Good meals often are accompanied by good stories. Anyone who has eaten amongst my company know how heartily we hold onto this idea. In the same spirit, a lot of my favorite recipes come with a story as well.
This recipe is a hit at summer gathers, the sweet corn along with the other grilled tasties always seems to hit the spot when you're tired from playing in the sun. I first learned to make this while living with friends in my parents summer house, the first not-college-not-the-parents living we'd ever had.
My best friend and I were eager to try out our new charcoal grill, which we had purchased and carried with us the long walk home from the mall. I wanted to make something special, so I pulled together this simple but delicious dinner. We made it all summer until the little grill rusted through.
At games, I'll make the Sweet Corn and the Baby Potato kabobs. The steak is something reserved for home for mostly financial reasons.
Sweet Summer Corn
Ingredients:
Sweet corn for as many as you need to serve
Garlic powder
Sea salt
Pepper
Olive oil or melted butter
Foil
Directions:
Take a square of foil and place the shucked ear of corn in the center. Brush with olive oil or butter and sprinkle liberally with garlic powder, sea salt and pepper. Wrap the corn tightly in the foil.
If cooking over charcoal, place the corn directly on the hot coals and cook 15 minutes until tender.
NOTE: If you're doing this for a game or don't have a charcoal grill, you can prep ahead of time by boiling the corn for ten minutes before seasoning and wrapping. Place on grill for about 5 to 10 minutes or until heated through.
Baby Potato Kabobs
Ingredients:
Approx. 2lbs assorted baby potatoes
Olive oil
Sea salt
Peppers
Garlic powder
Bamboo skewers
Directions:
Soak skewers in water for five minutes. Microwave potatoes until tender (about 5 minutes per handful of potatoes, test until a fork slides in easily). Skewer 4-5 potatoes on each skewer. Brsuh with olive oil and season with salt, pepper and garlic.
Grill until potato skin crisps.
Bacon Wrapped Steaks (yeah, you heard me)
Ingredients:
Steak cut such as sirloin, serving sized for one person per person
1 package bacon
Sea salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Tooth picks
Directions:
Wrap a piece of bacon around the edge of the steak and secure with a tooth pick. More than one piece may be used for larger cuts. Season with salt, pepper and garlic. Grill until desired done-ness. Let stand 5 minutes before serving for best flavor.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
The importance of beer and flowers
"The problem with being as happy as clams is that clams don't do or say much"- Drama prof. at UMASS Dartmouth
This quote has always stuck with me, not just as a writer and avid reader but especially as a role player. In any given story, imagine the incredible odds and turmoil our favorite characters face. Very rarely are they not the underdog faced by some great emotional, physical, mental or spiritual task. Their interplay with the situation and their resulting growth is what makes them interesting. We don't want them to shrug off every issue as if they were superman, immune to inner turmoil and the process of change. It's why we write our own characters with haunting pasts, nemesis and skeletons in their closets.
It's because of this we celebrate the dark and dirty plots, the ones that make us roll around in drama and walk away grinning from ear to ear in the stink of it because we got to feel that roller coaster of emotion and epiphany all from the safety of fantasy. We are able to rejoin the 'real' world with a sense of triumph, and it helps us deal with the everyday drama we can't necessarily solve in one epic encounter with sword and spell in hand.
But it is important to keep in mind that while taking regular swims in the river of story that we don't drown ourselves in drama. After all, what makes so much of the stories epic is that they are life and death, world ending on a personal or global level. Compared to day to day struggles with money and work, these major challenges strive to make us heroes. But just as these dramatic elements are important to an interesting story, so are those lighter moments which remind us one very important thing: why.
Why do we fight when all hope seems lost? Why do we live in a town plagued by villains who seem to set up shop in our backyard? Why do we leave the comfort of what is known and safe to try and do good?
A wise and crazy lady whom I have had the pleasure to plot with remarked on this once when she filled a weekend with difficult fights and half-won victories for her game. She plotted what was dubbed the 'beer and flowers' mod, a fight to be won and remind players that they ARE heroes, and here are the people you are heroes too and see what you have accomplished? I admired this choice in plotting, we all need the beer and flowers mod both in gaming and in real life. We need those reminders of why.
