Restoration

This past week I made another amazing recipe from Bittman's How to Cook Everything. The recipe's name doesn't do it justice: Chicken and Garlic Stew. Doesn't sound very appealing. It should be called "Heal Thyself." It calls for four ingredients:chicken, garlic, parsley and cinnamon. I was inspired to make it because on Sunday night Valincy fell fracturing and dislocating her right shoulder. The week has been all about adapting to the circumstances. And I wanted to make food that was healing and restorative. You basically throw everything in a pot and cook it on low for an hour. Largely unattended. Perfect when you are caring for a bed-ridden patient. The chicken and garlic become so tender. Serve with crusty bread which you can dip in the broth or spread with the roasted garlic. The cinnamon is the perfect flavorful touch. I also made mashed white sweet potatoes to accompany the stew. Simple and delicious. Here's to Valincy's speedy recovery!

enero first

We celebrated the first day of 2010 with a delicious brunch followed by a pilgrimage to Coney Island to pay respects to the ocean. Homemade biscuits, scrambled eggs, pork sausage with cheese and parsley, baked pears and pancakes. Then on to Coney Island with Hudson, our dog. The light was amazing. The ocean air invigorating. And Hudson got to swim, swim, swim and fetch, fetch, fetch. His most favorite thing to do. We all left happy. The perfect first day of a new year and decade!

2010 Revive

revive hope
revive dreams
revive passion
revive prosperity
revive love
revive happiness


we have high hopes for 2010!
happy new year!!

Sara + Valincy

solo comfort food

Sundays are usually solo meals for me since Valincy works in the evenings. I've gotten spoiled over the past two years by Valincy's cooking. She can make the most delicious food out of practically nothing. I open the refrigerator and see empty shelves. She opens it and manages to make a feast. When left to my own devices, I usually make do with a bowl of cereal. But lately I've felt inspired more than anything by Valincy. I'm trying to be more like her in the kitchen.

We just returned from our holiday travels this afternoon and believe me when I say the pickings were slim in the fridge. But I was determined to make a meal without having to go to the store. Armed with my new cookbook, How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman, (thank you Secret Santa), I managed to find a recipe that I had all the ingredients for:

Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions

And so I ate like a queen! Of course, like any top-rate chef I added my own finishing touch, sauteed broccoli rabe.
Thank you Valincy and thank you Mark Bittman!!

yuletide cheer

This time of year can empty the wallet. But we feel thoughtfulness is key and not so much price tag. We did all our holiday shopping this year at Ikea and Pearl River Mart. Unique gifts at great prices was our theme. Happy holidays from 'cessions.

Gift wrap and ribbons from Ikea.

with love

Valincy is an amazing cook. She says she loves cooking for me with love. Tonight she made spinach lasagna. And it was all love. Perfect for a cold wintry night. 'cessions has had a long hiatus. But we are back! Instead of trying to make each post perfect and meticulous we are throwing caution to the wind and anticipating 2010 with simple and easy. The true spirit of 'cessions. We hope you enjoy!


Spinach lasagna with fresh mozzarella, ricotta and tomato sauce. Cucumber salad. Madeleines for dessert. Thank you Maryam for the vintage Pyrex. They helped cook the lasagna to a perfect bubbly crisp!

Reinvest in Relationships

We read an article recently that was dispensing advice on how to reinvest in this time of economic crisis. One of the suggestions was to reinvest in relationships. So that is exactly what we did.

We haven't seen Hiroko since her birthday celebration last September! The last hurrah before summer disappeared, and the endless recession-fueled winter began. So we were long overdue...

We decided to have an early supper since it was Sunday night. Hiroko trekked all the way to Ft. Greene from Astoria which is no easy feat on the weekend with all the weekend subway construction nonsense.

We reinvested all evening over fish tacos and cold Modelos. We bought a beautifully fresh piece of cod from the Ft. Greene Farmer's Market along with a few basics from our local deli, Fresh Garden. Dinner began with some good old-fashioned quesadillas topped with habenero sour cream and avocado slices followed by a chilled cucumber salad. For the piece de resistance, super simple and absolutely delicious cod fish tacos dressed with avocado, cabbage relish, and Monterey jack cheese. Goodness all rolled up into warm corn tortillas. They were perfectly light with just the right touch of richness.

Close-up of the spread:

Sara and Hiroko about to dig in:

But it didn't stop there. The meal ended with a small indulgence courtesy of Hiroko. Melt in your mouth cupcakes from Dean & Deluca. Hands down the best cupcakes any of us had ever tasted.

The perfect way to say good bye to winter and welcome spring.

Next time we get together, we plan to visit Hiroko at her home in Queens for home-cooked Japanese cuisine!