Mac and Cheese

I really love mac and cheese. Now, I'm not talkin' bout the kind that comes in the blue box, I'm talkin' bout the ooey gooey homemade kind like gramma used to make. The real deal, which is thick, rich and delicious. Something to raise your spirits on a dreary day at the end of February.

The kind I make is a white sauce with cheese poured over macaroni and topped with a little paprika. Best served with a side of sausage. A midwestern meal made in heaven, or at least our Ukranian Village kitchen.

I once asked around about what kind of wine to serve with this. OK a lot of wags suggested Boones farm wine. I'm sure they pair well, but the serious suggestion was a nice Riesling, which really brings out the flavor of the cheese, or at least a nice buzz. A Gewurztraminer might do the trick as well.

That's Noel in the picture chopping cucumber. She's introduced me to the wonders of vegetables, and makes a dynamite salad. I tried taking some pictures of the mac 'n' cheese, but real food is notoriously tough to photograph. Besides, she's better looking.

By Jesse

How to Date

Now that I'm no longer flailing about in the often arbitrary world of dating, I am a self-appointed expert. (God forbid I ever have to swim through those waters again.) Did I just get lucky in meeting a man like Jesse? After careful analysis, I have come to the conclusion that the key to meeting a good partner, like a nice salad, is a combination of fresh, wholesome ingredients.

Recipe for Love

Ingredients:

-8 cups thinly chopped Authenticity. You have to be yourself, all the way. If your potential date doesn't like the flavor, it is best that he/she move on. Note: Make sure you don't choke him with too much of your awesomeness all at once.

-8 cups of Good Health. Inner and outer beauty come mainly from exercise and a good diet, not makeup and trendy clothing.

-3 tablespoons of Developed Interests. Pick two or three activities and actively pursue them. Potential mates love to see you doing something you love. They would instinctively like to see themselves become something you love too.

-2 tablespoons of Humor. Yours, not his. If you think it's funny, he probably will too. Or else he'll will move on. And that's probably for the best.

-1 splash of Flirtation. This is the spice that gets him at the table, fork in hand, ready to try out your dish. Just like a well-written story, every beginning needs a hook.

Fear of Grocery Shopping

I did not go to the grocery store tonight. I will probably end up eating some leftover shriveled up tomato on a grilled cheese sandwich. Jesse is digging around in the silverware right now. I'm guessing he's eating ham and cheese sandwich and cottage cheese right out of the tub, then polishing it all off with some ice cream.

Jesse is a dairy man. He's from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and he can't help himself. I was also raised on milk, but drink soy milk now. I cannot get past the idea of grown men and women drinking the liquid meant for calves. It feels strange to me, and leaves a film in my mouth. There's something unnatural about it...

Alchemy in the Kitchen

Sometimes what happens in the kitchen, pots that boil over, burned dishes, too much spice, or not enough, can seem maddeningly like being in love. If you're like me, you might just wander off at the wrong moment, only to return to find a ruined dinner.

On the other hand, if the right spices and ingredients come together, the resulting alchemy can, like love, be extraordinary.

This modest blog will chronicle not only our culinary ambitions, but our relationship. Noel and I plan to plan and prepare at least one dish a week. Check back to hear about our adventures in gastronomy and in love.

Jesse