I stayed in the little kitchen all day. Well, when I was at the grocery store I wasn't in the kitchen, but when I was home I was pretty much in the kitchen. I decided to make chicken stock from scratch, even though we just had chicken soup a couple of weeks ago, and we had Indian chicken over the weekend. So many of you said chicken soup again, and, I do what I'm told. So, homemade stock from Ina's new book, Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics (and how cool is it that Ina Garten and I have the same book designer [Marysarah Quinn]?), and curry chicken soup from The Silver Palate Cookbook, with really nice parmesan-garlic bread from the bakery.
(One note about the grocery store? WOW is it expensive. Things have really, really gone up there. My store just recently had a remodel, so maybe they are trying to pay for that, but I think I'm going to have to shop somewhere else. Sigh. I fear it's the same everywhere, though. . . . Bring on the plans for a Victory Garden this summer.)
I thought I might make a Dutch apple pancake for dessert, but I forgot to get milk. I thought the eggs looked so pretty in the bowl, though.
I listened to Blind Pilot radio at Pandora (thanks Bee [who knew I love the Avetts and recommended this]! It was seriously perfectly what I wanted), then sat in the nook while the stock bubbled, and looked around at stuff. It looked wintry, but warm. Quiet. I was missing my friend JoEllen and hoping she'll move to Portland.
After a few hours, out came the yellow curry. Can you smell this?
How about this? Mmmmm.
By the time the soup was ready (oh, and you might want to skip the step about putting the broth and rice and onions and carrots through the food processor and instead do it in the blender in a couple of batches, unless you enjoy having hot soup pour out of the food processor all over the place, including the top of the partially opened dishwasher and the floor, but it definitely adds time to the "time you'll spend in the kitchen" if that's what you're going for), it was quite dark. But I was happy. Thank you so much for all the recommendations. I'll be returning to those comments for more days like this — thank you!
That IS cool about having the same book designer as Ina. Oh my!
I recognize the Dean & Duluca spice container. Lovely photo journalism. It's snowing here in Montana again and I was just thinking about what I'm going to cook as I hibernate this weekend.
Posted by: Shelley (Pink House) | January 23, 2009 at 09:33 AM
i love ina...and now i must have twinkle lights in my kitchen...so sweet.
Posted by: leanne | January 23, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Victory Garden! I have Crockett's flower garden book, but I keep trying to remind myself to look for the original veggie book that went with his PBS show. Thank you for jogging my memory!
Posted by: Barb | January 23, 2009 at 09:40 AM
A beautiful post with beautiful photographs ... it makes me want to move to Portland. Sigh.
Posted by: susan | January 23, 2009 at 09:54 AM
Can I come over to your house and play? It looks so cozy over there . . . and the smell from your kitchen . . . oh, so yummy!!!
Posted by: Shari | January 23, 2009 at 10:27 AM
The curry looks delicious! Lucky girl.
Posted by: Julie | January 23, 2009 at 10:42 AM
alicia,
those photos are so beautiful! i, too, am thinking victory garden this year. all signs seem to point in that direction!
thanks so much for making me happy. i love glimpses of kitchen life (especially when they're so pretty)!
Posted by: colleen | January 23, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Those photos look wonderful!
I can certainly agree with garden, though last year - new home blues with the garden. Everything I thought I knew would be reliable cooked in my new place! Hopefully this year will be better.
Posted by: Sulwyn | January 23, 2009 at 11:05 AM
The photos are gorgeous! I know what you mean about the price of food. It's really hurting my pocket book. I'm afraid it's like that everywhere, especially if you're trying to shop for quality ingredients. I'm glad you enjoy Blind Pilot. They're friends of mine. So strange when your friends become famous. If you're interested, they're going to be on the Carson Daly show in February.
Posted by: Brooke | January 23, 2009 at 11:08 AM
mmmmmmmmmmm everything looks so delicious - including your photography. Gorgeous :)
Posted by: Kristin | January 23, 2009 at 11:17 AM
The pictures are beautiful. I too love the eggs in the bowl. And I want to share your soup!
Posted by: Willo | January 23, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Oh, you just missed seeing Blind Pilot live. They played Portland last weekend. They are, however, playing in Astoria this weekend. Perhaps a trip to the coast is in order?
Or they're playing Seattle Monday night. I love them. I also love the fact that they recorded their first album in an old building in Astoria. Pretty cool.
Posted by: sprizee | January 23, 2009 at 11:23 AM
I was in the same indecisive mood yesterday. I'm enjoying all the comments for yummy food advice. I ended up making these: http://tinyurl.com/b9znxr
yum!!!
Posted by: Megan | January 23, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Looks quite delicious and perfect for a cold day!
Posted by: AJ | January 23, 2009 at 12:02 PM
looks and smells so yummy on a cold winters day...I love the photos...have a great weekend..
Posted by: Gina | January 23, 2009 at 12:07 PM
If my kitchen looked like yours, I'd stay in it all day, too :)
Posted by: Helen | January 23, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Thanks for the Blind Pilot recommendation! I'm loving the Pandora station!
Posted by: Tara | January 23, 2009 at 12:36 PM
I adore Blind Pilot! I missed their concert last weekend due to the stomach flu, but they are playing again in March...can't wait!
Posted by: Briana | January 23, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Looks delicious (the food and the warm kitchen, that is.)
Posted by: Cassandra | January 23, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Alicia, this post was so [toasty & inviting]~ Love your white & blue bag hangin on the hook, oh & everything else in your kitchen too! I can smell the soup while i'm sittin here at work on cold (rainy) friday wishing it was 5pm...have a great weekend!SusieQ
Posted by: Susana | January 23, 2009 at 12:48 PM
I am a big believer in the powers of making your own chicken broth!
BTW, a tip on how to get that blender to behave from CHOW.com, a wonderful site, indeed!
http://www.chow.com/stories/10843
Posted by: leslie | January 23, 2009 at 01:20 PM
What beautiful photographs of your day... that looks delicious!
Posted by: Annie@Imagination... | January 23, 2009 at 01:23 PM
not kidding pretty sure I smelled this..Have a great weekend Alicia..
Posted by: Jennifer | January 23, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Immersion blenders are awesome for soups.
Posted by: Whistlepea | January 23, 2009 at 02:46 PM
Beautiful pictures! Chicken soup is always so comforting. I admire you for making homemade stock. I've watched Ina make it on television and it looks so good and homey. Just have never made it myself. The top shot with the head of garlic made my mouth water. Yum.
Posted by: Julie | January 23, 2009 at 03:05 PM