CHG Favorites of the Week

Blog of the Week
Casual Kitchen
PHENOMENAL blog that I’ve never even laid eyes on before this week. That makes me a huge, oblivious dummy, because dude’s been putting out quality cook-at-home posts for close to a year. I’ll be consulting How to Modify a Recipe everyday for the rest of my life, and How to Tell if a Recipe is Worth Cooking With Five Easy Questions is nothing short of genius. Go. Go now. (Um … but then come back.)

Magazine of the Week
Cook’s Country
From the mad geniuses behind Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen comes Cook’s Country, a down-home culinary mag dedicated to the classics. Rachel and I (er, okay, just Rach) received a few free issues with C.I., and I was immediately impressed. Sure, the food’s good (see here), but the layout is what really caught my eye. It manages to be simultaneously modern and old-timey. Very, very pretty.

Organization of the Week
Action Against Hunger
We’ve been concentrating on local and U.S.-based food charities lately, so let’s go global this week: AAH assists the needy in more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Rated very, very highly by philanthropy evaluative groups, their approach is all-encompassing, with special focus on water and aid during crises. There are a gazillion ways to help out. Thanksgiving’s on its way. Share the bounty.

Quote of the Week
“I hate Jell-O. If God wanted peaches suspended in midair, He would have filled them with helium” – Sophia (Estelle Getty), The Golden Girls

Tip of the Week
Scraping the sharp edge of a knife along a cutting board will wear that sucker out, but quick. Next time you’re gathering chopped-up food, flip the knife over and drag the dull edge along the surface to your hand.

Untried Cheap, Healthy Recipe of the Week
Pumpkin and Smoky Bacon Risotto from The Great Big Vegetable Challenge
Is there anything better than a combination – any combination – of the words "pumpkin," "smoky bacon," and "risotto"? Maybe if you add “brie” or “chocolate”? Must ponder this…

Video of the Week (Food Division)
“Banana Chips” – Shonen Knife
Before Puffy Ami Yumi and Cibo Matto, there was Shonen Knife, the ORIGINAL Japanese all-girl punk band. Beloved by Kurt Cobain, they opened for Nirvana on the Nevermind tour, but never really blew up in the U.S. It’s a shame, because they’re totally awesome AND 90% OF THEIR SONGS ARE ABOUT FOOD. Little girls would love this band.