Sunday
Hamburger buddy (recipe in the comments)
Sliced tomatoes
Hot tea
Chocolate chip cookies
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We made this last summer fairly soon after we moved to Buffalo, which is odd because it's not a very summery meal. I think we were seeking comfort food in our new digs! Today is simply not a very summery day - high of 60 here! - so we're thinking comfort food again. This is supposed to be a substitute for Hamburger Helper, but I think anyone who was expecting Hamburger Helper would be really disappointed here. This is full of vegetables and has LOTS of thyme and other seasonings AND is not the fastest to prepare. We love it though and it makes a great Sunday dinner when the weather is just a little chilly and classes begin the next day. It's almost like a culinary way to say, "Welcome Fall!"
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Moderate
Chopping: Garlic, carrots, onion, parsley
Time: 40 minutes
Make ahead: This is great the next day and would probably even freeze pretty well.
Reaction
J: "This couldn't have come out of a box."
M: "Truly excellent!"
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday
Dad's ratatouille (recipe in the comments)
Israeli cous cous
Tilset cheese (a local variety)
Hot tea
Milk chocolate square with almonds
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It's funny that we just did another classic dish of my Dad's and now we're doing this one! We make his ratatouille every summer about this time when the squashes and eggplants are coming fast and furious at the farmers market. This is a very easy version of this dish, butI think the green olives really knock it out of the park. Many recipes don't use olives, but I think they're essential! We love this simply served with any grain. The cheese bulks things up, but we have had it many times without. What a wonderful late summer meal!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Onion, zucchini, squash, eggplant, pepper
Time: 10 minutes to prep, 30-45 to simmer
Make ahead: This saves very well.
Reaction
J: "More classic French."
M: "Ratatouille is the perfect summer dinner."
Dad's ratatouille (recipe in the comments)
Israeli cous cous
Tilset cheese (a local variety)
Hot tea
Milk chocolate square with almonds
______________________________________________________________
It's funny that we just did another classic dish of my Dad's and now we're doing this one! We make his ratatouille every summer about this time when the squashes and eggplants are coming fast and furious at the farmers market. This is a very easy version of this dish, butI think the green olives really knock it out of the park. Many recipes don't use olives, but I think they're essential! We love this simply served with any grain. The cheese bulks things up, but we have had it many times without. What a wonderful late summer meal!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Onion, zucchini, squash, eggplant, pepper
Time: 10 minutes to prep, 30-45 to simmer
Make ahead: This saves very well.
Reaction
J: "More classic French."
M: "Ratatouille is the perfect summer dinner."
Friday
Thai chicken and rice soup (Thank you Wegman's)
Salad
Hot tea
Milky Way
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My parents left this morning and M and I did a full day at working preparing for the new term that starts Monday. We needed the easiest dinner possible and Wegman's make it or take it soup was just what we were in the mood for! I don't like this one as much as their tomato orzo or black bean, but it was good and exactly the right difficulty level for tonight :)
Prep Notes
Difficulty: The definition of super easy
Chopping: The cucumber I put in the salad
Time: 12 minutes
Make ahead: Wegman's made it ahead for me :)
Reaction
J: "Not my favorite Wegman's soup, but very good."
M: Already snoozing :)
Thai chicken and rice soup (Thank you Wegman's)
Salad
Hot tea
Milky Way
______________________________________________________________
My parents left this morning and M and I did a full day at working preparing for the new term that starts Monday. We needed the easiest dinner possible and Wegman's make it or take it soup was just what we were in the mood for! I don't like this one as much as their tomato orzo or black bean, but it was good and exactly the right difficulty level for tonight :)
Prep Notes
Difficulty: The definition of super easy
Chopping: The cucumber I put in the salad
Time: 12 minutes
Make ahead: Wegman's made it ahead for me :)
Reaction
J: "Not my favorite Wegman's soup, but very good."
M: Already snoozing :)
Thursday - Out to dinner at Verbena
Unsurprisingly, given the glowing reviews we've been giving it, we felt we had to take my parents to Verbena. This is such a good restaurant. In general our experience was as good as ever, but the restaurant was much busier than the last two visits - a GREAT sign! The service was slightly less perfect than usual and my entree was not as good as the pasta I had the last time, but the special salad my parents shared and the striped bass my stepmom had were truly amazing. We also tried their coffee drinks for dessert, which were incredible. That combined with a FANTASTIC bottle of wine made for a GREAT evening. Thank you Verbena - we'll be back!
Unsurprisingly, given the glowing reviews we've been giving it, we felt we had to take my parents to Verbena. This is such a good restaurant. In general our experience was as good as ever, but the restaurant was much busier than the last two visits - a GREAT sign! The service was slightly less perfect than usual and my entree was not as good as the pasta I had the last time, but the special salad my parents shared and the striped bass my stepmom had were truly amazing. We also tried their coffee drinks for dessert, which were incredible. That combined with a FANTASTIC bottle of wine made for a GREAT evening. Thank you Verbena - we'll be back!
