Smashing, Dahling, Simply Smashing....

Have you listened to Spilled Milk podcasts yet? If you haven't, you're in for a real treat and if you have, then you already have experienced the charm and wit behind Molly Wizenberg and Matthew Amster-Burton's wildly fun and devout foodie podcasts. I've been catching up on past episodes while cleaning my house and when it came time for the Crispy Potato episode, I was in tater-heaven.

Featured above, is the Smashed Roasted Potatoes (adapted from a recipe featured in a 2007 issue of Fine Cooking). I just happened to have purchased a bag of teeny tiny baby potatoes on my last Trader Joe's run, so it was an easy excuse to give this recipe a try. It requires very little effort really, and the majority of the time takes place on top of your stove or inside your oven. Trust me, this recipe will make your heart sing and your tongue dance. I mean, what is more comforting, then potato in all of its form (all of its glory)?!?! I tossed these bad boys with some of that lemon basil pesto I made over the weekend too and turned out to be a smashing hit (pun intended). What's great about a recipe like this is that when you entertain and pull these out of the oven, your friends will ooh and aahh over them and you my friends will know exactly the amount of effort these root vegetable gems took!

If you don't have any pesto on hand, maybe a plentiful drizzle of chimichurri or a toss with some flavored evoo and rosemary or oregano). The world really is your potato (or oyster, whatever suits your fancy).

The Results Are In.....

Since I've been staying with family in LA, I haven't exactly lived up to my reputation as a gourmet cook. In fact, I have hardly cooked much at all since I've been back. Several reasons, I suppose, but alas with the holiday season upon us, this is one of my favorite times of year to "strut" my culinary stuff, so to speak.

This Sweet Potato Pound Cake perfumed the kitchen last night, and when my dad came home, I got the "ooos" and "aahhhhs", in fact, my dad told me to "hide" it! I mentioned this recipe here, and when I found out the law firm I work at decided to have a potluck the day before Thankgiving I knew exactly what I wanted to make, or I should say, bake. The drum roll began at 12 noon and the consensus was overwhelminly positive. The pound cake is moist and dense, not overly sweet, which was not expected. Topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream or maybe a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream would do the trick. And for all you coffee lovers out there, it's a perfect match too.

Tomorrow I will post our Thanksgiving menu,with a blow-by-blow description of the feast!