Yearly Archives: 2009

Buenos Aires – Day One

For as long as I’ve been accruing them, I’ve been inexplicably nervous about my frequent flier miles expiring or disappearing. Nick and I recently took care of the whole lot by taking a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina.  We took an overnight flight from Chicago and arrived at Ezeiza airport on a Thursday morning. We checked […]

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Meg - I love your Buenos Aires post! Evocative photos. Keep it up, please. Makes me want to visit there.

Meg - I love your Buenos Aires post! Evocative photos. Keep it up, please. Makes me want to visit there.

Terry B - Sounds like a glorious trip, Gemma! I love the photos, especially the dark, moody peanuts shot. Dang. Now I want some peanuts, but in a bar or cafe, of course.

Terry B - Sounds like a glorious trip, Gemma! I love the photos, especially the dark, moody peanuts shot. Dang. Now I want some peanuts, but in a bar or cafe, of course.

Hillary - Quilmes! I bought my boyfriend a Quilmes mug when I was there. Love reading about Buenos Aires – I miss the place. Did you make it to La Cabrera in Palermo Soho?

Hillary - Quilmes! I bought my boyfriend a Quilmes mug when I was there. Love reading about Buenos Aires – I miss the place. Did you make it to La Cabrera in Palermo Soho?

gemma - Thank you everyone! I have been awful about editing my photos. I promise to post more about my trip soon.
Hillary, we tried to go to La Cabrera but it was closed!

gemma - Thank you everyone! I have been awful about editing my photos. I promise to post more about my trip soon.
Hillary, we tried to go to La Cabrera but it was closed!

Homemade Pasta for Hectic Nights

I bet some of you are wondering if I skipped out on my return flight and remained in South America.  Sadly, no.  Nick and I returned to Chicago as scheduled, but I've been frantically catching up at work since.  Whatever level of relaxation was achieved on vacation has been quickly and thoroughly reversed. I have […]

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Meg - Oh my goodness. This sounds so delicious. I haven’t had homemade pasta in over a decade.
Does the dough still roll out well after a night in the refrigerator?
My mother maintains that her grandmother made German noodles (spätzle) in the 1950s and cut them into pieces with a knife. I make spätzle too, but with a press.

Sarah - Will have to give it a try as normal pasta as you make it look so simple and delicious. I went through a phase of making completely from scratch lasagna – as you can imagine that was pretty time-consuming, but I never thought to make simple noodle using the dough. I know, duh, right?
Glad you had a safe trip!

Hillary - Your pasta looks much better than my run at homemade pasta. Thanks for the inspiration to try again.

lola - i’ve always wanted to make homemade pasta, and your post has inspired me to finally try it. thanks!

Sarah - I just wanted to let you know that I have awarded your blog the ‘One Lovely Blog’ award!
Please go to
http://lemoulinaeau.blogspot.com/2009/06/one-lovely-blog-awards.html
to see how it works.

Margie - Wow, homemade pasta as an alternative to fast food. Thanks for the reminder that contentment can found in a cup of flour, 2 eggs, and a bit of meditative handy-work.

Kaitlyn - Wow! That homemade pasta looks delicious, it’s great to see you blogging again! Hope you had a great trip!

Jen - I tried this out today–awesome. Much simpler than anticipated.

Caroline - Beautiful photo! This looks awesome.

gemma - Hi Meg, a decade is way too long to wait for fresh pasta! I had fine luck rolling the dough out on the second day. I hope you find the same. I’ve seen other cooks make spätzle with a knife. I have yet to give it a try myself though.
Sarah, lasagna from scratch is an impressive project. Nice work. I hope you enjoy the ease of this recipe. I hope all is well with you!
Hi Hillary. I hope this recipe works better for you. Good luck!
I’m glad Lola. It really is a great thing to know how to make — and it’s cheaper than store bought boxes.
Thank you Sarah, that’s very sweet!
No problem Margie– I often forget myself.
Thanks Kaitlyn, the trip was wonderful!
Great to hear Jen, glad you liked.
Thanks so much Caroline!

Dave Jones - Wow! that pasta sounds delicious…looks simple.

Nishta - this looks so lovely I *must* try–I’ve been too chicken to make homemade pasta, actually, ever. which is a bit shameful so must be remedied!
I’m cooking dinner for friends next week and think I’ll do this. when they’re dazzled, I’ll credit you :)

Kaitlyn - I tried your pasta this past week and it was delicious! I posted about it over on my blog, thanks for the inspiration!

gemma - Hi Dave Jones, thanks. It is quite easy. A great basic recipe to have on hand.
Hi Nishta, thanks! I hope the dish was a hit.
Hi Kaitlyn, I saw your post. Your dish looks wonderful. Nice work!

