Meals 228-234

08/15 as long as i've known tony, he has been a huge fan of the morning star spicy black bean patties as a go-to quick lunch choice. for those of you out there hating on veggie burgers.....i'm not trying to convince you this is a hamburger substitute, that you won't even notice it isn't meat. it is it's own delicious entity, that is definitely not a burger, and definitely tasty. tonight i did homemade versions of this vegetarian wonder. this powerhouse of a patty has black beans, quinoa, scallion, corn and a variety of spices. and since the natural side dish for a burger is fries? i bakes up some sweet potato fries! and a little tomato and avocado to finish things off. not as easy as the microwavable kind of veggie burger, but every bit as tasty!

08/16 tonight i wanted to experiment with a fish i had never made before....red snapper. every time i see it at the seafood counter i am smitten by the bright pink scales. in searching for recipes, the "vera cruz" style kept popping up. a spicy tomato sauce flavored with jalapeños, capers, green olives, onion and garlic. and a whole handful of herbs and spices. snapper is a stronger flavored fish, with a firm texture. it stands up well to the hearty sauce! i served the fish on a bed of garlic mashed cauliflower, which was perfect for soaking up all the extra sauce! adding a side of roasted asparagus completed the dish.

08/17 tonight i ventured out to meet some co-workers for a wine and cheese night. my meal consisted of green peppercorn sausage, smoked havarti, cranberry chèvre and fresh veggies. and of course....wine!

08/18 as often as i make stuffed chicken breast dinners, i decided to mix things up a bit and do a stuffed pork tenderloin for tonight's meal. specifically a "cubano" stuffed pork loin. a small loin butterflied and flattened. a healthy spread of mustard. layers of ham, swiss and sweet pickles. a dry rub of brown sugar, cumin, thyme, garlic and oregano. all rolled up together and roasted.  all the amazing flavors of a cuban sandwich but without the extra calories and carbs of the bread. a side of spicy mashed black beans and fresh pineapple completed this meal!

08/19 as soon as we got the smoker, i knew one of the things i wanted to try was baby back ribs. wonderful, tender, flavorful baby back pork ribs. rubbed with a sweet and smokey combination of brown sugar, black pepper, paprika and garlic salt. slow smoked with hickory chips. drizzled with sweet baby rays just at the end.... the taste on these was AMAZING!!!! i want to try it a few more times to get the texture "fall off the bone" perfect. but these are definitely heading in the right direction. and for a side? i took our new found favorite of blue cheese cole slaw and moved it up another notch (if you can believe it). i added.....slivered granny smith apple! the sweet and tart addition of the green apple paired perfectly with the smokey pork ribs.

08/20 tonight tony and i took a stroll to the neighborhood irish pub for a night out and a much needed whiskey. while there i ordered a cheddar and tomato toastie (which is uk for grilled cheese). now a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich is a wonderful thing in it's own right. but at this particular establishment? there's a side that ups the ante. the usual plate comes with french fries. but if you are nice to your bartender? and known to give good tips? they will happily serve those french fries with CURRY SAUCE!!!!!!!! it is the most wonderful savory spiced gravy known throughout good chip shops across the uk. and o'sullivans does it right!

08/21 when i first started talking about this culinary goal of mine, i pulsed my co-workers to see if they had any special or signature dishes they could recommend to add to the rotation. one co-worker told me she was known for her jerk chicken. and the key ingredient was "walkerswood" seasoning. luckily i stumbled across a jar at one of our local markets!! now this jerk seasoning is not for the faint of heart! one of the main ingredients is scotch bonnets (habanero peppers) so you know it's going to have some heat. i used a generous amount of the mix with chicken broth and lime juice as a marinade for a mix of chicken breast and thighs. i let the mix sit overnight, then baked at 375 until done! the result was a spicy, but oh-so-flavorful fall apart tender and juicy chicken. served with corn on the cob and some cilantro lime rice. a lovely way to end the weekend!

