002008-07-13T06:22:11.730+14:00

"Bacon is hot right now," so says James Norton, blogger for Chowhound's, The Grind. And who can really argue with him with July 7th being day one of Salon's week long series of stories dedicated to the Pork Belly. Sarah Hepola kicked off the event with her article Bacon Mania, in which she ventures to answer the question, 'Why are Americans so batty for bacon?' Now I am a professed lover of

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-46351903588166137302008-06-28T01:41:00.005+14:002008-06-29T00:02:31.599+14:00

In the early am, as I stumbled about my kitchen preparing coffee, I blabbered on and on to Ben about my dream of one day owning a Coffee Robot. Ben is of course no stranger to my pipe dream and has indulged my banter with an even balance of genuine amusement and patience. " What if you just had a coffee machine that was an alarm clock?" he asked as I put the water up to boil and heated two mugs.

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-41413855590301439752008-06-14T07:50:00.002+14:002008-06-19T05:04:27.571+14:00

I admit it, I am utterly inept at refrigerator maintenance. In the lonely depths of my refrigerator, lettuce will slowly wither away unnoticed for weeks at a time all the while unused lemons and limes transform into fossils and blue cheese becomes a whole lot moldier that it was ever meant to be.My roommate and I are familiar enough with the ins and outs of our untrusty fridge that we know which

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-50121684482269866332008-06-12T04:34:00.005+14:002008-06-12T05:45:39.128+14:00

All little kids like Peanut Butter and Jelly right? Wrong. When I was a little girl I was wild about Peanut Butter and could not seem to get enough of it, but was in fact scared of Jelly. You see, as a young girl I was what you might call texturally challenged in the eating department, anything too slimy on my plate and I was liable to cry. My slimy food issue was further complicated by my

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-67781594611202750372008-05-28T08:32:00.007+14:002008-05-28T10:00:35.019+14:00

In the past, when pursuing a boy, I have relied a great deal on my abilities in the kitchen. This method has always worked well for me, I mean, who doesn't like it when someone else cooks good food for them? Recently however, I have found myself in a bit of a quandary in the wooing department. How do you woo a boy who can compete with you in the kitchen? How do you entice a boy who candies Cherry

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-49478195674293805382008-05-23T06:04:00.006+14:002008-05-23T07:10:41.043+14:00

Just this past week, I was introduced to a dangerous and habit-forming substance. It was such a luscious experience that I have found myself feverishly longing for it morning noon and night. My mind has been seized on it and can think of little else.It all started when Ben, yes the one with the chickens, came over to my place with sack of chickpea flour in hand. “Have you ever had Madhur Jaffrey’

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-27147215754934717882008-05-19T08:17:00.005+14:002008-05-19T17:56:01.282+14:00

Some things you just don't grow out of. So much has evolved between my mother and myself over the years, cake batter is not one of them. Not once during my childhood did my mother fail to give me the mixing bowl of cake batter to lick clean.And not once, might I add, was I negligent in my duties as dedicated bowl licker. As you can see from this picture of my recent visit, this mother/daughter

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-39675460327818967162008-05-17T04:38:00.005+14:002008-05-17T06:22:12.018+14:00

Everyone, meet Beulah. Though she may look familiar to some, to most of you she probably looks like just another chicken; but don't be mistaken, she is no ordinary chicken. Beulah is no backwoods yokel, preferring the urban refuge of her Red Hook home to the humdrum existence of country fowl.For the minor fee of surrendering her eggs to owner Ben Peikes, Beulah affords a lifestyle of which only

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-63645974873970835432008-05-07T04:05:00.006+14:002008-05-07T05:01:48.588+14:00

Its my day off, and as I drink my coffee and stare out the window at the glorious spring day rouse itself from its chilly morning slumber, I can't help but wonder, is there such thing as leftover bacon?This weekend I made a grand brunch for my roommate and friend. There was salad, there was French Toast, Scrambled Eggs and Mimosas but, most importantly there was lots and lots of bacon. Between

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-45145140232140245732008-05-02T06:39:00.004+14:002008-05-02T06:45:38.081+14:00

The first time I tasted mole poblano I cried. I had been living in Mexico at the time and the woman I was staying with happened to be an amazing cook. She could make just about any type of food, Thai, Chinese, Italian, and of course her native cuisine, Mexican. I’ll never forget that first bite of that rich nutty sauce, a sumptuous wrestling match of smokey and sweet. The tears that welled up

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-50035788750235871412008-04-18T13:05:00.007+14:002008-05-17T06:28:17.597+14:00

(cup cake, I meant I'll never bake another cup cake)As I push ever-onward with dismantling furniture, packing boxes, and coming to terms with how much crap I actually own - clearly I packed this box prior to my morning cup of Joe - it dawned on me that, due the poor planning of me and the roommate, we will be without internet for at least a

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-79138246709011597542008-04-16T19:43:00.004+14:002008-04-16T19:46:57.679+14:00

Just one of the many reasons I love Red Hook Brooklyn.

