Your personal timeline, a place to aggregate photos, blog posts, tweets and key events in your life.
Created by natesolberg on May 10, 2008
Last updated: 04/10/10 at 12:17 PM
Nate S. has no followers yet. Be the first one to follow.
She & Him RadioCreated By: natesolberg
http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh208318261915162060
Wine: Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2006
Price: $64.99
Region: Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France
Grape Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre & Cinsault
Purchased: Surdyk’s Wine & Liquor, Minneapolis, MN
This was our second bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and our first experience with Vieux Donjon. I found it – once again – through Surdyk’s in Minneapolis, and while it’s a little expensive (okay, [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/450/
To quote Bob Wiley in “What About Bob?”: “It’s so simple, yet so brilliant!” I had this dish on my mind for a long time, and Valentine’s Day seemed like a great time to enjoy it once again. Once upon a time a Valentine dinner was a grownup affair, but now the girls are old [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/osso-buco/
Warning – This is not your diet friendly cinnamon roll! (Is there such a thing? Should there be such a thing?) This recipe from RecipeZaar is a proposed recreation of the Cinnabon shop recipe, and I think they’ve done an amazing job of it. My girls have been after me for the longest time to [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/cinnabon-cinnamon-rolls/
It’s so easy to fall victim to hyperbole when blogging about food, so I want to be careful to say this accurately: I think this may have been the best pizza I’ve ever made.
Ever.
There, I think that says it about right. It was the best, and that from a guy who has made some pretty [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/buona-lisa-pizza/
Wine: Snoqualmie Naked Merlot 2006
Price: $13.99
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Grape Variety: Merlot
Purchased: Surdyk’s Wine & Liquor, Minneapolis, MN
I think it may have been the “Naked” in the label that made me look at this wine, but it turns out that had more to do with it containing organic grapes than the clothing choice of the winegrowing [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/snoqualmie-naked-merlot-2006/
Monster Mash RadioCreated By: natesolberg
http://www.pandora.com/?sc=sh150634458833098188
Don’t tell the kids, but it appears I have a thing for lamb. Every now and then I have a craving for the delicously rich flavor of lamb, and this pizza from Food & Wine magazine certainly satisfied my need. Thankfully, ground lamb is becoming readily available at better grocery stores!
I did have a little [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/pecorino-with-lamb-and-leek-pizza/
This was the perfect meal for a cool autumn afternoon. We awoke to a light dusting of snow on the ground (October 10th!), and I spent a good part of the early afternoon splitting and stacking firewood. Afterward, I could smell this wonderful stew, well, stewing. On a day like this comfort food is the [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/pork-stew-with-butternut-squash/
Grapes and pesto on a pizza? We’ve enjoyed some interesting flavors on our pizzas over the years, but I’m not sure that red grapes and pesto were ever among the choices. Maybe that’s why we thought we had to give this recipe a try when we found it in the September 2009 issue of Cooking [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/chicken-red-grape-and-pesto-pizza/
Mmmm, talk about the savory tastes of summer! I arrived home from work to a house scented with pungent mustard and chipotle chili powder. I was famished after a day away, and this was nearly enough to put me over the edge! We’ve long been fans of the rich flavor of grilled chicken thighs, but [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/barbecue-chicken-with-mustard-glaze/
We lean toward pizza in our lists of favorite foods, but because of the incredible variety of possible flavors I really don’t mind. This recipe, from Ina Garten of the Food Network, is a case in point. The photos were terrific, but I don’t think they adequately prepared us for the different levels of flavor [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/04/25/white-pizza-with-arugula/
You’ve gotta try this when you want to serve a play on the traditional ham dinner. Admittedly it’s not ham at all, but pork chops were close enough for us, and the results were fantastic!