Happy 50th Mom and Dad!!!

as i mentioned, my gift to my parents was to make a brunch for them, and the family. ever since i was tall enough to reach the counter tops in my parents kitchen, i've wanted to cook for them. to show them my love and gratitude through the best way i knew how....food. so it seemed fitting that i continue the gift for this amazing and momentous occasion. i tried to meet their favorites, and add some new treats i though they may like!

a good brunch should always have some colorful fresh fruits. i know my mom's favorite is mango, and luckily i found some gorgeous mango in the store! next to the ripe strawberries they made for a bright addition to the table.

trying to appeal to the more health-concious in the crowd, i set out some yogurt and berry parfaits. creamy greek yogurt with layers of fresh raspberries and blueberries. all topped with granola for that pleasing "crunch" texture. a big thank you to tony for assembling these for me!!!

since it was a "brunch" and not a breakfast, i though a salad was appropriate to put on the table. i made a large plate of one of my favorites, caprese salad with fresh peaches. pretty much everyone there had eaten caprese salad, but they all looked at me sideways when they saw the peaches. i assured them, as i assure everyone.....basil and peach are meant to be best friends. and much to my surprise? this dish was the first to disappear!!

it wouldn't be a brunch of mine if there wasn't something made in a muffin tin. i've written about these beauties before.....eggs baked in hash brown nests and topped with cheese. a quick and easy way to serve a savory entree to a large crowd! 

i knew it was going to be a mix of generations to feed. and some rather picky palettes. the one thing everyone can agree on in my family? chicken nuggets. so i relied on a party favorite i've made before....mini chicken and waffles. so easy. so tasty. so popular!!! there was not a single crumb left by the end of the meal!! 

what's better than bacon? bacon that has been candied with brown sugar and cracked black pepper!!! is it dessert? is it meat? yes. and yes. when the sugar mixes with the fat as it bakes, this wonderful toffee crisp develops. this is always a crowd pleaser. and honestly? really easy to make, if you know the tricks.  i use thick slab bacon coated with brown sugar and just a little bit of black pepper. then.....1) cook the bacon in the oven at 400F for about 15-20 minutes (be sure not to burn) 2) lay the bacon on wire racks so the fat drips away, creating that wonderful crisp texture 3) MOST IMPORTANT....place those racks of bacon on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. when that fat drips away? it is a nasty mess. this way you just wait for the foil to cool, ball it up, and throw it away. no scrubbing needed!

i saw the idea for these on ye ole pinterest and have been anxious to try them. crescent rolls (yes the kind that pillsbury makes...not snobbery here) filled with NUTELLA AND PEANUT BUTTER. can you imagine a better combination? warm buttery flaky bread filled with a center of creamy gooey wonderful tastiness? i was so hoping there would be some of these left over at the end of the night, but alas....not a single roll survived the slaughter. if you ever need a quick dish to bring to a pot luck (brunch or otherwise)? i highly recommend these!

one of the earlier recipes i taught myself to make was a proper scone. i've done a variety over the years. seasonal pumpkin scones. savory cheddar bacon scones. fancy fig and chèvre scones. but my favorite has been, and will always be....a blueberry scone. made even better with the addition of a lemon glaze. 

i promised my aunties i would share the recipe, so here it is!!

keep in mind the trick to a good scone is DO NOT OVERWORK THEM. when it says "mix just until combined"? it means it. if you have lumps of butter? that's ideal. it shouldn't be smooth. you aren't making cake. you're making scones. and you NEED lumps of butter for that flaky texture. so even though it looks like a bowl of gravel? walk away. just. walk. a. way. well, put the scones in the oven first. then walk away. and make some tea. and get ready to enjoy.