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-31400115914532743512008-04-11T10:18:00.006+14:002008-04-12T05:51:19.392+14:00

It's not easy, and it's never the right time, to tell a loved one - one that you have housed with for many many a year - that it is time to move on. Today I signed the lease on a new apartment and as I stood in my brand new beautiful open kitchen - unfortunately not the one with the sunken in wine fridge - I felt a momentary pang of guilt.In the next week I would be packing up my old kitchen,

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-45295236277691985532008-04-02T19:57:00.003+14:002008-04-02T20:29:33.715+14:00

What can I say? It would be super if I had some wonderfully exciting reason for my AWOL status as of late, an impromptu trip to Tierra Del Fuego for example. Instead all I can do, is whine to you about complicated computer problems that, in the end, are not really all that complicated, and the pain, sorrow, and stress of finding a new apartment.Yes I am moving, and hopefully it is into the

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-85113773473202019272008-03-21T05:18:00.004+14:002008-03-21T12:07:53.069+14:00

1:30 pm-When I arrived, five minutes late, Robin was standing at the front door with a wine glass in hand, ready to get things started. "Well happy Birthday Madeline," he said with a cordial grin, "I hope you don't mind spending the day of your birth tasting wine with your boss." To be honest I was thrilled and simultaneously overwhelmed. It was my first wine tasting, and the Michael Skurnik

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-59322228221678148162008-03-20T05:26:00.004+14:002008-03-20T06:27:16.189+14:00

Happy Birthday to me!Last night, after a slow drawn-out night at work, I did the books, indulged in a cab ride home to find a bottle of Gewurztraminer and a mini Brooklyn Blackout Cake from my favorite Bakery, Lady Bird (formerly known as Two Little Red Hens). Today I will start my day off with a bit of cake then rush to a wine tasting with my boss, followed by champagne and oysters at Pearl

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-44918871328202147552008-03-13T17:36:00.006+14:002008-03-13T18:44:16.211+14:00

There now exists a Robot that has the sensory capability to pinpoint the region of any tasted wine, as well as to detect the subtle differences in terrior within subregions of that wine(sometimes a matter of a few miles.)There also exists a Health and Food Advice Robot that can distinguish between thirty different kinds of wine, cheeses, and breads in order to give advice that reinforces healthy

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-76384611897588257412008-03-08T18:17:00.006+14:002008-03-08T18:42:20.011+14:00

Here it is, Friday March 7th, more than a week since my last blog entry, and still I have nothing interesting to report back. Basically I have been working like a dog in order to pay for my upcoming WSET course. Because I work nights, I haven't had many opportunities for dining out, or staying in to cook for that matter. Sad, I know. Hopefully tonight my kitchen and I will be sharing a romantic

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-77286576943018588972008-02-28T05:29:00.005+14:002008-02-29T13:51:17.112+14:00

Monday always seems like the perfect day to enjoy Brooklyn unadulterated by the weekend crowds. But, for those of us who have Mondays off, Brooklyn usually turns out to be a real heart breaker. This past Monday I woke up and decided to grab breakfast at a local restaurant, Cheryl's, only to find that it is closed on Mondays. Not a problem, I assured myself, I'll just grab some tasty coffee and a

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-57196785465984275622008-02-24T05:46:00.006+14:002008-02-24T08:10:34.461+14:00

As of late, I have been finding every reason possible not to step into the kitchen. One reason is that I am actively searching for both, a good Thai Food restaurant in Brooklyn, and some good BYOB spots .Another reason is that, though I have never before had a problem cooking unaccompanied, in the last few months, cooking alone has become a terribly isolating experience. I have been having the

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-56215564410127021392008-02-19T08:07:00.008+14:002008-02-19T13:50:42.320+14:00