Our family was on its own for Easter this year, as various outside events caused our usual larger family gathering to be [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/grilled-pork-with-arugula-and-grape-salad/
Talk about your savory dishes! This is our favorite variation on the classic Reuben sandwich, and it was brought to us by our friends at Bon Appetit Magazine. We’ve enjoyed this amazingly tasty sandwich for St. Patrick’s Day several years in a row, and it is holding on as one of our favorites. We’ve tried [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/03/22/grilled-corned-beef-and-fontina-sandwich/
Do you stay true to your holiday traditions? In our house, our St. Patrick’s Day tradition is Irish Bread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel Sauce. We might play with the menu somewhat, a new variation on a corned beef reuben, perhaps an alternative like salmon. But never the dessert. For years now, I’m thinking seven, we’ve made [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/irish-bread-pudding-with-caramel-whiskey-sauce/
This pizza is one of our all-time favorites, with a thin layer of mouth-watering toscano salame whose pungent flavor is sharpened to a fine point when roasted in a 425 degree oven. We first experimented with this meat on our pizzas shortly after an impromptu stop at one of our favorite Italian markets, Buon Giorno Market [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/toscano-salame-and-red-onion-pizza/
This was an incredible dish from an article about Sting and his Italian estate in Food & Wine Magazine. Apparently they have wild boar running about on the property, so every now and then they’ll hunt one, and the chef serves it up in this delicious dish. Now that’s the life I’m hoping to lead! At the [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/tuscan-pork-stew-with-polenta/
The main course for our dinner was to be a Tuscan Pork Stew with Polenta, with an Italian Panzanella, or bread salad, for an opening course. For that, of course, we were going to need bread! The solution? This meal cried out for a rustic peasant bread, and we found the perfect recipe on a [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/rustic-peasant-bread/
There are few meals so satisfying as a steaming hot bowl of beef stew on a dark winter’s evening. The aroma of carrots and mushrooms and new potatoes fill your mind with visions of warmth and comfort as they simmer in their broth of beef stock and red wine. Tender chunks of beef, braised to fall-apart tenderness, wait to be savored.
We’ve [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/tylers-ultimate-beef-stew/
The late summer feel of zucchini combined with the rich flavor of goat cheese were a great match for a bone-in breast of chicken and a coating of Herbs de Provence. This recipe was another winner from “A Harvest of Pumpkins and Squash” by Lou Seibert Pappas. We paired this chicken with an easy rice [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/chicken-breasts-stuffed-with-zucchini-and-goat-cheese/
“The savings in calories and fat are no reason to eat an oven fry - it has to taste good.”
This is the quote from Cook’s Illustrated Magazine, and I agree completely. If you’re a food aficianado and not a regular reading of Cook’s Illustrated, it really would be worth your while to buy an issue [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/ultimate-oven-fries/
A no-skin, crunchy oven-fried chicken with plenty of flavor. That’s what I’d been craving for quite some time, and that’s exactly what this recipe delivered. The girls and I love fried chicken, but the grease and salt of takeout and storebought oven-fried have always left us questioning our judgement afterward. Luckily, Cooking Light magazine came [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/buttermilk-oven-fried-chicken/
Butternut squash and artichoke hearts, steamed to tender perfection and then tossed with cherry tomatoes, olive oil and pecorino freshly grated Romano cheese. Topped with toasted pine nuts, this was a perfect meal for a January evening.
This recipe came from the book “A Harvest of Pumpkins and Squash” by Lou Seibert Pappas, which was a gift [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/tortellini-with-butternut-squash-artichoke-hearts-and-pecorino/
One of Cath’s coworkers surprised her with a holiday treat of organic, dried cranberries, and they were the inspiration for this simple, delicious treat. It was less than 30 minutes of preparation and baking, and we enjoyed a tasty scone as the ending treat for a delicious meal.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/cranberry-scones/
Wine: Mark West Pinot Noir 2007
Price: $9.99
Region: Sonoma, California
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Purchased: Surdyk’s Wine & Liquor, Minneapolis, MN
I’m not sure where the recommendation originated for this wine, but it’s been our go-to pinot noir for a very long time. This particular wine had a very light red color, almost reminiscent of a rose. I’m sure that’s an side [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/01/10/mark-west-pinot-noir-2007/
Earthy, satisfying, complex. Sounds like a great glass of wine, but tonight it was our entire meal. This beauty was from the September 2007 issue of Food & Wine magazine, and it was outstanding. I’d read this issue a while back and then filed it away, but for some reason it came out over the [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/rosemary-grilled-chicken-with-mushroom-sauce/
Mmm, my favorite beer of all! I love the rich, balanced flavor of Samuel Adams Boston Lager, and Cath knew that when she did her Christmas shopping. Jim Koch, founder of Boston Brewing Company set out to design a glass to maximize the enjoyment of his beer, and a set of four of these glasses [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/samuel-adams-boston-lager/
