Slow Food

Ever since our trip to Italy in October, I have loved the concept of slow food.  I really enjoy shopping at markets for seasonal goods - as well as things that are grown as locally as possible. I find that I am pickier about meat and where it comes from.  But the current economy makes it a bit more difficult to just run to Whole Foods (one of my favorite places, especially in the winter when there are far fewer markets to visit) to do all of my shopping.  You can imagine how excited I was to discover the term "peasant food", defined in Wikipedia as 

"Peasant foods often involve skilled preparation by knowledgeable cooks using inventiveness and skills passed down from earlier generations. Such dishes are often prized as ethnic foods by other cultures and by descendants of the native culture who still desire these traditional dishes even when their incomes rise to the point where they can purchase any food they like."

I think that the concept of peasant food is so appropriate in our current economic time.  For me, it elicits a sense of nesting, and comfort foods, as well as really making something fabulous out of something healthy and not that expensive.  As I love to cook, the idea that peasant food is well-prepared and healthy inspires me to try more recipes. 

Last night I tried Ratatouille for the first time and it was fabulous!  I served it with a hearty rye bread and a salad, and everyone but #3 really enjoyed it.  

Tonight I will be making a roast chicken with grilled asparagus and roasted potatoes with rosemary.  I don't do roast chickens as much as I would like, and I am going to try a new technique to see if it comes out as tender and juicy as it claims~

Bon Appetite!

xo