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4/1 - 4/7

Happy April to you and yours! With spring showers comes..... a transition from Molly March into Alison April. Alliteration is my new writing style and cooking style it seems. This first week we are digging deep on the "transition" piece. Things don't always go to plan and you don't always get to cook all the things aka Trent ate the cucumber I needed to make last weeks Miso Marinated Pork Steaks with Spicy Cukes. We are going to recycle that recipe this week since I already have the ingredients (minus the cuke) and I also didn't get to make the Ants on a Log Cel Sal, so that will also be rolling over.

As we start to cook more from Allison Roman, I am not as familiar with her recipes and haven't cooked as many of her dishes. I don't know which recipes will be bangers v. not bangers in the same way I do with Molly's cookbooks -> all that to say, this will be an adventure for all of us and I anticipate there will be plenty of flops, not so pretty pictures, and discoveries of hidden gems. More than anything I think reading the recipe through before starting to cook and mise en place (aka prep work) will be key. Recipes can make you feel like the best cook in the world, but switching recipe and cooking styles is a good reminder that we don't know it all and to go back to basics.

Welcome to Alison Roman April featuring Nothing Fancy --> go get the book if you don't have it so we can hit the kitch together!

Featured Cookbook: Alison Roman -> Nothing Fancy + Molly Baz -> Cook This Book

Dinners:

Miso Marinated Pork Steaks & a Big Pile of Spicy Cukes (Molly Baz)
One-Pot Chicken w/ Dates & Caramelized Lemon (Alison Roman)
Frizzled Chickpeas & Onions w/ Feta & Oregano (Alison Roman)

Lunches:

Ants on a Log Cel Sal (Molly Baz)
Leftovers

Sides & Snacks:

Smashed Sweet Potatoes w/ Maple & Sour Cream (Alison Roman)
Grilled Carrots w/ Limey Hot Sauce & Cotija (Alison Roman)

Grocery List:

( P.S. Some of these may already be in your pantry! )

Dairy:

2 oz. cotija cheese
1 cup sour cream
6 tbs unsalted butter
2 oz. feta (block or crumbled)

Fruit & Veg:

1.5 lbs medium carrots
.25 cups + 2 tbs fresh lime juice
.5 jalapeno
5 garlic cloves
1 cup cilantro
1.5 lbs small sweet potatoes (4-6)
1 bunch fresh thyme
1 bunch fresh oregano
1 lemon
3 shallots
1 large red onion
1 cucumber
10 celery stalks
1 granny smith apple
1 cup mint or basil leaves

Meat & Seafood:

2 pork shoulder steaks (~2.5 lbs)
3 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

Total = $91.08*

*(Not accounting for items I already have in my fridge / pantry)

Pantry:

salt
pep
olive oil
3 tsp honey
.3 cup maple syrup
.25 cup buckwheat groats
12-14 medjool dates
2 cans chickpeas
red pepper flakes
.5 cup miso paste
.5 cup sake
3 tbs + 2 tsp sugar
5 tbs rice vinegar
2 tbs veggie oil
.75 cup roasted salted peanuts

Bakery:

Ratings:

Miso Marinated Pork Steaks & a Big Pile of Spicy Cukes - 9/10

So so so gooddd - the salty miso with the pickled sppicy cukes is such a balance of flavor and freshness/meatiness
One of our faves!

Ants on a Log Cel Sal - 8/10

Honestly we forget how much we love this one and then are surprised by how good it is every time
Keeps well since it's a non salad based salad

One-Pot Chicken w/ Dates & Caramelized Lemon - 7/10

Solid staple meal - really easy and tasty
Goes with so many sides

Smashed Sweet Potatoes w/ Maple & Sour Cream - 10/10

Holy moly me oh my the sweet maple with the tangy sour cream and then the nice crunch from the buckwheat
This one will be made again no dowbt

Frizzled Chickpeas & Onions w/ Feta & Oregano - 9/10

So salty and perfectly fried -> not too crispy, not mushy
This would be good with chicken paired with it to make it a full meal or as a heartier side dish

Grilled Carrots w/ Limey Hot Sauce & Cotija - 8/10

Loved these and will be making again
We did oven roasted instead of on the grill and they were great
The limey vinnagrette on top adds so much flavor and freshness

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