Santa had our passion for pizza in mind this year, as he brought Cath a set of four mini deep-dish pizza pans from Williams-Sonoma. (Apparently, the elves needed to save a little time this year!) To test them we decided to make this delicious pizza with some of our favorite ingredients. The red peppers were sauteed [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/sausage-and-red-pepper-mini-deep-dish-pizza/
This was probably the best Cornish Game Hen recipe we’ve done, which is no knock on these little birds, but rather a commentary on our skills. This particular recipe was simple, but very flavorful. The combination of the red currant jelly and the brown mustard made for a rich and complex flavor, with a welcome [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/roast-peppered-cornish-hens/
Wine: Hogue Riesling 2006
Price: $9.99
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Grape Variety: Riesling
Purchased: Surdyk’s Wine & Liquor, Minneapolis, MN
We purchased this wine as a result of a recommendation from Food & Wine Magazine, and it was another in a long line of stellar values. We generally prefer red wines, so when we open a white it generally provides [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/12/24/hogue-riesling-2006/
This terrific soup was created by Tina Washburn, a personal chef from San Diego, and featured in the December 2008 edition of Cooking Light magazine. Our Minnesota night was a balmy 14 degrees, and we found the heat and flavor of this creation to be exactly what we needed. We enjoyed this soup with a [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/12/21/coconut-curry-chicken-soup/
If pizza’s my last meal, it’s gotta be:
(polls)
Posted in Uncategorized
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/12/18/this-weeks-poll/
Wine: Blackstone Merlot 2006
Price: $6.99
Region: Woodbridge, California
Grape Variety: Merlot
Purchased: Surdyk’s Wine & Liquor, Minneapolis, MN
We had no previous experience with this particular wine, but I’d seen it mentioned in a variety of publications as one that was affordable and well-enjoyed. It certainly delivers on both counts! As with many merlots we’ve tasted, this was had a deep, [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/blackstone-merlot-2006/
I’ve nominated this as the best pork roast we’ve ever made in our humble kitchen. The meat was succulent and tender, and as juicy as I’ve ever tasted. It’s a slow-cooker recipe, so as the day went on the pleasant aroma of the whiskey sauce continued to build, teasing our noses. As we sat down [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/pork-roast-with-whiskey-sauce/
I’m sold. We’re really not steady drinkers of cocktails, but this drink has me sold on the martini concept. It was delicious! I can’t even tell you where we found the recipe for this lovely cocktail, except to say that I believe it was in an ad from one of our food magazines. The photo of this [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/pomegranate-martini/
This meal is one of those autumn wonders from Cooking Light Magazine we go back to every time butternut squash comes into season. The flavors are perfect for an autumn evening, with the squash and brown sugar and olive oil providing a vivid contrast for the freshly ground pepper and parmesan cheese. We paired this [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/pasta-with-roasted-butternut-squash-and-shallots/
Wine: Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2006
Price: $17.99
Region: Sonoma, California
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Purchased: Surdyk’s Wine & Liquor, Minneapolis, MN
This wine was a very much an enjoyable journey on an Saturday evening in autumn, paired with a meal of savory roasted butternut squash and shallots over pasta. The wine had a brilliantly dark coloring, showed some legs when swirled in the glass. [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/11/01/cline-ancient-vines-zinfandel-2006/
This was a simple pizza with a complex layering of flavors. We enjoyed this on an autumn weeknight with a bottle of Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2005, and the rich flavors were outstanding. The sweet sausage and fennel married will with the spiciness of the red pepper flakes and the red onion, and the crust was [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/pizza-alla-salsiccia-sausage-pizza/
Wine: Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2005
Price: $21.00
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Malbec
Purchased: Cost Plus World Market, Woodbury, MN
We’ve enjoyed the 2004 vintage of this wine previously, and I was pleased to note that the jottings from our previous tasting were very consistent. The wine had a medium dark, ruby coloring, and was quite clear and brilliant. The nose had [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/bodega-norton-reserva-malbec-2005/
I must have had a Reuben sandwich on the brain, and that’s what led me to this particular creation. I’d never done anything previously with Rye, but the results were quite good. Next time we’ll likely up the caraway seeds in the Rye crust and substitute real pastrami for the turkey version to really boost [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/turkey-pastrami-and-swiss-on-rye-pizza/
A delicious winner from our good friend (whom we haven’t actually met, yet) Emeril Lagasse. I promised Cath I’d make her a pizza tonight, but we weren’t quite sure what it should be. Thin crust, yes. But beyond that, I was going to do some brainstorming during the afternoon. Then, an email from my bride, [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/crabmeat-portobello-and-truffle-oil-pizza/
Simple and delicious would be two apt words to describe this dish. Cath was in the mood for scallops, and she found this gem in her email inbox, courtesy of Cooking Light Magazine. The recipe was fairly straightforward, and our biggest challenge was just to leave the scallops undisturbed as we allowed them to sear [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/seared-scallops-with-lemon-orzo/
Wine: La Crema Chardonnay 2005
Price: $9.00 (or so?)
