I was in a pouty mood today because the weekend that I had been looking forward to since last winter is not happening, so to make myself feel better (or at least get myself distracted), I decided to cook. I have reached a turning point in my life. For the first time ever, I did not go shopping to make myself feel better, instead I cooked and I blogged. I can't decide if I should jump for joy or weep. I have taken my first step to recovering from a shopping addiction, and simultaneously took my first step to becoming Paula Dean. I guess that's not so bad. Everyone loves Paula Dean-- but that's because she can actually cook. I would just be a sad pathetic version of Ms. Dean. With that said, I made Roast Carrot Salad with Avocado and Orange and Lemon Dressing. I know what you're thinking, salad! Pssshh! That is so easy. I admit it was not difficult but it took longer than it should have. Salads should NOT take longer than 30 minutes to make Jaime Oliver!
Here's how it went down:
I roasted these sort of different colored carrots (although I'm starting to doubt that the yellow-ish ones were carrots because it tasted weird. I think it's parsnip!)
Before I popped the carrots in the oven, the recipe called for some sort of cumin marinade/dressing. I mixed cumin seeds, garlic, thyme, red wine vinegar and olive oil in a mortar and pestle. Ok, well that's what I would have used, had I had a mortar and pestle. I had to improvise and use the back of a spoon and when that didn't work I threw it in a Ziploc and smashed it with a can.
I coated the carrots with the cumin marinade prior to roasting. While the carrots roasted (for 30 minutes!), I read my latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine and Lil' Wayne was on the cover. I learned -- while roasting carrots -- that Lil' Wayne is going to prison for 12 months for gun possession. Has he learned nothing from T.I. and other rappers before him?!? He said he's "looking forward to" prison. In case you were wondering who is Lil' Wayne, here's a picture. I must warn you, he has got one ugly mug. Also, please note that I'm not really a Lil' Wayne fan, he just happened to be on the cover of my mag.
Now that you've lost your appetite looking at Lil' Wayne's tatted body, here's the final product in comparison to the one in Jaime Oliver's book. Once the salad is assembled, the recipe called for a dollop of sour cream. The dressing is made with orange and lemon juice that I roasted halved along with the carrots.
I don't think I will make this winter salad again. The cumin gave this salad a Moroccan flavor and it was interesting, however, I think it was too much work for something that's not a main dish.
I leave you with this advice: If the recipe calls for cumin seeds, you can probably get away with cumin powder because the recipe will probably ask you to crush the seeds anyway. That's what Jaime Oliver did to me. He had me get cumin seeds, just to have me smash them when I could've bought them pre-pulvarized.
Ok, one last thing for you to think about...
Lil' Wayne's body is literally covered in tattoos. Where is he going to put the new tattoos he'll get while in prison?
Oh no! Is the weather messing up the trip? Stupid mother nature. You can always come to my house. There probably won't be snow there. :)
ReplyDeleteYour salad looks so much better than the original. Well done!
P.S. Thank you for the Lil' Wayne education.
Sarah you crack me up! First of all...congrats on cooking instead of shopping! Maybe you will decide to do something crazy like me and not buy any clothes for 9 months. :-)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that salad wasn't a main dish. That is lame...although it did look good. How was the dressing? Was it worthy enough to make again?
The first thing I ever learned about Lil' Wayne was that he had a kid when he was 14. My prediction is that he will get more face tatt...or butt tatts.
Amber I can't do the not buying clothes for 9 months.. as Molly put it.. We're not cavemen! I'm sure it'll be all worth it once you get to Paris!
ReplyDeleteInteresting fact about Lil' Wayne.