So contemplating this, I wondered about the game I PC, particularly the dramatic, epic weekend that had recently transpired. While I did not get to go due to epic pregnancy, my husband and friends came back with magnificent tales of woe and conquest. Now, because i wasn't there it is harder to pick out those beer and flower moments, because most often they are subtle, personal moments. Our staff is usually awesome about it, with characters who seek out players for those glimmering moments that spur us into the Next Big Thing.
And then a funny thought occurred to me as i read through my friends recaps: dinner time with my company was an often mentioned highlight. Now some may claim that defeating a hoard of cookies and burgers might be epic, but honestly- this time is filled with laughter, good company, stories, songs and the quiet recollection of people we take comfort in.
That's right: Grum's Company IS the beer and flowers mod! it is the guaranteed moment of why in every gather. This is pretty damn cool in my opinion, and not only speaks a lot of the players involved, but worlds of the staff who have created a game in which people so very different are drawn together out of need and want to stand together against everything they throw at them. It's pure magic. I thank them for it.
And now, one of Grum's 'beer and flowers' favorites:
Shadowfane Chop Suey
(note: credit is due to Klee, who first made the American version of this for Grum, and i have since put a tiny spin on to make one of his favorite meals of all time)
ingredients:
1 box whole grain pasta
1lb+ good red sauce
18 or so small Italian meatballs, quartered
1/4 vidalia onion, chopped
1tbs olive oil
salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian herbs
Parmesan cheese
directions;
In a small skillet, combine olive oil and onion with a dusting of garlic powder and Italian herbs. cook over medium heat until onion is translucent.
cook pasta according to directions and drain, mix with onion and herb mixture in a good sized pot. Add meatballs and sauce and heat through. (GREAT crock pot choice)
To serve, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese with good bread.
Hope you have a beer and flowers moment today!
This quote has always stuck with me, not just as a writer and avid reader but especially as a role player. In any given story, imagine the incredible odds and turmoil our favorite characters face. Very rarely are they not the underdog faced by some great emotional, physical, mental or spiritual task. Their interplay with the situation and their resulting growth is what makes them interesting. We don't want them to shrug off every issue as if they were superman, immune to inner turmoil and the process of change. It's why we write our own characters with haunting pasts, nemesis and skeletons in their closets.
It's because of this we celebrate the dark and dirty plots, the ones that make us roll around in drama and walk away grinning from ear to ear in the stink of it because we got to feel that roller coaster of emotion and epiphany all from the safety of fantasy. We are able to rejoin the 'real' world with a sense of triumph, and it helps us deal with the everyday drama we can't necessarily solve in one epic encounter with sword and spell in hand.
But it is important to keep in mind that while taking regular swims in the river of story that we don't drown ourselves in drama. After all, what makes so much of the stories epic is that they are life and death, world ending on a personal or global level. Compared to day to day struggles with money and work, these major challenges strive to make us heroes. But just as these dramatic elements are important to an interesting story, so are those lighter moments which remind us one very important thing: why.
Why do we fight when all hope seems lost? Why do we live in a town plagued by villains who seem to set up shop in our backyard? Why do we leave the comfort of what is known and safe to try and do good?
A wise and crazy lady whom I have had the pleasure to plot with remarked on this once when she filled a weekend with difficult fights and half-won victories for her game. She plotted what was dubbed the 'beer and flowers' mod, a fight to be won and remind players that they ARE heroes, and here are the people you are heroes too and see what you have accomplished? I admired this choice in plotting, we all need the beer and flowers mod both in gaming and in real life. We need those reminders of why.
So contemplating this, I wondered about the game I PC, particularly the dramatic, epic weekend that had recently transpired. While I did not get to go due to epic pregnancy, my husband and friends came back with magnificent tales of woe and conquest. Now, because i wasn't there it is harder to pick out those beer and flower moments, because most often they are subtle, personal moments. Our staff is usually awesome about it, with characters who seek out players for those glimmering moments that spur us into the Next Big Thing.