Region: Sonoma, California
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Purchased: Surdyk’s, Minneapolis, MN
This wine was another from the Food and Wine Magazine article on 50 wines you can always trust, and it was definitely a winner. We had the menu in place before we even went looking for a wine in the cellar, a seared [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/la-crema-chardonnay-2005/
Talk about a terrific dinner for a hot summer night! This was our choice for our monthly dinner with Jim, and the reviews were extremely favorable. We adapted it slightly from a recipe by Gordon Katz in the July 2008 issue of Cooking Light, transforming it from a soup to a pasta dish. The chipotle [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/shellfish-with-chipotle-and-tequila/
Mmmm…ribs….. This has always been a winning recipe, but I think tonight’s rendition was the best we’ve ever done it. The preparation is very easy, and the results are basically “no fail”. The resulting ribs were soft and fall-off-the-bone tender, and served with a potato salad and a frosty glass of Sam Adams Boston Lager, it [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/firecracker-pork-ribs/
The best homemade barbecue sauce we’ve tried - so far. This recipe comes from Steven Raichlen’s Barbecue Bible, and it works well with both ribs and chicken. It’s not a thick sauce, but rather liquid, so we’ve had our best success using it as a finishing sauce in the final minutes of grilling, or just by warming the sauce and then mopping it onto the meat after it comes off the grill. Either way, it has a hot, smoky kick and it’s been very popular with our barbecue guests!
Ingredients:
1 cup Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey
1 cup ketchup
1 cup cider vinegar
1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
1/2 cup onion, very finely minced
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1-1/2 tbsp Tabasco sauce
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp liquid smoke
Preparation:
Combine all the ingredients in a large, heavy, nonreactive saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and briskly simmer, uncovered, until richly flavored and slightly thickened, about 20 minutes, stirring from time to time with a wooden spoon. Use right away or transfer to jars, cover, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate. The sauce will keep for several months.
Makes about 4 cups.
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/still-house-barbecue-sauce/
This is just great stuff from Steven Raichlen and his book “Barbecue Bible: Sauces Rubs and Marinades”. We’ve used this rub so many times when preparing ribs, and the taste is just out of this world. Garlic and paprika lend a savory flavor to the meat when we put the rib on the day before, but I think it’s the celery salt that puts it over the top. You just can’t go wrong with this rub when you’re preparing ribs.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup celery salt
1/3 cup paprika
1/3 cup dried garlic flakes
3 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and stir or whisk to mix. Transfer to a jar, cover, and store away from heat and light. The rub will keep for several months.
Makes 1 cup
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/powderpuff-rib-rub/
Wine: Viognier de Pennautier 2006
Price: $13.00 (or so?)
Region: Carcassonne, France
Grape Variety: Viognier
Purchased: France 44, Edina, MN
We were invited to our normal monthly dinner with brother-in-law Jim (an excellent chef!), and our task was to bring the wine to match the menu. He was serving pork chops stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and goat cheese, with a side [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/viognier-de-pennautier-2006/
Garlic permeates,
Welcoming him home from work;
Dinner is waiting.
Can you do better? Let me know!
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/06/14/haiku-june-14-2008/
I’m continually amazed by the literally visceral power of grilled food on a summer evening. That sounds like exaggeration, but it isn’t. Tonight we enjoyed this very simple recipe from Cooking Light, and while our mouths watered just plating the food, it was even more so as we took our first bites. The lemon, garlic and olive [...]
http://savorythoughts.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/grilled-chicken-thighs-with-roasted-grape-tomatoes/
Update Sources