Kasha Varnishkes

So it was the New Year and all that, and since I was coming home early I figured I'd try my hand at some vaguely traditional foods. Not that these are old family traditions or anything; the only kasha varnishkes I've ever had were made by me. But there are arguments in favor of modifying one's diet over the course of the year in response to changes in weather, day length, and available foods, and traditional seasonal dishes provide ways to accomplish this. Christmas cookies, for example, provide extra carbohydrates that boost our serotonin production in the darker months of winter. Easter eggs provide easily-assimilable protein for the renewed muscle activity of springtime. Most traditional Thanksgiving dishes take advantage of seasonally-available produce. Anyway, all of this is obvious, but it explains why I sometimes attempt to follow established dietary traditions despite my lack of personal connection to any of them.

Meanwhile, the recipe I used can be found here.

I used whole-wheat penne instead of bow-tie egg noodles, and butter rather than chicken fat, and a touch of fresh thyme rather than the other fresh herbs, since that's what I have. I think it came out perfectly, and it was very quick. The Taster-In-Chief understands, I think, that buckwheat is kind of a weird taste that must be acquired, but so far I don't believe he's acquired it. Maybe after a few years of this...