About Last Week...

It was an emotional week, one that began with a beautiful lesson and ended with clarity, intention, and staying the course. There were plenty of necessary carbs, a bit of red wine, and more than a little Fernet along the way, so let's just say I didn't make quite the dent in the pantry that I had hoped. Still, there is a bit more room on the shelves and I am making a dent it already this week.

I do have a confession. I had a moment of weakness at Trader Joe's. I came home with Everything but the Bagel Seasoning, Chili Crisp, and a can of Greek chickpeas, in addition to the usual proteins and produce. I did not need these things, just like I did not need the Mini Shrimp Bao Buns or the Chicken Lettuce Cups, but they will all serve their purpose. By the way, the Bao Buns , delicious especially if you make a cucumber salad on the side and the chickpeas are just really good. I do not want to talk about the Bagel seasoning or the Chili crisp, it is a problem. Apparently, pantry challenges still allow for the occasional lapse in judgment.

One more thing before we get to the recipes, what do you think of the new home for Feeding the Irishman? Since losing my job several months ago, and while I prepare to immigrate to Ireland I have had many projects on my mind, Feeding the Irishman, front and center. I have been wanting to give it space to breathe and grow organically.  I am incredibly grateful for Substack. It gave me the nudge I needed to start writing again, and I'll continue to be part of that wonderful community. Feeding the Irishman has found its home here.

This Week's Meals

• Chocolate Cake

• Chicken Thighs with Creamy Miso, Spinach & Mushrooms

• Zuppa Toscana (yes...I made it again.)

• Chicken Salad with Miso Dressing

Chocolate Cake

I don't know why, but chocolate cake had been on my mind. Alright...let's call it what it was. A craving. I baked a simple single-layer chocolate cake with ganache, had one small slice, and tucked the rest safely into the freezer for another day.

Chocolate Cake

Preheat oven to 350*, grease and line 9" spring form pan

250 grams unsalted butter

200 grams chopped dark chocolate

2 tsp instant espresso dissolved in 350 mil boiling water

250 grams sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 tsp vanilla

240 grams unbleached flour

2 3/4 tsp baking powder

pinch salt

30 grams dark cocoa

Ganache

9 oz chopped. dark chocolate

9 oz heavy cream

Place chocolate and butter in bowl and pour coffee over both to melt. While chocolate and butter is melted measure dry ingredients in a seperate bowl and set aside. Once melted stir in sugar, vanilla and eggs. Fold in dry ingredients, pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour, top make be cracked, it is fine.

While the cake cools, make the ganache. Place chopped chocolate in a bowl, scaled the heavy cream, pour over the chocolate and let the chocolate melt, then stir till well mixed. Pour the ganache over the top of the cake. Cake freezes well.

Chicken Thighs with Creamy Miso, Spinach & Mushrooms

Simply four of my favorite things.

Chicken Thighs with Creamy Miso, Spinach & Mushrooms

serve on rice , potatoes or noodles

4 chicken thighs or chicken breasts

garlic powder

onion powder

salt

olive oil

8 oz sliced mushrooms

4 cloves chopped garlic

1 sliced medium onion

3 green onions sliced

8 oz fresh spinach

3 tbl miso

2 tbl mirin

1 tbl water

1 1/2 heavy cream

Season the chicken with the garlic & onion powder and salt. Sear both sides of chicken in a bit of olive oil and remove form the pan. Add the onions , saute till soft, add butter and mushrooms and saute till golden. While mushrooms are cooking, mix miso , mirin and water and add to the mushroom onion mixture and caramelized the miso mixture a bit. Add cream and chicken and reduce and cook cook for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, remove the lid, add the spinach, put the lid back on and allow the spianch to wilt, once wilted stir into the chicken.

Zuppa Toscana

It's just that good. Besides, all I had to buy was the sausage. As the Irishman would say, "it's rinse and repeat".

Miso Dressing (Chicken Salad)

By the end of the week I had chicken that needed cooking, which turned into a simple salad tossed with a creamy miso dressing, proving once again that leftovers can be something to look forward to.

Miso Dressing

3 tbl vegetable oil

2 tbl rice vinegar

1 tbl miso

1 tsp miso

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp honey

1/2 tsp coconut animos or soy sauce

Whisk all together, season to taste.