08/23 there were some lovely tuna steaks at the store tonight, and i was looking to make a light and simple meal. i marinated the pretty red tuna in olive oil, soy sauce, garlic and ginger. then coated the steaks with toasted sesame seeds and pan seared them. for simple sides i made edamame and roasted cauliflower. classics that are always well received on the plate!
08/24 i was so very, very happy with how tonight's meal came out! it was exactly the flavors i was hoping for. to recreate the bbq chicken pizza that california pizza kitchen is known for. i know, purists out there will say that chicken has no business being on a pizza. and if we were talking new york pizza? i'd agree.... but this is more of a "flat bread". and with those? no restrictions to the toppings!!! i did cheat, and use a pre made pizza crust. i'm sure homemade would've been better, but i was short on time tonight. the toppings consisted of rotisserie chicken, cheddar, bbq sauce, chopped red onions and cilantro. a very happy combination of flavors!
08/25 tonight's experimental meal was chicken salsa verde. chicken breasts slow cooked in a mild tomatillo salsa topped with queso fresco, scallion and cilantro. i've had it in restaurants before. always served with tortillas. but the chicken has so much flavor that it stands on it's own! not too spicy. and fork tender. for sides i made some mashed black beans and sweet corn cakes. you know, the kind you get at most tex-mex chain restaurants? those sweet corn cakes. such a great accompaniment to the chicken!
08/26 it's friday night, and time to explore our local restaurants!!! tonight tony and i went to "mesab cafe", a newly opened ethiopian restaurant nearby. i've only had ethiopian a few times, but i love the atmosphere of it! the fact that utensils are replaced with bread? brilliant. i had a starter of injera and tomato salad followed by an entree of awaze tibs. injera is the ever present bread of the cuisine. a soft, spongy flat bread that is a scary shade of grey, but quite pleasing to the palette. torn to bits and tossed with tomatoes and seasonings, this is sort of the ethiopian version of italy's panzanella. awaze tibs are pieces of beef tossed with the most amazing assortment of spices and onions. it's hard to compare it to any other cuisine, the flavors are so unique unto themselves. all i can say is that if you haven't had the opportunity? try it!!!!
08/27 i have very vivid memories of the first time i had coconut shrimp. it was an appetizer i ordered at duclaw brewery just north of baltimore. one bite, and i was hooked. crispy. sweet. salty. and served with the most amazing sauce! it's a delicacy i don't often indulge in. then i came across a recipe for BAKED coconut shrimp. all the flavor, with a fraction of the caloric guilt. peeled and deveined shrimp dusted with flour, then dipped in beaten egg, and rolled in a coconut panko combination. baked at 425 for 15 minutes (turn half way through) and these were every bit as crispy as their fried brethren!!! now the key is the dipping sauce. for these beauties i mixed mango chutney (from trader joes) with a little rice vinegar, a bit of thai chili sauce, and a touch of mayonnaise. it was....perfection. a side of glazed carrots and fresh pineapple complimented the flavors wonderfully!
08/28 tonight we had an invite to our friends home to sample some of his culinary experiments. happy to support another person with kitchen interests, tony and i meandered down the street for some fresh off the smoker chicken and pork belly. the chicken was tender and juicy, the pork belly was crisp and flavorful. both smoker successes! not one to show up empty handed, i made a batch of the mexican street corn salad i've become so fond of, and an avocado citrus salad. refreshing sides to a lovely summer meal. a very happy sunday indeed!
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