And then a funny thought occurred to me as i read through my friends recaps: dinner time with my company was an often mentioned highlight. Now some may claim that defeating a hoard of cookies and burgers might be epic, but honestly- this time is filled with laughter, good company, stories, songs and the quiet recollection of people we take comfort in.
That's right: Grum's Company IS the beer and flowers mod! it is the guaranteed moment of why in every gather. This is pretty damn cool in my opinion, and not only speaks a lot of the players involved, but worlds of the staff who have created a game in which people so very different are drawn together out of need and want to stand together against everything they throw at them. It's pure magic. I thank them for it.
And now, one of Grum's 'beer and flowers' favorites:
Shadowfane Chop Suey
(note: credit is due to Klee, who first made the American version of this for Grum, and i have since put a tiny spin on to make one of his favorite meals of all time)
ingredients:
1 box whole grain pasta
1lb+ good red sauce
18 or so small Italian meatballs, quartered
1/4 vidalia onion, chopped
1tbs olive oil
salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian herbs
Parmesan cheese
directions;
In a small skillet, combine olive oil and onion with a dusting of garlic powder and Italian herbs. cook over medium heat until onion is translucent.
cook pasta according to directions and drain, mix with onion and herb mixture in a good sized pot. Add meatballs and sauce and heat through. (GREAT crock pot choice)
To serve, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese with good bread.
Hope you have a beer and flowers moment today!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Magic We Make- a dinner story
They day had been bitter cold, and the mud still stuck to our shoes from the thaw before. The hall smelled of cooking beef and vegetables and it tempted everyone in from their duties to gods and men to the warmth of the kitchen.
It's a bit early to eat, no promise of peace for the company to finish a meal, but the chill and the promise of full bellies overrides any concerns and soon the hall is filled with bodies cradling bowls of bread heaped with stew and sharing stories, laughter and song. Tonight is special, more so than our average evening meal taken with friends old and new. Tonight we exchange hand made gifts, tokens of gratitude for those gathered around the dinner pot, appreciation for the comradeship we've found in that small room.
As the warmth of the drink and companionship begin to settle into world weary bones a cry goes up for the traditional story from our leader. The Turnip Story, a tradition of ridiculous villains, abnormally large crossbows and late night heroics, is the necessary ending to the evening. Long after we've gathered ourselves and set out to brave the cold once again, the tastes of the evening linger on our tongues like a perfect wine.
This is our magic. It's no explosive or world ending, it is a subtle spell that seeps into people and leaves friendship, joy and a sense of belonging. The best part of this kind of magic...you can't use it on others, without casting it on yourself as well.
Revel Pot Roast
It's a bit early to eat, no promise of peace for the company to finish a meal, but the chill and the promise of full bellies overrides any concerns and soon the hall is filled with bodies cradling bowls of bread heaped with stew and sharing stories, laughter and song. Tonight is special, more so than our average evening meal taken with friends old and new. Tonight we exchange hand made gifts, tokens of gratitude for those gathered around the dinner pot, appreciation for the comradeship we've found in that small room.
As the warmth of the drink and companionship begin to settle into world weary bones a cry goes up for the traditional story from our leader. The Turnip Story, a tradition of ridiculous villains, abnormally large crossbows and late night heroics, is the necessary ending to the evening. Long after we've gathered ourselves and set out to brave the cold once again, the tastes of the evening linger on our tongues like a perfect wine.
This is our magic. It's no explosive or world ending, it is a subtle spell that seeps into people and leaves friendship, joy and a sense of belonging. The best part of this kind of magic...you can't use it on others, without casting it on yourself as well.
Revel Pot Roast
- 4-5lb. pot roast
- 1 sweet onion
- 2 cups baby carrots
- 2lbs. baby red potatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (12 oz.) jars chili sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 6+ cups beef broth
- Sea salt
- Prep: Slice onion into rings and cut potatoes into quarters. Combine together with carrots and set aside. In a bowl, mix garlic, chili sauce, brown sugar and 2 cups of the broth until combined. set aside.
- In a large crock pot, place roast fatty side down. Sprinkle with sea salt and add vegetables. Pour chili mixture over everything, liberally over the meat. Fill the crock pot with remaining broth until meat and veggies are just covered.
