It is always nice to hear that someone who makes stuff that you like, likes what you do too. When Ed Droste, founder of Brooklyn-based band Grizzly Bear, mentioned Lottie + Doof on his twitter feed I quickly heard from a bunch of loyal Grizzly Bear fans and I knew that Ed would be an excellent guest for L + D.

I’ve been a fan of Grizzly Bear since I first heard Horn of Plenty back in 2004. A mutual friend sent me the album and I was immediately drawn to the music. Several years later, Grizzly Bear has transformed from Ed’s solo project into one of the most compelling and popular bands making music today. The group has legions of very devoted followers who are attracted to the foursome’s moody and seductive music. Grizzly Bear fans had been eagerly anticipating the band’s third studio album, Veckatimest, which was released yesterday. The album does not disappoint, and critics have been heaping well-deserved praise upon the group.

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Green City Market has returned to Lincoln Park in Chicago, marking the official beginning of farmers market season in the Midwest. It was good to see familiar faces on Wednesday morning as a very sleepy me made his way through the park. I start work at 9am (my other job) and so on Wednesday mornings during the summer I wake up early and get to the market around 8am. It isn’t easy, but I’m always glad I went. It is early in the season so there were lots of greens and asparagus to choose from. I found some scallions and chives to use in a very simple frittata.

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This weekend a car full of my favorite ladies drove from New York to Chicago on a roadtrip. I wanted to make something delicious for them and I pretty quickly decided on Macaroni and Cheese. Mostly because, like me, my dear friend Tini can’t get enough cheese. She asks for extra cheese on everything and usually is upset because it still isn’t enough (lucky for her, she has the metabolism of a hummingbird). In honor of Tini and our mutual love of cheese, I decided to try to combine a few of our favorite things into one perfect dish of baked pasta. read more+++

Between work, travel, and house guests, I haven’t been in the kitchen as much as usual. I did, however, make this pasta which has become one of our favorite dishes as well as one of the most frequently cooked meals in our house. It is simple to put together and so delicious. It combines three of my favorite flavors: bacon, onions and tomatoes. Great for a casual dinner in front of the tv but good enough for company. read more+++

The latest issue of Saveur features an article on eating in Atlantic City in the 1980’s. The essay made me nostalgic for the east coast, the 80’s and even for Atlantic City. It is funny how we can feel these close connections to places we have never been. There is this mythology surrounding east coast Italian-American food that affects me even though I grew up in the Midwest. The article inspires images of red vinyl booths, dyed hair, plastic coated menus, muscle cars, perfume, checkered tablecloths, red sauce and high heels. These food mythologies add story to the recipes we cook and connect us to the past; we can be a teenager in New jersey, a grandmother in New Orleans, or a hippie in Berkeley. read more+++

I spend a lot of time in NYC, it is my other hometown. Most of my closest friends live there and I try to visit as often as possible. Our favorite pastime is eating. They take me to their favorite places which quickly become my favorite places. One of these favorites is Mercadito, a small Mexican restaurant in the east village with really outstanding food and superb drinks. A while back, Mercadito opened a new space, just across Avenue B from their old space, called Mercadito Cantina. It is a slicker more designy space but the food is equally delicious. I was particularly impressed with the green rice casserole I ordered. It was a mix of melted cheese and perfectly flavored rice topped with more deliciously browned cheese. It was amazing. I have thought of it often since. read more+++

I’m a huge fan of risotto, it is my #1 comfort food. There is nothing like a bowl of creamy risotto and green salad for dinner. Risotto is especially great because it is so easy to customize. I’ve made so many varieties using flavorings like saffron, lemon, red wine and stirring in things like squash, spinach, bacon, and a variety of cheeses. Once you get the basic technique down, it is an easy dish to experiment with— great for the home cook that likes a solid structure with room to play around.

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I really lucked out with Bryan’s family, they are all great. I often listen to friends tell stories about their in-laws and feel lucky to have it so good. A few weeks ago, Bryan’s sister Heather came to visit. We were excited for her stay and we wanted to cook some good food for her— a sort of belated Christmas dinner. She’s a vegetarian and it got me thinking about dietary restrictions and menu planning. read more+++

At Lottie + Doof we’re aware that the economy has fallen apart. Everyone is concerned about the future and we’re all trying to be frugal. This is the first in a three part series aimed at helping you save money while continuing to eat pretty fantastic food.

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Every year I make some resolutions related to food. I usually give up on them a few weeks into the new year. One always seems to be that I will cook dinner/lunch more often and eat out less, both for health and financial reasons. In an effort to make this one stick, I have been on the lookout for very quickly prepared meals that are also delicious. This recipe for pasta with pecorino and black pepper is one of those recipes. It came together in about 10 minutes and was extremely delicious. We ate it with an arugula salad and an orange to balance out the cup of cheese. It will become a regular at our house, especially since the ingredients are usually on hand. Here’s hoping that 2009 is finally the year that I eat at home more than I eat out. I’ll keep you posted… read more+++