Week 9: Nick's Winning Dish

Nick knew what the winning dish was before he even got through the rest of the week. After I made cauliflower gnocchi with zucchini and whipped goat cheese, he remarked "yeah, good luck beating this dish." It was that good. 

I made the cauliflower gnocchi from scratch which was actually easier than I thought. The only issue was it became mushy once I boiled it and a lot of them stuck together—but you can't tell with the delicious  breadcrumbs (toasted with basil and parmesan) on top. The zucchini was caramelized with shallots, thyme, lemon zest, and lots of butter. It was then all dished over goat cheese that was whipped with olive oil and lemon juice. My right arm is going to be so muscular after all the cheese grating and whisking I've been doing lately. 

For dessert, I made a blackberry cobbler based on a recipe my mom used to make when I was little. I asked her to dig for it because everything I found online just didn't seem quite what I remembered. She managed to find the old cut-out recipe and said it was the crustiest recipe from her collection. We made it that much. Of course, growing up in Oregon allowed us to pick our own marionberries which have their own special flavor. 

The night I wanted to make it I realized I didn't have enough berries and was so disappointed after turning the oven on. I have a 24-hour grocery store across the store but I was too lazy to put on real clothes. So I was really excited to make the following night. Topped with vanilla ice cream, I was transported to my childhood, going back to memories of eating this on a warm summer night.

Other contenders this week:

NY Strip Steak with Bearnaise Sauce & Sauteed Spinach (topped with leftover breadcrumbs)

Mexican Chopped Salad

Gochujang Chicken & Crispy Rice

Rigatoni, Sausage, & Broccoli Rabe

Turmeric & Ginger Meatballs in a Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, Served Over Couscous & Topped with Yogurt Sauce