- Cover and cook on high for 6-8 hours, until meat falls away. Stir well before serving.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Heroic acts before 10am
Doesn't matter what kind of hero you are: slaying dragons, rescuing villages or simply getting kids on the bus every morning with their pants on, if you start your adventures on an empty stomach you're not likley to make it through the day (at least with that winning wit and disposition).
Lots of people will tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and let me tell you, it never feels as true until you've gone without and tried to save the world.
Every morning we're out, I make sure there is breakfast for my mob. I do my best to always have something hot too, especially on cold mornings. Oh yeah, and coffee. LOTS of coffee.
Here is a typical morning in the hero business for Sasha:
Get up at 8am, which may sound like nothing to those real life warriors who brave the 6am (or worse!) commute to work, but trust me, if you didn't get to bed until 3am or even 6am because you were busy fighting off evil hoards, it's a pretty damn heroic hour to be awake.
I get my griddle heated, and the pancakes going. (BTW, Shake N' Pour can be a life saver when there's no proper place to wash dishes. However, these can get pricey for my 21+ member family, so we use a box mix and bring wash buckets)
I use my crock pots to hold pancakes as I go to keep them warm. While I cook the massive stack of cakes, I scramble the two dozen or so eggs and make myself tea. I also try and have coffee for my husband, who will wander off to scavange lost shiny things with his brother in the early hours.
I cook the eggs, and place those in a crock pot as well to keep warm (crock pot liners=win)
I heat the bacon (Which I cooked at home, directions in previous post) I always do this last because it A) is guaranteed to stir the latest risers, and B) is guaranteed to bring the thieves in to snatch more than their share.
By now it's nearly 10 am, and most of my company will be waiting eagerly for breakfast. What a pleasant thing it must be, when exhausted, chilled and dreamy to awake to the smell of bacon and coffee! I know the full belly pleases me just fine. The crock pots mean that even my latest sleepers will get hot breakfast too.
Once fed, I set about prepping dinner into the crock pots so it can cook through out the day.
Yep. Epic morning!
I make pancakes when I'm helping run a game too. Those fluffy little disks are heaven to most folk first thing in the morning. Pure magic, if you ask me.
Makes me hold an immense and new appreciation for my mom, who has me and my brother out the door every morning by 7am, fed, dressed and not looking like we were raised by wolves. Though i am sure some mornings, she wished we were.
Now, i freely admit to using a box mix for my pancakes. Why? Because it's simple when your' out in the woods (or have a meeting to get to) and I'll be honest, several of the store brands are just as good as scratch.
But that doesn't mean you have to leave it there if you feel a little creative energy in the morning! Here's a few quick way to take plain pancake to Epic pancake:
*mix cinnamon, butter and a little mix together in the bowl just until you get a crumbly consistency, then add it to the pancakes as you pour them on the griddle. Cinnamon streusel anyone?
*Fresh fruit is always a go: blueberries, bananas, strawberries, apple and cinnamon...
*Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips...
*Instead of adding water to the mix, add apple cider..no, seriously!
So remember; enjoy breakfast before every adventure!
Joyous Journey!
Lots of people will tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and let me tell you, it never feels as true until you've gone without and tried to save the world.
Every morning we're out, I make sure there is breakfast for my mob. I do my best to always have something hot too, especially on cold mornings. Oh yeah, and coffee. LOTS of coffee.
Here is a typical morning in the hero business for Sasha:
Get up at 8am, which may sound like nothing to those real life warriors who brave the 6am (or worse!) commute to work, but trust me, if you didn't get to bed until 3am or even 6am because you were busy fighting off evil hoards, it's a pretty damn heroic hour to be awake.
I get my griddle heated, and the pancakes going. (BTW, Shake N' Pour can be a life saver when there's no proper place to wash dishes. However, these can get pricey for my 21+ member family, so we use a box mix and bring wash buckets)
I use my crock pots to hold pancakes as I go to keep them warm. While I cook the massive stack of cakes, I scramble the two dozen or so eggs and make myself tea. I also try and have coffee for my husband, who will wander off to scavange lost shiny things with his brother in the early hours.
