Heather's Countertop

Shelia Lukins R.I.P.

2009-09-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

I first saw the news of Shelia Lukins' death on Serious Eats and followed the link to the NYTimes. Have to say it made my heart sink. I was never fortunate enough to know Shelia, but was really touched by her food. I'll never forget the first time as pretty much a kid transplanted up here to NY, making the Six-Onion Soup. It is still one of the best soup recipes I've ever had.

Second Person

2009-09-01T14:19:00.001-07:00

A day off

2009-08-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

First day off in quite a while. Work has kept me busy but honestly... it's happily so. It hasn't kept me out of the kitchen entirely, but I've been a bit distracted from pics. I've also been still stuck on anything comforting (especially the carb realm) since I've been working so much. I've made lasagna from scratch...even down to the pasta. Gave a shot at french baguettes recently and they actually came out tasting right, but man were they ugly. That's all my fault. Next time I have to pay attention more to how I'm rolling them out. I also used a combo recipe of Julia Child's mixed with Mayle's "Confessions of a Baker". Next time I'm just sticking with Julia's.

Here's the shitake, saged beef lasagna. Everyone that had it really loved it. I had no idea how much a difference just making the pasta would change the whole experience.

Today for my day off treat, I popped by Marlowe and Daughter's and they have cod. (It's kind of funny that my thing used to be running to the art store for more printing inks and now I'm happiest stopping by Marlowe's.) I have always loved the cod Diner has used so couldn't pass it up. Also picked up some house cured Tasso ham which ended up making the perfect combo. Oh and the tomato, eggplant and herbs are all from the backyard.

Ok so I'm still on carbs

2009-07-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

Once again I'm playing with the 00 flour. This is the first stab at ravioli. Still haven't picked up a pasta machine yet so still winging this with grandmother's old rolling pin. Have to say some were not as pretty as others but they all came out quite tasty.

The Cheese Chronicles

2009-07-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

So I stumbled upon this new book, "The Cheese Chronicles - A Journey Through The Making and Selling of Cheese in America, From Field to Farm to Table" by Liz Thorpe. It's one of the better reads I've found this year, and Liz Thorpe rocks when it comes to cheese. She lives and breathes it (literally when she's diving into a vat of curds to learn cheesemaking with a nasty hangover). Her knowledge and passion is pretty inspiring too. Hooked me enough to get me to look into a few classes at Murray's. There's a good Captain Lawrence beer and cheese pairing one that may just fit the bill. Anyway, this is a great book to pick up for all levels of cheese lovers.

Andy Warhol eating a hamburger

2009-07-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

So I just saw this on the blog A Hamburger Today and had to post a link to the video. It features two of my favorite things...art and hamburgers.

Black olive focaccia

2009-07-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

Now I've just got to find a guy to share this with me.

Last day of stir crazy...

2009-07-12T12:01:00.001-07:00

So today is the last day of the meds (still coughing a lot though) and will be back at work tomorrow. Never looked so forward to getting back. Anyway, spent a little time in the yard this morning (had two little visitors pictured below), and am waiting right now for the last hour of rising for my black olive focaccia.

Oh, and Megan is the green thumb behind all the gorgeous flowers.

So one thing I should have written about last week...

2009-07-10T13:55:00.001-07:00

...last Friday I ended up in the ER due to this crappy combo flu, but after they gave me a couple of shots I bounced back (or so I thought). Got a crazy new boost of energy and ran uptown to meet one of my friends at the Met and see the Bacon exhibit. The collection of works is stupendous. He was so brilliant. His pain, his passion, his need to show the raw reality of his friends in their portraits, it was all just so beautiful. I love his personal translation of photos into wild explosions of darkness and color in both the physical paint and the content. Bacon's obsession with carrying on relationships with controlling and potentially violent men is very intriguing. His depictions of these men were even more so. He seemed to be a submissive in some aspects to the lovers he chose but then his beautifully grotesque and warped portraits seem to negate the submissive side and make him the dominant in the relationship. Just my personal drabbles on the matter. Anyway, had a great time at the show. Was great to walk through the exhibit with a friend that actually enjoyed and got the show too and was not trying to impart their own artwork into the mix. So often when I've gone to shows, I've gone with a visual artist that always has to throw their own art into the dialogue. It's almost like they cannot look at anyone else's art for the wonderment that it is and their life must always be the center. This doesn't include all the artists I know but a good handful. Anyway, if you're in New York or nearby...check out the exhibit. It's well curated and the documentation photos are a wonderful inclusion. I just wish someone would clean the glass/plexi on the works. The smudges are a bit annoying. I know the Met has had budget cuts, but come on...it's the Bacon show...certainly you can find someone to clean the place.

Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective
Through August 16, 2009

Francis Bacon (British, 1909 - 1992)
Head VI, 1949
Oil on canvas; 36 11/16 x 30 1/8 in. (93.2 x 76.5 cm)
Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London
2009 The Estate of Francis Bacon / ARS, New York / DACS, London

Now truly stir crazy...

2009-07-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

I've been stuck here whilst getting better, and cannot dare watch one more rerun. If I see Gordon Ramsay strip off his shirt needlessly one more time, I think I will scream. So yesterday I dragged my cold addled body and med fogged brain into the kitchen and made my first from complete scratch pizzas and honestly they came out cracker thin. Really pleased but wish my taste buds were in full mode.

Today I continued to try to keep myself busy and away from the telly by testing out Hazan's focaccia. Turned out beautiful, and I've heard from my guinea pigs that it tastes fantastic.

Before going completely stir crazy

2009-07-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

So I've been a bit off the grid. Work was the first thing to get in the way and now I'm out of commission due to a nasty cold of sorts. Finally getting back up on my feet, but am still stuck staring at these four walls and truthfully going a bit stir crazy. So here's two things I played with prior to getting house bound.

Decided to see if shallots and figs play well together...

...and they do.

Also got my hands on some cod from Marlowe and Daughters from their dayboat catch and gave a whirl at Beurre Blanc Julia Child style.

Scallops

2009-07-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

So Marlowe and Daughters has been getting fresh fish in on Tuesdays and Fridays. Decided to give the scallops a whirl and have to say they are the most sweet and succulent ones I've ever had.

Just put them together simply with butter, shallots from the farmer's market, and sage from the yard.

First time making pasta

2009-07-01T15:04:00.001-07:00

Here it is! First food post and dove right into this mess trying out something I was always nervous about. Before starting, I tried to cover all the bases. Looked up Hazan's perfect pasta dough recipe. Also just finished her bio and highly recommend it. Went on youtube and watched a number if pasta making videos including: The Pasta Queen

Just have to love her.

Anyway, here's my attempt. Oh, and look ma, no pasta machine. This is all pure rolling pin (my grandmother's to be precise).

My day started out heading over to Marlowe and Daughters to pick up the 00 flour and Blue Hill eggs. Figured if I'm going to do it must start off right.

I couldn't believe I actually got the dough to work out on the first try! It was just like I've always heard...right when you think it's not going to work...it all comes together.

Ok here's where the rolling pin came into play. At some point I'll finally get that pasta maker but for now it's actually fun to battle with the dough and roll it out. Spent a long time letting gravity take it's course too after this shot.

Also been lucky enough this year to move into a new flat with a backyard. All the herbs are from the garden and the fresh garlic from the farmer's market.

And here's the final outcome! Have to say it was absolutely delicious!

Here's a start

2009-07-01T14:58:00.001-07:00

Hi y'all, this is a blog that came out of...well...as cheesy as it may sound, my passion for food. Heck, honestly, another big reason is I'm figuring out who I am again. Yes, I'm a single girl living in NY and making my way. I know, I know... there's a ton of us here.

So anyway, I'm not sure how often I will post, but I'm determined that whenever I have days off, I'm going to try something new. This might mean cooking, going to a restaurant, a concert or anything. It's all to find that fun again. Enjoy!