I have been hitting you awfully hard this month with entries centering around wacky French customs and observances. Does this make me dangerously close to being called a Francophile? Probably. Is that going to stop me from giving you my number three reason for why I love the French? Hell no.I stumbled across my #3 reason when I was bartending at the cafe and a customer of mine (French) spilled

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-59600243449202643862008-02-14T11:14:00.003+14:002008-02-14T11:43:59.503+14:00

Usually I read on my way to work to help speed the wasted hours of commuting. This morning however, no matter how hard I tried, I was unable to concentrate so I reached for my I-pod. I swiveled down my list of artists, and for the life of me could not decide what listen to because truthfully, I did not feel like listening to anything. After a few more idle minutes, I

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-19548634931060506342008-02-12T17:08:00.001+14:002008-02-17T06:52:34.560+14:00

The first time I heard of La Chandeleur was when I invited Regine to my Boxing Day Brunch where I was planning on serving crepes. She just laughed at me because, sort of like wearing white after Labor Day is considered uncouth in the United States, making crepes this side of La Chandeleur is apparently unheard of in France.La Chandeleur is celebrated the second day of February and marks the day

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-27139406792504429202008-02-01T06:16:00.000+14:002008-02-12T19:18:10.211+14:00

“Your re-board pass?” He was looking down at me with an air of composed disgust. It wasn’t a unique detestation held for me especially, rather a universal one he felt for all of us who happened to be ridding his bus that particular evening. I was midway threw Nina Simone’s live version of The Rising Sun Blues and had not heard his request. His irritation however, clearly displayed with his

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-90214408243406488922008-01-27T16:23:00.000+14:002008-02-12T19:18:49.984+14:00

I decided not to wear my snow boots and sure enough, three minutes after I left the hotel, it began to snow. It was still dark and as I turned the corner it became evident that I was the only one walking down the snow dusted street. Snowflakes clung to my hair, scarf, and sweater and I shoved my cold bitten hands into my pockets while asking myself the question, how did I get here? Of course I

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-1508335475362934202008-01-19T09:17:00.000+14:002008-02-12T19:19:45.065+14:00

Do you ever have one of those days where it's almost impossible to drag yourself out of bed? Not so much because your lazy, but because you can't bear the knowledge that you will be required to make decisions from that point on. It's one of those days that, once you do manage to drag yourself from bed, it takes you twenty minutes to decide what you are going to eat for breakfast, what socks your

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-14553142820843153342008-01-15T06:35:00.000+14:002008-02-12T19:20:08.072+14:00

I can’t say that I remember my first time. I was exposed at an inappropriately early age and have never fully recovered. It is as though that first fateful experience is housed deep within the musky caverns of my subconscious and with each new encounter is released, for but a moment, to thrust upon my senses the recollections of that all-enveloping rapture. The sensation is that of a sharp

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-89105841411799775082008-01-12T07:32:00.000+14:002008-02-12T19:21:32.362+14:00

After My Free Will, Thai Food, And The Powers That Be - Part II entry, a reader (and friend) kindly asked for the recipe for the Thai Red Curry which was featured in the post. To be honest with you, when I make curry, I rarely work form a recipe, so it's sort of impossible for me to post detailed instructions. What I can do, is retrace my steps for you and give you a list of ingredients.

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-28509080412203799742008-01-11T08:16:00.000+14:002008-02-12T19:22:24.987+14:00

The Epiphany is a Catholic Holiday that signals the end of the Christmas celebration, and marks the day the three Kings of Orient finally decided to bring presents to the newly born Baby Jesus. Of course I had no idea about any of this until a few day ago when my friend and co-worker, Regine, after whom I named my truffle, told me I was to meet her at Patisserie Claude at 3:30 pm the next day.

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-17863052080997709582008-01-07T20:43:00.001+14:002008-02-12T19:23:36.845+14:00

Alright. So your probably wondering why it is that you are staring at a picture of fast food nachos when last I told you I was standing in front of the Mermaid Inn getting ready to wash down half a dozen oysters with a couple of glasses of Sancerre. I have to admit that I too found myself wondering, how did this happen?So how did it happen?We walked through the front door of the Mermaid Inn and

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-18155476145378838322008-01-03T05:09:00.000+14:002008-02-12T19:24:07.144+14:00

I like to think that I'm rather talented at exercising my free will in the province of eating. When I was a young girl, I decided that I could not bear to eat anything brown because it looked like dirt, and you better believe that not one piece of pumpernickel passed my lips, not one meat ball shared the plate with my spaghetti, and not one brown M&M did I consume - the latter clearly benefiting

