Hester Street Market

On a sunny August Saturday I headed to the Hester Street Market, after reading about it in an issue of Time Out. As far as street markets go, this one gets top marks for interesting food. Lots of different vendors that I haven't seen elsewhere in the city.

"Artisanal" pretzel made with cheddar and truffle
+ a cucumber limeade

Bowls of bulk spices and teas...

Japanese pancakes filled with red bean paste

Nori Chips

This recipe for nori chips from Mark Bittman has been in my "to try" file since I first saw it last fall. Finally got around to making the chips, and I agree - if you like the taste of seaweed, these are a good snacking alternative. I'm enjoying the taste more on day two than the day I made them, and they're just fine without the sesame oil.


I don't think I had seaweed until college - which was when a friend from California finally introduced me to sushi. Now I like it in a number of different forms, and I think it has also increased my appreciation for other seafood, like raw oysters, that really taste of the sea.

With buckwheat soba for a light lunch.

Snacking in Chinatown

With Chinese New Year in the papers, I decided to head up to the North Austin Chinatown shopping center this past week. I wasn't the only one - the front end of MT Supermarket was even more crowded than usual, with lots of gawkers at the special New Year's sweets on display.

I also ducked into Short n' Sweet Cafe for a green milk bubble tea and some kind of very colorful rice & coconut dessert. I appreciated being able to choose unsweetened tea. The cafe also has ice cream, some candies/sweets in bulk, and a small selection of savory food.

Helpful hint: Children under 5 not suggest to eat.

Baking Again

Nothing heralds the arrival of fall like the desire to start baking again after an incredibly long, incredibly hot summer.

In the last few weeks I've fired up the oven several times. Muffins are a favorite.

Adding lemon zest to blueberry muffins

Breakfast! Snack! Dinner! I'm always relieved to have my own "quick breads" around because the ones you buy at the store are either a) flavorless or b) needlessly expensive. This may be one instance where "making your own" is not a good way to maintain a healthy diet, though, because when there's no competition for baked goods they all go in one belly: mine.

Irish soda bread with raisins and caraway seeds. Basically a giant scone. It came together in about 5 minutes (30 to bake). I was shocked.

Mooncakes

When I was a freshman in college, one of my friends introduced us all to mooncakes, which her mom had sent from a special bakery in Georgia. I remember finding them beautiful and delicious, and have been halfway tracking them down ever since. It took me a long time to figure out that they're only available during a special time of year, but this year I went up to the giant Asian supermarket to get a box of them.

Of course I don't have the attachment to tradition or the holiday per se, but the mooncakes are a unique dessert; maybe they'll catch on with a wider audience eventually.

This one is filled with red bean paste, but the box of 6 I got had two each of red bean, date, and lotus. They're all pretty sweet, and best with tea.

Faves: Vegan Desserts

Some years ago, vegan baked goods started making inroads into the Austin scene. Wheatsville had carried them packaged for a long time, as had other health food stores, but suddenly Wheats had its own bakery case. Then there was Dhaba Joy, and vegan cupcakes (admittedly outsourced) at the cupcake sellers like Hey Cupcake.

I like vegan baked goods because they're usually not quite as sweet as regular ones, and their flavors can be more subtle because they're made with more spices, different flours, or other unusual ingredients. It's a less-guilty guilty pleasure.

Wheatsville's vegan Mexican Chocolate Cake

The wider acceptance of vegan sweets may never catch on, but Wheatsville is still going strong. They have about seven or eight cakes, cookies, and muffins that they rotate. This cake was crumbly, kind of like a coffee cake but less rich. It had a complex spicy flavor that I couldn't quite sort out, and made a nice mid-morning snack.

Edamame Spread

After seeing edamame spread at the Steeping Room last week, I decided to see if I could make it at home. I almost always have edamame in the freezer, since they are so quick and easy to cook and are good for a snack or a meal. 

I guess it's not actually cooking them--just reheating since they come pre-cooked in the package. But still.

Cooked edamame in their pods

Shelled edamame

The finished product

I used a recipe from Martha Stewart--first hit on Google. It was a little too garlicky but I think with some tinkering this could be a nice substitute for hummus (and more colorful).

Eat Your Veggies: Kale Chips

One of the least-anticipate side effects of being mostly vegetarian, I've discovered, is random cravings for vegetables. You'd think it would be the opposite--random cravings for hamburgers or pork ribs--but surprisingly often I think, "Wow, what I really want is a big helping of really tasty veggies." 

Until recently, those cravings were never for kale, but that may be changing. Kale belongs to the leafy green family, those miracle plants that are supposed to be so good for you yet are often intimidating in their leafiness and "healthy" taste. Having enjoyed kale in a stir fry a few weeks back, I came across this recipe for kale "chips" (or crisps, if you prefer) and decided to give it a shot.

In the pan

On the plate

They are very good. In fact, I ate them all in one sitting (about one small kale head's worth). Very delicate and crisp. Highly recommended! I kept mine in the oven a little longer than the recipe called for, about 30 minutes.