Amidst the continual necessity of bemoaning Atlanta traffic's unparalleled ability to extend its behemoth clutches all the way to our semi-rural alcove just beneath the Georgia mountains, it's nice to discover more of the many reasons to
celebrate living so close to a major metropolis. A farm girl by nature, I thought our urban home just blocks from the Capital building in Baton Rouge truly epitomized life in the "big city" until we left Louisiana two years ago. Little did I know...
Here in Atlanta, there are 3+ hour traffic jams, planetary skyscrapers, a vast network of one-way streets, and no-U-turn intersections -
and a collection of unique grocery stores and markets that almost makes me feel as though I were back in Dublin, strolling to the nearest corner produce market (except this time I have to stroll in a car, driving 40 miles to the soundtrack of my CD player - but it's utterly worth the traveling).
(Especially when spring tulips light your way...)
One of the best ways to explore one's own backyard is to become a tourist at home, with the help of an out of town visitor!
My college roommate Lisa arrived on Monday, and, as both of our thought-patterns usually revolve around endless menu planning and recipe dreaming, I immediately asked her what she would like for dinner, and if she would like to "cook or be cooked for..." (of course she opted that we both should cook, which would ultimately be the most fun...)
What followed was a day of grocery store browsing - first to a nearby Indian market in search of
amchur powder (check) and pomegranate molasses (check), then off to Trader Joe's for blueberries (check) and raw trail mix (check), with plenty of leisurely browsing at both locations that just might have resulted in some tapioca pearls and a giant bag of cumin seeds finding their way home with Lisa as well...
During the rest of Lisa's visit, we discovered a huge, year-round farmer's market, and a Korean bakery that served us bubble tea, which made me giggle gleefully and uncontrollably with every sip...
(We had a bubble tea picnic in the car on the way to take Lisa back to the airport, amidst a giant thunderstorm! I drove, and Lisa propped my bubble tea up on the windshield to take a rainy photo...)
"Still Life with Bubble Tea and Skyscrapers"
(The bakery, entitled White Windmill, also created the most beautiful green tea buns... Since green is Zach's favorite color, I couldn't resist bringing one home for him!)
Needless to say, I am feeling especially fortunate tonight to live in this very spot, on this day, able to bring home a pineapple from the farmers' market as another surprise for Zach.
Back to the first night of Lisa's visit, though, we fixed...
Pomegranate Glazed Lamb and Tempeh Kabobs with Tahini Sauce 2 lbs lean lamb stew meat, cut into 1 1/2" cubes OR 2 lbs
tempeh, cut into 1 1/2" cubes
1/3 cup pomegranate molasses
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T chopped fresh cilantro
Tahini Sauce:
1/3 cup
tahini 2 T lemon juice
1/3 cup vegetable broth
1/8 tsp granulated garlic
1/2 tsp cumin
~ For the kabobs, preheat the oven to broil.
~ Whisk together the pomegranate molasses, garlic, cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste.
~ Toss the lamb or
tempeh cubes in the pomegranate mixture and let them sit to marinade for at least 15 minutes.
~ Thread the cubes onto wooden or metal skewers, place them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil to minimize mess, and place the baking sheet on the top rack of the oven to broil until the lamb is cooked through, or until the
tempeh is nicely browned on the outside.
~ While your kabobs are broiling, whisk together the
tahini, lemon juice, vegetable broth, garlic, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste to make the
tahini sauce.
~ Serve the kabobs with the
tahini sauce, and some pita or
naan on the side!
(Even Ruby the kitten was excited about this meal... Dressed in a spiffy bib, she hoped for a treat or two... Her dessert did come eventually - in the form of Friskies cat treats, which she seemed to feel sufficed quite nicely...)
So much to write about, and such a multitude of photos! The next post will be less long-winded, I promise...
Amidst the continual necessity of bemoaning Atlanta traffic's unparalleled ability to extend its behemoth clutches all the way to our semi-rural alcove just beneath the Georgia mountains, it's nice to discover more of the many reasons to celebrate living so close to a major metropolis. A farm girl by nature, I thought our urban home just blocks from the Capital building in Baton Rouge truly epitomized life in the "big city" until we left Louisiana two years ago. Little did I know...
Here in Atlanta, there are 3+ hour traffic jams, planetary skyscrapers, a vast network of one-way streets, and no-U-turn intersections - and a collection of unique grocery stores and markets that almost makes me feel as though I were back in Dublin, strolling to the nearest corner produce market (except this time I have to stroll in a car, driving 40 miles to the soundtrack of my CD player - but it's utterly worth the traveling).
One of the best ways to explore one's own backyard is to become a tourist at home, with the help of an out of town visitor!
My college roommate Lisa arrived on Monday, and, as both of our thought-patterns usually revolve around endless menu planning and recipe dreaming, I immediately asked her what she would like for dinner, and if she would like to "cook or be cooked for..." (of course she opted that we both should cook, which would ultimately be the most fun...)
What followed was a day of grocery store browsing - first to a nearby Indian market in search of amchur powder (check) and pomegranate molasses (check), then off to Trader Joe's for blueberries (check) and raw trail mix (check), with plenty of leisurely browsing at both locations that just might have resulted in some tapioca pearls and a giant bag of cumin seeds finding their way home with Lisa as well...
During the rest of Lisa's visit, we discovered a huge, year-round farmer's market, and a Korean bakery that served us bubble tea, which made me giggle gleefully and uncontrollably with every sip...
Needless to say, I am feeling especially fortunate tonight to live in this very spot, on this day, able to bring home a pineapple from the farmers' market as another surprise for Zach.
Back to the first night of Lisa's visit, though, we fixed...
Pomegranate Glazed Lamb and Tempeh Kabobs with Tahini Sauce
2 lbs lean lamb stew meat, cut into 1 1/2" cubes OR 2 lbs tempeh, cut into 1 1/2" cubes
1/3 cup pomegranate molasses
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T chopped fresh cilantro
Tahini Sauce:
1/3 cup tahini
2 T lemon juice
1/3 cup vegetable broth
1/8 tsp granulated garlic
1/2 tsp cumin
~ For the kabobs, preheat the oven to broil.
~ Whisk together the pomegranate molasses, garlic, cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste.
~ Toss the lamb or tempeh cubes in the pomegranate mixture and let them sit to marinade for at least 15 minutes.
~ Thread the cubes onto wooden or metal skewers, place them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil to minimize mess, and place the baking sheet on the top rack of the oven to broil until the lamb is cooked through, or until the tempeh is nicely browned on the outside.
~ While your kabobs are broiling, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, vegetable broth, garlic, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste to make the tahini sauce.
~ Serve the kabobs with the tahini sauce, and some pita or naan on the side!
(Even Ruby the kitten was excited about this meal... Dressed in a spiffy bib, she hoped for a treat or two... Her dessert did come eventually - in the form of Friskies cat treats, which she seemed to feel sufficed quite nicely...)