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-7638883130641718332007-12-29T07:14:00.000+14:002007-12-29T09:25:23.618+14:00

According to my blog, The Gourmet Peasant hasn't done much in the way of celebrating the holiday. And though it is true I worked both Christmas Eve and day, I did manage to cling to the tail end of Christmas - known across the pond as Boxing Day. To celebrate the day after Christmas, I invited fellow employees and friends to a Boxing Day brunch complete with Mimosas, Quiche, Crepes, and

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-91328727733124754522007-12-21T10:07:00.000+14:002008-02-12T19:24:59.636+14:00

I am very sorry to inform you that, at approximately 1:30am Wednesday morning , the rat of whom I wrote the entry entitled, Sidewalk Food Chain (for the sake of this story let us call the rat Harvey), was sadly crushed between the car doors of a Manhattan bound L train. Authorities are still trying to asses whether Harvey's mysterious death is the result of foul play, a successful attempt at

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-82336850633396813402007-12-15T10:44:00.000+14:002008-02-12T19:25:46.431+14:00

A few weeks ago I wrote about how I would like to spend my last supper alive only to, two days later, receive this disgruntled e-mail from an old friend.Maddy,After getting to know some very nice cows in Switzerland and eating every dairy product ever conceived by man for a month, I have returned home to check your website.... Only to find that I wasn't mentioned as a crucial attendee at your

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-741943303096500292007-12-13T08:59:00.000+14:002008-02-12T19:26:29.200+14:00

I grew up in the city and many aspects of life in the mountains remain a novelty to me. Why just last night, as my mother and I soaked in her hot tub and studied the night sky, I could not help but become a tad bit anxious every time I heard the rustling of leaves or the snapping of branches. Is it a bear? I wondered looking over my shoulder then at my mother for a sign of anxiety or alarm. She

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-32677142670989557912007-12-10T05:28:00.000+14:002007-12-14T03:02:34.115+14:00

As you all know I am no vegetarian however, my mother and her boyfriend are. So whenever I plan on visiting, I bulk up on my meat intake in preparation for a weekend of splendid vegetarian cuisine. The general protocol goes as follows, I eat chicken, beef, or pork at least once, maybe twice a day for three or four days, then I board a bus headed for the Catskill Mountains ready for some serious

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-35937677031176270612007-12-04T03:55:00.000+14:002007-12-14T03:04:18.419+14:00

You may see for yourself that this years Thanksgiving Turkey Jive was a great success. There were of course a few guests that managed to sneak out of there whirling, twirling, gyrating and beboppin' obligations. And then their were those who did participate, but in such a negligible fashion that we mustn't speak further about them (you all know who you are). What made the Thanksgiving Jive such a

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-27686141523764488442007-11-29T06:27:00.000+14:002007-12-14T03:06:43.684+14:00

Thanksgiving 2007 was a hit. After days and days of planning and prep the food came out without any hitches and Abraham and I not only managed to feed close to thirty people, we successfully over- fed them.The space was just amazing, and Margeaux's handsome looking piñata had a political slant that help people let loose with out guilt.Guests helped out in the kitchen,they talked,they ate and they

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-56696982116859388112007-11-19T20:43:00.000+14:002007-12-14T03:09:32.997+14:00

For those of us who work in the restaurant business, the week before Thanksgiving can be awfully bleak. While may people are fasting in preparations for massive amounts of gorging, others are drowning there sorrows over having to go home to deal with their dysfunctional families. Then there are the ones who are entirely consumed with planning, ah um! Either way none of them are thinking very much

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-534434027847148352007-11-19T07:32:00.000+14:002007-11-19T08:50:17.447+14:00

Saturday morning Abraham and I found ourselves frying up nearly two pounds of bacon. Why we were tackling such a large sum of bacon for the moment must remain a secret . What I can tell you is that after about ten minutes of frying, the wafting smell of smoky pork fat drew my roommate from the comforts of her bad and deposited her on a chair in the kitchen where, like a cat, she waited patiently

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-21691771215117703642007-11-16T05:58:00.000+14:002007-11-16T06:43:52.844+14:00

With friends visiting every week for out of town my life has been one grand carnival of eating out and partying late into the night. Needles to say, I have had precious little time to spend in my tiny yet beloved kitchen and when yesterday I began the process of making chicken stock in preparation for Thanksgiving I felt like I had been reunited with an old childhood friend- a friend with whom I

