i also spent some time last night looking for bulk spices. i found a few sites that should get things rolling for now as one in particular even has some spices i can buy in seed form and then grind myself. that should definitely make for some fresher dishes. i also discovered how good black onion seeds are for all of us. i discovered these little tasty seeds in london in may 2009 at a tesco super mart. with my 20 pack of stella stubbies in hand i happen to pass down the spice aisle and started having a look at what they had. naturally i bought a few things and the black onion seeds were the most intriguing. after i returned home from that trip i used them up very quickly. so on this last trip back in november i purchased a one pound bag and i am currently going through it quite quickly. i also picked up some other herbs and spices i'd never heard of before. like sabzi polo which is an iranian herb mix consisting of parsley, dillweed, chives and coriander leaves.
below are two meals i threw together after friday when i loaded up on food. the first was breakfast the other day consisting of polenta w/ paprika & tarragon, tomatoes, mushrooms, avocados w/ olive oil, scrambled eggs w/ shallots, almonds and black onion seeds and of course some tasty bread w/ lots of nuts in it.
this next picture is some pizza i made about 3 or 4am one night after a show. it's made with ciabatta bread w/ tomato bisque, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, parsley and a spice or two on top (i forget). i was out of cheese, so that's why i didn't use any. although i must say it turned out quite well even w/ the lack of cheese.
i somehow avoided playing cards last night after work and tonight and all i've been thinking about all night tonight (along w/ cards and one other thing) here at the apt is all the delicious food that i have here and what the hell i'm cooking next. someone please come over and help me eat this food. seriously, it's 12:20am in fort worth on a monday night and if anyone wants to come over right now i'll cook for the both of us. i'm gonna be up a long time tonight anyway. heck, last monday night i had a visitor at 3am, so why not again tonight. right? i'm not a day person folks and i don't have rules about when you can and can't come over.
between work, gigs and being sick pretty badly in late may/early june i have lost about 20 pounds since mid april. i have a feeling with all this cooking and eating that those 20 pounds are gonna come back really soon. oh well. no way i'm depriving myself of good food just to be thinner. that's like not going out all the time just to make sure you get 8 hours of sleep every night. no thanks. i'll pass. i have a life to lead and i'd rather lead this one and live a shorter time than live to 100 and be miserable the last 20 years. life is about quality not quantity. usually when the show's all over and the gear is packed up most people are looking to continue the party somewhere else. i usually want to just come home and cook. it must be a sign of getting old...........or getting wise. i'm not sure just yet.
it's now time to cook something..............again. as i'm usually hungry every 4-6 hours anyway. then it's time for a tasty smoke and this bottle of tasty ale:
it's my last night off until saturday so i'm making use of the best i can.