High Five for Friday! Warning: Nervous Babble Ahead!

I'm feeling a bit fussy, and not at all thrilled about Friday. Today is my second doctor's appointment with my new doctor, and the second appointment is traditionally when doctors who seemed sweet and caring turn into vicious little cannibals that try to devour me whole. Maybe I exaggerate. Maybe I don't. Fear and paranoia aside, I've had a much improved week this time around! The flare seems to be fading (although we'll see what an anxiety-ridden trip to the doctor brings to the table) and I've even left the neighborhood.

Linking with up Lauren for High Five for Friday!

1. It's finally approaching more of what I consider fall weather here in Cincinnati! I was able to wear my cowl, while drinking a pumpkin spice latte. Definitely better than the 85 degree days we were having the week before. Way to get it together, Cincy.

2. Did I mention fall? Mushroom risotto also totally happened! It's definitely fall when the risotto gets busted out. One of the qualities least likely to be used to describe me would be "patient", so why on earth risotto has become one of my favorite things to cook, I really don't understand. But I'll take it. 

3. We had to go to the DMV this week. I know, perhaps this isn't a normal cause for celebration, but it was really exciting! It only took twenty minutes! And with parking paid for two whole hours, we got to wander around downtown Cincinnati. We both felt more at home in a bigger city-like setting than in the smaller, treed in little neighborhoods. Plus, one of the Starbucks downtown was the first to actually call a drink properly and make it to perfection. For someone like Jose, who is a former Sbux barista, this is something to be moderately impressed by. For someone like me, who is a former Sbux barista and a total bitch about standards and is incredibly picky, this was something to look down my nose at them and say in a haughty voice "Finally." Also, see that sky? Finally, some real weather. (My snobbery does not apply solely to Starbucks, but may also be applied (but not limited) to restaurants, weather and trees).

4. We found a real bookstore downtown! Finally. I love that ridiculous smell of old books. This one was piled high with horrible cookbooks and ancient French primers. Excellent.

5. Chicken bone broth is one of my favorite things. Like the risotto above, I am slightly odd in that I make both of them in wide pans, instead of pots. It's my thing, I guess. Bone broth is truly one of my favorite things to make -- and to eat! I like that the weather is cool enough to leave something simmering on the stove all day. Odd that the air conditioning won't make it from the living room to the kitchen, but that the heat from the kitchen will make it to the living room. Is this some kind of brutal apartment physics?

Cooking Days: Conquering Mushrooms and Roast Chicken

 

Yum!

I've been flaring up a lot, so food has been very laidback these past few weeks. From the top right corner:

1. We usually try to eat with just each other - no TV, and definitely not on the couch. But rules are made to be broken and the best way to break them when you are feeling crappy and cranky is with (homemade!) pizza, spinach salad, red wine and MST3K

2. I love roasting chickens. They do not always love to be roasted. But this little beast turned out beautifully. The trick? Having things get in the way (sharing an oven is murder!) of being able to cook the chicken for dinner, thus enabling one to roast the chicken in the middle of the day just to get the meat off it for the meals planned for its leftovers. Since no one will be eating the chicken immediately, the chicken will come out 100% perfect. Bonus: You get to eat all the skin. So that it doesn't get soggy in the fridge, of course ;)

3. I always thought I hated mushrooms. It turns out that I did not know anything about them. The mushrooms I'm used to are those little, dry, shrively things on top of pizza. These mushrooms above are just crimini mushrooms, but they are divine! I have learned to slowly caramelize them along with my onions. Needless to say everything we have eaten in the past two weeks has had a mushroom and onion component.

4. I've been making pizzas in my cast-iron skillet! I got the idea here, but have been too exhausted to make my own dough lately, so I've just been using storebought stuff. They've been turning out marvelously and are a lovely vessel for leftover things. Cheese isn't my friendliest of foods, but since I haven't been eating any other dairy, the pizza seems to be hitting just fine. I have also been using a blend of mozarella and Trader Joe's Goat Milk Cheddar, and that's been remarkably delicious. I greatly dislike tomato sauces, so my pizza has just a light garlic infused oil spread on it, then some leftover roast chicken and some caramelized mushrooms and onions. I think I put artichokes on there too! Hooray!