WEEK 3

Congratulations to this week's winners!

Helen won the contest for Your Best Grilled Lamb with Grilled Blade Chops over Greek Salad

Susan won the contest for Your Best Green and/or Wax Bean Dish with Fasoolya Khadra.

We asked them both to answer a few questions about cooking and eating.

Helen

Who is your culinary hero?

2 parts Nigella Lawson to 1 part Suzanne Goin.

Describe a food memory that has influenced the way you cook or think about food.

What is the kitchen activity that's most cathartic for you? Least cathartic?

I love peeling tomatoes and pearl onions. I hate picking and chopping herbs. 

Is there an ingredient you're really into right now?

I should say some delicious market find, but honestly? I've been playing a lot with dairy (creme fraiche, mascarpone, yogurt, sour cream, even) in both sweet and savory dishes. 

What taste do you crave most often? a) Sweet, b) Salty, c) Sour, d)Bitter, e) Umami

a. Sweet, b. Salty. Honestly, it's a toss up.

You whip cream: a) by hand, old-school style, b) using a mixer, of course!

By hand, always.

Given the choice you would rather have: a) more pantry space, b) a chest freezer

a. More pantry space.

Your stove is: a) gas, b) electric

a. gas

When it comes to tidying up, you prefer to: a) clean as you cook, b) do all the dishes once you've finished cooking, c) leave the kitchen a shambles for your spouse/roommate/kids to clean.

c. leave the kitchen a shambles for your spouse/roommate/kids to clean.

Susan

Who is your culinary hero?

My mom, and Helen Johnston.

Describe a food memory that has influenced the way you cook or think about food.

When I first moved into an apartment in college after several years of dorm living, my roommate and I were so excited to have a stove that we made plans to roast a chicken. I think I spent hours preparing to go to the grocery store and buy all the necessary ingredients for this chicken and the simple salad that we wanted to eat with it. After sniffing every bunch of rosemary at the Evanston Whole Foods and actually calling my mother to ask whether there would be a big difference between a chicken that weighed 1.81 lbs. versus 1.76, I went home ready for a major culinary effort. After I essentially dumped everything I had purchased in a shallow pan and drizzled with olive oil, a ten minute project at most, I called my mom (again) to see what to do. I think she was pretty amused at the amount of effort I put into roasting this chicken, since she used to roast chicken for our family at least once a week. "Susan," she said, "you just put it in the oven and take it out when the drumstick is loose when you wiggle it. You really can't mess it up."

Of course, she was right. My roommate and I picked all the meat off the chicken with our hands it was so good. The next time I roasted a chicken, it was just as delicious ... perhaps more, because I realized that a high level of anxiety is not actually a necessary ingredient for delicious food.

What's your favorite recipe from a cookbook?

Before I turned 14 and developed an attitude but after I could use the stove by myself I used to make poached chicken from Pierre Franey's 60 Minute Gourmet for family dinner. I was so proud of myself for helping my mom, and now of course I love that recipe.

What is the kitchen activity that's most cathartic for you? Least cathartic?

I love cutting tomatoes, and I hate cutting onions. My eyes water like crazy.

Is there an ingredient you're really into right now?

I love parsley. I just rip the leaves and put it in everything.

What taste do you crave most often? a) Sweet, b) Salty, c) Sour, d)Bitter, e) Umami

Salty! Always salty.

You whip cream: a) by hand, old-school style, b) using a mixer, of course!

I lack the upper arm muscle for hand mixing.

Given the choice you would rather have: a) more pantry space, b) a chest freezer

Chest freezer.

Your stove is: a) gas, b) electric

Gas! Thank god.

When it comes to tidying up, you prefer to: a) clean as you cook, b) do all the dishes once you've finished cooking, c) leave the kitchen a shambles for your spouse/roommate/kids to clean

In the following order: c., a., b.