Monday, January 12, 2009

Jamie at Home



For those who are still sleeping at 7:30 on Saturday mornings, you're missing out on a great Food Network show. No, I'm not talking about "garbage bowl" Rachael Ray or the soft porn that is Sandra Lee, I'm talking about Jamie at Home with Jamie Oliver. OK I'll admit, the show is on real early for a Saturday and I'm usually sleeping too (unless an unlucky squirrel catches my eye - kill count now 72) but my DVR is a great friend and records it for me.

The show is a real gem. Jamie bases each episode on a particular ingredient and develops 3 or 4 or 5 dishes based on that ingredient. The dishes are often simple to prepare but the inspiration is based on seasonal produce, much of which comes directly from his home garden. For those who aren't willing to get up that early on a Saturday and don't have a DVR never fear, there's now a cookbook to go along with the TV series. I got mine from Mom as a Christmas present. Thanks Mom! The book is full of gardening tips, good recipes and lots of colored glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explainin' what each one was... just kidding, Arlo!

So enjoy the show or grab the book but take a lesson from Jamie: some of the best cooking is often a combination of seasonal ingredients and simple preparation, all treated with respect.