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-51246439681317025302007-11-12T04:14:00.000+14:002007-11-12T04:25:10.596+14:00

The days before Thanksgiving are grow fewer and fewer, and the number of guests rises and falls, as does my confidence. Not only is this holiday a heap of work the day of, but the entire week leading up to the festivities is crammed with back-breaking preparations: grocery shopping, decorations, soups need to be made, sauces concocted… Another thing to consider is time, not only is it a lot of

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-42187547348243127552007-11-05T04:12:00.000+14:002007-11-06T07:22:07.565+14:00

With my friend Kadie visiting from LA, I have been burning the candle at both ends trying to show her a good time while she is here - and selfishly aiming to convince her to move back to Brooklyn. There has been plenty of food, some good music, shopping, and a profuse amount of drinking. We have had Micheladas, tequila, and Tacos at Bonita in Fort Green, sampled various sangrias while listening

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-19754265660884235732007-10-26T14:20:00.000+14:002007-10-26T17:53:01.671+14:00

Because I am not always in the know about the goings-on in the world of publishing, I pretty much depend on my roommate, who is in the business, to keep me up to date with the latest foodie publications to hit the shelves. This week in particular happen to be a juicy one for I came home to find this book silently waiting for me on the dining room table. My Last Super, Melanie Dunea latest project

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-2138833289906458902007-10-19T04:26:00.000+14:002007-10-19T06:25:10.671+14:00

This is week three of my WSET wine certificate class and, as you can imagine, I have been doing a lot of wine tasting. Each class consists of a lecture followed by a tasting of about six or seven wines that demonstrate what we have covered. We then write out tasting notes and share our thoughts; is it dry, off-dry, or sweet? How is the body, acidity, and the tannins? Can you taste stone fruits,

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-15968917734529543212007-10-14T07:26:00.000+14:002007-10-14T07:56:46.821+14:00

So I did it! After living in Brooklyn for close to ten years I have finally become a member of the Park Slope Food Coop. Why has it taken me so long to join? Well to begin with, up until now, I have had a severe distaste for commitment. Though it is not a difficult process to join, it is still a process; you have to attend a two-hour orientation, stand in line to pick out a work shift, and then

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-79212506820786686292007-10-03T04:40:00.000+14:002007-10-03T06:24:46.240+14:00

I suppose it is only fare that I explain my recent truancy. It was not my intention to take an unannounced week long hiatus from blogging however, every time I sat down at my computer and danced my fingers across the keyboard all I ended up with was a string of flat sentences strung together to create one boring and utterly flavorless passage.The incredible thing is that there has been no

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-71454325189690237452007-09-24T06:12:00.000+14:002007-09-24T06:42:10.276+14:00

There are some meals that require an extensive amount of planning in order to pull off. Special ingredients need to be bought, research must be conducted, and many times preparations needs to be done in advance. Then there are meals that all you have to do is leave the house in search of adventure, meet up with a cute boy, go on a hunt for a good French Chardonnay, end up with a bottle of

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-73804583019977303362007-09-19T17:33:00.000+14:002007-09-20T04:41:22.197+14:00

Tomatoes – Gourmet Peasant, we have an important question to ask you.Gourmet Peasant – Are you talking to me?Tomatoes – Ah, yeah. Who else would we be talking to?GP – Okay, alright, ask your question.T – If you love tomatoes as much as you say you do, how do you explain your abusive behavior towards them?GP – Um, what do you mean by abusive behavior?T - Example, just the other day, upstate

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-36432604673040305902007-09-17T11:55:00.000+14:002007-09-17T12:06:36.136+14:00

“I feel sorry for those poor fxxxers who call up and everyday order the same thing for lunch” Zach was clearly annoyed and speaking in a wheezy yet sorrowful voice.We had just finished the legendary Wednesday afternoon brunch and were slugging back another Bloody Mary to kill some time until Zack finished work.“ I mean, look at the menu at this place, you’d think he would want to switch it up

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-69551093456836929812007-09-15T05:37:00.000+14:002007-09-15T06:00:26.049+14:00

I met Bernie downtown for a pre-dinner drink. Over the years I have learned that it is a good idea to let Bernie choose the restaurant. Not only does he have impeccable taste in restaurants, but he is also gifted at choosing the appropriate one for the occasion. What was the occasion this time? The utter euphoria of artfully created food coupled with a charming yet unpretentious atmosphere and

