Get to Know a Serious Eater.

rllevy's Profile

Website:

Location: Missouri

About: I'm a chemical engineer working in food technology out in Missouri... yep, I pretty much have THE coolest foodie job ever. I work primarily with commercial leavening and moisture-retention products.

Favorite foods: pesto, sundried tomatoes, baby carrots, fuji apples, a good glass of dry red wine or belgian beer, olives, vanilla, citrus, tofu, beans, anything spicy, caramelized or truffle-infused pad thai, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cheese

Last bite on earth: A Mr. Softee ice cream cone with chocolate shell dip

The Ten Most Recent Posts By rllevy

From Talk

30 minute menu that does NOT taste like Rachel Ray

Posted by rllevy, March 15, 2008 at 1:54 PM

I have to cook dinner for someone I'd like to impress after a round of tennis today. We will be starving and considering I ragged on their 'cooking' last time (steaming veggies in the microwave, heating a can of tomato sauce and some pasta), I have to save face and not do that.

It should take under 30 minutes and require less than 10 ingredients -- the cooking location in question has a few pots and pans but virtually no other cooking "stuff". There's no dietary or cost restrictions, although I'd like to avoid doing the "one can of this, one can of that" thing.

I have a trader joe's, whole foods and normal grocery at my disposal, so basically anything is fair game. I'm not sure about how adventurous my co-diner is -- they have lived in LA, ATL, Cambridge/London and finally STL as well as summered on Cape Cod, but I've never seen any indication of culinary adventure-ness.

Right now I'm thinking the babbo bucatini all'amatriciana, but I've never cooked bacon before (not a lie) so I'm a little nervous about burning it.

suggestions? thoughts? I have no idea what I will be cooking for a vegetable; probably a salad since the pasta looks quite heavy.

11 Comments

The Ten Most Recent Comments By rllevy

From Talk

Sex Before Dinner or Dinner Before Sex?

either during -- don't pretend you've never wanted to use "I think I left my wallet in the coat check" and the element of surprise. text messages are excellent for maintaining discretion and composure.

or after. there's nothing sexier than the moment when you touch the other person's arm and they realize "wait, we're going home to... score!". and then welcome to the world's longest train ride.

although, eliot spitzer, I wouldn't try to put multiple moves on your wife just yet. the 10-course meal is consolation prize enough.

rllevy at 2:10PM on 03/15/08

From Talk

30 minute menu that does NOT taste like Rachel Ray

hmmm but did it require a decent amount of spices? There is no spice rack at the cooking location.

rllevy at 2:05PM on 03/15/08

From Talk

What should I buy at Trader Joe's?

frozen broccoli, punjab spinach sauce, cheap tofu, cheap brie, mixed sixpacks of beer (if you're a ratebeers.com addict like i am, this is clutch), relatively good inexpensive organic/free range meats, precut veggies, greek yogurt, larabars, pound plus belgian chocolate, almond milk, I must be forgetting something.

be warned, they will discontinue at least 1 or 2 things you fall in love with (mint hot chocolate? chicken masala bowl? shirataki noodles? tagine sauce? oh the heartbreak!). trader joes will tear out your heart, but you'll keep coming back for more...

rllevy at 2:03PM on 03/15/08

From Talk

Who partakes in a little fast food action?

steak & shake all the way, baby.

nothing beats a frisco melt, small fries and kid's strawberry milkshake when drunk a 3am.

I'm obviously a midwestern girl ;)

rllevy at 1:58PM on 03/15/08

From Talk

What popular foods do you hate?

chocolate.

i know. i'm not human.

rllevy at 10:52PM on 02/18/08

From Talk

What is your favorite local microbrewery?

oh, also, almost forgot... the schlafly tap room. their year-round beers are pretty pedestrian. the irish stout is pretty good. but their seasonals? aw man. I've been known to stockpile the Raspberry Hefeweizen in my basement.

rllevy at 4:06PM on 02/16/08

From Talk

What was the greatest dish you've ever eaten in your life?

truffle risotto a few years ago at Tony's in St. Louis. Oh. My. God.

rllevy at 4:01PM on 02/16/08

From Talk

Question of the Day: Is your sweetheart a "foodie"?

boyfriend and I are examples of "polar opposites". last week, he adorably puppy-happy dragged me into his kitchen and said "you're going to be so proud of me, I spend almost 200 bucks on groceries today!". I think I counted a good 10 boxes of totino's pizza rolls... those are what, 3.99 a pop?

rllevy at 3:58PM on 02/16/08

From Talk

What is your favorite local microbrewery?

I'm a Philadelphia native, so I'd take off my right arm for a yuengling...

but now I live in Beer Capitol, USA aka St. Louis, MO.