I cook the eggs, and place those in a crock pot as well to keep warm (crock pot liners=win)
I heat the bacon (Which I cooked at home, directions in previous post) I always do this last because it A) is guaranteed to stir the latest risers, and B) is guaranteed to bring the thieves in to snatch more than their share.
By now it's nearly 10 am, and most of my company will be waiting eagerly for breakfast. What a pleasant thing it must be, when exhausted, chilled and dreamy to awake to the smell of bacon and coffee! I know the full belly pleases me just fine. The crock pots mean that even my latest sleepers will get hot breakfast too.
Once fed, I set about prepping dinner into the crock pots so it can cook through out the day.
Yep. Epic morning!
I make pancakes when I'm helping run a game too. Those fluffy little disks are heaven to most folk first thing in the morning. Pure magic, if you ask me.
Makes me hold an immense and new appreciation for my mom, who has me and my brother out the door every morning by 7am, fed, dressed and not looking like we were raised by wolves. Though i am sure some mornings, she wished we were.
Now, i freely admit to using a box mix for my pancakes. Why? Because it's simple when your' out in the woods (or have a meeting to get to) and I'll be honest, several of the store brands are just as good as scratch.
But that doesn't mean you have to leave it there if you feel a little creative energy in the morning! Here's a few quick way to take plain pancake to Epic pancake:
*mix cinnamon, butter and a little mix together in the bowl just until you get a crumbly consistency, then add it to the pancakes as you pour them on the griddle. Cinnamon streusel anyone?
*Fresh fruit is always a go: blueberries, bananas, strawberries, apple and cinnamon...
*Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips...
*Instead of adding water to the mix, add apple cider..no, seriously!
So remember; enjoy breakfast before every adventure!
Joyous Journey!
Monday, January 24, 2011
A short list for tall orders
In the hectic world of heroes dinner must be ready on time, less you have uninvited monsters rolling around in your potato salad. This, paired with no real refrigeration to speak of can make for an interesting time getting meals on the table, because honestly, I have a lot to do patching up my company's 'battle wounds'.
I am the queen of can I-do-it-ahead-of-time?
For instance, I season my meats and marinate veggies before we head out, bag everything in zip-locks and even freeze somethings to help prolong the life of everything in the cooler. I actually only keep three things with me for seasoning on site: brown sugar, sea salt and Worcestershire sauce.
But this isn't to say I do EVERYTHING ahead of time! Some foods just don't do well reheated, and some are best freshly cut or cooked. (For the record, nothing I make is prepped sooner than the day before game-on)
Good example of this is breakfast:
Bacon: Cooked ahead of time. Take a baking pan, something with a lip on the edge that can handle heat. Line it with foil. Place the bacon (as much as can fit with just a little overlap) on the sheet and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until desire crispiness. Remove from pan with tings and drain on paper towel. best part? once the grease cools just peels off the foil, roll it up to keep it trapped and throw away.
On site, I just toss it onto the griddle for a minute or so until heated. It gets crispy again realy fast and is just as good as if I'd done it there, and there is almost no greasy mess.
Eggs: Cook on site, reheating scrambled eggs just isn't as good. My trick for a big group? Use a pitcher to mix up a large batch of eggs with some milk, salt and pepper. the more milk the fluffier your eggs. You can only pour a small amount for each batch, but a crock pot on low will keep them warm and moist until even your latest riser is ready to eat!
Fun fact: My group requires four dozen eggs, two pounds of bacon and three dozen bagels each event for breakfast.
Knowing what kind of things can save you time and hassle by doing before you're knee deep in nature and guests is an important bit of knowledge with any kind of meal.
And now, an easy treat for the summer months when you have a grill on hand. The perfect blend of do it ahead and right on site!
Wen and Rye's Grilled Cinnamon Apples
Joyous Journey!
I am the queen of can I-do-it-ahead-of-time?
For instance, I season my meats and marinate veggies before we head out, bag everything in zip-locks and even freeze somethings to help prolong the life of everything in the cooler. I actually only keep three things with me for seasoning on site: brown sugar, sea salt and Worcestershire sauce.
