Sweet Potato and Pecan

My husband is away. For the week. Typically, I make a practice of preparing dinner every night- for emotional and financial reasons, but last night, I didn't have it in me and I didn't have an audience. So, I pulled over at "Sweet Potato and Pecan," a little soul food, take-out place three blocks from my house in Montclair, NJ. This little place has been beckoning for months, but I have passed it by as I dutifully drove from the grocery store to home on a mission to cook my own "soul food." Well, long story short, I am really glad I stopped. If the warmth and sense of humor of the older Jamaican owner weren't enough, then the free "sweet potato and pecan pie" he threw in for it being my first visit and the best collard greens I have ever had, were.

My "BBQ Rib Combo," which included sides of Mac and Cheese, Collard Greens and gratis Corn Bread, along with my pie was roughly 11$ and I have an entire meal leftover for tonight. I generally eat leftovers out of a sense of obligation, but it's 9AM and I'm already looking forward to the last of those tender, tangy ribs, creamy mac and cheese and yes, those COLLARD GREENS!

I like living in Montclair more and more everyday.

Sweet Potato & Pecan

www.sweetpotato-pecan.com

103 Forest St
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 746-3444

An Ode to Winter Citrus

This time of year, produce is generally sad. Pale tomatoes and artificially preserved veggies abound, but there is one bright spot in the produce aisle: citrus. And of special note: blood oranges. Not just glorious for the sanguine juice that flows from them, but also for the sweet, tart flavor that blends honorably with a number of savory dishes. Last night, the Whitneys enjoyed a nod to Mexico (our future home? perhaps?) as I used the juice from three blood oranges and two limes, mixed with adobo and a dash of salt to create a sauce for shrimp. Paired with Sofrito-spiced black beans and long-grain brown rice, it was the perfect (yet incredibly simple) way to honor this luxurious winter fruit.

By Way of Introduction:

Two weeks ago, my husband received his long-awaited (I mean loooong-awaited) top secret security clearance, the final piece of his Foreign Service application. What that means is that it now falls to me to confidently say the words, "Okay. Let's do this. Let's pack up our infant, our two giant dogs, my food-processor, stand-mixer, 18 All-Clad pots and pans, 14 professional-grade knives, panini-press, waffle-maker, ice-cream maker, deep-fat fryer, and of course, my thoughtful collections of shoes, coats and denim and hit the road for parts unknown." Of course, with all things considered, it will still be months away, but knowing now that my (conventional) professional career aspirations are to be put on hold, I have decided to dip my toes in the blogging waters if for no other reason than to explore my fears and considerable apprehensions about living abroad.