Sweet Potato mystery solved! Yesterday morning, I woke up with an odd craving for the prepared foods bar at Whole Foods (yes, Whole Paycheck, I know. But at least I'm getting a paycheck these days). I didn't want anything in particular--I've only every eaten their prepared food a few times--but that's how my cravings work sometimes, and so I didn't ask questions, I just followed my stomach's lead. Actually, the 8 degree temperature did give me pause, but only briefly. Since the Ice Age began two days ago, I've perfected a form of heat containment that I call the Russian Grandma Method, which involves my scarf and some hats and hoods. I'm sure you can imagine. It's very warm. I also wore two layers of pants and three shirts.
So I waddled to the subway and took it down to the Time Warner Center, which is essentially a mall. A mall, albeit, with two of the supposed best restaurants in New York and Bouchon Bakery and Williams-Sonoma and a gym and more designer names than Rodeo Drive... And Whole Foods. I loaded my eco-friendly container with delicious-looking salads and curries and rice. (I'm generally not one to complain about my food mixing together, but they should consider getting compartmentalized boxes. Salmon salad and chicken korma are not a match made in heaven.) As I was walking toward the checkout, I passed the produce section and spotted a large display of sweet-potato-looking things. I went over, and there were three signs posted over three distinct sections: Jewel Yams (from North Carolina), Garnet Yams (also N.C.), and California Sweet Potatoes. More importantly, there was a laminated card underneath explaining that all "yams" grown in the U.S. are actually sweet potatoes, even though they're "traditionally" called yams. It said that real yams are virtually impossible to find in most grocery stores, so you shouldn't worry about buying one by mistake.
So I bought two.
Plus a delicata squash and some carrots. And I roasted them with lots of garlic and rosemary and sage in olive oil, and I threw in some cranberries too. Then I ate two big bowls of it for dinner, and that's all I have to say about that.
In other food news, this week is Restaurant Week! There are 250 restaurants doing prix fixe menus for $25 (lunch) or $35 (dinner). Where should I go?! I'm afraid that all the spots are already booked, but I just can't choose. Any advice? I don't like fussy French food or food that looks more like modern art. I like...pretty much everything else.
Now that I'm back into somewhat of a routine, I'm going to try to blog more about adventures in my own kitchen. December was kind of a crazy month, and I did barely any of my own cooking, and, well, let's just say Zin For Breakfast should have been retitled Refined Sugar for Breakfast (and Lunch and Dinner). The key, for me, is to allow myself to spend money on groceries on a fairly regular basis because, when I spend that money up front, I'm more likely to guilt myself into cooking, rather than being lazy and spending even more on prepared food. So that's my New Year's resolution to you, readers. All 7 of you, according to Google.
Also, I hate reading posts with no pictures, so I'll try to get on that too. Now, time for another hot shower.
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