Despite AB, there's a bunch of great small craft breweries around. My favorite right now is O'Fallon -- their smoked porter is a "beer that drinks like a meal". It's not the beer to drink if you're going drinking all night, but it's a fantastic sensory experience. Their 5-day IPA is also wonderful.

Square One Brewery makes some good food and the beer ain't too bad either.

rllevy at 3:07PM on 02/16/08

From Talk

Do you brown bag it for lunch?

I typically grab snacks throughout the day since I don't usually get an hour free at work. On the rotation have been...

- greek yogurt with a touch of honey
- baby carrots/celery
- fuji apples
- string cheese
- clementines

I cook a medium/large batch of soup or stew at the beginning of the week, freeze 2 and then alternate with the previous week's soup for my main "meal" around noon-1pm. This week, it's chili with 2 types of beans, corn, peppers, onions, etc. Last week it was butternut squash soup with some yogurt pureed in for a bit of extra protein.

I also eat breakfast at work; I cook steel-cut oats with a bit of almond milk and dried cranberries in the crock pot over the weekend, freeze and bring to work.

the ziploc screw-top containers are a godsend. They don't leak, stack in the freezer fairly well and can stand up to the microwave.

rllevy at 1:03PM on 02/03/08

Responses to Comments by rllevy

From Talk

30 minute menu that does NOT taste like Rachel Ray

I'm sorry in advance, but I just can't help myself.

You say you want a 30 minute menu that doesn't taste like Rachel Ray? What does Rachel Ray taste like, and how do you know?

Ba-dum-bump!

Thank you, I'll be here all week.

Calichef at 12:00AM on 03/20/08

From Talk

30 minute menu that does NOT taste like Rachel Ray

If you're into Pasta, you can try this Easiest Baked Pasta or the ">Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes.

If you're in the mood for "Mexican" with an Italian twist, try these Quesadillas Caprese.

If you're in the mood for French, try these Spinach Crepes. The crepes are bought and the rest is really easy to make in just 1 pan.

If you want a salad to accompany the pastas, try this simple easily dressed salad.

Good luck!

Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking

MadelynRodriguez at 11:06PM on 03/19/08

From Talk

Sex Before Dinner or Dinner Before Sex?

No salacious details asked for nor desired. Just curious about sequencing of two of life's greatest pleasures.

Fat and Happy Food Slut at 2:24PM on 03/19/08

From Talk

Sex Before Dinner or Dinner Before Sex?

Sex before dinner and the leftovers for after. Is there wine with this dinner and or sex?

JerzeeTomato at 4:17PM on 03/18/08

From Talk

What should I buy at Trader Joe's?

The Trader Joe's in my "area" is not really convenient to visit. But, on my last trip to TJ, I was gifted with their signature TJ re-usable sack. I am very proud to have received this gift. I was in a silly mood and was mentally caught up in a Seinfeld episode. The one where Elaine danced. We were in the frozen food isle and apparently, my "performance" was observed by several TJ employees. And The Award Goes To?................................

crazyspice at 7:08PM on 03/17/08

From Talk

What should I buy at Trader Joe's?

Browse the freezer section! Most things are surprisingly good. TJs bread with Lemon Curd is fantastic. I love snacking on almost all of their dried fruit.

Unfortunately, I'm stuck in GR, Michigan, and I am TJ-less. So sad. Have fun! Shopping there is always exciting! ^_^

Skythe at 5:24PM on 03/17/08

From Talk

What should I buy at Trader Joe's?

This post makes me want to cry :(

I had a major TJ dependency when I lived in Boston. I was ecstatic when they opened in NYC, and devastated when I moved back to Miami. No stores set to open in FL yet...

bitchincamero at 3:44PM on 03/17/08

From Talk

What should I buy at Trader Joe's?

@cybercita -- oh gawd, you tried that nasty rooibos stuff too?? i don't even know what to do with it. i'd be wasteful if i throw it out, delusional if i drink another one, mean if i give it to a friend, and just a plain ass if i donate it to charity.

but i'll probably try tj's tea again. maybe plainer varieties. just b/c i'm a sucker for them :(

cafepeach at 2:28PM on 03/17/08

From Talk

What should I buy at Trader Joe's?

I wish a Trader Joes was opening near me. sigh....I have my mom ship me the Trader Joes brand cream shave- in mango vanilla-(similar to Alba brands cream shave) I realize it's not really food related but wow (!!) is is great stuff and smells DELICIOUS!

bisbee at 2:15PM on 03/17/08

From Talk

What should I buy at Trader Joe's?

@cafepeach, just looked at your link. funny that the consensus is the same: irish tea good. tarted up tea, not good. {that rooibos stuff is just plain nasty!}

cybercita at 2:07PM on 03/17/08