But this isn't to say I do EVERYTHING ahead of time! Some foods just don't do well reheated, and some are best freshly cut or cooked. (For the record, nothing I make is prepped sooner than the day before game-on)
Good example of this is breakfast:
Bacon: Cooked ahead of time. Take a baking pan, something with a lip on the edge that can handle heat. Line it with foil. Place the bacon (as much as can fit with just a little overlap) on the sheet and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until desire crispiness. Remove from pan with tings and drain on paper towel. best part? once the grease cools just peels off the foil, roll it up to keep it trapped and throw away.
On site, I just toss it onto the griddle for a minute or so until heated. It gets crispy again realy fast and is just as good as if I'd done it there, and there is almost no greasy mess.
Eggs: Cook on site, reheating scrambled eggs just isn't as good. My trick for a big group? Use a pitcher to mix up a large batch of eggs with some milk, salt and pepper. the more milk the fluffier your eggs. You can only pour a small amount for each batch, but a crock pot on low will keep them warm and moist until even your latest riser is ready to eat!
Fun fact: My group requires four dozen eggs, two pounds of bacon and three dozen bagels each event for breakfast.
Knowing what kind of things can save you time and hassle by doing before you're knee deep in nature and guests is an important bit of knowledge with any kind of meal.
And now, an easy treat for the summer months when you have a grill on hand. The perfect blend of do it ahead and right on site!
Wen and Rye's Grilled Cinnamon Apples
- Four apples, cored,peeled and sliced into six pieces or so (I prefer gala apples, but a tart granny smith is excellent here too!)
- Skewers
- 1 c brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 lemon
- At home, peel and slice the apples into about six pieces. Place these in a zip-lock bag and drizzle with a little lemon juice. This keeps them from browning in the bag.
- In a second zip-lock, mix the brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Seal up both bags.
- On site, soak skewers in water for a few minutes (I do this when cooking the proper meal).
- Place apple slices in bag of brown sugar mixture, seal shut and give a good shake, coating the apples. Skewer the slices, as many as will fit, onto wet skewers.
- Place on grill for about five minutes, turning as they brown. Cool before serving!
Joyous Journey!
Friday, January 21, 2011
The art of pleasing (and not slaying) everyone- respecting specialized diets and allergies
It would have been a very strange turn in events if Snow White and shook her head polietly and told the witch "Sorry, I have an allergy to apples, do you have any pears instead?"
I suppose in the times of great stories rarely did a tavern keep have to worry about vegetarians and severe allergies, but the truth of cooking for heroes int his day in age is that many people have restrictions on what they can eat.
Within my company alone, we have vegetarians, lactose intolerance, and kosher eaters. At any given time, we may have visitors at our table that have life threatening allergies to everything from tomatoes to certain spices.
When cooking for the hoard or a small group of friends, it's important to to be aware of dietary restrictions of those you intend to feed. I try and offer a vegetarian dish when I cook at camp as a courtesy. It's nice too for people who, unlike myself, are not big meat eaters or trying to eat a bit healthier.*
*Note: A lot of the recipes here are designed to recoup lost energy when running about slaying monsters and engaging in fierce political maneuvering. Plenty of it will be healthy, but don't expect TOO much to shrink waistlines.
Allergies on the other hand are more serious than a life style based diet.
A friend of mine with some pretty sever allergies gave the following advice when cooking for a group:
and now, ON TO THE FOOD!
This recipe was one I loved, but altered for a friend with a potato allergy and discovered I liked it much better in it's new incarnation. This soup is great right out of the pot, but also freezes beautifully.
Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients:
A note about broths: It was in my search for dreaded allergens that had me checking out the ingredients in different brands of broth and stocks. Turns out, my usual brand was full of ingredients that really didn't look like food to me. So check your broth before you buy, look for fewer ingredients, and make sure you recognize them all! I often find they tend to be less expensive, and the difference in taste is AMAZING!
Enjoy, and joyous Journey!
I suppose in the times of great stories rarely did a tavern keep have to worry about vegetarians and severe allergies, but the truth of cooking for heroes int his day in age is that many people have restrictions on what they can eat.