Buenos Aires

Nick and I are crossing our fingers that the storms hold out for a few more hours. We are scheduled to leave for Buenos Aires this evening and the forecast isn't cooperating.  We have a growing list of places to visit, but if anyone would like to suggest an addition, please feel free to post […]

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Hillary - Have fun! Buenos Aires is an awesome city! You best go to La Cabrera in the Palermo Soho neighborhood for a good meal :)

Hillary - Have fun! Buenos Aires is an awesome city! You best go to La Cabrera in the Palermo Soho neighborhood for a good meal :)

gemma - Thanks so much for the suggestion Hillary. We tried to go but they were unexpectedly closed! We found another great option nearby though. Too bad, the reviews sounded great!

gemma - Thanks so much for the suggestion Hillary. We tried to go but they were unexpectedly closed! We found another great option nearby though. Too bad, the reviews sounded great!

Salad with Dried Figs, Blue Cheese and Walnuts

I've finally packed away my winter coats, tulips and spearmint are coming up in the backyard, and there is ample sunlight to enjoy after I leave work — I'm even thinking of investing in a bike to brave the city streets — something that has always terrified me given Chicago drivers.   Every May I'm […]

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Terry B - Wow! Have a great time in Argentina, Gemma! This salad looks gorgeous—there’s something so nice about blue cheese and walnuts together, isn’t there? They co-star in an easy, impressive endive salad with blue cheese and walnuts I love to make.

Camilla Saulsbury - Gorgeous blog, Gemma. And this salad has everything I love to eat in one bowl. Figs and blue cheese in particular…ummm. Happy to have found your gorgeous blog…Camilla

John - Wow!
It looks so delicious
Thank for sharing
http://www.ahacook.com

Libby - Sounds wonderful. Always looking for new ideas for warm weather meals.

Gemma - Thanks Terry. Your salad looks great as well. Thanks for the link!
Thank you Camilla! I look forward to reading through yours.
Thanks John.
It is a great warm weather meal. I can’t stop eating fresh things this summer. Thanks Libby.

Apple and Almond Oatmeal Clafoutis

The Kitchn looked at make-ahead breakfasts this past week, and pointed me toward this recipe at Chocolate & Zucchini for Oatmeal Clafoutis.  I never like to eat too soon after waking up on a weekday morning, so having something quick and portable to throw in my bag saves me time and money.  This is a great recipe to […]

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Joanna - Lovely! Good call on not peeling the apples – not really necessary.

Joanna - Lovely! Good call on not peeling the apples – not really necessary.

Joelen - This looks delicious!!

Joelen - This looks delicious!!

Faith - So lovely! I am glad the recipe worked out well for you. It’s one of my favorites.

Faith - So lovely! I am glad the recipe worked out well for you. It’s one of my favorites.

Kaitlyn - I saw this recipe on the Kitchn and was intrigued especially with the description as “oatmeal flan.” Seeing it here makes me want to try it even more!

Kaitlyn - I saw this recipe on the Kitchn and was intrigued especially with the description as “oatmeal flan.” Seeing it here makes me want to try it even more!

kickpleat - I’ve tried something very similar but I love calling it a clafoutis…so much more exotic sounding than baked oatmeal with eggs!

kickpleat - I’ve tried something very similar but I love calling it a clafoutis…so much more exotic sounding than baked oatmeal with eggs!

Gemma - Thanks Joanna. Yeah, I figured I’d give it a try without peeling. I ended up much preferring it.
Thanks Joelen!
Thank you for pointing me toward it Faith! It is quickly becoming one of my favorites as well.
Hi Kaitlyn, I definitely recommend giving it a try some weekend soon. It is such an easy and hearty dish.
kickpleat – Ha, I completely agree. It really classes it up.

Gemma - Thanks Joanna. Yeah, I figured I’d give it a try without peeling. I ended up much preferring it.
Thanks Joelen!
Thank you for pointing me toward it Faith! It is quickly becoming one of my favorites as well.
Hi Kaitlyn, I definitely recommend giving it a try some weekend soon. It is such an easy and hearty dish.
kickpleat – Ha, I completely agree. It really classes it up.

Susan - Do you think all the sugar the recipe calls for is necessary? It seems like a lot. I wonder if you could get away with less?

Susan - Do you think all the sugar the recipe calls for is necessary? It seems like a lot. I wonder if you could get away with less?

dawn - love these photos…

dawn - love these photos…

gemma - Hi Susan. I didn’t try it with less so I’m not certain, but in my experience sugar is one of those ingredients that you can tamper with a bit before you really damage the integrity of the recipe. Good luck finding the palace you are looking for.
Thank you Dawn!

gemma - Hi Susan. I didn’t try it with less so I’m not certain, but in my experience sugar is one of those ingredients that you can tamper with a bit before you really damage the integrity of the recipe. Good luck finding the palace you are looking for.
Thank you Dawn!