Buttermilk Blueberry Scones
2 c flour
1/4 c sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 oz COLD butter; cut into small pieces
3/4 c COLD buttermilk
1/2 c blueberries
1 egg, beaten
1 c powdered sugar
1/2 lemon, juiced

-preheat oven to 400F
-combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
-add butter with a pastry cutter until mixture looks like a coarse meal.
-add buttermilk gradually just until combined.
-gently fold in blueberries.
-gently form into triangles or rounds on a baking sheet
-brush tops with beaten egg
-bake for 15 minutes (until golden)
-once cooled, combine powdered sugar with lemon juice and drizzle on tops of scones

Meals 221-227

08/08 for tonight's meatless monday meal i wanted to pay homage to my favorite little taco truck in chincoteague. so i made some vegetarian friendly portobello and poblano tacos with sides of mashed beans and mexican street corn salad. i sautéed the peppers and mushrooms with some onions and spices just until the were soft. then placed them on a flour tortilla with a drizzle of chipotle sour cream and a sprinkling of queso fresco. a very satisfying veggie taco! made even better by that wonderful side of street corn salad!!

08/09 tonight's meal was an eastern twist on an american classic. a curried chicken burger. ground chicken tossed with curry powder, coriander and a smattering of fresh veggies. cooked on a griddle until crisp and brown. served bunless, topped with a spicy mango chutney and a side of curried chickpeas salad.

08/10 this is one of the meal's i had marked for this year that i was SUPER excited about making. MUSSELS!!!!!!! i'll be honest, mussels themselves aren't really my thing. i mean, they're ok. but...kinda weird. but the ritual of eating mussels, is such a beautiful and wonderful thing, i knew i wanted to try it at home as part of my goal this year! a pot of savory broth serving as a bath for those shy mollusks. the surgical precision of removing that small bit of meat from the dark and unyielding shell. the thick and crusty bread served to soak up all the wonderful flavorful broth. a meal of mussels can't be rushed. the very nature of it forces you to sit, savor, enjoy!

i've had many wonderful styles of mussels over the years, but tonight i wanted to try a spanish take on the meal. a broth of red wine, purple onions and chorizo. it was a hearty broth, almost a stew, that made for such an amazing base to this meal! i served this with a light salad of endive and green apple. and of course the requisite crusty french bread. it definitely pleased my palette!!!

08/11 tonight i went north to the family homestead to begin what will be a weekend long of festivities. it is my parent's 50th wedding anniversary!!  so immediate and extended families have all gathered to share stories, pictures, love and FOOD! my parent's kicked off things tonight with a classic maryland feast. steamed crabs, fried chicken, watermelon, corn on the cob, berger cookies and  one of my most beloved treats from my home town. turnovers from goll's bakery in havre de grace!!! i may have had a bite or two of chicken, but my meal definitely focused on those amazing mini cherry turnovers!!
 
08/12 after a day of pictures (reviewing pictures from the past and taking pictures of the present) the family met today at "the bayou". that would be pronounced "BAY-YOU" not "bahy-oo". a local seafood restaurant that provides a relaxed but upscale atmosphere perfect for large parties and special occasions! they have amazing scallops here that are topped with lump crabmeat and imperial sauce. so decadent, so good!!! the meal was only topped by the wonderful atmosphere of chatting with family. and it is such a treat to have my aunties here from out west! i see them all-too-rarely. and my nieces and nephew that have begun to grow up and scatter. i love seeing how they have grown into adults that i can laugh with!

08/13 we had a wonderful evening tonight at the local minor league ball park, watching the aberdeen iron birds play (and win). my parents had managed to get tickets for the entire family to come and enjoy the game. as an added luxury, we had club level access....which was a godsend as it had air conditioning!!!! tony and i spent the night strolling from section to section, sitting with the different family members, enjoying the game, laughing at the sights. it was "star wars night", which made for some great people watching.

one of the best parts of ripken stadium is the food. they have an amazing selection of eats for a ball park!! my personal favorite is the local delicacy "crab pretzel". a soft pretzel topped with cheesy crab dip. when i found out that tony had never had one? i bee-lined for the seafood shop they have and ordered one straight away. it was a perfect snack on a perfect night! made even better by the most brilliant of fireworks at the end. what a great way to say "happy anniversary" to my lovely parents!!

