tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893Fri, 02 May 2008 03:25:51 +0000http://www.tomatilla.com/OwenBlogger449125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-1724994872885694207Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:40:00 +00002008-04-28T12:48:25.489-07:00I am so excited! My sharper-eyed readers will have noticed a little web form thingy over on the right hand sidebar that has three little entry windows that say 'first ingredient,' 'second ingredient,' and 'third ingredient,' with a button below that says 'Get Recipes.' Anyone who tried it found out that it did nothing. Not anymore! Now it searches a conglomeration of web sites that let people http://www.tomatilla.com/2008/04/recipe-search-now-working.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-7614094722284542310Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:17:00 +00002008-03-25T17:34:09.784-07:00I've used Adsense for adverts on this blog for a couple of years as a way to pay for hosting - it never quite has done that and it has also never really delivered ads that made much sense. And recently it stopped even doing that. Basically if this is what Google is relying on for all that money it supposedly makes then I would sell all my Google stock now (if I had any). Plus Google search is http://www.tomatilla.com/2008/03/goodbye-to-adsense-but-not-catalonia.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-8495265956282265394Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:38:00 +00002008-02-20T17:55:08.912-08:00 VERY easy. So easy. Ridiculously easy. Almost as easy as opening a jar and MUCH easier than driving to the store... There are two ways to make lemon curd. One involves double boilers and careful stirring and sieving and many things that I don't care about. The other involves a secret piece of equipment to be revealed in a moment. Easy Lemon Curd Ingredients 2 Lemons 1 cup sugar 3/4 stick http://www.tomatilla.com/2008/02/easy-lemon-curd.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-4686253672983043464Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:22:00 +00002008-01-28T11:25:44.556-08:00OK, stop whatever else you are doing and rush right over to Lucullian Delights, Ilva's totally lovely food blog where she is relaunching Paper Chef. I am so happy that she has taken this on and while I will always think of it as my baby I have had to acknowledge that I can't run it anymore, so I am so very grateful that she has taken it on. We are in the ingredient nomination phase right now - gohttp://www.tomatilla.com/2008/01/ilvas-bringing-paper-chef-back.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-4390559306260523075Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:29:00 +00002008-01-24T17:33:48.491-08:00Just for kicks - I am going to see if I can get some help. As you may know, I am close to building my wood-burning oven - but it now looks like I may have to come up with a GOOD gluten-free pizza recipe. In this case, good means NOT a batter you spread on a tray as in almost all the recipes I have seen so far. So here is a 'tag cloud of associations' and maybe someone will see it and get http://www.tomatilla.com/2008/01/gluten-free-pizza-free-association-and.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-8199280102187564999Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:33:00 +00002008-01-11T16:22:17.087-08:00 Now that I am experimenting with gluten-free cooking I have discovered one true tragedy. Real bread is an impossibility. Sure there are lots of recipes that SAY they have good bread. But the bottom line is that for REAL bread you need gluten. The gluten is what makes the dough 'thready' and that holds it together during rising and after baking. So now it is time to dig into some food science (http://www.tomatilla.com/2008/01/gluten-free-pasta-beginnings.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-3634491675025668042Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:46:00 +00002008-01-06T10:21:59.635-08:00First, Happy New Year to you all! I am determined that this year will be different, better and far more worthwhile. So a lot of changes are planned . I started out with the simplest - no New Year's Resolutions! In the past they have just been a way to feel guilty. No more.... Next, we are rapidly becoming a gluten-free (as well as often vegetarian) household. It is looking likely that 1.5 of us http://www.tomatilla.com/2008/01/happy-new-year-maybe-gluten-free.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-4882441137385687603Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:49:00 +00002007-12-18T10:57:44.557-08:00Well, Ilva, over at the truly lovely blog Lucullian Delights, has decided to take on Paper Chef so that it doesn't die out. I'm really happy because she has always been one of its biggest supporters (and one of the best entrants). This way my little monthly event will carry on. For those of you coming over here from her blog or who have no idea what I'm talking about, below is a little potted http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/12/paper-chef-update-and-all-things-paper.