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-46127856090350828992007-09-10T05:04:00.000+14:002007-09-11T05:23:50.849+14:00

There are some days that go down in food history because of the sheer quantity of food eaten, and others due to the quality of food. Then of course, there are the those exceptional days that gain extra special mention owing to the delightful marriage of both quality and quantity. Well today was an exceptional day.If you have ever wondered if it is possible to have brunch on a Wednesday afternoon,

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-75750183910080128642007-09-05T12:08:00.000+14:002007-09-06T12:39:36.971+14:00

After a few failed shopping attempts I was beginning to panic about what to get my roommate for her upcoming birthday. In the department of clothing/accessories we could not be more different and, her being a Virgo and me a Pisces, we existed on opposite ends of the zodiac spectrum. After day three of dragging myself home empty handed I finally decided to focus on one of the few , but never the

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-85037023181592603962007-09-02T05:17:00.000+14:002007-09-02T05:41:00.059+14:00

I saw this sign in the window of a Middle Eastern Bakery on Atlantic avenue. I find the idea of low carb pita disturbing and not quite right. Sort of like the notion that you have saved money by buying something on sale when really all you have done is spent less money, not quite the same thing. If you want to save money, don't spend any, and if you truly want to eat low carb, eat less carbs (

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-88062318450844423842007-08-30T04:46:00.000+14:002007-08-30T05:36:59.492+14:00

In her article entitled, So Many Tomatoes To Stuff in A Week, Melissa Clark shares with us her inability to walk away from a farmer’s market without an overflowing satchel of tomatoes in tow. The article chronicles her 7-day tomato-induced rampage as she struggles to answer the question, what am I going to do with all of these tomatoes? There are recipes for Multi colored Tomato Tartlets,

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-5640979572108785652007-08-28T05:41:00.000+14:002007-08-28T06:29:47.275+14:00

Some of my best food inventions have been a result of my own laziness. You know what I'm talking about, your sitting around the house, your hungry, there's not a whole lot in the fridge, and you don't feel like making a trip to the store. These are the days that I give myself the task of making something out of nothing. If you are like me and have a pantry fill of canned and pickled ingredients,

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-92187663880424144252007-08-23T06:39:00.000+14:002007-08-23T07:39:09.396+14:00

In ancient Greece hetaera courtesans used saffron in their perfumes, mascaras, and ointments. In Ancient Persia saffron was used as an offering to the gods as well as in body wash (how convenient.)In 3rd century China there is evidence that it was used to aromatize wine. In Egypt Cleopatra was said to use the stuff in her baths as an aphrodisiac. And in Europe, during the 14th century Black

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-68401233086778696322007-08-19T07:25:00.000+14:002007-08-20T05:33:33.956+14:00

On the boardwalk in Brighton Beach, we went to a Russian restaurant, which is like saying we went to a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. Brighton Beach is more Russian than American, which is wonderful. For the price of a subway ride, you can go to a foreign country.- Jonathan Ames,When I read this passage in Jonathan Ames book of essays, I love You More Than You Know, I immediately though of an

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-39704925122202156912007-08-17T04:53:00.001+14:002007-08-18T18:57:48.710+14:00

It all began when I spotted her at the local grocery store. She was all the way on the other end of the store behind the registers, yet somehow, perhaps it was fate, I caught a glimpse of her magnificent glowing skin through the crowd of anxious shoppers. When I turned to take a better look, she was gone, barricaded behind a lady shopper in a garishly green jumpsuit who was examining sweet

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-28135260317307132392007-08-14T17:51:00.000+14:002007-08-17T04:25:29.531+14:00

I do apologize for my recent and unexplained truancy. I assure you that I have not been playing hooky rather, I have had what they call in Spanish, gripe. Don't get all worried now, gripe isn't at all as sinister as it sounds, it simply means that I have had a nasty head cold. It has been four straight days of miserable coughing spasms, congestion, and endless sniffling. So, today I decided to

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-75232743280499401682007-08-08T11:15:00.000+14:002007-08-08T12:16:29.094+14:00

There has been an interesting development in the early morning construction next door. At 8am this morning I found myself laying in bed awake. I was annoyed at first thinking to myself, damned construction, and then I realized, it was silent. I looked out my window to find not a single contractor at work. Anticipating its daily nerve pummeling, my body must have attempted to preempted the assault