08/14 my gift to my parents for their anniversary was to host a brunch for the family before everyone started to part ways on sunday. i took over their kitchen early and cranked out a feast for the entire family (which i will post about separately.....with my scones recipe as promised to my aunt jackie). my only regret is that my dear niece emma and her husband had to leave before the food was ready!!! but emma, this is why you will come visit. and i will make you a brunch of your own!!!

Meals 214-220

08/01 after last week's "devil may care" menu, it's time to get back on track and back to the healthy foods today! this evening's meal was a bowl of soba noodles sautéed with broccoli rabe and carrots in a ginger garlic sauce. this was topped with hoisin glazed tofu. i know, obnoxiously healthy sounding right? and...it really is. but i promise, still tasty! if you aren't familiar with broccoli rabe (or rapini) it is a dark bitter green with small buds that look similar to small broccolis. the taste is fairly pungent, and holds up well to the flavors of garlic and ginger in the sauce. much like kale and regular broccoli, this plant has tons of vitamins A, C and K. not to mention calcium, potassium and iron. all things i am in need of!!

08/02 tonight's recipe was one that my friend gave me a while back, and i never got around to actually making. that's what i love about this year!! without this crazy goal i never would have known for myself how amazing these "sesame garlic tacos" were! i know her son and husband rave about them. and now i know why. the asian flavors in these tacos are outstanding! the ground beef was amazing. the cucumber-cabbage slaw was amazing. together they were exponentially amazing!

for the meat:
1 lb ground beef
2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp red chili paste
1/4 c soy sauce
3 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp rice vinegar

-brown meat in skillet. drain fat and set aside.
-in skillet warm sesame oil over medium heat.
-add garlic to oil. heat for 30 seconds.
-add remaining ingredients. stir and let boil for 5 minutes (until thickened-keep stirring so as not to burn).
-add beef to sauce, stir to coat

for the slaw:
1 cucumber, thinly sliced (i used the 3rd setting on a mandolin)
1 cup shredded red cabbage (i added some broccoli slaw and carrots)
1/4 c rice vinegar
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp sriracha sauce
1/2 tsp salt

-toss to combine.
-let stand 1 hour before serving.

08/03 tonight's recipe has a very special place in my culinary history and heart. chicken marsala is one of the first recipes that i taught myself to make. i had it at a local italian restaurant in my home town and fell in love with the rich, sweet, savory sauce. so after much research, much trial and much error, i have honed my personal recipe for the dish. it's taken me almost 20 years, but i am finally proud of my achievement!! this is the recipe that my parents request whenever i offer to cook for them. this is the recipe that made me want to learn to be a better cook!!! i know, that sounds hokey....but i feel that anyone who is passionate about cooking? has that ONE dish that inspired them to be in the kitchen. and this is mine. i used to serve it with rice, but lately i have found that a rosemary polenta is the perfect side dish to the meal! add a side of roasted tomatoes....and this is easily one of my all time favorite meals.

08/04 tonight's meal was a simple one, grilled rockfish with onion rings and asparagus. no fuss, and yet so tasty!!! i get the oven baked onion rings by alexia, so i don't feel so bad about eating them. they are about as healthy as an onion ring can be. so no guilt with this simple and delicious meal!

08/05 it has been far too long since we've patronized our favorite local restaurant, ford's fish shack! tonight we went for a belated birthday dinner. only once a year do i indulge myself in this amazing meal they call "the rack and tail" a quarter rack of baby back ribs served with a lobster tail. i am amazed at all the food they serve at ford's. how a seafood place can get ribs this tender and flavorful? boggles the mind. and the lobster tail....they serve it in a truly indulgent way.....DEEP FRIED. i know it sounds bizarre. but i promise you it is one of the best things i have ever had! and the plate is completed with shoe string fries and a parsley tarragon coleslaw. this entire meal is fantastic!!! over-the-top....but worth the calorie splurge!

08/06 tonight we went over to meet with friends to watch some of this summers' olympic games. they were gracious hosts and offered us a table full of food that included bbq chicken, burgers, salads and copious amounts of cheese! i truly believe that a shared love of cheese is the basis for a beautiful friendship....