Wednesday
Coquilles St. Jacques (recipe in the comments)
Harvest grains
Balsamic shallot asparagus (recipe in the comments)
Salad
Hot tea
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This is one of my father's best recipes. We don't make it very often (though I'm never sure why), but it occurred to me that it would be wonderful to try his version. So, we made the sides and he made the scallops. It was FANTASTIC. This dish requires strict adherence to the technique (thank you, Julia Child!), but if done as instructed turns out incredibly and is not very hard. This is one that is sure to impress! Our family was very happy!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Shallot, garlic, parsley
Time: 40 minutes (including drying time)
Make ahead: I'd do all of this last minute - it was easy with all four of us contributing :)
Reaction
J: "Classic French excellence!"
M: "Scallops at their finest."
Coquilles St. Jacques (recipe in the comments)
Harvest grains
Balsamic shallot asparagus (recipe in the comments)
Salad
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
This is one of my father's best recipes. We don't make it very often (though I'm never sure why), but it occurred to me that it would be wonderful to try his version. So, we made the sides and he made the scallops. It was FANTASTIC. This dish requires strict adherence to the technique (thank you, Julia Child!), but if done as instructed turns out incredibly and is not very hard. This is one that is sure to impress! Our family was very happy!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Shallot, garlic, parsley
Time: 40 minutes (including drying time)
Make ahead: I'd do all of this last minute - it was easy with all four of us contributing :)
Reaction
J: "Classic French excellence!"
M: "Scallops at their finest."
Tuesday
Spicy Basque-style tofu (recipe in the comments from July 5, 2009)
Saffron rice (recipe in the comments from July 5, 2009)
Grilled squashes, eggplant, and onion
Hot tea
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We obviously just made this last month, so it's a fast repeat, but when we had it I thought that my Dad and stepmom would love this dinner, so I noted that we should have it during their visit. This also gave me the opportunity to try out our post-meal edits while I still remember the original. All mild chilies is a definite improvement. The whole meal was enjoyed by all and seemed to turn out especially perfectly. Too yummy.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Tofu, olives, parsley, grilling veggies halved
Time: 35 minutes
Make ahead: I'd do this last minute.
Reaction
J: "Good enough for a quick repeat!"
M: "Even better than last time!"
Spicy Basque-style tofu (recipe in the comments from July 5, 2009)
Saffron rice (recipe in the comments from July 5, 2009)
Grilled squashes, eggplant, and onion
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
We obviously just made this last month, so it's a fast repeat, but when we had it I thought that my Dad and stepmom would love this dinner, so I noted that we should have it during their visit. This also gave me the opportunity to try out our post-meal edits while I still remember the original. All mild chilies is a definite improvement. The whole meal was enjoyed by all and seemed to turn out especially perfectly. Too yummy.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Tofu, olives, parsley, grilling veggies halved
Time: 35 minutes
Make ahead: I'd do this last minute.
Reaction
J: "Good enough for a quick repeat!"
M: "Even better than last time!"
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday
Pan fried tilapia with chili lime marinade
Spaghetti estivi (recipe in the comments)
Salad with cherry tomatoes, onions, and chives
Hot tea
Various chocolates and cookies
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My dad and stepmother arrived today and so we're making a simple, but summer-y dinner. The main dish is a simple fish preparation, but the real star here is the side dish. Spaghetti estivi is a chilled tomato salad that you toss with freshly cooked hot pasta. The temperature contrast is great! This dish is really only good with very fresh tomatoes and basil - the perfect late summer meal. Pan fried fish is simple (see June 15, 2008) and we embellished a little with a marinade in lime juice, chili flakes, and a bit of canola oil before doing the fry prep. The whole meal was enjoyed by all.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Tomatoes, scallions, basil, onions, chives
Time: 30 minutes to make the tomatoes salad, chilling time, 30 minutes for the rest
Make ahead: It's necessary for the salad.
Reaction
J: "Fresh tomatoes define summer."
M: "Go James Beard!"
Pan fried tilapia with chili lime marinade
Spaghetti estivi (recipe in the comments)
Salad with cherry tomatoes, onions, and chives
Hot tea
Various chocolates and cookies
______________________________________________________________
My dad and stepmother arrived today and so we're making a simple, but summer-y dinner. The main dish is a simple fish preparation, but the real star here is the side dish. Spaghetti estivi is a chilled tomato salad that you toss with freshly cooked hot pasta. The temperature contrast is great! This dish is really only good with very fresh tomatoes and basil - the perfect late summer meal. Pan fried fish is simple (see June 15, 2008) and we embellished a little with a marinade in lime juice, chili flakes, and a bit of canola oil before doing the fry prep. The whole meal was enjoyed by all.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Tomatoes, scallions, basil, onions, chives
Time: 30 minutes to make the tomatoes salad, chilling time, 30 minutes for the rest
Make ahead: It's necessary for the salad.
Reaction
J: "Fresh tomatoes define summer."
