It's International Speak Like A Pirate Day!!!!

And I did nothing to celebrate.

I am very sad about that. 

I feel as if I have let Pirates down all over the world. 

I am hanging my head in shame. 

Chumbucket.

Does Your House Have A Season?

Because mine does and it's fall. 

I have decorations for every season and holiday.

Fall is the one season I have the least amount of

decorations stashed up in the attic for.

And it's the easiest season to 

impart on the house.

Even the front door is fall.

So, I was just wondering if anyone else's house had a season.

Happy fall, ya'll. 

Roasted Lamb Curry

Or as Aarti likes to call it

Night Night Curry.

It had really good flavor but I thought the meat was 

a little dry so I think next time I will try making this in

the Crock Pot.

It was definitely worth a second shot.

Something not worth  a second shot?

Shelling and hulling enough cardamom pods to equal 2 tablespoons 

of these:

Not the "big " black ones in the front. 

Nooo, you need a tablespoonful of those tiny green ones.

So that you can make your own Garam Masala

of which you will use 1/4 teaspoon.

Live and learn.

I'm just here to help.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aarti-sequeira/night-night-curry-roasted-lamb-curry-with-garam-masala-caraway-and-apricots-recipe/index.html

Vegetable Lasagna

Or, creating havoc.

You see, I had these monster zucchinis. 

I thought it would be good to do the whole lasagna thing

with zucchini ribbons in place of the pasta.

But then, it's Meatless Monday so why not

go all veg?

And then why not go white?

So, here's the line up:

zucchini

sweet potatoes

onions

mushrooms

roasted red peppers

kale

asparagus

basil cream sauce

ricotta

parmesan

mozzarella.

Between the blanching, roasting and sautéing, 

the prep was a little intense.

But totally worth it!

Bread Pudding

Or, recycling.

I think it's really funny when a chef suggests

this as a great way to use stale bread.

I have to import stale bread.

Big saves the crusts from her cinnamon bread.

Perfect for bread pudding!

I pulled this recipe from All Recipes.com

But really, you just need a basic custard recipe.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/bread-pudding-ii/detail.aspx

I used almond extract instead of vanilla and cut 

the sugar way back, probably to about 1/4 cup.

I didn't use any cinnamon because, 

hello, cinnamon bread :o)

And there you have it!

One of my favorite ways to recycle.

Maybe I should call it 

Green Bread Pudding?

Tamale Pies

In zucchini bowls.

Everybody slices a zucchini lengthwise, fills them, and calls them

"boats."

I sliced across and called them 

"bowls."

That's just some ground beef, onions, tomatoes, 

olives, chilies and some mole spices with

a corn bread top. 

It worked out great just next time I think I will

bake the bowls a little before I fill them,

the zucchini didn't get tender. 

Wait a minute, who am I kidding?

How often am I going to have monster zucchinis in

my kitchen?

Individual crocks. 

That's the ticket.

Meatloaf Cupcakes

But really, they look like bombs.

With a hat. 

I saw it on Food Network. 

Duff went somewhere

in Chicago that makes meat cupcakes.

The show is called Sugar High. 

He was at a meat shop.

Huh?

I was intrigued.

Eh.

They tasted good, just not the look I was going for. 

Live and learn.

But PS, there's the first use of the

Monster Bigger Than My Dog Zucchini.

Sautéed with some onions, 

mushrooms, yellow tomatoes, and a hit of pesto. 

Onward and upward!