08/07 it's been a while since we've brought out the smoker, and we wanted to get some use out of it. it only seems fitting that we sacrifice a gorgeous salmon filet to the smoker gods! i marinated this 3 lb beauty in a brine of water, salt and maple syrup. then smoked it until it was tender and delicious! it didn't have as much "smoke" as i thought it would, but the texture of the salmon was perfection. for sides we chose what has become the house classic: bleu cheese cole slaw, and some grilled corn on the cob. 

Meals 207-213

full disclosure my friends....this week? was not my finest in culinary achievements. in fact....i spent the majority of this week eating out. which is rare. but sometimes? you just have to have THAT week!

07/25 tony was out of town tonight so i invited some friends from work over for a "girl's night". this meant getting pedicures, watching horribly cheesy movies and gorging on one of my favorite cheap eats of all times.....velvetta shells and cheese. judge not!!!! these little vessels of creamy yellow cheese sauce have been a delight to me since i was seven years old. and i only allow myself to indulge in them once a year. usually because after i eat a bowl i remember how very awful i feel! but the tummy rumbles are worth it!!! i usually doctor the shells and cheese up a little by adding a few tablespoons of unsweetened tomato sauce, a pinch of sugar and a splash of cream. so wrong...and yet...so right

07/26 tonight i had the pleasure of meeting a very dear friend of mine (who i was way too long out of touch with) for dinner. we got some carry out from my favorite sushi place, miyagi's, and split the most amazing bottle of zinfandel she brought back from a trip to napa. we split a mix of yellow tail and salmon nigiri, and their japanese lasagna roll. which is pure heaven. it was such a wonderful evening of catching up!!

07/27 i had every intention of getting back in my kitchen tonight. but best laid plans and all... i ended up not getting home until well after 8 and i was STARVING. with no patience in my to suffer the grocery store, i instead opted for some szechuan dumplings from a nearby asian fusion place. "bamboo garden". now i love me a dumpling. in any way, shape or form. but a good szechuan dumpling? i especially adore. they take a little getting used to. the spicy red sauce they come smothered in is not for the faint of heart. they'll clear your sinuses....but it's worth the kleenex!

07/28 tonight was a happy hour at american tap room. while i find their drinks to be way over priced? their appetizer specials on happy hour are actually pretty reasonable. and damn tasty. i always have to get the bavarian pretzel with cheddar ale dip and honey mustard porter. that's a standard. but tonight i split an order of the "philly cheesesteak egg rolls" with my friend. they were....different. in a good way. shredded flank steak and peppers in a fried egg roll served with melted cheese sauce for dipping. healthy? not even a little bit. but this week? THERE ARE NO RULES!!!!!!!

07/29 with tony back in town, we went to our standard spot "the breeze" for a very light dinner. we split an order of fried green tomatoes, and i had a greek salad. we both had large lunches, and neither of us had much of an appetite. their greek salad was the perfect light meal!

07/30 once again my intentions to get back in the kitchen were thwarted this evening. an afternoon bike ride with friends turned into several hours of watching bad movies on netflix (sharknado 2 and 3....who knew sharks could live in space?) which then turned into a pizza run to mellow mushroom. we had some hard core "meatatarians" in the group who despise all things vegetable, so the order du jour was the carnivore lovers favorite "the mighty meaty" pizza.  the only vegetable was the tomato in the sauce. everything else was pig or cow......

07/31 carrying over the festivities from yesterday, tonight we reconvened with our friends for a last minute dinner party. our friend marinated a gorgeous flank steak on her grill, and we all brought sides to accompany. a pesto pasta salad. a peach caprese salad (that was my contribution), various cheese and baguettes, and a platter of fresh vegetables perfectly grilled. oh....and grilled cheese stuffed jalapeños. i could've sat and ate those all night and have been perfectly happy!

this weekend was not the most productive, but it was lovely to spend so much time with friends. next week i'll get back on track and back in the kitchen. but the goal still holds!!! haven't doubled up on a meal yet!!!!