M: "Go James Beard!"
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sunday
Salmon stuffed baked potatoes (recipe in the comments from November 17, 2007)
Sliced peaches
Hot tea
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We knew that our friend would be leaving today and that another round of guests would be arriving tomorrow, so we wanted something that could be made easily and where we could eat with T - something that's harder to work out when we have company. These are perfect. We put them together during nap time and even baked them. They're so good cold or warm that they made a perfect summer dinner simply with sliced fresh peaches (at true peak right now in western New York). The flavors here are perfect and I love the light outcome of such a seemingly rich dish. It's perfect!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy, but requires time
Chopping: Scallions
Time: 1 hour to bake potatoes + 30 minutes to stuff and re-bake
Make ahead: Absolutely
Reaction
J: "We've never made these in the summer, but they're perfect now too!"
M: "Potato and fish goodness."
Salmon stuffed baked potatoes (recipe in the comments from November 17, 2007)
Sliced peaches
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
We knew that our friend would be leaving today and that another round of guests would be arriving tomorrow, so we wanted something that could be made easily and where we could eat with T - something that's harder to work out when we have company. These are perfect. We put them together during nap time and even baked them. They're so good cold or warm that they made a perfect summer dinner simply with sliced fresh peaches (at true peak right now in western New York). The flavors here are perfect and I love the light outcome of such a seemingly rich dish. It's perfect!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy, but requires time
Chopping: Scallions
Time: 1 hour to bake potatoes + 30 minutes to stuff and re-bake
Make ahead: Absolutely
Reaction
J: "We've never made these in the summer, but they're perfect now too!"
M: "Potato and fish goodness."
Saturday
Alyssa's pulled pork sandwiches (recipe in the comments from July 30, 2009)
Corn on the cob
Grilled sweet peppers
Hot tea
Raspberry wine
Watermelon
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As I said the last time I posted this recipe, this meal is perfect for company. In fact I have written on the recipe,"This is my go-to summer company meal". It truly is. Tonight was Flynn's last night and her mom was back with us from camping, so it seemed a good night to do something very festive. The sweet corn is TRULY amazing right now and the watermelon is hard to beat. We finished our bottle of raspberry wine from our trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake over dessert and had a jolly evening. The pork is really hard to beat and the recipe makes enough that even with feeding company, we have enough to freeze for another meal for ourselves!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Super easy
Chopping: Shallot, bacon, watermelon, peppers
Time: 15 minutes to prep, 8-10 hours to cook, 25 minutes to pull and finish
Make ahead: Of course.
Reaction
J: "Company perfection."
M: "Bacon makes everything better."
Alyssa's pulled pork sandwiches (recipe in the comments from July 30, 2009)
Corn on the cob
Grilled sweet peppers
Hot tea
Raspberry wine
Watermelon
______________________________________________________________
As I said the last time I posted this recipe, this meal is perfect for company. In fact I have written on the recipe,"This is my go-to summer company meal". It truly is. Tonight was Flynn's last night and her mom was back with us from camping, so it seemed a good night to do something very festive. The sweet corn is TRULY amazing right now and the watermelon is hard to beat. We finished our bottle of raspberry wine from our trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake over dessert and had a jolly evening. The pork is really hard to beat and the recipe makes enough that even with feeding company, we have enough to freeze for another meal for ourselves!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Super easy
Chopping: Shallot, bacon, watermelon, peppers
Time: 15 minutes to prep, 8-10 hours to cook, 25 minutes to pull and finish
Make ahead: Of course.
Reaction
J: "Company perfection."
M: "Bacon makes everything better."
Friday - Out to dinner at Shango
When Flynn read our post back from April when we went to Shango, she commented that she wanted to try it too. So here we are with her visiting in August and we're back. First, the food was excellent again. Truly not a misstep from the marinated olives and vegetables to the entrees. That said, we had two problems - one minor and one major. The minor problem was that we forgot they didn't serve cocktails (only beer and wine) and we wereall in the mood for a cocktail before eating. Had we remembered, we would have stopped somewhere first. The second problem was muchmore serious and that was that we all felt a bit rushed. We had 7:15 reservations and were hoping for a relaxed meal to spend adult time with our visiting friend. We got our appetizers before the wine even came and the moment the appetizers were cleared the entrees went down. We were done by 8:30, which must be a record. In fact the hurried nature of the meal really contributed to our decision not to have dessert there, but to head back towards home and have coffee and dessert at Creekview. Though I am certain we'll go back to Shango for the excellent food, the hurried feel makes it seem like some different management decisions are in order.
