New Bike!

Actually, first off, desireearmfeldt is directing Arms and the Man, which opens tomorrow and plays this weekend and next. I expect to see you there! I'm very excited and proud.

( I finally decided on a bike--the Bianchi Volpe )

Umame goodness in Western Cooking

Two recent recipe successes indicate (in part) the benefits of injecting a bit of umame goodness into western cooking.

For those of you who haven't been keeping track, umame is the recently-discovered fifth flavor. I don't use MSG (which triggers it), but I do think of things like Shiitake mushrooms and soy sauce---along, of course, with regular old meat---as having umame goodness. The other themes here: sauteeing leeks and using evaporated skim milk as a cream substitute.

( Cream of Leek and Potato Soup )

( Leek, Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tart )