Meals 200-206

07/18 tonight we met with our friends for our monthly dinner club! the choice du jour was "nomad cafe", a middle eastern cafe with hookah bar. to keep inline with meatless monday, i ordered the falafel wrap. it was....ok.....but the side of fried tater tots that came with it? THOSE were amazing!!



07/19 tonight i relied on an old time favorite of the household. grilled filet mignon with bleu cheese crumbles and caramelized onions, accompanied by a modified wedge salad. now a good steak on the grill is a thing of beauty. but topped with that sharp bleu cheese? and those sweet caramelized onions? takes it to a whole new level! i go by the alton brown method of caramelizing onions, which has never led me wrong:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/how-brown-was-my-onion-0133018.html

07/20 i know i just made scallops last week, but they are so wonderful as a grill option, i decided to make them again! this time i skewered them with orange slices, and covered them in a glaze made of honey, ginger and red chili paste. a little sweet. a little tangy. a little spicy. a whole lot delicious! my side was a simple tomato avocado salad. a nice light summer meal!

07/21 tonight was another girl's night at honey pig!!! i did indulge in the spicy pork belly again (because really, you can't NOT have spicy pork belly here). but changed up the meal with some fried dumplings and a "seafood pancake". look at this beautiful piece of meat.....getting all crisp and wonderful on the grill plate. this is why i love this place so much!!!!

07/22 the heat wave we've been having is getting out of control! another day where it is just too hot to turn on the oven....means another night of grilling out. which really is kind of a blessing in disguise. for tonight's meal i tackled a fickle mistress.....the grilled pork chop. these can be a thing of beauty? or a dry disaster. luckily tonight's meal was the latter. here are my tricks to a grilled pork chop. 1) brine. over night in buttermilk and hot sauce. 2) use THICK CUT CHOPS. thin ones dry out way to quickly. 3) oil and season well before placing on the grill. these are coated in a pesto. and 4) turn every five minutes until done. 5) let stand 10 minutes before cutting. since i coated these in pesto, a nice panzanella salad made for the perfect side dish!

07/23 we braved the brutal heat of the evening and ventured to meet some friends at nats park for a baseball game. there was a sandwich stand just behind us that served....falafel! i know i just had a falafel wrap a few nights ago, but since i found that meal rather disappointing, i had to satiate my craving by trying another take on the falafel wrap. this one, i am happy to say, was infinitely better! the falafels were well seasoned and not too dry. the tzatiki sauce was amazing (and so refreshing on such a hot day). and the pita was perfectly soft. and.....the nats one!!! at the bottom of the ninth. yay home team!

07/24 for tonight's grilled meal, i pulled some italian sausages out of the freezer. sautéed up some peppers and onions and threw those beauties on a soft bun. so good!!! for sides i made a quick massaged kale salad and grilled fruit. yes...grilled fruit. if you haven't tried it? i recommend it! especially grilled peaches and bananas. the heat brings out a natural caramel flavor that is amazing. just don't grill too long or you get mush!

to accompany our dinner this evening, i made one of tony's favorite drinks: fresh margaritas. these are different from the super sweet slushy variety you find in most tex-mex places, these are fashioned after the most amazing margaritas that i had the pleasure of enjoying at the hotel del angel in mexico city. this is their serene garden area were i spent a wonderful afternoon enjoying this crisp and refreshing drink that was far and away better than any green slush i had tasted in the states!

here they serve the margaritas the way we serve cocktails, shaken over ice and then strained into a stemmed martini glass.

what really makes these drinks so refreshing is the use of fresh citrus juice. no pre-made over sweetened lime juice. they use a mix of fresh limes and oranges.

the recipe for the margaritas:

1 1/2 oz silver tequila (100% agave blanco)

1/2 oz cointreau

juice of 2 limes

juice of 1/2 orange

2 tsp agave nectar

-shake over ice

-strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with salt

happy sunday. and cheers!!!