When Flynn read our post back from April when we went to Shango, she commented that she wanted to try it too. So here we are with her visiting in August and we're back. First, the food was excellent again. Truly not a misstep from the marinated olives and vegetables to the entrees. That said, we had two problems - one minor and one major. The minor problem was that we forgot they didn't serve cocktails (only beer and wine) and we wereall in the mood for a cocktail before eating. Had we remembered, we would have stopped somewhere first. The second problem was muchmore serious and that was that we all felt a bit rushed. We had 7:15 reservations and were hoping for a relaxed meal to spend adult time with our visiting friend. We got our appetizers before the wine even came and the moment the appetizers were cleared the entrees went down. We were done by 8:30, which must be a record. In fact the hurried nature of the meal really contributed to our decision not to have dessert there, but to head back towards home and have coffee and dessert at Creekview. Though I am certain we'll go back to Shango for the excellent food, the hurried feel makes it seem like some different management decisions are in order.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Thursday
Cavatappi Nicoise (recipe in the comments from June 7, 2009)
Herbed goat cheese toasts (recipe in the comments from June 7, 2009)
Cantaloupe
Hot tea
Molasses cookies
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This was such a great new meal in June and since our friend Flynn likes goat cheese so much, this was a no brainer to have again. Everyone loved it and it makes enough so that we have tons of leftovers for a picnic tomorrow :) We're planning a hike if the weather is good!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Green beans, grape tomatoes, olives, shallots, parsley, thyme
Time: 40 minutes
Make ahead: It's going to be awesome for our picnic.
Reaction
J: "Still so French!"
M: "Still lovin' the toasts!"
Cavatappi Nicoise (recipe in the comments from June 7, 2009)
Herbed goat cheese toasts (recipe in the comments from June 7, 2009)
Cantaloupe
Hot tea
Molasses cookies
______________________________________________________________
This was such a great new meal in June and since our friend Flynn likes goat cheese so much, this was a no brainer to have again. Everyone loved it and it makes enough so that we have tons of leftovers for a picnic tomorrow :) We're planning a hike if the weather is good!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Green beans, grape tomatoes, olives, shallots, parsley, thyme
Time: 40 minutes
Make ahead: It's going to be awesome for our picnic.
Reaction
J: "Still so French!"
M: "Still lovin' the toasts!"
Wednesday
Simple black beans (recipe in the comments)
Venezuelan white rice (recipe in the comments)
Fried plantains (recipe in the comments)
Arugula salad
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
Our closest friend Flynn and her mom arrived tonight and we made one of my favorite company-worthy vegetarian meals. Everyone loves beans and rice, but this version takes the flavors to a new level. These seem a bit lighter than many and have an unusual slightly (really slight) sweet flavor. The rice is an essential pairing. We both love fried plantains, but they're often hard to get good versions of. When we first tried this, I had very low expectations for these (as they're SO simple), but they turn out perfectly every time! All in all an amazing meal!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Moderate
Chopping: Onion, red bell pepper, garlic, plantains
Time: 45 minutes
Make ahead: The beans and rice save GREAT, but the plantains are best fresh.
Reaction
J: "The best beans and rice around!"
M: "Incredible - really incredible."
Simple black beans (recipe in the comments)
Venezuelan white rice (recipe in the comments)
Fried plantains (recipe in the comments)
Arugula salad
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
Our closest friend Flynn and her mom arrived tonight and we made one of my favorite company-worthy vegetarian meals. Everyone loves beans and rice, but this version takes the flavors to a new level. These seem a bit lighter than many and have an unusual slightly (really slight) sweet flavor. The rice is an essential pairing. We both love fried plantains, but they're often hard to get good versions of. When we first tried this, I had very low expectations for these (as they're SO simple), but they turn out perfectly every time! All in all an amazing meal!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Moderate
Chopping: Onion, red bell pepper, garlic, plantains
Time: 45 minutes
Make ahead: The beans and rice save GREAT, but the plantains are best fresh.
Reaction
J: "The best beans and rice around!"
M: "Incredible - really incredible."
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tuesday
Tuna garbanzo bean salad (recipe in the comments)
Local aged cheddar
Ciabatta bread
Fresh cherry tomatoes
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
My mom drove up so she wasn't sure if she was leaving today or tomorrow, so we planned this meal in case she was here tonight. She actually left this morning though (her freezer died and she wanted to get home to deal with the aftermath) and so we're having it without her. This is a recipe that my mom created when I was a kid and it sparked my quest for entree salads to carry us through the summer. This is so light and fresh tasting. It uses great ingredients for summer and pairs perfectly with fresh, raw veggies. What a perfect August dinner!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Sweet onion, cucumber
Time: 30 minutes + optional chilling time
Make ahead: This is best made ahead so the flavors meld.
Reaction
J: "A trip down memory lane."
M: "So much summer in one dinner!"
Tuna garbanzo bean salad (recipe in the comments)
Local aged cheddar
Ciabatta bread
Fresh cherry tomatoes
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
My mom drove up so she wasn't sure if she was leaving today or tomorrow, so we planned this meal in case she was here tonight. She actually left this morning though (her freezer died and she wanted to get home to deal with the aftermath) and so we're having it without her. This is a recipe that my mom created when I was a kid and it sparked my quest for entree salads to carry us through the summer. This is so light and fresh tasting. It uses great ingredients for summer and pairs perfectly with fresh, raw veggies. What a perfect August dinner!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Sweet onion, cucumber
Time: 30 minutes + optional chilling time
Make ahead: This is best made ahead so the flavors meld.
