pan-fried potatoes + cilantro buttermilk ranch

french fries + ranch = the perfect match

and cilantro is my match always.

fork or toothpick or fingers. whatever.

Pan-Fried Potatoes

a method really, hardly a recipe. 

small potatoes, yellow, red or fingerlings, however many, sliced

extra virgin olive oil

sea salt

black pepper

parsley

heat a generous portion of olive oil, enough to cover the bottom of the skillet, in a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat until very hot but not smoking. add potatoes. season with salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium. cook, covered stirring and turning potatoes occasionally, until almost tender, about 10 minutes. remove lid and cook, stirring and turning until browned and crusty, about 10 minutes more. season with salt and pepper again to taste. toss with fresh chopped parsley. 

Cilantro Buttermilk Ranch

from the pioneer woman + joy the baker

1 cup real mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

buttermilk

1 clove garlic

1/3 cup italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
1/3 cup cilantro leaves, chopped

2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
zest of half a lemon

salt, to taste

freshly ground black pepper
cayenne pepper

hot sauce

mince the garlic, then sprinkle about 1/4 tsp salt onto the garlic and mash with a fork into a thick paste. 

in a bowl combine all the ingredients except for the buttermilk. stir. whisk in the buttermilk until you've reached your desired consistency. taste and season. add a dash of hot sauce. chill for a few hours before serving. can thin with a little buttermilk or milk when it comes out of the fridge if you'd like. 

feliz navidad

merry christmas my people (!!!!)

seattle

a haiku:


i love seattle
consuming lots of coffee
i'm cold and alive

pike place market blew my brains away. we went everyday for snacks and then more snacks.

breakfast crumpets at the crumpet shop.
almond croissants at le panier.
cappuccinos everywhere.
smoked salmon, chocolate covered cherries, and sneaking 20 samples of beecher's cheese curds.

the first starbucks store was insanity. we looked on from a distance.

we stayed at hotel max. and it turned out to be grand.
i loved the pink neon, morning light, and squishy pillows.

baguettes and wine in the room. music loud enough to annoy the people in the next room.
whatever people, this is vacation.

we got lost a lot. but it was the best, we had nowhere to be.
seattle felt a little mystical, the fresh air, the drear and the dew and the green everywhere.

dinner at delancey.
being there was overwhelming in the best way.
orangette was the first blog i ever read.
her words would calm and comfort me, her recipes and photos inspired me like nothing else i could find in my college-y world.

i was completely thankful she was nowhere to be seen that night. i wouldn't have known what to do with myself. i'd act uncomfortable and bad weird and try to steal her baby.

dinner was perfect. pickled things, crazy hot peppers on pizza.
everything was delicious, and everything felt special.

i took some drowsy allergy pill not thinking it was drowsy. it kicked in while on an underground walking tour. then there was pho and a sadly necessary 2 hour daytime nap. that was the low point of the trip. along with the serious hangover the first morn.

we just couldn't resist the awesomeness of needle and thread, the tiny little cocktail bar on top of tavern law. they were some of the best most magically concocted drinks i've had maybe ever.
passion fruit, rum, mint, and cinnamon. topped with ipa.
does that sound strange? yes. was it unbelievably good? dayum straight guurl.

during the hangover period we stumbled into my work alter ego.

on the last night we decided at one point that we had nothing better to do than to ride the massive ferris wheel over the water.
one of us was wimped out a little and got so tense that he wouldn't talk to me.

one final meal of (supamadcool, i love raw fish) seafood, a breakfast bagel, and 3 hours of flipping on-flight tv channels, and it was back to real life.

seattle, you were good.

by the way just so you know, your streets are beautiful always, but look particularly beautiful at night.
nicely done you sly city.