Jennyisms

This week, Jenny is taking her first day off since starting her weeknight cooking column at food52 over a year ago (even when her family moved cross-country from L.A. to Washington, D.C. we were right there with her, talking chili and gin rickeys).

But we know a Monday with no Jenny would be a very sad day indeed, so we've compiled some of our favorite zingers, rants and confessions below. And for even more Jenny, read our behind the scenes spotlight on her here.

On Down and Dirty Pasta e Cecci:
"Sometimes I feel the world is against me, so I shave on a lot more cheese."


On Chocolate Cookies:
"Cookies seem made for weeknight baking, with their relatively few steps, short baking time and willingness to be misshapen."


On Silken Comfort Tofu:
"What’s more, my husband is from Texas. And by that I don’t mean Austin. 'Hey hon, would you like some tofu for dinner?' rates somewhere among queries between 'What stinks in here?' and 'Don’t you think our compost could use some management?'"


On Simple Cheese Souffle:
"Of course like almost everything I assume (except that I won’t like a movie with Steven Seagal, I’m always right about that), I am easily proven wrong."


On Buttermilk Corn Soup with Curry and Mint:
"I am considering going to her house with a very large spoon and camping out in her front yard, yodeling and mewing for some sustenance. Or, I might just invite her for coffee. It just depends."


On Poached Sole with Blood Orange Beurre Blanc:
"Once in a while during the week –- Tuesday, Sunday, whatever -– I feel I need to trot out the culinary equivalent of a vintage Helmut Lang dress."


On Nutella Cupcakes:
"I have several regrets in life, but none quite rival my short-sighted decision to join the refreshments committee at my children’s elementary school."

   

On Browned Butter Asparagus Risotto:
"But when springtime arrives, I join the rest of you in relishing the finest examples of this smart, versatile stalk of folic-acid packed lily (that’s right, put it in the Google!) that the fertile ground can offer."


On Butter Chicken:
"For the home cook, poultry really is like your family –- you can’t escape it, really, but you can make the best of it, and pair it with alcohol."


On Fresh Honeydew Sorbet with Lime and Black Pepper:
"But this recipe is really no trouble at all, provided you have an ice cream maker, which I really think you should, because after all you probably own a popover pan and how often do you use that space taker of a thing?"


On Sonia's Rice Pudding:
"Normally after a week like that, I like my dinner a little more liquid (equal parts elderflower liqueur and Champagne with a dash of brandy, thanks for asking). But rage needs comfort food. This means rice pudding. For dinner."


On Just Good Chili:
"In essence, chili is the teenager on your stove, who mumbles 'whatever' and goes back to Lady Gaga. It’s fine. Just shake something at it and walk away.
...
If you’re from Texas, you will scoff at the beans. That’s your business. I’m not going to try and turn you into someone you’re not."


On Gin Rickeys:
"Well, nothing is a godsend to me if I can’t find it in visits to three stores, and anyone who drinks cocktails midday while their 7-year-old rocks out to Kei$ha clearly has other things to worry about
concerning her lifestyle and general comportment than the glycemic index."


On Chicken Breast with Fresh Sage:
"Is it just me or has there been a shortage of sage at the markets this year? I noticed this all year in L.A., where it is currently easier to procure medical marijuana some days than furry batches of this herb.
...
You can actually skip the last bit of butter if you choose, but then please don’t serve it to me."