Carolina Cooks: The Art of Food

Now that we have a big kitchen that we don't have to share with roommates, we cook a lot more. I hadn't cooked in over a year so it feels good to get back behind the stove (microwave, George Foreman grill). Despite our fixed incomes, we also try to buy mostly organic foods. "Humanely raised", "hormone free" and "no artificial flavors or preservatives" are now a big part of our vocabulary. I even eat organic candy! (Instead of, you know, the healthy option of giving up candy entirely). And as much as I love cooking, I love taking pictures of food even more.

I hate museums and find art galleries excruciating but I could look at pictures of food all day. What can I say, I'm cultured. So, for my benefit more than yours, here is a tour of what we've been cooking down here.

Our first meal!
Spicy chicken, rice and beans and spicy potatoes (basically the one meal I make really well)

Pizza night - Now a weekly tradition. This pizza used a Boboli crust which tasted like cardboard. We buy fresh dough now.

Spicy meatballs, scalloped potatoes and salad

A night out at Soby's downtown - crab cakes and uh, sides.

Yes, I did take a picture of this. Food = art.

Second pizza night - turkey pepperoni, hot peppers from Mom's garden and goat cheese. This pizza changed my life.

(Organic) turkey burger and homemade seasoned fries

Third pizza night. We really, really like pizza night. Spicy sausage, mom's hot peppers, potatoes, goat cheese.

Get up close and take it all in

Cabbage, salmon and broccoli marinated in mom-made jerk sauce with a side of alfredo risotto. Chris had never worked with jerk sauce before and used HALF A JAR. My stomach was on fire all night. Super spicy but delicious.

The mom-made jerk sauce. Typically you would use about a spoonful in a meal. Not half the jar.