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-7469784115737809809Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:58:00 +00002007-12-10T11:04:29.506-08:00This year, I was again honored to be asked to help judge the annual Food Blog Awards, the prestigious awards for food bloggers that were started four years ago (I think - maybe it was three - I'm getting old) by Kate at Accidental Hedonist and then taken over by the other Cate at WellFed.net. Anyways, I and some other fantabulous judges, just finished a LONG weekend of looking at food blogs and http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/12/food-blog-awards-time-to-vote.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-3425207222386377461Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:55:00 +00002007-12-05T18:02:40.854-08:00It seems that quite a few took my most recent post (just below) to mean that I was giving up the blog altogether. Don't know how they got that form my completely clear and lucid prose. ;-) In fact I am just saying goodbye to the Paper Chef (which lives on in Sweden - but I can't tell you how to participate - to the shame of my ancestors I can't speak or read Swedish). I haven't been able to givehttp://www.tomatilla.com/2007/12/umm-not-goodbye.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-8071270558242685788Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:19:00 +00002007-11-22T08:23:50.573-08:00It is time for me to face facts. I no longer have the time or energy to keep Paper Chef going. I don't have time to even write short notes in what was - more than four years ago now - intended just to be a personal record that would help me remember how to repeat dishes I'd made that I and others liked. So, first of all, I would like to give a huge thank you on this day of thanks to all of you -http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/11/saying-goodbye-and-giving-thanks.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-8738334349970105241Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:16:00 +00002007-10-18T11:22:53.023-07:00If I get started now I think we can pull this off! So.... Paper Chef 26 ingredient nominations are now open. the current ingredient list is: Zucchini (courgettes), crawfish (crayfish), scallions (spring onions), cocoa nibs, italian prune plums, saffron, blueberries, olives, chicken, peaches, rosemary, five spice (the chinese blend of five spices), 'skin' (presumably of anything), basil, cod roehttp://www.tomatilla.com/2007/10/paper-chef-26.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-5726444244276929852Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:29:00 +00002007-10-15T19:00:04.133-07:00OK, despite all my intentions I am not getting updates done at anything like an acceptable pace. However, in an effort to keep moving, here are the official winner(s) of Paper Chef 25. Since we had a couple of single dish entrants and a couple of multiple dish entrants I am going to just decide to have a singel dish winner and a multiple dish winner this time around. As usual, it is practically http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/10/paper-chef-winners-and-more.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-7813218126673197483Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:18:00 +00002007-09-24T12:25:24.431-07:00I know that I am holding fire on announcing a Paper Chef winner - especially since the next one is due to kick off pretty shortly! So that'll come later today. In the meantime I just need to record a few notes about things I have cooked recently so they don't slip my brain entirely. We hosted a few parties lately and I actually got to make some new things that came out well. So, in no particularhttp://www.tomatilla.com/2007/09/lots-of-parties.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-4530947147634422715Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:58:00 +00002007-09-18T14:21:02.640-07:00I guess the theme song for this should be 'Home on the Range' rather than something less cooking related – but it makes me think of rather different things. Tradition and a relaxed frame of mind and a relaxed approach to life. Rather more 'slow food' than cowboy food perhaps. Here's how this edition of the Paper Chef event was set up: "The theme for this edition of Paper Chef is 'Home.' That http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/09/roundup-for-paper-chef-25-home-edition.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-1173258254984275674Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:58:00 +00002007-09-12T15:26:53.373-07:00Entries and recipes and photos are coming in for Paper Chef 25 and since I am stuck at work until late in the day anyhow, I am extending the deadline until the end of the day. Regular participants and lurkers already know that we don't pay too much attention to deadlines and rules around here, so this extension isn't much of a surprise. I realised that in futzing around with things here over thehttp://www.tomatilla.com/2007/09/little-more-time.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-5712986255482622225Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:12:00 +00002007-09-11T16:24:08.157-07:00The short answer is whenever it's hot, which means most of the year here. But it is more complicated than that. For example, although my fancy new gas (propane) grill has a side burner, I wouldn't make it my first choice for boiling water. In fact it is used mostly for roasting coffee. But that means all boiled foods are out when it gets too hot to cook in the house. That in turn means getting http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/09/when-gas-grill-is-lifesaver.