Reaction
J: "A trip down memory lane."
M: "So much summer in one dinner!"
Monday, August 17, 2009
Monday
Swedish meatball burgers (recipe in the comments)
Corn on the cob
Grilled zucchini and squash
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
This is an amazing an unusual burger recipe. We have done it successfully with beef and turkey and I'm certain a mix would work. The seasoning is subtle, but very *present*. These are best on potato rolls, but we also like them on onion rolls. Corn is an EXCELLENT side. The rest is pretty variable. We have had this with company and it is very well received :) It was a perfect last meal with my mom.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Onion, parsley, halving the squashes to grill
Time: 35 minutes
Make ahead: You can make the burger blend whenever and grill last minute.
Reaction
J: "A whole new burger!"
M: "Swedish folk make GREAT food!"
Swedish meatball burgers (recipe in the comments)
Corn on the cob
Grilled zucchini and squash
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
This is an amazing an unusual burger recipe. We have done it successfully with beef and turkey and I'm certain a mix would work. The seasoning is subtle, but very *present*. These are best on potato rolls, but we also like them on onion rolls. Corn is an EXCELLENT side. The rest is pretty variable. We have had this with company and it is very well received :) It was a perfect last meal with my mom.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Onion, parsley, halving the squashes to grill
Time: 35 minutes
Make ahead: You can make the burger blend whenever and grill last minute.
Reaction
J: "A whole new burger!"
M: "Swedish folk make GREAT food!"
Catching up!
We've been having so much fun with my mom's visit that I have been forgetting to write! It's been a whole week, so here's a post to catch you up on the glories of what we've been eating!
Monday Aug 10 - Pasta with green pea pesto and grilled colorful peppers (recipe in the comments from June 8, 2008)
Tuesday Aug 11 - Dinner out at Carmelo's in Lewiston (AMAZING, expect longer posts on this fantastic Italian restaurant!)
Wednesday Aug 12 - Appetizers at a birthday party for one of T's friends and then TRANSFORMATIVE take out from a new (to us) Thai place - Thai Orchid Cafe. They don't deliver, but they are close to our house and the food is 10X better than The King and I's. Expect to see this on the take out rotation A LOT.
Thursday Aug 13 - Eggs, potatoes, and tomatoes with gremolata with grilled baby eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, and Vadalias (recipe in the comments)
Friday Aug 14 - Grilled shrimp; Greek festival orzo; artichokes; chopped cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, and Vadalias (no recipe needed)
Saturday Aug 15 - Dinner out at our new favorite restaurant, Verbena. Perhaps even more amazing than last time.
Sunday Aug 16 - Farfalle with tomato pesto and salad (not really a pesto at all, so we re-name it Farfalle with raw tomato sauce, recipe in the comments)
Today will get it's own post!
We've been having so much fun with my mom's visit that I have been forgetting to write! It's been a whole week, so here's a post to catch you up on the glories of what we've been eating!
Monday Aug 10 - Pasta with green pea pesto and grilled colorful peppers (recipe in the comments from June 8, 2008)
Tuesday Aug 11 - Dinner out at Carmelo's in Lewiston (AMAZING, expect longer posts on this fantastic Italian restaurant!)
Wednesday Aug 12 - Appetizers at a birthday party for one of T's friends and then TRANSFORMATIVE take out from a new (to us) Thai place - Thai Orchid Cafe. They don't deliver, but they are close to our house and the food is 10X better than The King and I's. Expect to see this on the take out rotation A LOT.
Thursday Aug 13 - Eggs, potatoes, and tomatoes with gremolata with grilled baby eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, and Vadalias (recipe in the comments)
Friday Aug 14 - Grilled shrimp; Greek festival orzo; artichokes; chopped cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, and Vadalias (no recipe needed)
Saturday Aug 15 - Dinner out at our new favorite restaurant, Verbena. Perhaps even more amazing than last time.
Sunday Aug 16 - Farfalle with tomato pesto and salad (not really a pesto at all, so we re-name it Farfalle with raw tomato sauce, recipe in the comments)
Today will get it's own post!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sunday
Lentils and tomatoes (recipe in the comments)
Biermeister cheese
Arugula salad
Multigrain rolls
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
This is one of our favorite uses for fresh, ripe tomatoes. The flavors just sing here and the allspice in the lentils is an unexpected counterpoint. This also happens to be one of my mother's favorite recipes, so it was a no brainer to make it in August for her visit :) The cheese is a local variety that is basked in beer and maintains a slight hint of hoppy goodness. We love it. The rest is just simple ingredients - the ideal summer dinner.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Super easy
Chopping: Tomatoes, garlic, chives
Time: 20 minutes + 25 minutes unattended to cook the lentils
Make ahead: I almost always make the lentils early and then put tfreshly cooked tomatoes on top.
