Housecleaning: Co-ops, Thanksgiving wrap-up, etc.

It's been about a week since I posted so I thought I'd start this round of posts off with some housecleaning on a bunch of topics.

It Finally Happened: Mac and Cheese

I made mac and cheese for Thanksgiving, as I had threatened to do many months prior.

In fact, I made it twice in the same week, because clearly I hate myself.

Meatloaf Dreams

I woke up this morning thanking heaven I wasn't running from faeries in a gigantic backyard in the middle of Texas, or fighting giants and falling down massive holes in the earth.  I had a bad dream, only because it was perilous.

THIS is why I shouldn't eat before bed.  Meatloaf especially, apparently.

The Trouble with Thanksgiving Potlucks

Conversation, verbatim with J:

J: "Soooo. My work is doing a potluck.  You can either bring a covered dish or you can bring $5."

Me: "If I make it, you have to help me."

J: "I figured you'd say that, and that I'd be bringing $5."

End Scene.

I like to think that I keep him on his toes, but it looked like he had me pegged from the get-go. 

Food Truck of the Month: November

After last month's procrastination fiasco, I decided to pull up my bootstraps and find some trucks.

I came across a few that were contenders already this month, as I attended a fall carnival/food truck corral held on 11/11/11.  Lucky me, a bunch of trucks all in one location!


It was a fun time--lots of people walking around and enjoying the food, kids bouncing on three different moonwalks, and there was even a DJ!  I arrived early (as I learned to do so from a late appearance at a similar gathering a few months back at Noel Furniture), and saddled up to Pi Pizza Truck, my pick for Food Truck of the Month.

Ajiaco: Chicken Soup for the Colombian Soul

Last Monday I decided to open The Gourmet Cookbook, and leaf around for inspiration.  I decided to make soup--not just any soup, but Ajiaco. 
Never heard of it? It's a traditional Colombian Soup that is made with chicken, corn, and potatoes.

It's hearty and good for the annual week of cold weather in Houston that will be coming up (hopefully) soon.

Who Moved my Mac 'n Cheese?

With the holidays fast approaching, my mind wanders to what I will contribute to the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals this year.  The easy answer has always been dessert. It was safe, it was easy, and by gum, I knew what I was doing.  Perhaps the time has come to step aside and let someone else shine in the sweets department--a family member has played with the idea of making Tiramisu.  Who am I to stand in the way of such greatness?    

If I choose 2011 to be the year to come out of a culinary comfort zone...what should I make?  So far, I've had my eye on mac n' cheese (call it inspiration from local establishment, "Jus' Mac"). 

I'm not talking about a box with an envelope of cheese.  I'm talking an oven-baked affair.  The kind with real cheese and noodles and possibly breadcrumbs.  What doesn't say the holidays like a casserole?

To be fair, this isn't so far outside of my comfort zone.  I've made mac from scratch before, but found the recipe I had chosen to be a rather bland and soggy affair.  Perhaps the real challenge of this dish will be finding a recipe worth making.

I've begun my search where I always do--the internet! My research revealed a few great NY Times article on the subject, circa 2006, and again in 2009.  Finally, a blog to check out that seems to have a handle on the idea of Mac.

I will keep everyone posted on the recipe chosen and any (if at all) further research I've done on the matter.

I've discussed the matter of mac 'n cheese with family and so far I've heard mixed reviews--some say it's not holiday canon and others say it sound delicious.  Either way, my guess it if it's there and looks good, chances are they'll try it.  The proof as to whether M&C could be a holiday staple is, well, in the pudding.

The Return of Abandons that are Reckless.

And we're back! I've been absent since 10/25! Wow!  So much has happened--I have a kitchen table and chairs (long story, I'll not get into it)! I have inspiration in the form of Zeigen Boch (another long story, which I will get into soon)! I have a new cookbook (see below)!

It was time well-spent away from cooking, for sure.  Quite frankly, I was mired in writer's block.  And not just regular writer's block--self-esteem writer's block.

This story begins in high school; I have always enjoyed writing and feel as though there are whole aspects of myself that can only be expressed through the page.  I was editor of the newspaper and had my own column.  I had things to say back then, but mostly due to a deadline.  Besides, who doesn't know everything at eighteen? In college I wrote papers instead of opinions, but still maintained a weepy-livejournal. I eventually stopped because I felt as though I had nothing more important (or weepy) to say.

Similarly, I feel like I have nothing innovative or important to add to the blog-world, or food-world, or food-blogging-world.  With so much good out there, what fresh spin did I have on the matter?

First world problems, amiright?

I gave this matter some thought, however.  I realized that I didn't place any major goals on the blog originally because I wanted to simply write about food, either made by me or someone else.  This lack of vision is the greatest strength and weakness about this blog--I am often at a loss of what to cook with such broad horizons. 

With new revelations come new missions! I renew my vision for Reckless Abandon: I want to cook, and write about it, in a way that entertains not only myself, but hopefully, the general public.  I want to try new things, find new ways to make old things, or simply make the old things.  This is about cooking for the love of it, and writing about it for the love of it.  No less, no more.

So, on to the cooking! I bought The Gourmet Cookbook for a steal on Amazon, a suggestion from CHOW's cookbook of the month forums.  This thing is a tome--over 1,000 recipes, in hardback, with sewn-in bookmarks.  A coworker thought it was a bible out of the corner of her eye. In a way, it is. A cooking bible.

I have already flagged a few recipes from the book and have plans to make them soon.  Stay tuned!