Kitchen Hack

Cookin' for Dudes: An awesome recipe THAT REQUIRES NO COOKING

(Featuring completely unsolicited advice on olive oil)

The scene: it's a beautiful spring/summer day. But it's hot. Really, really hot. Despite that, you and your Best One did something outside and active. Took a run or a bike ride. A hike. Built a gazebo in your backyard. Played with your kids, all of whom are under the age of 10 and, as a result, completely impervious to heat as long as you remember to spray water on them every now and again. 

You're hot. You're sweaty. In a good way. You want a snack. You, dude, probably want chips and guacamole or some other absurdly heavy thing. 'Cause you're a dude. Tougher still, you're an American Dude. And that's how our limited brains work. 

Tell your Best One to get a cold drink and kick back in the shade. You'll be back in 10 minutes (if you move really slow) with something refreshing and restoring. She doesn't believe you but because she loves you, she pretends to. I got something for you that doesn't require any actual cooking. I got something that doesn't require plugging in so much as a blender. 

Cantaloupe with Prosciutto

Roasted Cabbage & Hummus

What we had at my house tonight...Roasted Cabbage with Hummus. Got it off I Will Not Eat Oysters (great cooking blog). You may be saying, "he doesn't seem, like a roast cabbage guy to me". Right you are. But Erin (stepdaughter) was over and she is. So...followed the recipe linked above. A few relevant observations...
1. Making hummus yourself is really easy. I've done it before but have always used the purist approach of using dried beans. While people that know better say that makes a much tastier hummus, I can't tell the difference...so canned it is.
2. Sumac is not optional. You need you some sumac. Go online, order it, start dumping it on everything. However much you use is too little. You need this stuff.
3. Shut up with the black sesame seeds. I know they're supposed to be stronger and better. Taste exactly like sesame seeds.
4. I actually liked this dish. I was as surprised as anyone. I have a theory that you put enough hummus and sumac on anything, it'll be good. Erin liked it a lot, and that was the point.
5. Very easy to make. Cut up some celery and toasted some pita while it was roasting.
6. A more common term for "sesame paste" is tahini. No idea why we're calling it "sesame paste". If you have trouble finding tahini, let me know. I can walk you through how to make it yourself.
7. Big hairy unfortunate by-product. My house now smells like roasted cabbage. If you want to know how that smells do this: take some dirty running socks that you've left in your bag. Pour water over them. Throw moldy cheese on top. Add to a baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees. EXACT. SAME. SMELL