Within my company alone, we have vegetarians, lactose intolerance, and kosher eaters. At any given time, we may have visitors at our table that have life threatening allergies to everything from tomatoes to certain spices.
When cooking for the hoard or a small group of friends, it's important to to be aware of dietary restrictions of those you intend to feed. I try and offer a vegetarian dish when I cook at camp as a courtesy. It's nice too for people who, unlike myself, are not big meat eaters or trying to eat a bit healthier.*
*Note: A lot of the recipes here are designed to recoup lost energy when running about slaying monsters and engaging in fierce political maneuvering. Plenty of it will be healthy, but don't expect TOO much to shrink waistlines.
Allergies on the other hand are more serious than a life style based diet.
A friend of mine with some pretty sever allergies gave the following advice when cooking for a group:
- Find out if anyone in you're feeding has allergies. Knowing what they're allergic to lets you give them the heads up as to what to avoid and what's okay. It can also help to know if they have an allergy, or an intolerance. The first can kill you, the second can leave you sick. It's an important difference so you know how diligent you both need to be.
- Save containers of ANYTHING you use that comes prepared. Honestly, I have learned this from personal experience. You never know for instance, where they stick tomatoes. I've found it in chicken broth and refried beans. Saving the ingredient lists helps you both be sure of what is in your cooking.
- A really nice thing to do is make a list of ingredients for the dishes you cook. Especially with a large gathering or adventuring in the woods where you might not get the chance to ask around or be quizzed.
and now, ON TO THE FOOD!
This recipe was one I loved, but altered for a friend with a potato allergy and discovered I liked it much better in it's new incarnation. This soup is great right out of the pot, but also freezes beautifully.
Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 butternut squash, peeled and chopped
- 1 sweet potato, quartered
- 1 sweet onion, quartered
- 1 quart chicken (or vegetable) broth
- olive oil, salt and pepper
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large baking pan (I love my glass pan for this) place chopped squash, potato and the onion. Drizzles with olive oil just until the veggies gets a nice sheen, you don't have to coat them. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until tender.
- Add veggies, olive oil and all into a large pot. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Remove from heat and blend using an immersion blender until smooth. (For a long time I didn't have an immersion blender, and just used a typical blender in small batches) Season with salt and pepper as desired!
A note about broths: It was in my search for dreaded allergens that had me checking out the ingredients in different brands of broth and stocks. Turns out, my usual brand was full of ingredients that really didn't look like food to me. So check your broth before you buy, look for fewer ingredients, and make sure you recognize them all! I often find they tend to be less expensive, and the difference in taste is AMAZING!
Enjoy, and joyous Journey!
Armed with nothing but a cookie and a wooden spoon...
Ask anyone who dabbles in adventuring, and they will tell you that a key element to saving the day is a good meal. Whether you're fighting off villains or the daily grind, good, homemade food is essential to coming out the other side of any worthy adventure.
My name is Sasha and I'm mother to a troop of 21+ well meaning heroes. I play a game called Madrigal, a high-fantasy live action role playing game with around 100 others in New England.
About to become someones REAL mother for the first time, and leaving my friends to feed themselves for awhile, I thought about compiling some of tricks, tips and favorite recipes for eating far from a proper kitchen.
This blog will include all of these things along with stories and reflections on adventure, food, and the power of a dinner table filled with people you care about.
Even if the height of your fantasy experience is a good book, i hope you'll find enjoyment, a few new recipes, and maybe a little magic in the adventures hidden here!
Welcome, and Joyous Journey!
My name is Sasha and I'm mother to a troop of 21+ well meaning heroes. I play a game called Madrigal, a high-fantasy live action role playing game with around 100 others in New England.
About to become someones REAL mother for the first time, and leaving my friends to feed themselves for awhile, I thought about compiling some of tricks, tips and favorite recipes for eating far from a proper kitchen.
This blog will include all of these things along with stories and reflections on adventure, food, and the power of a dinner table filled with people you care about.
Even if the height of your fantasy experience is a good book, i hope you'll find enjoyment, a few new recipes, and maybe a little magic in the adventures hidden here!
Welcome, and Joyous Journey!
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