Reaction
J: "Perfectly August."
M: "Subtly elegant!"
Lentils and tomatoes (recipe in the comments)
Biermeister cheese
Arugula salad
Multigrain rolls
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
This is one of our favorite uses for fresh, ripe tomatoes. The flavors just sing here and the allspice in the lentils is an unexpected counterpoint. This also happens to be one of my mother's favorite recipes, so it was a no brainer to make it in August for her visit :) The cheese is a local variety that is basked in beer and maintains a slight hint of hoppy goodness. We love it. The rest is just simple ingredients - the ideal summer dinner.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Super easy
Chopping: Tomatoes, garlic, chives
Time: 20 minutes + 25 minutes unattended to cook the lentils
Make ahead: I almost always make the lentils early and then put tfreshly cooked tomatoes on top.
Reaction
J: "Perfectly August."
M: "Subtly elegant!"
Saturday
Local ribeye steaks (no recipe needed)
Roasted local new potatoes
Artichokes
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
My mom drove all the way from Washington, DC today, so we wanted to greet her with a special dinner. So, we got steaks and potatoes from our farmer's market. The artichokes were a request from Theo, and came from Wegmans. One of the things that's great about fabulous ingredients is that you don't have to do much to them to make them perfect. We put French gray salt on the steaks and grilled them. I washed and halved the new potatoes, drizzled them with olive oil, more French salt, pepper and rosemary. Then I roasted them for about 40 minutes at 425. Perfect. Similarly, the artichokes were just steamed and served with a tarragon dressing we had. Yum. Couldn't be better and very little work.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Potatoes, artichoke trimming
Time: 30 minutes
Make ahead: Nope.
Reaction
J: "The ingredients make the meal."
M: "You can't beat the classics."
Local ribeye steaks (no recipe needed)
Roasted local new potatoes
Artichokes
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
My mom drove all the way from Washington, DC today, so we wanted to greet her with a special dinner. So, we got steaks and potatoes from our farmer's market. The artichokes were a request from Theo, and came from Wegmans. One of the things that's great about fabulous ingredients is that you don't have to do much to them to make them perfect. We put French gray salt on the steaks and grilled them. I washed and halved the new potatoes, drizzled them with olive oil, more French salt, pepper and rosemary. Then I roasted them for about 40 minutes at 425. Perfect. Similarly, the artichokes were just steamed and served with a tarragon dressing we had. Yum. Couldn't be better and very little work.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Potatoes, artichoke trimming
Time: 30 minutes
Make ahead: Nope.
Reaction
J: "The ingredients make the meal."
M: "You can't beat the classics."
Friday
Kidney bean curry (recipe in the comments from January 8, 2008)
Basmati rice
Cucumber salad
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
So, we went to the store and got an additional onion so that we could eat our curry. The result was spicier and moister than usual to great effect. Interestingly, we're not sure why either of these changes occurred :) Regardless, it was excellent and perhaps even more so for having waited a day. My mom comes tomorrow - so expect good food!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy, but long unattended cooking time
Chopping: Onion, chili, garlic, ginger, cucumber
Time: 40 minutes
Make ahead: The saves very well. If we have extra, we often freeze it to put on fresh rice.
Reaction
J: "Bean curry is the best!"
M: "Still good!"
Kidney bean curry (recipe in the comments from January 8, 2008)
Basmati rice
Cucumber salad
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
So, we went to the store and got an additional onion so that we could eat our curry. The result was spicier and moister than usual to great effect. Interestingly, we're not sure why either of these changes occurred :) Regardless, it was excellent and perhaps even more so for having waited a day. My mom comes tomorrow - so expect good food!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy, but long unattended cooking time
Chopping: Onion, chili, garlic, ginger, cucumber
Time: 40 minutes
Make ahead: The saves very well. If we have extra, we often freeze it to put on fresh rice.
Reaction
J: "Bean curry is the best!"
M: "Still good!"
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday
Trollop pasta (recipe in the comments from November 14, 2007)
Salad with cucumbers, red bell peppers, tomatoes
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
Well, this was not the plan for tonight. We had been hoping to have a new recipe for a quinoa salad. We hit a major snag though in that, despite both of us believing we had plenty, we had no quinoa. Since this was essential, we punted to the other recipe remaining for the week (kidney bean curry) and quickly discovered that our last onion had rotted. Curry with no onion isn't acceptable, so we had to punt, yet again. Trollop pasta has long been our go-to emergency meal. In fact, it was invented in exactly the same sort of punting situation. Anyway, this is excellent, perhaps especially when unplanned.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Green olives, parsley
Time: 20 minutes
Make ahead: The sauce saves well.
Reaction
J: "Truly a favorite."
M: "A great rescue meal!"
