Attempting to cook as many recipes (not all since I couldn’t possibly get hold of all the ingredients) as I could from Alison Roman’s first cookbook “Dining In.” This project is inspired by this website. I love the idea of rating recipes by emojis! And since this quarantine life has all forced us to make shit from scratch, I’ve been surprised by how much I enjoy cooking and baking new recipes, not to mention a newfound enthusiasm for photography. So why not embark on this Julie/Julia project and practice all these hobbies in one dizzying effort to survive this tough year.
Anchovies Butter Chicken with Chicken Fat Croutons
Rating: 😍
So delicious with the anchovies melting with the herbs and butter extravaganza.
Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread
Rating: 😊
Not for those who like extra soft and chewy cookies, but still delicious in its own shortbread way.
Slow Salmon with Citrus and Herb Salad
Rating: 😐
I skipped the herb salad because fresh rosemary and thyme are expensive and limited in this side of the world. The salmon was mild tasting. I’ve had better salmon recipes.
Shrimps in the Shells with Garlic and Too Much Butter
Rating: 😊
Delicious but nothing new.
Grilled Eggplant Dressed with Garlicky Walnuts and Lots of Basil
Rating: 😍
Addictive! The ricotta and savory eggplant, mixed with a gazillion basil, brought tears to my eyes. Charot.
Olive Oil Fried Lentils with Cherry Tomatoes and Chile-Fried Egg
Rating: 😊
It’s like delicious fried rice, except it’s not rice, it’s lentils.
Crispy Kimchi and Cheddar Omelette
Rating: 😍
It never occured to me that cheese and kimchi went so well together. This is one of my favorites!
Honey Yogurt Pound Cake with Blueberries
Rating: 😍
Very comforting, home(y) blueberry cake. Eating this bread cake reminds me of a tasty, moist banana bread. Feels like a sweet hug.
Impostor Al Pastor
Rating: 😍
Never thought in a million years that I could cook tacos at home. I did not make the tortilla but everything else, I prepared. Thanks, AR! Delicious!
Frozen Strawberries with Yogurt and Honey
Rating: 🙁
So sad I used bad-tasting yogurt. It ended up tasting like beer, beer and yeast. I’m planning to redo this in the future.
Slow Roasted Pork Loin with Garlic, Citrus, and Cilantro
Rating: 😊
Delicious, melt-in-your-mouth pork loin doused in citrus and garlic juice.
Double Crust Apple Pie
Rating: 😊
Classic apple pie, great addition to any beginner baker’s repertoire.
Vinegared Romaine with Sour Cream, Bacon and Herbs
Rating: 😊
With the huge chunks of bacon, it’ll make you question why it’s called a salad in the first place. It’s a very tasty, very bacon-y salad.
Blood Oranges with Crunchy Red Onions and Avocado
Rating: 😊
Very refreshing salad, but it’s more a side than anything else.
Persimmons and Pears with Blue Cheese and Spicy Pecans
Rating: 😊
This is the first time I’ve tasted persimmons and boy are they the best wallflower to the pungent diva that is blue cheese. Very interesting and unforgettable fruit salad.
Crispy Chicken Legs with Rosemary, Tiny Potatoes, and Sour Cream
Rating: 😍
A classic flavor combination. It is simple and rustic and quietly delicious.
Whole Roasted Snapper with Harissa and Sun Gold Tomatoes
Rating: 😊
Quite a fussy preparation if you’re like me who has to make her harissa from scratch. I wanted it spicier than it was, I mean after all the trouble I went through. It was still a tasty piece of fish.
Sour Cream Flatbread
Rating: 😂
I botched this so mightily. The mushrooms were great. The flatbreads were a disaster. It wasn’t the recipe’s fault, it was me. I botched the amount of liquid and I ended up salvaging the whole dough right from the beginning. Charge to experience, eh?
Paprika-Rubbed Sheet-Pan Chicken with Lemon
Rating: 😍
This is my kind of chicken—spicy, lemony, herby, crispy. What’s not to like?
Fennel-Rubbed Pork Chops for Two
Rating: 🤩
Probably one of my favorites from this book. I love pork and I love a smoky and sweet porkchop any day. This is a winner!
Roasted Broccolini and Lemon with Crispy Parmesan
Rating: 😐
This is basically the sauce of my favorite broccoli pasta recipe. But without the pasta, it’s just okay.
Raw and Roasted Kale with Pistachios and Creamy Pecorino
Rating: 😊
For someone who doesn’t care for kale, this was pretty tasty. But I mean what wouldn’t be after dousing it with a whole lot of cheese. Pecorino cheese.
Joanne Aika 