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-8304468934569781987Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:27:00 +00002007-09-10T14:50:57.179-07:00While I wait for the Paper Chef entries to come flooding in, I'm going to resume blogging about other subjects. In this case the matter of going out to eat at restaurants. I do this less and less and especially less and less at fancy dining establishments. Why? Because I find it a worse and worse experience. The cult of celebrity has made truly high end dining so expensive that it cannot be worthhttp://www.tomatilla.com/2007/09/dining-out-disaster.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-2713221176269516098Fri, 07 Sep 2007 22:47:00 +00002007-09-07T15:52:55.673-07:00OK - a couple of hours late, but here we go... The theme for this edition of Paper Chef is 'Home.' That means that the fourth ingredient is 'something you already have in your home' - you can't go out and buy it - you have to look around and use something. If the cupboard is bare then you may have to make water the special ingredient! A reminder, the other ingredients are chile peppers, smoked http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/09/paper-chef-25-starts-now-home-edition.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-8388681366164687514Wed, 05 Sep 2007 18:21:00 +00002007-09-05T11:30:19.668-07:00The final ingredient list after all nominations was: Chile peppers, zucchini (courgettes), crawfish (crayfish), scallions (spring onions), cocoa nibs, italian prune plums, saffron, blueberries, olives, chicken, peaches, rosemary, five spice (the chinese blend of five spices), 'skin' (presumably of anything), basil, smoked swordfish, cod roe, aubergine (eggplant), lard, sardines, caraway seeds, http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/09/phase-2-of-paper-chef-25-first-three.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-5591159347060868866Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:13:00 +00002007-08-31T11:19:55.260-07:00Not a long post this time - just an update on where we stand. First off, the event will start properly next Wednesday, Sept 5th, when I'll announce the three random ingredients. Then on Friday September 7th I'll announce the 'special' fourth ingredient and you'll have until the following Wednesday Sept 12th at noon PST to make a dish using the four ingredients and write a post about it in your http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/08/paper-chef-25-ingredient-update.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-6345787791586980179Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:06:00 +00002007-08-27T17:15:13.774-07:00Come now people! This is not good enough. So far we only have eight ingredients nominated for Paper Chef. Admittedly, they are very high quality ingredients - just the kind a Paper Chef would use - eccentric, interesting, bursting with flavor. But really, I can't in good conscience pick three from eight! I barely need a true atmospheric random number generator for that! So far we have: Chile http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/08/call-for-ingredients-paper-chef-25.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-1633290081600330628Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:39:00 +00002007-08-21T17:06:17.312-07:00It looks like we are going to hold the Paper Chef in the same general time period as in the past but stretch it a bit. That means that the official start of Paper Chef 25 will be Wednesday September 5th when I will reveal the three random ingredients. Then on Friday the 7th I will reveal the fourth 'special' ingredient or theme and from then on you will have until Noon PST the following Wednesdayhttp://www.tomatilla.com/2007/08/paper-chef-25-kickoff.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-5911075455777889147Fri, 10 Aug 2007 03:44:00 +00002007-08-09T20:59:48.410-07:00This was a tough decision. I liked thog's theme a lot and his little biographical story was very touching - AND the dish looked excellent - although I STILL don't get the Choko experience. Wikipedia says its like a chayote but pictures from Australia and the descriptions bely that. Basically a bland and bumpy flavorless squash. I really liked the look of Brilyn's roulade - I'm going to have to http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/08/winner-of-paper-chef-24-only-five.htmlOwentag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3641893.post-2234053840140978746Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:34:00 +00002007-08-06T10:37:13.990-07:00It was pointed out to me that I had neglected to actually wrap up Paper Chef number 24 during my five month long hiatus from blogging. So here we go...roundup first and a winner in a day or two. It was a smallish set of entries, but as usual, all of very high standard. I have noticed over the three years or so that the contest has been running that we get a LOT of Australian entrants. Do they http://www.tomatilla.com/2007/08/paper-chef-roundup-number-24-only-five.htmlOwen