Trollop pasta (recipe in the comments from November 14, 2007)
Salad with cucumbers, red bell peppers, tomatoes
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
Well, this was not the plan for tonight. We had been hoping to have a new recipe for a quinoa salad. We hit a major snag though in that, despite both of us believing we had plenty, we had no quinoa. Since this was essential, we punted to the other recipe remaining for the week (kidney bean curry) and quickly discovered that our last onion had rotted. Curry with no onion isn't acceptable, so we had to punt, yet again. Trollop pasta has long been our go-to emergency meal. In fact, it was invented in exactly the same sort of punting situation. Anyway, this is excellent, perhaps especially when unplanned.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Green olives, parsley
Time: 20 minutes
Make ahead: The sauce saves well.
Reaction
J: "Truly a favorite."
M: "A great rescue meal!"
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Wednesday
Tilapia corn chowder (recipe in the comments)
Brussel sprouts
Sourdough
Hot tea
Grahams with chocolate icing
______________________________________________________________
We first made this right before I originally started the blog and I think we haven't had it since. We went through a big chowder phase right around then, leading to several great soups. This one is truly exquisite. The tilapia is so tender and flavorful and the small amount of bacon adds just the right note. This is also a completely a-seasonal dish. You can make it with fresh corn or frozen. The whole thing was light and lovely. This is another T favorite - fish, potatoes, AND bacon! Mmmmm.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Bacon, celery, leek, potatoes, tilapia, thyme
Time: 40 minutes
Make ahead: The fish is the best consistency fresh, but this makes a fine work lunch for the next day.
Reaction
J: "Chowder is so yummy!"
M: "Sticks to your ribs - fish style!"
Tilapia corn chowder (recipe in the comments)
Brussel sprouts
Sourdough
Hot tea
Grahams with chocolate icing
______________________________________________________________
We first made this right before I originally started the blog and I think we haven't had it since. We went through a big chowder phase right around then, leading to several great soups. This one is truly exquisite. The tilapia is so tender and flavorful and the small amount of bacon adds just the right note. This is also a completely a-seasonal dish. You can make it with fresh corn or frozen. The whole thing was light and lovely. This is another T favorite - fish, potatoes, AND bacon! Mmmmm.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Bacon, celery, leek, potatoes, tilapia, thyme
Time: 40 minutes
Make ahead: The fish is the best consistency fresh, but this makes a fine work lunch for the next day.
Reaction
J: "Chowder is so yummy!"
M: "Sticks to your ribs - fish style!"
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Tuesday - Taste of Williamsville
Tonight was Taste of Williamsville, where a variety of more or less local restaurants gather in one of our local parks and provide samples of their menus. We went last year, right after moving here, but T was a bit too young and it was rather difficult. Not so this year. T loved it, the food was awesome AND one of the booths was a new restaurant that isn't even open yet that seems great! It's called Jojo's and will be a bistro/wine bar and the food was incredible. We got a proscuitto wrapped fig stuffed with blue cheese that everyone loved, but that T downed most of. When he registered our shock at not getting to eat more than a tiny taste each, our 3-year-old did a victory dance! He then came up to me and said,"Well, Mama it was GOOD." Yes, it was. Fun was had by all :)
Tonight was Taste of Williamsville, where a variety of more or less local restaurants gather in one of our local parks and provide samples of their menus. We went last year, right after moving here, but T was a bit too young and it was rather difficult. Not so this year. T loved it, the food was awesome AND one of the booths was a new restaurant that isn't even open yet that seems great! It's called Jojo's and will be a bistro/wine bar and the food was incredible. We got a proscuitto wrapped fig stuffed with blue cheese that everyone loved, but that T downed most of. When he registered our shock at not getting to eat more than a tiny taste each, our 3-year-old did a victory dance! He then came up to me and said,"Well, Mama it was GOOD." Yes, it was. Fun was had by all :)
Monday, August 3, 2009
Monday
Pasta with eggplant sauce (recipe in the comments from January 19, 2008)
Salad
Hot tea
English toffee
______________________________________________________________
We don't use a lot of prepared food, right? But here we are on our second jar of pasta sauce in five days! Chalk it up to being a bit sick and this being the LAST WEEK of my summer class (can you tell I'm excited???). While this does rely on jar sauce, this isn't a typical prepared food meal. The eggplant, garlic, pepper flakes and arugula really jazz this dish up and add a lot of veggies to boot. Everyone in our family loves this too - T is a HUGE eggplant fan. You can spice it to your preference depending on the sauce you buy and the amount of red pepper flakes. We like this with regular white or whole wheat pasta.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Eggplant, onion, garlic, basil
Time: 35 minutes
Make ahead: Make the sauce ahead and toss with fresh pasta.
Reaction
J: "Local eggplant does make a difference!"
M: "Still crazy good."
Pasta with eggplant sauce (recipe in the comments from January 19, 2008)
Salad
Hot tea
English toffee
______________________________________________________________
We don't use a lot of prepared food, right? But here we are on our second jar of pasta sauce in five days! Chalk it up to being a bit sick and this being the LAST WEEK of my summer class (can you tell I'm excited???). While this does rely on jar sauce, this isn't a typical prepared food meal. The eggplant, garlic, pepper flakes and arugula really jazz this dish up and add a lot of veggies to boot. Everyone in our family loves this too - T is a HUGE eggplant fan. You can spice it to your preference depending on the sauce you buy and the amount of red pepper flakes. We like this with regular white or whole wheat pasta.