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-23631732242270925402007-08-03T06:28:00.000+14:002007-08-03T07:17:25.687+14:00

Dear Bob Brezsny,I read your horoscope every week. When things are going well in my life, it makes me happy to see that astrologically it was destined to be. And, when I encounter an unusual and frustrating number of delays, I always find it comforting to learn that one of my major planets is in retrograde. This week however, I did not find your astrological report for Pisces at all

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-2003044824070952192007-08-02T06:02:00.000+14:002007-08-02T06:16:23.172+14:00

As some of you may know, I work nights. I usually finish at around 12 -2 am, ride my bike home, take a shower, check my e-mail then turn in between 3-4am. This means that I wake up anywhere between 10am and noon, unless of course there is a construction crew jack-hammering outside my window at 8am!!! That’s right, I am now one of the growing victims suffering from the condo construction craze

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-91243140696961204162007-08-01T08:50:00.000+14:002007-08-01T16:19:37.851+14:00

Every once and a while, after eating one of my fresh baked muffins or cream filled cupcakes, a friend will ask, why don’t you start your own bakery or restaurant? It’s a difficult question to field because it’s one I haven’t always had a straight answer for. Clearly I love preparing food, and I spend a great deal of time focused on the subject, but there is something that has stopped me from

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-16857669505368797852007-07-26T16:37:00.000+14:002007-07-27T03:46:14.044+14:00

As you can see, it didn't take long for me to figure out how to employ my new Kitchen Aid mixer... And, if you have been reading this blog for a while, you will notice that I have at last lifted the brutal cupcake ban imposed by yours truly back in January. Did I give in ? Or did I simply fall, willingly, right off the wagon and into a creamy vat of vanilla butter cream? (sounds good to me.)The

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-41276315984631918532007-07-24T07:33:00.000+14:002007-07-24T08:57:44.862+14:00

Last year at this time, if I wanted to bake a cake, I had to break out the spatula and do it the old fashioned way, by hand. Creaming butter and whipping cream was always good, because it counted for at least ten minutes of heart pumping cardio and helped tone my arms quit nicely. Down the road however, as my baking endeavours became more numerous and more challenging, I had to go out and buy a

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-32503734769310247652007-07-20T05:54:00.000+14:002007-07-21T10:01:55.065+14:00

"it is usually taken for granted that there is more to be gained from blending good coffee than from consuming a single variety alone." - Edward BehrInspired by these words and upon receiving my shipment of coffee from Empire, I decided that it was going to try my hand

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-52667354946559427222007-07-17T04:15:00.000+14:002007-07-17T06:53:52.725+14:00

Soon after I bought my ice cream maker, my mother bought a machine of her own and a copy of The Perfect Scoop to accompany it. Now I like to make ice cream, but my mother churns away at her machine as if the world were sure to stop turning if her freezer were to sit ice creamless for but a day. Each week she painstakingly chisels her way through David's recipes, telling me how each wondrous

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-51789139164226176442007-07-12T04:06:00.000+14:002007-07-12T04:44:58.104+14:00

Well its my 100th post and the votes are in. After tallying the ballots it was interesting to find out which posts people responded to the most. They were certainly different than what I had expected.Number one on the list is Gourmet Math - A Losing Battle. I must admit that this too is one of my favorites. I think I am still making up those extra miles.Coming in just behind Gourmet Math is I

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-62511697558198869972007-07-08T12:33:00.000+14:002007-07-09T05:51:40.759+14:00

Happy Birthday Gourmet Peasant!Wait a minute, it's not exactly a birthday per se, more like an anniversary.Happy Anniversary Gourmet Peasant!Ah, Well...it's not really an anniversary either. Birthdays and anniversary are events that celebrate the date that a person, place, or idea was born, invented or conceived. What I am celebrating is a milestone I suppose, though it doesn't not have the same

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34959577.post-3388840682536646532007-07-05T17:43:00.000+14:002007-07-07T21:12:42.649+14:00

Inspired by Chez Loulou’s weekly La Fête du Framage, I decided that there was nothing stopping me from having a little cheese fest of my own. Loulou is an American living in the south of France, and just recently has proclaimed her mission to “stop and smell the…cheeses(s)” of France, all 350-400 of them. Every Tuesday she diligently blogs about her weekly cheese tasting and, I must say, I admire

Madelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10990120035211323980noreply@blogger.com4