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Eggplant, onion, garlic, basil
Time: 35 minutes
Make ahead: Make the sauce ahead and toss with fresh pasta.
Reaction
J: "Local eggplant does make a difference!"
M: "Still crazy good."
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Sunday
Tofu ranchero (recipe in the comments from February 20, 2009)
Corn tortillas and guacamole mixed with salsa
Mangoes
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
As I said in the previous post of this recipe, this is one of our go-to tofu dinners. It has the great appeal of feeling truly seasonless. We have it tonight with summer fresh mangoes, but you can do it with a wide variety of fruits. We've even done bananas in winter! Anyway,yesterday we all seemed healthier, but tonight we're all a little under the weather. T actually didn't eat almost any dinner and went to bed early - highly unusual! We picked this because it's easy and comforting, at least to us :)
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Mushrooms, squash, mangoes
Time: 35 minutes
Make ahead: Make the filling whenever - it reheats beautifully.
Reaction
J: "Tofu is good for tummy trouble."
M: "This is great with beer -also good for tummy trouble."
Tofu ranchero (recipe in the comments from February 20, 2009)
Corn tortillas and guacamole mixed with salsa
Mangoes
Hot tea
______________________________________________________________
As I said in the previous post of this recipe, this is one of our go-to tofu dinners. It has the great appeal of feeling truly seasonless. We have it tonight with summer fresh mangoes, but you can do it with a wide variety of fruits. We've even done bananas in winter! Anyway,yesterday we all seemed healthier, but tonight we're all a little under the weather. T actually didn't eat almost any dinner and went to bed early - highly unusual! We picked this because it's easy and comforting, at least to us :)
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Mushrooms, squash, mangoes
Time: 35 minutes
Make ahead: Make the filling whenever - it reheats beautifully.
Reaction
J: "Tofu is good for tummy trouble."
M: "This is great with beer -also good for tummy trouble."
Saturday
Provencal chickpea salad (recipe in the comments)
Rosemary bread
Local cheese
Watermelon
Hot tea
Peanut M and M's
______________________________________________________________
This is one of the ultimate summer recipes for those of us who treasure their herb gardens. We have a big one this year, but I have to be honest and say the cold temps, and plethora of rain have caused it to struggle though. It is getting warmer (we went to the pool today!) and things are beginning to look up. This is the celebration of that perkiness. This recipe calls for four different herbs, but in small amounts. Best if you grow it yourself :) Anyway, this is an excellent summer meal. Very flavorful, light, and fast to prepare!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Super easy
Chopping: Garlic, onion, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, watermelon
Time: 30 minutes
Make ahead: This is great prepared ahead.
Reaction
J: "Super speedy and summery French!"
M: "Vive la herbs!."
Provencal chickpea salad (recipe in the comments)
Rosemary bread
Local cheese
Watermelon
Hot tea
Peanut M and M's
______________________________________________________________
This is one of the ultimate summer recipes for those of us who treasure their herb gardens. We have a big one this year, but I have to be honest and say the cold temps, and plethora of rain have caused it to struggle though. It is getting warmer (we went to the pool today!) and things are beginning to look up. This is the celebration of that perkiness. This recipe calls for four different herbs, but in small amounts. Best if you grow it yourself :) Anyway, this is an excellent summer meal. Very flavorful, light, and fast to prepare!
Prep Notes
Difficulty: Super easy
Chopping: Garlic, onion, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, watermelon
Time: 30 minutes
Make ahead: This is great prepared ahead.
Reaction
J: "Super speedy and summery French!"
M: "Vive la herbs!."
Friday
Pasta with marinara, spinach, and garlic (no recipe required)
Steamed broccoli with wine and lemon
______________________________________________________________
We're a bit worried that we're all coming down with some odd illness. It mostly takes a cold form, but has some tummy trouble as well. When it came to cooking, we just couldn't do the chickpea salad we had planned. So, pasta and emergency jar sauce get livened up with some garlic cloves and frozen spinach we have here waiting for just such evenings. We also had a bag of frozen broccoli, which is good because the fresh beans we bought mid-week just don't smell so good. Thank God for contingency planning :)
Pasta with marinara, spinach, and garlic (no recipe required)
Steamed broccoli with wine and lemon
______________________________________________________________
We're a bit worried that we're all coming down with some odd illness. It mostly takes a cold form, but has some tummy trouble as well. When it came to cooking, we just couldn't do the chickpea salad we had planned. So, pasta and emergency jar sauce get livened up with some garlic cloves and frozen spinach we have here waiting for just such evenings. We also had a bag of frozen broccoli, which is good because the fresh beans we bought mid-week just don't smell so good. Thank God for contingency planning :)
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